steps of the development—becomes importunate. And when nothing is offered to satisfy this craving but loose and vague reference to favourable circumstances of climate, food, and general situation, which no experience has ever shown to convert one species into another, who is there who does not at once perceive that such a theory is in no respect more explanatory than that would be which simply asserted a miraculous intervention at every successive step of that unknown series of events, by which the earth has been alternately peopled and dispeopled of its denizens?"

Sir H. Davy adds, "Five successive races of plants, and four successive races of animals, appear to have been created and swept away by the physical revolutions of the globe, before the system of things became so permanent as to fit the world for man.'

These races may have been swept away by the physical revolutions of the globe, but they could not be created by these revolutions. Probably, Sir Humphrey does not mean to say that they were created by them. He surely could not mean to make an assertion so evidently and utterly false. He can refer only to the destruction of these races by physical revolutions. And then we must have at least five creative eras-five eras, not of nature's development, but of God's interference-five eras when he put forth his power to improve the world, forming it after a new and superior model, before it assumed the aspect which it wore when man became its pure and happy inhabitant, "when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy."

CHAPTER III.

RECAPITULATION OF THE PRECEDING ARGUMENT-WITH ADDITIONAL REMARKS.

We do not vouch for the perfect accuracy of the evidence which we have been examining. Mr Combe, however, having adduced it, is bound to admit its validity and its relevancy. Now, what does it go to prove? Not successive developments, but sUCCESSIVE CREATIONS. "Shell-fish and coral insects WERE CREATED." This was not at the formation of the globe, but after it had cooled down so far as to permit the formation of the crystalline rocks, and the existence of water in its liquid form. What next? "As the temperature of the globe became lower, species of the oviparous reptiles appear to have been created to inhabit it." The sum of the whole historic outline is this:

"Five successive races of plants, and four successive races of animals appear to have been created; at last man was created." Here we are told, not of natural energies progressively developed, but of creative power repeatedly put forth. This evidence gives no support to Mr Combe's hypothesis, viz. " that the physical department of the world contains within itself the elements of improvement;" but, on the contrary, it ascribes the successive improvement of the

world to successive creative acts, storing it with varied organic forms, at eras widely removed from each other. We have here reiterated interferences by the Deity, to roll back the tide of destruction, and call forth into being new forms of life, rising above each other in excellence, but at successive and remote eras, to occupy and adorn the still improving world.

To argue for successive development as Mr Combe does, is no more just than it would be in a Canadian Indian to argue, that the white man's dwelling contains within itself the elements of improvement; because, when it first arose near the forest, it was a rudely thatched wigwam ; then appeared as a mud-plastered log-house; next, having been successively improved, became a convenient but rough building of stone, well roofed with tiles; and, last of all, presented the aspect of a splendid mansion, built of polished stone, and covered with a glittering metallic roof. Here there is improvement, successive improvement; but how absurd would it be to ascribe this improvement to the dwelling itself, as if, by a process of development like that which converts an acorn into an oak, the rude wigwam had been converted into a magnificent mansion. So far from containing within itself the elements of improvement, the dwelling contains within itselfthe elements of decay. It ever and anon needs to be repaired. Its improvement is entirely owing to extraneous, not to inherent, energy. Time developes in it no further excellence. Time, on the contrary, developes in it ever-growing defects. If entirely left to itself, it would make progress; but its progress would be towards ruin. Similar to the

progress of the white man's dwelling, is the progress of the world, according to the data which we have been examining. The world's Former has, at various times, restored and remodelled it, -adding to its beauty in a diversity of ways,clothing it with verdure, and filling it with sentient inhabitants. To divine power and wisdom, not simply to the qualities with which God originally endowed it, are we to ascribe the successive improvements of the world, prior to the time when, by new acts of creative energy, He once more remodelled it in order to fit it for being the abode of man, his noblest sublunary creature.

The creations mentioned by Sir H. Davy must be understood as real and proper creations— supernatural works-works in which the Supreme employs his own formative power. Let us for a moment re-examine this important point, on which so much depends.

Neither animal Chemical affinity

No organised structures could exist, while the now crystalline rocks were in the state of igneous fusion. A much lower degree of heat would suffice to convert all their proximate elements into vapour. Animals now spring from pre-existing animals. Vegetables also spring from pre-existing vegetables. nor vegetable then existed. cannot originate life; no cause, merely physical, can give rise to organic structure; no organic being ever originates a being of a different organic species; changes in temperature may cause solids to liquefy or liquids to congeal,-may vaporise liquids or liquefy vapours; chemical affinities may decompose compounds, and recompose their elements into new compounds; mechanical causes

may change the places and modify the structure of inorganic bodies; but, under all those forms which chemical or mechanical causes may make an inorganic body assume, it still remains an inorganic body. Take a piece of silver,-melt it; it is silver still: when it cools, it will become solid again; vaporise it, still it is silver,-let it cool, it will first become liquid, and then become solid again: it is silver still. Take a piece of marble or carbonate of lime; by heat you may expel the carbonic acid gas. What is left is lime. Suppose the oxygen abstracted from the lime, what is left is calcium. Calcium may be vaporised, or liquefied, or solidified; it is still calcium.

one.

The oxygen may exist in the form of gas, or in combination with other bodies; it is still oxygen. However often combined or disengaged, it acquires no new quality, it loses no original The same is true of the carbon. The calcium, oxygen, and carbon, under all their known modifications, remain still calcium, oxygen, and carbon. Combined they may be, but their original qualities are neither annihilated nor altered, although the effect of those qualities may for a time be prevented. The power of the calcium to burn is prevented, when it exists in the state of lime or oxide of calcium. The power of the lime to corrode the skin is prevented, while it is combined with carbonic acid in the form of carbonate of lime; but whatever form the carbonate of lime or its elements may assume, they never, by the power of mechanical or chemical agencies, become alive, they never acquire organic structure; under the operation of all such causes they still continue dead, destitute of the qualities by which