LIFE ON THE EARTH. 3 



then, bring into view the facts discovered in relation 

 to the Origin and Succession of Life on the Earth, 

 not with the expectation that we can altogether 

 penetrate the ' scheme of creation,' but to get a 

 further insight into it, and a clearer perception of the 

 appointed laws of nature, by the use of those senses 

 with which the Almighty has endowed us. Let us l 

 hope that while we study the external world, and, 

 perhaps in vain, strive to master its wonderful history, 

 we shall at least enlarge and correct our ideas, and 

 truly perform the part assigned to us in the large 

 field of creation which we are enabled and invited 

 to contemplate. 



Nature, in a large sense, is the expression of 

 a DIVINE IDEA, the harmonious whole of this 

 world of matter and life. Man, included in this 

 whole, is endowed with the sacred and wonderful 

 power of standing in some degree apart, so as to 

 observe the course, investigate the laws, and measure 

 and direct the inexhaustible powers which surround 

 him and penetrate him. The knowledge thus slowly 

 gathered is contained in two great HUMAN IDEAS, 

 the idea of force, as producing phenomena, and of 

 time as determining the succession and duration of 

 these. The ideas of constant force and perpetual 

 time are suggested to us in various ways by the 

 repeated occurrences of nature; uniform measures 



B2 



