742 COSMOGONY. 



details in this place, but, supposing the nebular theory to be true, 

 briefly to mention the great stages of progress in the history of the 

 earth, or those successive periods which stand out prominently in 

 time through the exhibition of some new idea in the grand system 

 of progress. The views here offered, and the following on the cos- 

 mogony of the Bible, are essentially those brought out by Professor 

 Guyot in his lectures. 



Stages of progress. — These stages of progress are as follow : — 



(1.) The beginning of activity in matter. — In such a beginning 

 from matter in the state of a gaseous fluid the activity would be 

 intense, and it would show itself at once by a manifestation of light, 

 since light is a resultant of molecular activity. A flash of light 

 through the universe would therefore be the first announcement 

 of the work begun. 



(2.) The development of the earth. — A dividing and subdividing of 

 the original fluid going on would have evolved systems of various 

 grades, and ultimately the orbs of space, among these the earth, 

 an igneous sphere enveloped in vapors. 



(3.) The production of the earth's physical features, — by the out- 

 lining of the continents and oceans. The condensible vapors would 

 have gradually settled upon the earth as cooling progressed. 



(4.) The introduction of Life under its simplest forms, — as in the 

 lowest of plants, and perhaps, also, of animals. As shown on page 

 396, the systems of structure characterizing the two kingdoms of 

 nature, the Radiate of the Vegetable kingdom, and the Radiate, Mol- 

 luscan, Articulate, and Vertebrate of the Animal, are not brought out 

 in the simplest forms of life. The true Zoic era in history began 

 later. As plants are primarily the food of animals, there is reason 

 for believing that the idea of life was first expressed in a plant. 



(5.) The display of the Systems in the Kingdoms of Life, — the exhi- 

 bition of the four grand types under the Animal kingdom, being 

 the predominant idea in this phase of progress. 



(6.) The introduction of the highest class of Vertebrates, — that of the 

 Mammals (the class to which Man belongs), — viviparous species, 

 which are eminent above all other Vertebrates for a quality pro- 

 phetic of a high moral purpose, — that of suckling their young. 



(7.) The introduction of Man, — the first being of moral and intel- 

 lectual qualities, and one in whom the unity of nature has its full 

 expression. 



There is another great event in the Earth's history which has 

 not yet been mentioned, because of a little uncertainty with regard to 

 its exact place among the others. The event referred to is the first 

 shining of the sun upon the earth, after the vapors which till 



