ON THE DELUGE. 661 



Partly referring to such indefinite periods as we have been 

 discussing, — and partly to reasoning unaided by revelation, — 

 some geologists have said that there were successive creations, 

 at intervals of vast duration. They have imagined an age in 

 which only the ' so-called' lowest orders of animated creatures 

 existed,* an age of fishes, an age of reptiles, an age of mam- 

 malia, and an age in which man appeared : statements which 

 have obtained much attention. Fossil fishes and shell mol- 

 lusca-f- have been found in coal measures, and in subjacent 

 formations : — how could this have happened if vegetables had 

 been produced first ; then swept away and converted into coal, 

 and that afterwards the lower orders of animals had appeared ? 

 We know that the fossil plants of the coal formations are simi- 

 lar in structure to vegetables now growing on the earth, which 

 cannot flourish without warmth, and the light of the sun. 

 Vegetation was produced on the third day, the sun on the 

 fourth. If the third day was an age, how was the vegetable 

 world nourished? But anomalies such as these appear to be 

 endless in most geological theories : I will leave them for the 

 present and continue my course. 



Jews, who perform their worship in Hebrew, and are naturally at least as 

 much interested in the Old Testament as any people, use and prefer our 

 authorised English translation. 



* In classing one order of creatures above or below others, we may 

 perhaps consider them as they appear to our apprehension, in com- 

 parison with others, but we must beware of thinking them more or less 

 imperfect. Every creature is perfectly adapted to the condition and 

 locality for which it is designed, and absolutely perfect (speaking gene- 

 rally). Some that are intended to live in the dark ; or some that are to 

 exist under pressure ; may at first sight appear to us imperfect; perhaps 

 shapeless, unsightly objects : but, after examination into their natural 

 history, our hasty remark is succeeded by expressions of astonishment 

 at such wonderful arrangements of Providence as are shewn — even in the 

 most shapeless sea slug. 



Multitudes of creatures exist now, especially in the sea, quite as ap- 

 parently imperfect as those of the so called lowest order of animated 

 creation, whose impressions are found in solid rocks. There may also 

 be animals in deep waters that could not exist except under pressure. 



+ Rhind, Keith, Lyell, Sjc^ 



