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 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