successive periods. Even the grossest mineral could not have been formed in a sea of liquid fire; plants could not have been born without an appropriate soil to nourish them; animals could not have existed without the previous growth of plants, and man never could have appeared on the earth's surface without the former creation of all these lower forms; so that the several kingdoms or departments of Nature as they are now viewed, represent so many successive gradations, or series, which must have occupied at least several centuries. Here may be observed the introduction of that sublime order which now forms a marked and beautiful characteristic of the works of creation. Instead of a confused, irregular, or convulsive gathering of the elements essential to form the higher organizations of matter, we behold only a steady and gradual unfolding of the several kingdoms of Nature, in accordance with the same established principle by which the oak is developed from the acorn, or the rose from its tiny bud. Every thing was created in its own appropriate time and place. It was necessary that the lowest, rudimental forms should undergo a preparatory process of refinement, before the higher order of animate creation could be developed ; and this, also, in obedience to the same unvarying law, was made to pass through the ascending stages of advancement, until at last Man, who is the king and priest of Nature, was brought forth to worship in this mighty temple. I am aware that the presentation of these views will necessarily oppose the mythological revelations of antiquity; especially the doctrine which teaches that this earth, and all the myriad worlds that light the realms of space, including the varied animate and inanimate objects that exist upon the globe, were created in precisely six natural days, composed of twenty

four hours each, and that God, having labored for this space of time, became weary, and rested on the seventh day. But this doctrine, though it has been incorporated with the popu lar teachings on the subject of Cosmogony, is in itself unsupported by any principle of reason, and is wholly unwarranted by the revealments of geological science. The fact should not be overlooked that several of the most eminent and candid geologists in this country and in Europe, have given it as the result of their investigations, that the work of creation must have occupied a much longer space of time than is usually allotted to this process. Among these may be mentioned Mr. Faber, a learned English writer, who expresses the opinion, that, from various circumstances, including the discoveries of modern physiologists, it is clearly proved, "that the six demiurgic days, instead of being nothing more than six natural days, were each a period of very considerable length," embracing at least six thousand years. Another author, whose opinion on this subject is entitled to consideration, is Professor Silliman, of this country, who "sees a necessity in the mechanism of the earth, for extending the days of creation to periods of time of muctin.te length." "It is granted," says this author, "that Moses might have understood the word (day) according to the popular signification, and that this sense would be the most obvious one to every mind not informed as to the structure of the globe. At the same time he clearly expresses the opinion that, in the light of geological researches, the usual interpretation of this term as applied to the process of creation, is wholly inconsistent; and he remarks, "According to the popu lar understanding, the transition and secondary mountains, with their coal beds, plants, and animals, were formed in two or

three natural days, by physical laws, which is incredible because it is impossible." Being thus instructed by the revealments of Science, as well as by the teachings of Reason, the reader I will see that the construction of the Universe from the chaotic materials previously existing, was not an instantaneous birth of form and order, but rather a series of progressive developments, which was established in strict accordance with the prin ciples existing in the Supreme Power.

It is to be observed that all things in the world of matter were caused to undergo a process of sublimation and refinement, and that all the myriad forms which were here primarily developed, became the illustrations and representatives of progress. And when the grand design of creation is definitely understood, the fact will be perceived that all the varied objects of the material world had an indwelling tendency to attain higher and still higher degrees of perfection, unto the development of a perfected and individualized structure. In the mineral was manifested simply the general principle of motion, without the presence of any of the higher qualities which belong to organized existence; but even in this-angular and imperfect as it was-was contained a power of development which was manifested in unfolding the higher form of the vegetable, -and thus the primary principle of the grossest substance is seen to be that of refinement and organization. But the vegetable illustrated the same prominent principle in a more sensible manner, by taking up, as it were, the chaotic materials of the earth and molding them in such order and precision as to form a complete structure of organized life. In the animal a still superior development was manifested; and here the motion and life which were the attributes of the vegetable king

dom, were crowned with a more exalted quality which resulted from, and was dependent upon, a more perfect organization. Then standing on the very summit of Nature's pyramid-with upright form and majestic soul-was at last produced the human being, representing the highest and most perfect development of matter.

But the writer is not satisfied to base this reality on what may be regarded as an unsettled theory or a fanciful speculation. The great truth which is here presented has its foundation in the undeniable facts of Nature, as contained in the primeval history of the earth. To these facts it is necessary that we should now recur, that we may discover in them the wondrous methods and processes by which the work of creation has been carried on. Accordingly in this connection, for the purpose of presenting a more detailed and satisfactory history of the progressive developments of the earth, it is deemed appropriate to introduce the following graphic account—taken from Sharp's Magazine-which will be found to possess intrinsic interest, while it serves to confirm our previous conclusions :—

"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the earth now so busy and full of life, rolled on its ceaseless course, a vast, desolate, and sterile globe. Day and night succeeded one another, and season followed season, while yet no living form existed, and still the sun rose upon arid, verdureless continents, and hot, caldronlike seas, on which the streaming vapors and heavy fogs sat like an incubus. This is the earliest period of which we glean any positive record, and it is probable that previous to this era the universe was in a state of incandescence, or intense heat, and that by the gradual cooling of the globe, the external surface became hard, and formed a first crust, in the same manner

that molten lead, when exposed to the cold air, hardens on the surface. The vapors which previously floated around this heated mass, in like manner became partially condensed; and gradually accumulating in the hollows, formed the boiling seas, which, in after ages, were destined to be vast receptacles teeming with life.

"How long such a period continued, it is impossible to say, and were we even able to number its years, we should in all probability obtain a total of such magnitude as would render us unable to form any accurate idea of its extent. Our ideas of time, like those of space, are comparative, and so immense was this single period in geological history, that any interval taken from human records would fail to present an adequate idea of it.

"As might be expected, this era was marked by vast and violent convulsions; volcanos raged and threw up molten granite, earthquakes heaved and uplifted continents, seas were displaced and inundated the land, and still the earth was enveloped in vapor and mist arising from the high temperature, and the light most probably penetrated only sufficiently to produce a sickly twilight, while the sun shot lurid rays through the dense and foggy atmosphere. Such a world must have been incompatible with either animal or vegetable life, and we accordingly find no remains of either in the rocks which belong to this early period; their principal characteristics is a highly crystalline appearance, giving strong presumptive evidence of the presence of great heat.

"After this era of desolation and gloom, we enter upon what is technically termed the 'transition period;' and here we begin to mark the gradual preparation of the globe for the reception