DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.641#0310
THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY. 303
The unbeliever was put to silence for a short time by
these observations; at length he said, Well, I admit, for ar-
gument's sake, that we must receive the evidence arising
from inference and from sound:—but why must we admit
the existence of a God ?
JV. From the works of creation we are constrained to
infer that God exists. If you say there is no God, from
whence arose creation ?
Unbeliever. Why art thou concerned about finding a
creator for the world ? Does not a father beget a son, and
an artificer, according to his ability, produce every kind of
utensil ?
JV. True, we see every thing produced by human inge-
nuity ; but how do the trees grow in a forest, where no hu-
man footsteps can be traced ?
Unbeliever. The trees of the forest spring from them-
selves, as insects and worms from a hot-bed.
2V. Then the child may be born without a father.
Unbeliever. Some animals are born by the union of the
sexes, as men, beasts, birds, &c. Other things are pro-
duced by the union of seeds with water or with the earth,
as trees, &c. Seeds fall from the trees, and, mixing with
the earth, receive rain from the clouds, and vegetate.
Thus nature, in various ways, gives existence to her dif-
ferent productions.
M. True, I see you ascribe to nature the origin of things;
but as: there is a necessity for the trees of a garden to
vol. ii. R r
The unbeliever was put to silence for a short time by
these observations; at length he said, Well, I admit, for ar-
gument's sake, that we must receive the evidence arising
from inference and from sound:—but why must we admit
the existence of a God ?
JV. From the works of creation we are constrained to
infer that God exists. If you say there is no God, from
whence arose creation ?
Unbeliever. Why art thou concerned about finding a
creator for the world ? Does not a father beget a son, and
an artificer, according to his ability, produce every kind of
utensil ?
JV. True, we see every thing produced by human inge-
nuity ; but how do the trees grow in a forest, where no hu-
man footsteps can be traced ?
Unbeliever. The trees of the forest spring from them-
selves, as insects and worms from a hot-bed.
2V. Then the child may be born without a father.
Unbeliever. Some animals are born by the union of the
sexes, as men, beasts, birds, &c. Other things are pro-
duced by the union of seeds with water or with the earth,
as trees, &c. Seeds fall from the trees, and, mixing with
the earth, receive rain from the clouds, and vegetate.
Thus nature, in various ways, gives existence to her dif-
ferent productions.
M. True, I see you ascribe to nature the origin of things;
but as: there is a necessity for the trees of a garden to
vol. ii. R r