OF THE EARTH. 505 



General Conclusions. 



In reviewing what has past, we cannot help being 

 struck with the magnitude of the forces which elevated 

 the strata, with the enormous power for example which., 

 for the last time,, brought up from the bottom of the 

 ocean our present primary mountains together with 

 their successive superstructures; the entire mass and 

 load of all the rocks, from the lowest sandstone to the 

 chalk. The imagination is lost in reflecting on such 

 forces, as it is on the power which projected the pla- 

 netary bodies in their orbits. Yet this force is proved 

 by the facts: and though it were not, why should it be 

 doubted? That Hand which spanned the globe of the 

 earth and launched it into space, might surely move its 

 parts. The unperceived influence of an antient athe- 

 istical philosophy is for ever shutting our eyes to the 

 First Cause: we dwell on secondary causes till we forget 

 that they are but the agents of Him who appointed and 

 governs them, and who governs them for His own ends. 



He who created, does He not also regulate ? Or 

 where is the difference ? We are misled by a term : 

 we are thinking of the metaphysical question of the 

 creation of matter, when we imagine that we are dis- 

 cussing that of the earth. The Deity created more 

 than mere matter, or a simple globe ; but he did 

 not create those forms and dispositions in an instant. 

 The Earth is not yet created : nor will it be, as long 

 as it has a change to undergo. What He did at first 

 He is doing daily : let His power in creation be granted, 

 and we grant His powers in regulating, in governing: 

 .it is enough. 



The extent of these forces has been that of the 

 whole Earth; but their depth must also have been 

 enormous. Mathematics teach us how to calculate, 

 from the extent of action, the depth of a military mine. 



