i88o.] 
The Constitution of the Earth • 
495 
of the Earth,” which contained, in a more or less crude and 
imperfect shape, the ideas which it is the object of the later 
work to elucidate, and when the term “ Evolution ” was not 
so scientifically popular as it is at the present time. Instead 
of being the result of some occult or mechanical disposition 
of things to change, I maintain that the evolution of species 
has been the result of a great scheme of creation, by which 
the Earth itself has undergone a progressive development. 
It seems to me that what are usually described as the 
“ Laws of Nature ” are simply man's recognition of the order , 
harmony, or consistency , with which the Creator operates in the 
Universe. I deny the existence of “ immutable elements ” 
or of “ eternal and imperishable” matter in any shape. 
Matter, as it is known to our consciousness through the 
senses, is continually coming into existence and passing 
away. Only in the abstra(5t sense can it be said to be un- 
changeable, for the simple reason that, matter devoid of 
every quality by which it is known to us is only an abstrac- 
tion, and has no more sensible existence than any other 
metaphysical conception. We recognise the continual 
activity of Nature when we observe that all things grow 
older. Time is, in fadt, the symbol or abstract representa- 
tive of the boundless succession of created things which 
have existed in the past or may exist in the future. 
The order and consistency of the adtion of God in crea- 
tion may be formulated as follows : — 
1. The Law of Existence.— Circumstances govern the 
creation of things, and therefore all things exist by 
virtue of their circumstances. 
2. The Law of Diversity. — As no two things can occupy 
the same place in the universe, therefore no two 
things can be exadtly alike. 
3. The Law of Organisation , Variation , or Development . — 
The differences or similitudes between two . things 
must be in proportion to the differences or similitudes 
in the circumstances under which they have come 
into existence or by which they are sustained. 
4. The Law of Motion. — A change in the circumstances 
of things necessarily involves a corresponding change 
in the things themselves. 
Except for the theories of “immutable elements” and “im- 
perishable matter,” no one would think of disputing that no 
form of matter of which we have any sensible knowledge can 
exist independent of the conditions of its existence. As Paley, in 
his Natural Theology, has declared — “The bodies of animals 
VOL. II. (THIRD SERIES). 2 M 
