METHOD OF CREATION. 41 



suddenly in any case, but slowly and gradually, 

 and yet completely. When once this fact is 

 clearly apprehended — whenever we become 

 familiar with the idea that Creation has had 

 a History, we are inevitably led to the con- 

 clusion that Creation has also had a Method. 

 And then the further question arises, — What 

 has this method been ? It is perfectly natural 

 that men who have any hopes of solving this 

 question should take that supposition which 

 seems the readiest ; and the readiest sup- 

 position is, that the agency by which new 

 species are created is the same agency by 

 which new individuals are born. The difficulty 

 of conceiving any other compels men, if they 

 are to guess at all, to guess upon this founda- 

 tion. Such is the origin and genesis of all 



