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go. The stone falls, the sun shines, the air moves, the tides 

 flow, the blood circulates, and in its vast and quiet solemnity the 

 vaulted sky hangs over us. In fact wherever we stand in the 

 glorious creation of God, we see such a general resemblance 

 emerging from apparent diversity, and expressing such unifor- 

 mity of plan, that we are compelled to acknowledge the same 

 Divine footprints in every corner of Creation. 



The Argument from Comparative Anatomy, 



13. The inspection and comparison of animated beings 

 gives additional strength to this conclusion. Of all large 

 terrestrial animals, however different in form, the structure 

 is very much alike — their natural functions and passions 

 nearly the same — their vital organs nearly the same in 

 substance, shape, and office. Digestion, nutrition, circu- 

 lation, and secretion go on in a similar manner, and 

 the solid groundwork or skeleton is plainly made upon the 

 same general model. For example, scarcely anything can 

 appear more unlike than the wing of the bat, the hoof of the 

 horse, the paddle of the whale, and the human hand. But 

 when the integuments are stripped off, when the number and 

 order of the solid parts are examined, when they are subjected 

 to the view of Comparative Anatomy, they are found to consist 

 of the bones of the human hand arranged in precisely the same 

 order, and merely lengthened, expanded, or otherwise modified, 

 to suit the flying, swimming, or pounding motions of the 

 several creatures, and the elements to which they belong. And 

 this law of Unity of plan prevails not less universally through- 

 out the various races of extinct creatures, whose fossil remains 

 are found embedded in the earth. The harmony of structure 

 and design is so complete, that from the character of a single 

 limb, or, even of a single tooth, or bone, the Comparative 

 Anatomist is able to determine the size and proportions of the 

 other bones — the external form and figure of the body — the 

 food, habits, and mode of life of creatures that have long 

 ceased to exist upon the surface of the planet. In a word — 

 whether we discover new countries, or penetrate into distant 

 ages — whether we examine the sparkling heavens, or the mass 

 of matter on which we reside — in every part we find stamped 

 upon the framework of Creation, a Unity of plan and purpose, 

 emerging from apparent diversity and confusion — indicating the 

 same Almighty Creator, and unconsciously illustrating the 

 simple but comprehensive truth of Unity in Variety. 



