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The phrase "That which may be known" indicates the limits of creation's testimony.
No man by observing the works of God's hands would ever arrive at the gospel of
redeeming love, but they provide sufficient evidence to make idolatry inexcusable.
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they
are without excuse" (Rom. 1: 20).
These passages are more than sufficient to establish the fact that the Scriptures appeal
to the works of creation as evidence for the existence of God.
Many of our readers will be acquainted with the writings of Archdeacon Paley.
Paley's deduction of the existence of a watchmaker from the design of a watch has been
attacked by various sophistries, but it remains as unassailable to-day as when it was first
put forward. Dr. Chalmers makes some interesting remarks in this connection. He bases
his argument not so much on the bare circumstances of matter, but on the wisdom
manifested in its disposition. The sheer bulk of matter that constitutes what we speak of
as the Universe might have remained for ever a universal chaos, but the order and
adaptation of that universe is an argument that is beyond refutation. For example, the
phenomenon of refraction in optics is governed by a certain "law", but the situation and
nature of the two different humours in the eye, together with the lens and the retina and
the muscles which regulate the degree of convergence of the refracted light--these are
not laws but dispositions, without which the laws themselves could never have brought
about the required result.
The whole observable creation presents in multitudinous variety this principle of
disposition, this adaptation to an end. Such adaptation demands intelligence, and the
almighty intelligence demanded by creation is sufficient evidence to establish "His
eternal power and Deity", and to render all without excuse. The first demand made upon
any who would "come to God" is that they should believe "that He is" (Heb. 11: 6); and
the faith that thus believes does not rest upon fancies or imaginings, but upon the solid
foundation of creation.
So far we have considered the evidence afforded by creation for the existence of God.
In our next study we must continue to the logical and Scriptural conclusion.