450 



disposition of coal accords with this order of creation; excepting that in 

 many of the coal measures, the alternating limestones are full of the re- 

 mains of shells. But on the other hand it must be observed, that as the 

 formation of coal may have taken place soon after the creation of vege- 

 tables, and have continued even to a very late period, so, consequently,, 

 the accompanying strata may vary materially as to their contents. In 

 the later formation, the remains of marine animals may be expected to 

 be met with ; but in the earliest formation, that which is found on granite, 

 and accompanied by porphyry, green-stone, c. it is probable that no 

 remains of animals would be found, and fair proof would be yielded, of 

 an accordance, in this instance, between the order of creation as related 

 by Moses, and the order in which the investing strata of the earth are 

 disposed. 



The creation of the succeeding period, according to the scriptural rela- 

 tion, was that of the inhabitants of the water and of the air*. In agree- 

 ment with this order of creation, are the contents of all the numerous 

 strata lying above those already mentioned ; including the blue clay 

 which we have seen disposed in many places almost at the surface. In 

 all these strata no remains are to be found but those of the inhabitants of 

 the waters ; excepting those of birds, which exist, though rarely in some 

 particular spots. But in none of these strata has a single relic been met 

 with which can be supposed to have belonged to any terrestrial animal. 



In the next period it is stated, that the beasts of the earth, cattle, and 

 every thing that creepeth upon the earth, were madef . The agree- 

 ment of the situations in which the remains of land animals are found 

 ijrith this stated order of creation, is exceeding exact ; since it is only the 

 surface, or in some superficial stratum, or in comparatively some lately 

 formed deposition, that any remains of these animals are to be found. 



The creation of man, we are informed, was the work of the last pe- 

 riod J : and in agreement with his having been created after all the other 



* Genesis, i. 20 t Genesis, i. 24. J Genesis, i 26 



