The reader may argue that “nature,” “heredity” or the germ-cell (fertilized ovum) does this wonderful work of building up the embryo body; and, therefore, that neither the Creator nor spontaneous generation does it. But “nature” and “heredity” do all their work by and through the germ-cell; so their powers are identical with those of the germ-cell. This germ is a tiny bit of protoplasm composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, with a possible trace of sulphur and phosphorus. It has no brain, eyes, ears, nose, touch, nor taste; no intellect, memory, nor will-power; no knowledge of anatomy, chemical elements, chemical affinity, form, size, time, nor space; nor any constructive power nor force; has no power to generate forces nor to guide and control motions.
Therefore, it is impossible for the germ-cell, or its daughter-cells, to build up, automatically, the embryo body, with all its organs and parts. It follows that this body must be directly and specially created by Almighty God.
Again, every embryo body is made of cells (organic bricks) and these are made of dead atoms. In order to construct this body it is necessary to group a certain number of these atoms into certain chemical combinations; next these combinations must be grouped into certain mechanical arrangements. Thus, the skeleton is made of bones; they are made of cells, which in turn are made of dead atoms of lime, carbon, phosphorus, etc.; these cells must be grouped into phosphate of lime, carbonate of lime, gelatin, etc. These combinations must then be grouped into the two hundred and seventy-eight bones of the embryo skeleton, giving each bone its proper form, size, structure and place in the skeleton. It is clear that neither the father nor the mother takes any part in making these chemical combinations nor in making the mechanical arrangements. It is equally clear that they are not made by chance nor by accident; nor by the “factors” of evolution.
It follows that the atoms and cells of which the embryo body is made, do, spontaneously and automatically group themselves into the chemical combinations and mechanical arrangements, which are necessary to construct the several organs and parts of the embryo body without the aid or guidance of any extraneous psychic or creative force; or that every organ and part of the embryo body is directly and specially made by the Creator.
Sec. 40. Proposition 7. Human Skeleton is a Special Creation
Human bones are composed of ten chemical elements, namely: carbon, chlorin, hydrogen, lime, magnesium, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sodium and sulphur. As found in the bones, these elements are grouped into the five chemical combinations, following: phosphate of lime, carbonate of lime, carbonate of soda, chloride of soda, and gelatin.
There are eight bones in the cranium, fourteen in the face and six in the ears, making twenty-eight in the skull, besides the thirty-two teeth. (Encyc. Brit. (9 ed.) vol. 1, p. 822.) In the infant there are thirty-three vertebræ (joints) in the spinal column, namely: seven cervical, in the neck; twelve dorsal, in the back; five lumbar, in the small of the back; five sacral, in the sacrum; and four coccygeal, in the coccyx. But in the adult, there are only twenty-six, the five sacral joints having fused into one bone, and the four in the coccyx having fused into another; these two and the twenty-four regular vertebræ (joints) making twenty-six. (Same book, p. 820.) In the chest there are twelve pairs of ribs, the sternum or breast bone and the hyoid or tongue bone, twenty-six in all. (Same book, p. 822.) Each arm and hand, including the scapula or shoulder blade, consists of thirty-two bones, making sixty-four in the two arms and hands. In each leg and foot, including the bones of the pelvis, there are thirty-one bones, making sixty-two in the pelvis, legs and feet. So that the adult human skeleton consists of two hundred and six bones, besides the thirty-two teeth. (Johnson’s Universal Cyclopedia, 7, p. 553.)
The same book, (p. 533) says:
“At birth their number is 278; at the age of twenty-five, 224; in advanced old age, 194. About 660 segments are needed in the formation of the 206 bones.”