For Spencer’s view of “physiological units” and “structural proclivity” see Principles of Biology 1, pp. 226, 361, 362, 365, 368, 372, and vol. 2, pp. 612-618.
The effect of the above quotations is that the atoms and cells of which the embryo body is composed, do spontaneously and automatically assemble and group themselves into the chemical combinations and mechanical arrangements, which are necessary to build up the human body, without the aid of any extraneous psychic or creative force whatever. This is necessarily the theory of the evolutionist and materialist; for they deny that there was ever any such thing as special creation. Besides, every one knows that neither the father nor the mother has any power, nor any control over the development and growth of the embryo.
It follows that the blind, unthinking, fertilized ovum and daughter-cells arising from it, spontaneously and automatically assemble themselves together in the form of the two hundred and seventy-eight bones of the embryo skeleton; or that the Creator generates, guides, and controls the forces and motions which build up the embryo body. Which theory is most plausible?
We cannot even imagine the dead atoms of carbon, chlorine, hydrogen, lime, etc., which compose the bones, assemble and group themselves into the twenty-two bones of the skull; nor into the thirty-three joints of the spinal column; nor into the bones of the arms, hands, legs and feet with all their pores, foraminæ, cavities, processes, joints and sutures.
But the evolutionist says that “heredity” produces the embryo; and another says “nature” does this wonderful work. I reply that whatever “heredity” and “nature” may do toward the production of the embryo must necessarily be done by and through the fertilized ovum, and I have already argued that this little atom is powerless to do any such thing. See [index], infra, “Heredity.”
Each bone in the skeleton, and all of them as a whole, testify that they were designed and made by the Creator!
Sec. 41. Proposition 8. Each Human Eye is a New, Direct and Special Creation
Two new eyes must be made, out and out, for each embryo.