14:6 OKI GIN OF THE EAKTH. 



brought the earth to completeness, considered merely as a 

 planetary sphere. 



7. The SEVENTH terrestrial development, which now ensues, 

 is that which is going on at the present time. It is character- 

 ized by sedimentary deposits from existing waters, and by 

 the oceanic, terrestrial, and atmospheric changes which are now 

 imperceptibly going on ; and its ushering in was accompanied 

 by the introduction of MAN, together with most of the animals 

 and plants of existing species. This, therefore, is the grand 

 culminating point of all terrestrial creations, and brings the 

 seven-fold progressive series to a completion. It is the grand 

 point that was aimed at in the beginning of beginnings, and 

 the great object the accomplishment of which each inter 

 mediate movement was intended to subserve ; and now that 

 it is attained, the previous conflicts of elements the clashings 

 of an impetuous nature, as if reaching forward and striving 

 impatiently for the attainment. of its final destiny, are lulled 

 into repose. The heavings of the earthquake and the spout- 

 ings of subterranean fire through the broken strata which were 

 so devastating in previous ages, have now in a great measure 

 subsided, or occur only in limited districts and at long inter- 

 vals. Mountain and plain, forest and field, ocean and atmos- 

 phere now testify their common satisfaction with the end 

 which has been gloriously achieved; and man, undisturbed, 

 proceeds to beautify and adorn the earth, and, with no other 

 interruptions than such, as are due to his own folly, pursues his 

 rounds of progress toward a destiny still more glorious and 

 sublime ! 



Of course the foregoing remarks in reference to the genesis 

 of the earth, are to be considered only in the light of a 

 general survey of the subject to which they relate, and as 

 being intended merely to establish general principles and 



