RKVIEWS. 
159 
God. Ill one sense, however, progress in tlic organic world lias been dependent 
on, though not caused liy, progress in the inorganic. We see in geology many 
grounds for believing thiit each new tribe of animals or plants was introduced 
just as the carLh became fitted for it; and even in the present world we see 
that regions composed of the more ancient rocks, and not modified by subse- 
quent disturbances, present few of the means of support for men and the higher 
animals ; while those districts in wiiieh various revolutions of the earth have 
uceumulated fertile soils or deposited useful minerals are the chief seats of 
civilization and popidatiou. In like manner we know that those regions wliicli 
the bible informs us were the cradle of the hiunan race, and the seats of the 
oldest nations, are geologically amou^ the most recent parts of the existing 
continents, and were no doubt selected by the Creator partly on that account 
for the birthplace of man. We thus find that the bible and the geologists arc 
agreed not only as to the fact and order of progress, but also as to its manner 
and use. 
"Both i-ecords agree in affirming that since the beginning tliere has been 
but one great system of nature. We can imagine it to have been otherwise. 
Our existing nature might have been preceded by a state of things havmg no 
comieetion with it. The arrangement of the earth's surface might have been 
altogether diilcrent. Kaces of creatures might have existed having no affinity 
■with or resemblance to those of the present world ; and we might have been 
able to trace no present beneficial consequences as flowing from these past 
states of our planet. Had geology made such revelations as these, the con- 
sequences in relation to natural theology and the credibility of scripture would 
have been momentous. * * * The questions would naturally have arisen. 
Are there more creative powers than one ? If one, is he an imperfect or capri- 
cious being, who changes his plans of operation ? * * * Happily for us, 
there is nothing of this kind in the geological history of the earth, as there is 
manifestly nothing of it in that which is revealed in scri[)t ure. In the scripture 
narrative each act of creation prepares for another, and in its consequences ex- 
tends to them all. The inspired writer announces the introduction of each 
new part of creation, and there leaves it without any reference to the various 
phases which it assumed as the work advanced. In the general view which he 
takes, the land and sea first made represent those of all the following periods. 
So do the first plants, the first invertebrate animals, the first fishes, reptiles, 
birds, and mammals. He thus assures us that, however long the periods re- 
f resented by days of creation, the system of nature was one from the beginning, 
n like mauuer, in the geological record, each of the successive conditions of 
the earth is related to those which precede and to those which follow, as part of 
a series. So also a uniform plan of construction pervades organic nature, and 
■uniform laws the inorganic world in all periods. 
"We can thus include in one system of natural history aU animals and plants, 
fossil as well as recent ; and can resolve all inorganic changes into the operation 
of existing laws. The former of these facts is in its nature so remarkable, as 
almost to warrant the belief of special design. * * * Tlie periods into 
■which geology divides the liistory of the earth are different from those of serip- 
tiu'e; yet, when properly understood, there is a marked correspondence. 
Geology refers only to the fifth and sixth days of creation, or at most to these 
■with parts of the fourth and seventh ; and the only natural division that scrip- 
ture teaciies us to look for are those between the fifth and sixth days, and 
those which within these days mark the introduction of new animal forms, as 
for instance the great reptiles of the fifth day. We have already seen that the 
begimiing of the fifth day can be referred almost with certainty to that of the 
Paleozoic period. The beginning of the sixth day may with nearly equal cer- 
tainty be referred to that of the Tertiary era. The iiitroduction of great 
