SIR ISAAC NEWTON had a friend who like himself was a great scientist; but he was an unbeliever, while Newton was a devout believer. Newton had a skilful mechanic make him a replica of our solar system in miniature. In the centre was a large gilded ball representing the sun, and revolving around this were smaller balls representing the planets. These balls were so geared together by cogs and belts as to move in perfect harmony by turning a crank.
One day as Newton sat reading in his study with his mechanism on a large table near him, his unbelieving friend stepped in. He recognised at a glance what was before him. Stepping up to it, he slowly turned the crank and with undisguised admiration watched the heavenly bodies all move in their relative speed in their orbits. He exclaimed, “My! What an exquisite thing this is! Who made it?”
Without looking up from his book, Newton answered, “Nobody.”
His friend said, “Evidently you did not understand my question. I asked who made this thing?”
Looking up now, Newton solemnly assured him that nobody made it, but that the aggregation of matter had just happened to assume the form it was in.
But the astonished scientist replied with some heat, “You must think I am a fool! Of course somebody made it, and he is a genius. I'd like to know who he is.”
Laying his book aside, Newton arose and laid a hand on his friend's shoulder and said: “This thing is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you know. Yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being without either designer or maker! Now tell me by what sort of reasoning do you reach such incongruous conclusion?”
The unbeliever was at once convinced and became a firm believer.
