An antidote against atheisme, or, An appeal to the natural faculties of the minde of man, whether there be not a God by Henry More ...

CHAP. X.

The Frame or Fabrick of the Bodies of Animalls plainly argue that there is a God.

I Come now to the last consideration of Animalls, the out∣ward Shape and Fabrick of their Bodies, which when I have shew'd you that they might have been otherwise, and yet are made according to the most exquisite pitch of Rea∣••on that the wit of Man can conceive of, it will naturally ••ollow that they were really made by Wisdome and Provi∣dence, and consequently that there is a God. And I de∣m••nd first in generall concerning all those Creatures that have Eyes and Eares, whether they might not have had onely one Eye and one Eare a piece; and to make the sup∣position more tolerable, had the Eye on one side the head, and the Eare on the other, or the Eare on the Crown of the head, the Eye in the Forehead for they might have lived and subsisted though they had been no better provided for then thus. But it is evident that their having two Eyes and two Eares, so placed as they are, is more safe, more sightly, and more usefull. Therefore that being made so constantly choice of, which our own Reason deemeth best,

we are to inferr that that choice proceeded from Reason and Counsell.

Again I desire to know why there be no three-footed Beasts, (when I speak thus, I doe not meane Monsters, but a constant Species of kind of Animalls) for such a Creature as that would make a limping shift to live as well as they that have foure. Or why have not some beasts more then foure-feet, suppose sixe & the two middlemost shorter then the rest, hanging like the two legges of a Man a horse-back by the horse sides? For it is no harder a thing for Nature to make such frames of Bodies then others that are more elegant and usefull. But the works of Nature being neither uselesse nor inept, she must either be wise her self, or be guided by some higher Principle of Knowledge: As that Man that does nothing foolishly all the dayes of his life, is either wise himself, or consults with them that are so.

And then again for the armature of Beasts, who taught them the use of their weapons? The Lyon will not kick with his Feet, but he will strike such a stroke with his Tayle, that he will breake the back of his Encounterer with it. The Horse will not use his Tayle unlesse against the busy flyes, but kicks with his Feet with that force that he layes his Enemy on the ground. The Bull and Ram know the use of their Hornes as well as the Horse of his Hoofes. So the Bee and Serpent know their Stings, and the Beare the use of his Paw. Which things they know merely by naturall instinct, as the Male knowes the use of the Female. For they ga∣ther not this skill by observation and experience, but the frame of their nature carries them to it, as it is manifest in young Lambes that will butt before they have horns. There∣fore it is some higher Providence that has made them of this nature they are. And this is evident also in Birds that will flutter with their wings, when there is but a little Down upon them, and they are as yet utterly unusefull for flying.

And now I have fallen upon the mention of this kind of Creature, let me make my advantage of that generall stru∣cture observable in them. The forme of their Heads being narrow and sharpe, that they may the better cut the Aire in their swift flight, and the spreading of their Tayles par∣allell to the Horizon for the better bearing up their Body; for they might have been perpendicular as the Tayles of Fishes in the water. Nor is it any thing that the Owle has so broad a face, for her flight was not to be so swift nor so frequent.

And as for Fishes and the bladder of wind found in their Bodies, who can say it is conveigh'd thither by chance, but is contriv'd for their more easy swimming, as also the manner of their finnes, which consist of a number of gristly bones long and slender like pinnes and needles, and a kind of a skin betwixt, which is for the more exactnesse and makes them thin and flat like Oares. Which perfect ar∣tifice and accuracy might have been omitted and yet they have made a shift to move up and down in the water.

But I have fallen upon a subject that is infinite and inex∣haustible, therefore that I be not too tedious I will confine my self to some few observations in ordinary Beasts and Birds (that which is most known and obvious being most of all to our purpose,) and then I shall come to the con∣templation of Man.

