i88o.l The Constitution of the Earth. 49 7 
stituted under its influence, we are presented with a reason 
of relationship as clear as that every effedt must be con- 
sistent with its cause. 
Thus, by an indudtive process of reasoning, we find that 
the earth is an emanation from the sun. All the undoubted 
truths of Science are consistent with the conclusion that the 
Earth and all the other planets of our system have been 
derived from the sun by a natural process of progressive 
development ; they are, in fadt, the children of the Sun, 
born in the order in which we find them placed in our 
planetary system, the most remote being the oldest, and 
intervals of millions of years having transpired between the 
times of their first foundation. Thus there is a relation 
between the sizes of the planets and their distances from 
the sun ; between the number of satellites of a planet and 
its distance from the sun ; between the revolutionary motion 
of a planet and its distance from the sun ; and between the 
rotary motion of a planet and its distance from the sun. 
Such relationship suggests a higher development in the 
planets which are most distant. The more distant planets 
are usually larger, have slower revolutionary and quicker 
rotary motions, and have more satellites, though such cha- 
racteristics do not follow with that mathematical accuracy 
which we might expedt if the relationship was of a purely 
mechanical instead of a physiological nature, as now pro- 
pounded. The Moon, which I take to be the child of the 
Earth, has no rotary motion in relation to its primary ; it 
has no atmosphere ; it is destitute of water ; and no signs 
have yet been discovered of vegetation or inhabitants. 
Born, as I assume, long ages after the Earth, it is altogether 
in an inferior state of development. 
Geology admittedly points to a time when there was 
neither animal nor vegetable life on the earth. It is sup- 
posed to be an established fadt that organic life originated 
in the simplest forms, which were slowly followed by others 
of a higher type ; and all the changes which have taken 
place are believed to be due to the present “ order of 
Nature.” 
Such conclusions are inconsistent with the idea of an 
accidental mechanical arrangement of the stratified rocks 
which constitute the outward covering of our globe, and 
which, for the most part, present the appearance of aggre- 
gations of matter consequent upon chemical or physiological 
processes. Moreover, they sugg.est the idea of being adtual 
additions to the original matter of which the earth was 
formed before organic life began to be developed. 1 hat they 
2 M 2 
