COSMOGONY. 847 



outlining of the continents was one of the earliest events, dating even 

 from Archaean time ; and it is probable, from the facts stated, that it 

 preceded that clearing of the atmosphere which opened the sky to the 

 earth. This would place the event between numbers 3 and 5, and, as 

 the sun's light was not essential to the earliest of organisms, probably 

 after number 4. 



The order, in the history, will then be — 



(1.) Activity begun, — light an immediate result. 



(2.) The earth made an independent sphere. 



(3.) Outlining of the land and water, determining the earth's gen- 

 eral configuration. 



(4.) The idea of life expressed in the lowest plants, and afterward, 

 if not contemporaneously, in the lowest or systemless animals, the 

 Protozoans. 



(5.) The energizing light of the sun shining on the earth, — an 

 essential preliminary to the display of the systems of life. 



(6.) Introduction of the systems of life. 



(7.) Introduction of Mammals, — the highest of Vertebrates, — the 

 class afterward to be dignified by including a being of moral and in- 

 tellectual nature. 



(8.) Introduction of Man. 



Cosmogony of the Bible. — There is one ancient document on cos- 

 mogony — that of the opening page of the Bible — which is not only 

 admired for its sublimity but is very generally believed to be of divine 

 origin, and which, therefore, demands at least a brief consideration in 

 this place. 



In the first place, it may be observed that this document, if true, is 

 of divine origin. For no human mind was witness of the events ; and 

 no such mind in the early age of the world, unless gifted with super- 

 human intelligence, could have contrived such a scheme, — would have 

 placed the creation of the sun, the source of light to the earth, so 

 long after the creation of light, even on the fourth day, and, what is 

 equally singular, between the creation of plants and that of animals, 

 when so important to both ; and none could have reached to the depths 

 of philosophy exhibited in the whole plan. 



Again, If divine, the account must bear marks of human imperfection, 

 since it was communicated through Man. Ideas suggested to a human 

 mind by the Deity would take shape in that mind according to its 

 range of knowledge, modes of thought, and use of language, unless it 

 were at the same time supernaturally gifted with the profound knowl- 

 edge and wisdom adequate to their conception ; and even then they 

 could not be intelligibly expressed, for want of words to represent 

 them. 