And indeed what is more obvious and ordinary then a Mole, and yet what more palpable Argument of Provi∣dence then she? The members of her body are so exactly fitted to her nature and manner of life: For her dwelling being under ground where nothing is to be seene, Nature has so obscurely fitted her with Eyes, that Naturalists can scarce agree whither she have any sight at all or no. Bu•• for amends, what she is capable of for her defence and warning of danger, she has very eminently conferr'd upon

her: for she is exceeding quick of hearing. And then her short Tayle and short Leggs, but broad Fore-feet armed with sharpe Clawes, we see by the event to what purpose they are, she so swiftly working her self under ground and making her way so fast in the Earth, as they that behold it cannot but admire it. Her Leggs therefore are short that she need dig no more then will serve the merethicknesse of her Body. And her Fore-feet are broad, that she may scoup away much Earth at a time. And little or no Tayle she has, because she courses it not on the ground like the Rat or Mouse of whose kinred she is, but lives under the Earth and is fain to dig her self a dwelling there: And she ma∣king her way through so thick an Element, which will not yield easily as the Aire or the Water, it had been dan∣gerous to have drawn so long a train behind her: for her Enemy might fall upon her Reare and fetch her out before she had compleated or had got full possession of her works.

Cardan is so much taken with this contemplation, that though I find him often staggering, yet here he does very fully and finnely professe that the contrivance of all things is from Wisedome and Counsell: his words are so generous and significant that I hold them worth the transcribing. Palam est igitur, Naturam in cunctis sollicitam mi∣rum in modum fuisse, nec ••biter sed ex sententia omnia praevidisse, hominesque quibus hoc beneficium Deus lar∣gitus est, ut Causam rerum primam inveniant, par∣ticipes esse illius prim•• Naturae, neque alterius esse generis Naturam quae haec constituit, ab illorum mente, qui causam eorum cur ita facta sint plene assequi po∣tuerunt. Thus forcibly has the due contemplation of Nature carried him beyond Nature and himself, and made him write like a Man rap'd into a divine Ex∣stasy.

But there are as manifest foot-steps of divine Providence

in other Creatures as in the Mole. As for Example; the Hare, whose temper and frame of body are plainly fit∣ted on purpose for her Condition.

For why is she made so full of Feare and Vigilancy ever re••ring up and listning whiles she is feeding? and why is she so exceeding swift of foot, and has her Eyes so promi∣nent, and placed so that she can see better behind her then before her? but that her flight is her onely safety, and it was needful for her perpetually to eye her pursuing enemy, against whom she durst never stand at the Bay, having no∣thing but her long soft limber Eares to defend her. Where∣fore he that made the Hare made the Dog also, and guard∣ed her with these Properties from her eager foe, that she might not be too easy a booty for him, and so never be able to save her self, or afford the Spectatour any conside∣rable Pastime. And that the Hare might not alwayes get away from the Grey hound, see how exquisitely his shape is fitted for the Course: For the narrownesse and slen∣dernesse of his parts are made for speed; and that seeming impertinent long Appendix of his body, his Taile, is made for more nimble turning.

There are other Animalls also whose particular Fabrick of Body does manifestly appeare the Effect of Providence and Counsell, though Naturallists cannot agree whether it be in the behalf of the Beast thus framed or of Man. And such is that Creature which though it be Exotick yet is ordinarily known by the name of a Camell: For why are those bunches on his backe, but that they may be instead of a ••ack-saddle to receive the burden? And why has he four knees and all his Legges bending inwards, like the fore-feet of other beasts, and a Protuber••anoy under his Breast to lean on, but that being a tall Creature he might with ease kneel down and so might the more gainly be loaden?

But Cardan will by no meanes have this the designe of

Nature, but that this frame of the Camell's body is thus made for his own convenience: For he being a Creature that lives and seeks his food in waste and dry deserts, those Bunches he would have Receptacles of redundant Moy∣sture, from whence the rest of his body is to be supply'd in a hard and tedious time of drought, and that his legges being very long, he ought to have knees behind and a knob beneath, to rest his weary limbes in the wildernesse, by sit∣ting or kneeling in that posture he does, for he could not so conveniently lie along as the Horse or Asse or other Creatures. But I should not determine this to either alone, but take in both Causes, and acknowledge therein a richer designe of Providence, that by this Frame and Artifice has gratifide both the Camell and his Master.