XY. 



WHAT 18 CREATION? 



Through knowledge we behould the World's creation, 

 How in his cradle first he fostred was, 

 And judge of Nature's cunning operation, 

 How things she formed of a formless mass." 



SPENSER. 



" Creation is great and cannot be understood." 



CABLYLE. 



'HERE have been at different times and 

 still are many theories of Creation. The 

 word " theory " is very ambiguous. It is 

 necessary, therefore, to lay down what 

 we mean by it. Amongst the older philosophers 

 it denoted speculation. It is now very frequently 

 used in opposition to " practice," as signifying the 

 principles or doctrines underlying and determining 

 art. In scientific discussions it is often taken as 

 equivalent to " hypothesis," that is, a suggestion, or 

 even inference, for which, it is admitted, there is 

 not sufficient evidence, but which, on account of its 

 agreement with a greater or less number of circum- 

 stances, we are led to adopt provisionally as a law 

 or an explanation of a certain series of facts. This 



