(_a_) The view of those who hold that all phenomena and all
existence originate in Chance or a blind fortuitous concourse of
atoms. To state such a doctrine is to refute it. No one
possessed of reason can believe in his heart that Intelligence
did not create and organise matter, or that the material
universe, with all its adaptation of parts, was evolved, and is
governed, by chance or accident. This theory, if it is worthy of
the name, seems to have been devised in order to evade the idea
that man is subject to Divine government.

(_b_) Another view is that all existence owes its origin to Fate
or Necessity and is now held in its resistless grasp. The
advocates of this theory are at variance among themselves. One
school maintains that all things existed from eternity in their
present condition, and are destined to continue as they are,
controlled by relentless and undeviating necessity. Another
school--the ancient Fatalists--held that at first there was a
fortuitous concourse of atoms and phenomena, until Fate or
Chance decided the present order, which became an established
necessity. A third class hold doctrines of Development. Some of
them agree with the ancient Fatalists in maintaining that
development, in a fortuitous concourse and action of matter and
force, issued in evolution or originated a course of evolution.
Others again deny fortuitous concourse and affirm that this
process of evolution had no external beginning, but has
continued from eternity under the control of evolutionary law.
The term "law" as used by them has no specific meaning, and is
simply an adaptation, to a theory naturally atheistic, of a word
which may serve to commend their doctrine. The "law" of which
they speak has its origin in matter itself, and is not under the