COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE EARTH. 139 



by Special Creation. Instead of this, the ex- 

 tinction of a species only disturbs the equi- 

 librium for a time, and its place is filled up 

 not by the creation of a new species, but by 

 the surrounding organisms adapting themselves 

 to the vacuum which its disappearance has 

 caused. 



The Theory of Evolution thus represents 

 Nature as a vast self-adjusting machine, upheld 

 by the Divine Wisdom and needing no 

 miraculous interposition or interference with 

 its laws, which are sufficiently perfect in 

 themselves to provide for every possible 

 contingency. "We can thus discern far higher 

 proofs of the wisdom of God in nature 

 than if we regard the Universe as a toy, 

 created for a mere temporary purpose, and 

 requiring continual readjustments to keep it 

 in working order at all, even for the short 

 period for which it was intended to exist. 



So far as the sciences can show us the laws of 

 Nature, they are immutable and unchangeable, 

 in all worlds, and at all periods. We have every 

 reason to suppose that they were the same a 

 hundred million years ago as to-day, and affect 

 all existing things and beings equally, according 



