Continuation of Chapter 1

"III   Fix your gaze upon the splendors of the universe. Behold the countless multitude of the heavenly bodies, as they revolve in their orbits; he bold the wondrous creations which are upon this earth, as comprised in the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdoms. Does not 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.
IV   How ridiculous and absurd! But let us for a memento assent to the theory of these over wise 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 forces at work within it, by means of which the entire universe came into being.
   The good gentlemen will thus find themselves driven into a very tight corner, and in order to get out of the dilemma they will be compelled to retreat to a certain extent from the positioning which they have entrenched themselves, and say: "If you persist in having a God, you may give the name of God to this primary matter." But this will not help settle the question, for to have such a God as a tantamount to having no God at all.
V   Look forth on some clear and beautiful night in autumn, and contemplate the star bespangled sky; see how the innumerable heavenly bodies have all their appointed orbits, so that none of them interfere with the others. Examine, moreover, the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and see how everything suits its purpose! Even the smallest plant is formed in its every detail with the most perfect exactitude. And every little creature, down to the insect which crawls in the dust at our feet, is so made as best to fulfill the object for which it was created. "What a piece of work is a man!" exclaims Hamlet; "how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god!" Thus, wherever we look around us in the immense, the boundless universe, we everywhere perceive object, design, and order.
   Can not we then comprehend, by means of our common-sense, that all this is not the work of chance, and was not brought into being by unintelligent, unreasoning forces and laws? Must we not rather exclaim in the inspired language of David: "The heavens show forth the glory of God"? Yes, let us say with grateful joyous hearts: There is a God; an omnipotent, an all-wise, an infinitely good and bountiful God!
   Thank God, dear reader, for the most precious of all gifts, for the grace which enables you to say from the bottom of your heart, and with the most intense conviction: " I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth." Pray that you may always persevere in this faith.

The fool alone can not descry

God's work in earth and sea and sky;

The more enlightened eye can trace

His all-wise hand in Nature's face;

And where sight fails, there faith alone

The great Creator's skill will own."

(The end of "The Panoply of War".)