if you are in earnest, and really mean what you say, there must be a screw loose in your upper story." And you would be quite justified in thus addressing him. Yet wait awhile, and pay attention to the practical application of all this.
3. Fix your gaze upon the splendors of the universe. Behold the countless multitude of the heavenly bodies, as they revolve in their orbits; behold the wondrous creations which are upon this earth, as comprised in the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdoms. Does not the most marvelous beauty and order, the most consummate imaginable skill, everywhere meet the eye?
But now listen to what certain unbelieving scientists, naturalists, and astronomers say to all this. The friend to whom reference was made above asserted that the watch had made itself. Our scientists go still farther and obstinately assert that the infinitely more wonderful machine of the entire universe, earth, sun, moon, and stars, likewise came into being of itself, having gradually developed out of a mass of primeval matter, Which had always been in existence.
4. How ridiculous and absurd! But let us for a moment assent to the theory of these overwise gentlemen, let us submit our understanding to them; they owe us, however, a clear and ample explanation of the most important point of all, and are bound to tell us whence came this primeval matter, and the
