a planet--surely at such
a time the relations of existence would be disordered. How can such a
thing be imagined? To a man who examines the world of existence, what we
have said is sufficient.

There is another more subtle proof: all these endless beings which inhabit
the world, whether man, animal, vegetable, mineral--whatever they may
be--are surely, each one of them, composed of elements. There is no doubt
that this perfection which is in all beings, is caused by the creation of
God from the composing elements, by their appropriate mingling and
proportionate quantities, the mode of their composition, and the influence
of other beings. For all beings are connected together like a chain, and
reciprocal help, assistance, and influence belonging to the properties of
things, are the causes of the existence, development, and growth of
created beings. It is confirmed through evidences and proofs that every
being universally acts upon other beings, either absolutely or through
association. Finally, the perfection of each individual being, that is to
say the perfection which you now see in man or apart from him, with regard
to their atoms, members, or powers, is due to the composition of the
elements, to their measure, to their balance, to the mode of their
combination, and to mutual influence. When all these are gathered
together, then man exists.

As the perfection of man is entirely due to the composition of the atoms
of the elements, to their measure, to the method of their combination, and
to the mutual influence and action of the different beings--then, since man
was produced ten or a hundred thousand years ago from these earthly
elements with the same measure and balance, the same method of combination
and mingling, and the same influence of the other beings, exactly the same
man existed then as now. This is evident and not worth debating. A
thousand million years hence, if these elements of man are gathered
together and arranged in this special proportion, and if the elements are
combined according to the same method, and if they are affected by the
same influence of other beings, exactly the same man will exist. For
example, if after a hundred thousand years there is oil, fire, a wick, a
lamp, and the lighter of the lamp--briefly, if there are all the
necessaries which now exist, exactly the same lamp will be obtained.

These are conclusive and evident facts. But the arguments which these
European philosophers have