Page:Gods Glory in the Heavens.djvu/357

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THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS.
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under the same planetary conditions I and though we here see intelligence linked only to one pattern, yet there is no difficulty in understanding how intelligence may be linked to material forms of a far different mould.

3. The author in viewing the question in the light of design says—that this world may be the only perfect world, that all the others may be abortive; and he takes the case of eggs and seeds to illustrate his point. He says, that in the case of plants and animals there is a great waste. More seeds are produced than there is need for, and more eggs. But this is not true, for provision must be made for the necessary destruction, so that no more germs are produced than, in the circumstances, are needed. But he evades the real point in question. The real question is, Are the planets designed for inhabitants? The question is not so much, Are they inhabited at this moment? as. Are they fitted for inhabitants? When we examine the seed or germ, and see the marks of design, we do not hesitate to infer that the design of it is to be developed into an organised being. When we examine a planet, the question is. Is it fitted to be the abode of inhabitants? Is this the manifest design? The chief question we have to answer is not. Is there a tenant in the house? but. Is the house habitable? If we found a house in a desert island, we would naturally come to the conclusion that it had been, or was destined to be, the