152 Natural Theology. 



Whatever theory we may adopt as to the introduc- 

 tion of species on the globe, we must all acknowledge 

 the same order of succession in animal life. From 

 this there is no escape ; for that grand old volume, 

 the earth, is full of these forms, varied as the strata 

 of rocks rise one above another. And what a grand 

 history is here recorded of creative power ! What 

 wisdom, skill, and unity of plan are revealed ! The 

 mountain-tops and the deep valleys unite in declar- 

 ing that the march of animal and vegetable life, 

 through all the vast ages of rock formation, was 

 under the guidance and power of a Being who saw 

 the end from the beginning, and moved on the grand 

 succession, from the lowest forms of the Silurian 

 age to the creation of man. We believe this unity 

 of plan was in the Divine Mind alone, and that the 

 varied tribes were the direct creation of His hand. 



While we believe this to be the teaching of the 

 rocks, it is freely acknowledged that there are 

 changes in organic beings that favor the development 

 theory. Distinct kinds of plants and animals have 

 appeared within the historic period. In fact, new 

 kinds may appear every year, as is well- understood 

 by every intelligent gardener. These new varieties 

 are regarded by some as incipient species, which in 

 time will become permanent in form and,,take their 

 place among those that are now recognised as spe- 

 cies. And since we find so many kinds of plants 

 originating from the same stock, all our apples, for 

 example, coming undoubtedly from one kind, what 

 might we not expect as the result of this variation 



