46 m.jus '. 



higher functional performances. In fact, the idea of 

 development involves that of superaddition — no mat- 

 ter by what process the superaddition may be effected, 

 and it is the oversight of this truth which apparently 

 leads to the misconception of the theory of vital 

 progression. Call it jprogre^ive. modification, ad- 

 vancement, development, or what you will, there is 

 clearly at each successive stage something new evolved; 

 and as all physical means and processes are but im- 

 plements of .the Divine will, the new evolution must, 

 in ea oh. case, be accepted as tantamount to a new 

 creation. 



If it should be argued, as it is sometimes done, that 

 it would be as easy for the Divine Author of the 

 universe to create a form of new as to modify the 

 structure of a pre-existing one, then to such an argu- 

 ment there can be only one answer. No one doubts 

 it ; no one having enhghtened conceptions of a Creator 

 ever doubted it. But the question is not one of 

 possibility but of probability. We perceive a certain 

 order and certain method in nature ; we see that 

 under new conditions certain variations do take place 

 in vegetable and animal structures ; and by an irre- 

 sistible law of our intellect, we associate the variations 

 with the conditions in the way of cause and effect. 

 Of such a method we can form some notion, and bring 

 it withm the realm of reason; of any other plan, 



