This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
298
THE ETERNITY OF MATTER.

of design in the collocation of parts, and at once infer a beginning to the collocation; but may not the same argument apply to the parts themselves? Does not the adaptation of the parts to form the collocation evince design, and imply a beginning? For example, the solar system manifests design, and had, therefore, a beginning; but the matter out of which the system was formed must have been wisely adapted for such a cosmical combination; and are we not entitled to infer that this chaotic matter had a beginning also, or that matter is not eternal?