BIVALVE MOLLUSCANS. 239 



and thus each is instructed by its Omniscient 

 Creator, and fitted by its structure and organi- 

 zation, to accomplish the intended purpose, but 

 by different means and instruments. 



While each of these creatures has a particular 

 and individual end in view, in its several pro- 

 ceedings, its own accommodation and appropriate 

 nutriment and defence; the Creator, who has 

 gifted them accordingly, makes use of them as 

 instruments, which by their combined agency, 

 though each, as it were, by a different pro- 

 cess, accomplish, usually by slow degrees, His 

 general purposes. This object, in the present 

 instance, as well as in numerous others, seems 

 to be to remove obstacles that stand in the way, 

 and prevent certain changes willed by Provi- 

 dence, in the sea-line of any country, from 

 taking place. Rocks may be regarded as so 

 many munitions of a coast, which prevent the 

 encroachment of the ocean, but nothing can 

 more effectually prepare the way for the removal 

 of this safeguard, than its being, as it were, 

 honey-combed by numberless stone-borers, that 

 make it their habitation, thus it must be gra- 

 dually rendered weaker ; till it is no longer able 

 to resist the impetus of the waves ; the process 

 is very slow, but it is sure ; and it is worthy 

 of remark, by what a seemingly weak organ 

 most of these animals are enabled to effect 

 this purpose, a fleshy foot, strengthened by no 



