In the disturbed reflection of man's image on the wall, as it were, of the universe, arose the idea of God." ...

"I say, if that is all you mean by your argument, that it is _merely a matter of analogy_, if it is only a matter of partial resemblance, I say you can get from it no complete proof; that if you merely found it upon partial resemblance, there is no demonstration there whatever, and your cause is no better, no sounder than I have before described it,--as being merely _your conjecture_ about a Being independent of Nature; it is merely a conjecture, merely a suggestion, just like my own conjecture, just like my own suggestion about Nature being that one great Being about which we are all concerned."[277] But not content with assailing _analogy_ as incapable of leading to any _certain_ conclusion, he changes his tactics, and seems at least to do homage to it, while he insists only on its _extension_.

"The argument of _design_," he says, "is unquestionably the most popular ever developed, and the most seductive ever displayed.

It has the rare merit of making the existence of God, which is the most subtle of all problems, appear a mere truism,--and the proofs of such existence, which have puzzled the wisest of human heads, seem self-evident." This tribute, however, must be read in the light of his chosen motto,--"The existence of a watch proves the existence of a watch-maker; a picture indicates a painter; a house announces an architect.

See here are arguments of terrible force for children."[278] "I took up," he says, "Dr.Paley's book, ...