4 ORIGIN OF SPECIES. 
It seems to me such existence may be proved sci- 
entifically, with the same certainty of any proposition 
depending on deductions from known premises. 
Assuming then, the existence of a Creator—God 
—by whom all things were and are created; let us 
see if in the phenomena of matter, manifested to us, 
he does not permit us to form some rational idea of 
the modus operandi of Creation. 
The questions here suggested are of the gravest 
character. How does the Creator work, in the crea- 
tion of those animals and plants of the time being ? 
How is the power exerted which gives efficiency to 
the intermediate causes which fall under our obser- 
vation ? Js it spasmedic and fractionary, or uni- 
form and incessant 2 We very well know that not 
a blade of grass—not a shrub or a tree can grow— 
not a flower can blossom, or a fruit ripen—not an 
animal organism can be formed or developed, with- 
out an influx of light and heat from the sun; and 
that, were the sun blotted out, all vegetable and an- 
-imal life would soon cease. Light and heat, how- 
ever, are only intermediate causes—mere agents—in 
the production of creative results, since it is not to 
be supposed, that they have original power in them- 
selves to perform the work. We can see that such 
flow of light and heat is uniform and incessant ; and 
we can easily understand why it should be so. In 
scientific investigations, we may mount to the sun ; 
