Extinction, of Organic Beings. 485 



have arisen from the unwillingness of geologists to admit 

 that the six creative days of the Mosaic record were of no 

 longer duration than these natural days of our common 

 computation ; and truly if we are to measure the operations 

 of infinite and almighty Power, solely by such effects as are 

 clearly comprehensible to our weak and finite capacities, we 

 may be excused for so theorising; but it behoves us while 

 endeavouring to trace out the means by which the primeval 

 operations of nature were effected, to be careful, lest over- 

 stepping the bounds of prudence and sound reason, we 

 launch into the dangerous paths of scepticism and infidelity. 



In all cases, therefore, where we cannot clearly reconcile 

 existing effects to the causes assigned by sacred history, it 

 will be but in accordance with sound philosophy and true 

 religion, to suppose that our inability to fathom those 

 causes, proceeds from our as yet imperfect knowledge of the 

 subject, and not from ignorance of the facts, or a disregard 

 for truth in the inspired historian ; and we shall therefore 

 pause ere we reject his narrative, for our own wild fancies. 



Having now, I trust, satisfactorily shown the untenability of 

 the various theories and opinions regarding the creation and 

 diffusion of species, it only remains ere bringing the subject 

 to a close, to take a summary view of the facts we consider 

 to have been established ; — namely, that proof has already 

 been given of the tropical character of the climates with 

 which the infant world was blest ; and that we have also 

 gathered from the recorded facts of Holy Writ, and from the 

 nature of the fossil flora of those early times, that the animals 

 which then inhabited the earth, were solely of the herbivo- 

 rous kinds, and that no carnivora, properly so called, existed. 



The dawn of our human existence was therefore ushered 

 in, in peace and gentleness ; there was no strife, no thirst for 

 blood, but all was quiet and serene, and aptly termed in the 

 figurative style of scripture language, a garden or paradise. 

 Such term must be taken as applying to no one particular 



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