2 CREATION OF ANIMALS. 



animal creation, are likely to meet with more 

 universal attention, to be more generally compre- 

 hended, to make a deeper and more lasting im- 

 pression upon the mind, to direct the heart more 

 fervently and devotedly to the maker and giver 

 of these interesting beings, than those which are 

 drawn from more abstruse sources, though really 

 more elevated and sublime. ^ sd biu 



The history of the animal kingdom naturally 

 commences with the creation of animals, and the 

 great events preparatory to it, for when the 

 ALMIGHTY CREATOR, in his wisdom, and by the 

 word of his power, had first brought into being, 

 and afterwards set in order, the heavens and the 

 earth : had caused the latter to bring forth grass, 

 and herb, and tree, and then had placed his sun 

 in the former, that by constant irradiations of 

 light and heat from that central fountain, the 

 life, 1 and motion, which the FIRST MOVER had 

 begun by the incubation of his Spirit, and which 

 now manifested itself in the vegetable kingdom, 

 might be maintained till it had run its destined 

 course. When all things were thus prepared, 

 his next care was to people and enliven the earth 

 with a different and higher class of beings, in 

 whom to organization, and life, and growth, 

 and reproductive powers, might be added sensa- 

 tion and voluntary motion. Unpeopled by ani- 



i See Appendix, note 1. 



