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ORDER OF CREATION. 



The general order of time in which the earth with its 

 furniture and its inhabitants came to its present form, is 

 sufficiently manifest from the only authentic history we 

 have of its creation, from reason, and from observation. 

 The first step which was taken to change the original 

 chaos into a convenient dwelling-place for living, acting, 

 and intelligent beings, was the formation of dry land. 

 That was necessary to provide for the accommodation 

 of animal and vegetable life. When provision was 

 made for the existence and support of the vegetable 

 kingdom, ( the earth brought forth grass and herb 

 yielding seed after their kind, and the tree yielding 

 fruit after his kind, whose seed was in itself after his 

 kind.' 



The creation, and continued production of the vege- 

 table kingdom, made provision for the animal. Then 

 the earth brought forth cattle that walk upon the earth, 

 fowls that fly in the firmament of heaven, reptiles that 

 creep in the dust, and fishes that move in the waters i 

 and each after his kind. 



But the tenant for whom the earth, with all its pro- 

 ductions of animal and vegetable life, and so richly 

 provided with furniture of a thousand kinds, was not 

 yet created. His creation was to close this august work 

 of the great Architect of the universe. Man was not 

 formed and placed upon the earth, until the earth was 

 fitted for his reception, his convenience, and his happi- 

 ness until two great lights were formed, one to rule 

 the day, and the other to rule the night, and the stars 

 also until the waters which were under the firmament 

 were divided from those above the firmament, and 

 gathered together in one place, and dry land appeared 

 until grass, herbs, and trees yielded seed and fruit 

 after their kind, and cattle, the fowls of heaven, every 

 creeping tiling, and every living creature which moves 

 in the waters, were, formed, and made to produce others 

 after their kind, ajid put in subjection to the lord of this 

 lower creation. 



Such is the general order in the work of creation, as 



