PART III. CHAP. VII. " imbedded animal eruviæ in their soils,” because, that revolution gave the first sensible existence to those continents: that is, 2. "That 66 they did not inhabit the regions in which "those eruvia are found," because, those regions then formed the basin of the primitive sea: 3. "That they existed elsewhere," because, they existed upon an earth which was submerged by that revolution: 4." That human bones are "not found in the bed of the ancient sea," because, the human race perished in the bed of the new sea: 5. we are able to determine, That "the last revolution of the mineral geology, from which is to be dated the "establishment of the societies of the present 66 race of mankind, and which cannot be very "ancient;" is the identical revolution in which God executed his menace of destroying all the former race of mankind, excepting only those individuals who should become the progenitors of a new race: and we thus perceive, 6. That these results of physical investigation, not only "connect, by an uninterrupted chain, "natural history and civil history;" but, when duly rectified by the rule of the Mosaical record, that they moreover connect both these with Sacred History. CHAP. VIII. BUT, there is still a phænomenon, connected PART III. with those which we have examined, for the explanation of which the mineral geology requires more revolutions; and that is, the discovery of the exuvia of animals whose species no longer exist. This phænomenon appears to the mineral geology, to be incapable of a reasonable reference to the revolution reported by Moses. This is indeed a phænomenon well calculated to perplex a science which neglects. Newton's inculcation, of combining morals with physics, and subjecting the latter to the former; and which excludes all inquiry into the mode of the first formation of the animal and vegetable structures, confining its speculation to one inanimate member of the creation, and to chemical and mechanical agencies. There is no mere physical principle, that will serve to explain this phænomenon; nor can it be expounded, unless by reference to the principle which explains the mode of the first animal formations, namely, Creative Power. PART III. CHAP. VIII. But, the Mosaical geology, which is founded upon that principle, and which therein accords with the philosophy of Newton, guides us to a solution of this mysterious problem. The sole author of the last great revolution of the globe, was its Creator, who also caused its first great revolution; and, evidences of that identity were of great moral concernment. When God made known to Noah the animal species which He designed to preserve, “to keep seed alive upon the earth;" it is manifest, from the testimony which we are here considering, that He was pleased to except some from that preservation'. We know, that the formidable animal, the carnivorous elephant, to which science has given the name of Mastodon, and others, to which the names of Palæotherium, &c. have been assigned, have not been perpetuated, but were ordained to perish altogether. He who planned and regulated the creation of the earth, unquestionably planned See after, CHAP. XIII. CUVIER has described this animal as herbivorous, but this description appears to be altogether arbitrary and theoretical. We can judge of its nature, only by its remains; and, as the most striking character of those remains is found in the enormous grinding teeth, resembling those of carnivorous animals, whereas those of the elephant, known to be herbivorous, are very differently formed, it is difficult not to entertain a strong persuasion, that the difference of those organs, evinces a difference in the nature of the food of the two species. CHAP. VIII. and regulated also its renovation; and the PART III. extinction of certain animal species, which existed prior to that last revolution, is proved, by their eruvia, to have been a part of His plan in the renovation. It is wisely remarked, in a passage cited from Camper by a writer whom I have lately quoted; "that it was not contrary to the "Divine Wisdom to ordain the cessation of "animal species, when they had entirely ful"filled the purpose for which they had been “created, although that purpose is unknown to 66 66 us:-Sapientia Divinæ non repugnare legem, qua res illas vel animalia illa desinere jubeat, "simulac scopo primario, nobis incognito, satisfecerunt penitus1." That those species existed then, is manifest; but there is no evidence whatever, that they have existed since. What more probable physical cause can be assigned for the extinction of their races, than that universal revolution? What more probable moral cause, than the will and design of their Creator, the sole Author and Manager of the revolution? To our preserved progenitors, who were eyewitnesses of all its details, the extinction of those several species, must have been a subject of devout contemplation; not of that cold 1 Phil. Trans. vol. civ. p. 108, CHAP. VIII. PART III speculating sentiment, which their fossil remains now produce in the cabinets of mere physical curiosity. Moral argument, can alone reach this question; mere physical reasoning can no more attain to it, than the rule of simple addition can resolve a problem in trigonometry. By ascending to the first moral and physical cause of Newton, we obtain a direct and intelligible solution of the question; but, with the utmost labour of search among the secondary causes of the mineral geology, we can never obtain it; we only encounter the same perplexity, resulting from the same imperfection of analysis, that we witnessed in our inquiry concerning first formations. From that first cause alone it has happened, or can have happened; that races have become extinct, and have left no "memorial of themselves, except some small fragments, which the NATURALIST (magnus 66 66 Apollo!) can scarcely recognize 1." The evidence, of extinct species and of changes in the forms of organized beings, demonstrates, to rational thought, the intervention of the same intelligent power who gave origin and primitive order to the general system; and exhibits, for the apprehension of the intellect, as it were, Sign-Manual of the Creator. 1 CUVIER, § 6. p. 38. the |