294 EVOLUTION AND DOGMA. 



ter thus actuated by the elemental forms, a virtue 

 was implanted, dispositive towards all the material 

 forms conditionally necessary to the perfection of 

 the earthly universe. But it was an ordered poten- 

 tiality ; so that in the after Evolution of the substan- 

 tial forms, the lower should precede the higher ; and 

 that these latter should presuppose and virtually ab- 

 sorb the former. Thus were the figurative six days 

 completed with the sowing of the seed of the future 

 cosmos. There ensued thereupon a Sabbath of rest. 

 The fresh, elemental world was sown with the germs 

 of future beauty in diverse forms of life, in diversity 

 of species, and possibly, varieties under the same 

 species. But these, as yet, lay hidden in the womb 

 of nature. No earthly substance existed in act save 

 the simple bodies ; primordial matter under its first 

 and lowest forms. Such was the earthly creation 

 when the first Sabbath closed in upon it. After this 

 Sabbath followed the order of Divine administra- 

 tion, wherein, as it continues to the present hour, the 

 Divine Wisdom and Omnipotence superintended the 

 natural Evolution of visible things, according to a 

 constant order of His own appointing, amid cease- 

 less cycles of alternate corruptions and genera- 

 tions. 



"Compound inanimate substances were first 

 evolved by means of the seminal forces bestowed on 

 nature. Then, from the bosom of these compounds 

 sprang into being the green life of herb, plant and 

 tree, gradually unfolding into higher and more com- 

 plex forms of loveliness as the ages rolled on, accord- 

 ing to the virtual order imprinted at first upon the 



