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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. 
12. 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. 
