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2 THE HISTORY OF CREATION. 
Theory of Development, which embraces in its vast range 
the whole domain of human knowledge. 
But the manner in which Darwin has firmly established 
the latter by the former is so convincing, and the direction 
which has been given by the unavoidable conclusions of 
that theory to all our views of the universe, must appear to 
every thinking man of such deep significance, that its 
general importance cannot be over estimated. There is no 
doubt that this immense extension of our intellectual 
horizon must be looked upon as by far the most important, 
and rich in results, among all the numerous and grand 
advances which natural science has made in our day. 
When our century, with justice, is called the age of 
natural science, when we look with pride upon the im- 
mensely important progress made in all its branches, we 
are generally in the habit of thinking more of immediate 
practical results, and less of the extension of our general 
knowledge of nature. We call to mind the complete reform, 
so infinitely rich in consequences to human intercourse, 
which has been effected by the development of machinery, 
by railways, steamships, telegraphs, and other inventions 
of physics. Or we think of the enormous influence which 
chemistry has brought to bear upon medicine, agriculture, 
and upon all arts and trades. 
But much as we may value this influence of modern 
science upon practical life, still it must, estimated from a 
higher and more general point of view, stand most assuredly 
below the enormous influence which the theoretical progress 
of modern science will have on the entire range of human 
knowledge, on our conception of the universe, and on the 
perfecting of man’s culture. 
