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1866. | Darwin and his Teachings. 158 
all the preceding cases of antagonism to innovations of a hke nature ; 
indeed, it would be idle to conceal the fact, that Darwin already 
reckons amongst his disciples many scientific clergymen and ministers 
of the different religious denominations. The scriptural account of 
the creation of plants and animals presents as many difficulties one 
way as the other. The Uiteral translation of Genesis 1. 2, runs 
thus—*“ And God said, the earth shall sprout forth sprouts, herb 
yielding seed, fruit-tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed (is) 
im itself, upon the earth; and it was so.” And of y. 20, thus— 
“And God said, the waters shall bring forth abundantly the prolific 
creation, a living soul, and fowl (that) may fly above the earth on 
the face of the expanse of heaven.”* 
Excepting for those who still believe in the doctrine that all 
plants and animals took their rise at one time, when the command 
was given, and were created in two days, we cannot conceive how 
this account can be held to convey any scientific exposition of the 
mode in which species were produced. We may be im error, but it 
does not appear to us to affirm more than the grand truth—that 
the Almighty created plants and animals, and that the former con- 
tained seeds “after their kind,” or for their propagation ; and (natu- 
rally enough when we consider to what class of minds it was 
addressed) it does not even hint at the mode in which animals were 
to be perpetuated. If, however, the reference to the earth and 
waters bringing forth plants and animals, presents any special 
evidence on the subject, it is rather in favour of their production 
through secondary agencies, than by a direct miraculous imterposi- 
tion for the purpose of making species. But suppose the account 
is meant to indicate (which, however, we do not for a moment 
believe) that all species were created as they stood or moved, by one 
grand miracle, how are we to explain the subsequent production of 
varieties by “nature” or by man? Those who hold the “ orthodox” 
view must supplement it by an original doctrine of their own, and 
roust believe that after having created species Himself by mizaculous 
intervention, the Almighty must have deputed “ Nature” and man 
to make varieties; or if (as we ave fully convinced is the case) He 
has been as directly instrumental in the production of varieties 
as in that of species, what becomes of the miraculous creation of 
the former? As far, then, as the abstract theological bearing of 
the question is concerned, it becomes, as in most similar cases, a 
matter of individual opinion; but, on the other hand, it will be 
found presently, that if we were to admit the entire correctness of 
Darwin's theory, as expounded by himself, we should find ourselves 
involved in difficulties quite as grave and perplexing as those pre- 
sented by the miraculous version, and we will now direct our atten- 
tion more immediately to his teachings. 
* Dr. A. Benisch’s ‘ Translation of the Pentateuch.’ 
