240 On the Physical Facts contained in the Bible, 
distinction which it establishes between the creation of the 
universe and its co-ordination. Thus, in the beginning (im 
principio), all the matter which compose the earth and 
heavens was created ; afterwards, this matter was appro- 
priated and formed the stellar and planetary bodies of the 
solar system, as well as those of other systems. 
We have already shewn elsewhere on what grounds this 
interpretation rests; it appears particularly obvious when 
we direct our attention not only to the first verse of Genesis, 
but to those that follow, particularly the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 
10th verses of the first chapter. It is useless, therefore, to 
insist longer on this point. We shall merely observe, that 
physical facts demonstrate the accuracy of this interpretation. 
Undoubtedly the whole of matter had been created at the be- 
ginning of things, and probably no new matter is formed. 
But it was not co-ordinated nor organised at the origin of 
time in its universality ; for every day celestial bodies are 
produced, under our own eyes, which are the result of the 
condensation of this same matter. It will continue unceas- 
ingly to become condensed, and will form stars more or less 
complete, as long as any of it remains capable of assuming 
new forms and new dispositions. 
If such concretions are still preparing and organising 
celestial bodies, it is evident such formations indicate to us 
that if matter proceeded from nothing at the first, it was not 
appropriated till a long while after its creation. This process 
is constantly carried on in the ordinary course of things ; far 
from being completed, many ages will elapse before it has 
reached its limit. It is with reason, therefore, that the 
Sacred Writings have distinguished the creation of matter 
from its posterior arrangement. 
The chaos in which Genesis represents all matter to have 
been at the birth of the world (and particularly that which 
afterwards formed the earth), is a proof that Scripture rightly 
distinguishes creation and co-ordination. This matter, at 
first without form and void, from which the globe we inhabit 
arose, would appear to have been analogous to those nebulo- 
sities, the condensation of which produces, under our own eyes, 
new celestial bodies. At every period nature has thence de- 
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