25(5 Werner according to MacCulloch. 



dissolved in water. From this, granite was first precipitated, at 

 specific points, being followed by gneiss, and successively by 

 primai'y schists, in an " invariable order," though it is not ex- 

 plained Avhy the former is irregular, and the latter stratified. 

 These rocks were " primitive" and anterior to the creation of 

 animals ; and they are purely chemical, as the produce of aque- 

 ous crystallization. Certain marine animals are then created ; 

 and the water having diminished in quantity new rocks are laid 

 bare. The precipitation M'hich had ceased, is now renewed ; 

 while the fragments of these rocks, and the spoils of animals, be- 

 come intermixed with the new chemical precipitate, forming the 

 " transition" class : and because the water continued progres- 

 sively to diminish, each succeeding rock appears at lower levels, 

 granite occupying the highest place, while all rocks occur, 

 throughout the globe, in the same order, constituting " universal 

 formations." More land becoming dry after the transition- 

 rocks, the " floetz" rocks are formed necessarily less inclined to 

 the horizon, and more regular ; though the reasons why are not 

 given, any more than for their frequent erect positions at pre- 

 sent. And the creation of new animals accounts for the supe- 

 riority of their remains in these. After this, the waters rose 

 again to deposite the trap-rocks .; thus once more covering even 

 the Andes, yet depositing them on such chosen places, as, in 

 subsiding, it let them fall on Britain and elsewhere. But, as 

 they lie among successive " flcetz" strata, tl:e sea rose and fell 

 over the whole globe, as often as it was necessary to produce the 

 first, the second, and third " flcetz" trap formations," in the few 

 chosen spots where they exist. This being done, the super- 

 fluous sea vanishes for the last time, and man is created. 



1 have avoided a more minute account of this theory, out of 

 respect for this philosopher ; as it is unfortunately the less intel- 

 ligible the more it is explained. But of all the properties of 

 that which explains every thing in the most perfect manner, the 

 most perfect is, that it is peculiarly and exclusively consistent 

 with the Mosaic history, which it also proves. The reader will 

 judge whether those who assert, or those who believe in, this 

 marvellous property, are most worthy of marvel. But, as 

 Whiston says of his own, " whether it l)e possible or not, such 

 is the fact." 



