GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. 201 
to that of the creation of man. By the creation designed in 
the first two verses, therefore, no prolongation of time is given, 
but only a creation of which no days can be predicted,—one 
which always was, and is, and is to come. God only created 
the world owcc, and yet is always creating it; nor is there more 
than one beginning; yet are its images many, and, in all, has its 
unceasing renewal and perpetual demonstration. 
Thus the history of the changes of the globe we dwell upon 
is certainly wonderful ; few, if any, signs of a begmning have 
hitherto been discovered, and no symptom of an end, 
‘^Time and change are great, only with reference to the facul¬ 
ties of the beings which note them. The insect of an hour, 
fluttering, during its transient existence, in an atmosphere of 
perfume, would attribute unchanging duration to the beautiful 
flowers in our gardens. These flowers, could they reflect, might 
contrast their transitory lives with the prolonged existence of their 
greener neighbours. The leaves themselves, counting their brief 
span by the lapse of a few moons, might regard as almost inde¬ 
finitely extended the duration of the common parent of both 
leaf and flower*.” 
It may be argued, that as the different states of the earth’s 
surface, and the different species by which it has been inhabited, 
have all had their origin, and many of them their termination, 
so the entire series may have commenced at a certain period. 
And it may also be urged, that, as I admit the creation of man 
to have occurred at a comparative modern epoch—as I concede 
the astonishing fact of the first introduction of a moral and intel¬ 
lectual being—so also we might conceive the first creation of the 
planet itself. 
I am far from denying the weight of this reasoning from ana¬ 
logy; but, although it might strengthen our conviction, that 
the present system of change has not gone on from eternity, it 
cannot warrant us in presuming that we shall be permitted to 
behold the signs of the earth’s origin, or the evidences of the first 
introduction in it of organic beings. 
We argue in vain to assign limits to the works of creation or 
space, whether we examine the starry heavens, or that world of 
minute animalcules which is revealed to us by the microscope. 
We are prepared, therefore, to find that in timey also, the con¬ 
fines of the universe lie beyond the reach of mortal ken. But 
in whatever direction we pursue our researches, whether in time 
or space, we discover everywhere the clear proofs of a Creative 
Intelligence, and of his foresight, wisdom, and power. 
* Babbage, Bridgewater Treatise. 
VO I,. XI. 
i: 0 
