162 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



If from these general reflections we proceed to take a 

 glance at the inhabitants of the ocean, we shall discover 

 that it is a world in itself, and as richly furnished as the 

 land with innumerable varieties of plants and animals. 

 These furnish the Naturalist with continual occupation, 

 while he observes how well constructed their organs 

 are to the element in which they live ; how infinitely 

 varied, and how full of beauty and curious contrivance. 

 He who had never seen a fish would be almost incre- 

 dulous of the existence of such creatures, so widely 

 different is their organization from that of land animals. 

 Arguing from the effects which an immersion for any 

 considerable season under the water has upon the 

 human frame, he would perhaps pronounce it to be 

 impossible that any creatures should live there and 

 multiply. But so wisely has the Creator fashioned 

 these animals, that the water is to them as natural an 

 element as the air is to us; but what is still more 



which the theorists of the earth have prescribed, or by any 

 other, time must discover ; but it is evident from hence, that 

 this new heaven and earth are not designed to take place till 

 after the general judgment; for at the general judgment, (xx 

 13) "The sea gave up the dead which were in it." Many 

 understand the expression figuratively, that there shall be no 

 troubles or commotions in this new world ! — Bishop Newton 

 on the Prophecies, vol. 2, p, ^^7. 



