THE DOCTRINE OF PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT. 267 



natural causes as sufficiently explaining the phenomena of 

 the inorganic world, and at the same time invoke super- 

 natural causes to explain the phenomena presented by 

 living beings. 



' It is surely,' he remarks, ' very unlikely, d priori, that in 

 two classes of phenomena, to all appearance perfectly 

 co-ordinate, and for certain intimately connected, there 

 should have been two totally distinct modes of the exercise of 

 the divine power. Were such the case, it would form a 

 most extraordinary, and what to philosophic considera- 

 tion ought to be a most startling, exception from that 

 which we otherwise observe of the character of the divine 

 procedure in the universe. Further, let us consider the 

 comparative character of the two classes of phenomena, 

 for comparison may of course be legitimate until the 

 natural system is admitted. The absurdities into which 

 we should thus be led must strike every reflecting mind. 

 The Eternal Sovereign arranges a solar or an astral 

 system, by dispositions imparted primordially to matter; 

 he causes, by the same majestic means, vast oceans to 

 form and continents to rise, and all of the grand meteoric 

 agencies to proceed in ceaseless alternation, so as to fit the 

 earth as a residence for organic beings. But when, in the 

 course of these operations, sea-weed and corals are to be 

 for the first time placed in those oceans, a change in his 

 plan of administration is required. It is not easy to say 

 what is presumed to be the mode of his operations. The 

 ignorant believe the very hand of the Deity to be at 

 work. Amongst the learned, we hear of " creative fiats," 

 " interferences," " interpositions of the creative energy ;" all 

 of them very obscure phrases, apparently not susceptible of 



