124 THE HARMONIES OF NATURE. 



the coral-islands above the level of the waters, or to transform 

 them from naked cliffs into tropical gardens. Here surely 

 blind chance has not been at work, but the ineffable wisdom 

 of an Almighty Crod. 



If these gems of the ocean required but a few hours for 

 their formation, if we could see them suddenly emerge from 

 the waves, and the white rocks rapidly cover themselves with 

 verdure, and the colonies of sea-birds hasten to their new 

 homes, and man erect his dwellings on these magic isles, then 

 indeed our astonishment would know no bounds, and we should 

 look down with pity upon him who would attribute them to a for- 

 tuitous concurrence of physical causes : but are the coral-islands 

 less wonderful, or do they less clearly proclaim the glory of their 

 Maker, because centuries on centuries were necessary to raise 

 and to adorn them ? 



