Theoretical Considerations. 



247 



dition of the globe. But of what possible use, in a moral point of 

 view, and in a revelation for the great mass of mankind, would it 

 have been, to have given an account of the creation and extinction of 

 certain huge ferns, sea weeds, zoophytes, and sea monsters, whose 

 relics would be brought to light, not till several thousand years after- 

 wards, by the researches of geologists % 



So far then from finding in these facts and conclusions any objec- 

 tions to the Mosaic records, I find in them a striking evidence of the 

 benevolence of the Deity. For during the long period above spoken 

 of, the globe was evidently preparing for the residence of man, and 

 the other animals that now inhabit it. Before their creation, its tem- 

 perature was too high, and its surface too liable to be broken up by 

 volcanoes and drenched by deluges, to be a secure and happy abode 

 for the more perfect races of animals that now inhabit it. But it was 

 adapted to the nature and habits of such animals and vegetables as 

 we now find entombed in the rocks. The overflowing benevolence 

 of the" Deity, therefore, led him to place such beings upon it ; and 

 thus to communicate a vast amount of happiness, which seems to be 

 a grand object in all his plans and operations. The vegetables that 

 existed in those early periods, have been converted, in the course of 

 time, into the various species of coal now dug from the bowels of the 

 earth ; while the remains of the animals of those times have become 

 changed into limestone. And even those violent volcanic agencies, 

 by which the successive races of plants and animals have been sud- 

 denly destroyed, have probably introduced into the upper part of the 

 earth's crust, various metallic veins, very important to human happi- 

 ness. And in all this, we see indications of that same benevolent 

 foresight and care, for supplying the wants of his creatures, to which 

 our daily individual experience of God's goodness testifies. 



I deduce another moral consideration of no little importance, from 

 the facts and conclusions that have been stated. So constant and 

 uniform are the operations of nature in general, that philosophy has 

 always been prone to regard the universe as a most curious machine, 

 set in motion at the beginning by an all-wise being, who having fur- 

 nished it with every thing requisite to keep it eternally in play, has 

 left it to run on in the prescribed course, without his interference, 

 and without any need even of his direction and superintendance, 

 Indeed, some have thought this machine so perfect, as to need no 

 creating and superintending Cause, if we only admit it to have been 

 eternally in motion. But these records of geology show us that this 



