THE SPECIAL-CllEATION-HYPOTHESIS. 423 



better demonstrated by the separate creation of each indivi- 

 dual? Why should there exist this process of natural gene- 

 sis? Why should not omnipotence have been proved by the 

 supernatural production of plants and animals everywhere 

 throughout the world from hour to hour? Is it replied that 

 the Creator was able to make individuals arise from one 

 another in a natural succession, but not to make species thus 

 arise? This is to assign a limit to power instead of magni- 

 fying it. Either it was possible or not possible to create 

 species and individuals after the same general method. To 

 say that it was not possible is suicidal in those who use this 

 argument; and if it was possible, it is required to say what 

 end is served by the special creation of species which would 

 not have been better served by the special creation of 

 individuals. Again, what is to be thought of the fact 



that the immense majority of these supposed special creations 

 took place before mankind existed? Those who think that 

 divine power is demonstrated by special creations, have to 

 answer the question — to whom demonstrated? Tacitly or 

 avowedly, they regard the demonstrations as being for the 

 benefit of mankind. But if so, to what purpose were the 

 millions of these demonstrations which took place on the 

 Earth when there were no intelligent beings to contemplate 

 them ? Did the Unknowable thus demonstrate his power to 

 himself? Few will have the hardihood to say that any such 

 demonstration was needful. There is no choice but to regard 

 them, either as superfluous exercises of power, which is a 

 derogatory supposition, or as exercises of power that were 

 necessary because species could not be otherwise produced, 

 which is also a derogatory supposition. 



§ 113a. Other implications concerning the divine character 

 must be recognized by those who coniend that each species 

 arose by divine fiat. It is hardly supposable that Infinite 

 Power is exercised in trivial actions effecting trivial changes. 

 Yet the organic world in its hundreds of thousands of species 

 28 



