54 II. PERMANENCE OF SPECIES. 



in this matter. It is certainly curious to find that cele- 

 brated Geologist, — who has so successfully advocated the 

 theory of gradual metamorphose or change in the past 

 condition of the inorganic world, similar to the gradual 

 changes now seen in progress, — departing from the sug- 

 gestions of analogy, and arguing against any similar 

 course in the organic world of nature. The inorganic 

 changes are argued to have been gradual, even from mo- 

 ment to moment, and to have been thus effected without 

 continually renewed and special interference of Ceeative 

 Power. But the organic changes are supposed and con- 

 tended by the same writer, to have required many mil- 

 lions of such special interferences ; — each of the species 

 appearing on the earth, in countless and seemingly end- 

 less succession, being a new creation, and not emanating 

 from any predecessor species. At any rate, there is a 

 total want of consistency and harmony in these two oppo- 

 site and opposed views of the course of Nature. Whether 

 the inconsistency is human, or the discord is Divine, it 

 remains for a future generation to discover. 



Theological doctrines have doubtless contributed very 

 largely to give scientific men, and especially those who 

 had some secular interest to serve thereby, a decided bias 

 towards the views of organic nature advocated by Lyell 

 and most others who have entered upon this debateable 

 ground. Such views appear to concur best with precon- 

 ceived ideas ; and they are therefore received with satis- 

 faction by the generality of readers, whether advocated 

 by a sincere writer, like Sir Charles Lyell, or by one of a 

 different school, like the late Hugh Miller. There is a 

 vague impression — it can hardly be termed anything bet- 

 ter or more settled — that the theory of a mutation of spe- 

 cies is in some way or other hostile to Biblical records. 

 And this vague impression influences the minds of 



