SECTION II.

THE ANIMAL EXISTENCES OF THE NON-ROTATORY PERIOD.

CHAPTER I.

Preliminary Observations. Subject of Argument in the present Section. Early Conception of a Principle of Limitation involved in the Mosaic Record. "The Moving Thing that hath Life." Definition of the Living Principle. Faint Line of Separation between Vegetable and Animal Vitality. Difference Determined; and also that between Vertebrate and Invertebrate Animals. The former accurately defined and described for the purpose of being eliminated from the Argument. The same method adopted with respect to certain Mollusca, Articulata, and Radiata. Apulmonic Tribes of animals defined generally. Described particularly and very fully, and confirmed by general testimony. Enquiry into the supposed Nature and Habits of the Extinct Races of Inferior Animals. Evidences of the Extinction of their Races, and of the Successive Creation of others. The Design and Object of their Temporary Existence briefly alluded to, with a view to resume and dwell, in the sequel, upon both of these points.

THE quotations from Scripture and the Theorems which are contained in the preceding Section are intended, as we have already stated, to constitute the groundwork of our subsequent reasoning. On the one hand we have given, from the Record of our Faith, the enunciations of the Spirit of Truth relative to a period when there was no created being to bear witness to what was done: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare if thou hast understanding!" And, on the other, we have selected, from the writings of the learned and the laborious in research full and complete evidence of that which exists and is appreciable by the senses. The one reveals to us how all things were formed; the other

displays the state in which they are found after having come from the hands of their and our Creator. Assisted by both, we shall endeavour to thread our way through the various branches of argument designed to bring out, in clear and consistent manifestation, the beauteous system of belief which these infallible sources of information and evidence, when taken together, are capable of affording to the mind of man.

But, before we proceed one step further, and while we are yet on the very threshold, we take occasion pointedly to observe that, unless our readers are prepared to receive the announcements of Scripture with as implicit confidence as they would a thrice demonstrated problem, it will avail them little to endeavour to accompany us. We shall be losing sight of each other at almost every turning and winding of the long and intricate path which lies before us: for, we consider it an axiom that there is only one reliable source of information respecting that which was, and of events which occurred immediately preceding the present order of things; especially as the preceding did not stand in the relation of natural cause to the succeeding, as its effect; but indispensably required, in order that it might become so, intervening acts of Omnipotent will and power.

Before we commence our discourse we have to make a few observations, as to the method which we propose to adopt in conducting these investigations.

To avoid unnecessary repetition, and to render the work as concise as possible, we shall only give a limited number of authorities in support of such points as it may be deemed necessary to establish; for, where unanimity prevails, further evidence would render the discussion diffuse, and distract the attention: where it does not, a multiplicity of quotations would only increase the difficulty. In making the selection we shall be guided alone by expediency; preferring, in general, those quotations which most clearly and concisely describe the points of the subject to be established, and which afford the best evidences in their favour. In order to convince the understanding it may, in some cases, perhaps, be requisite to bring forward proofs in support of points which might be assumed by common consent. But to compensate for this, we shall endeavour to restrict our own observations to such as may be

necessary to bind one link of the argumentative chain to another and the whole, we trust, to the minds of our readers. Some difficulty exists in making a proper selection of the first link to be examined, for the whole is bound together in a circle, the one dependant on the other; no point presents itself in well marked and visible separation so that it might be laid hold of, and enable us, link by link in continuous succession, to unravel the whole. We have, however, after mature reflection, adopted the only plan which bids fair to obviate this difficulty, namely:—to commence at whatever part of the argument appears to be most conducive to its eventual success, and ad interim, assume as established whatever other conditions may be necessary for the perfect support of that which first occupies our attention, and afterwards to return upon those which have been thus assumed, and prove them also, on the precise understanding, that should we fail to establish whatever may have been made use of provisionally, then the superstructure will fall to the ground along with that on which it was erected. The point we have chosen to commence with has likewise this recommendation, that it is the most analogous to that where the narrative commences in Scripture an influential motive of recommendation with us, and we trust also with our readers.

In conformity with this resolution we shall, for the present, consider the EARTH as a sphere, surrounded by an atmosphereless ocean of different composition from the actual seas, and under the influence of the same forces which at present govern its orbital motion, revolving in darkness round an unillumined sun, but without rotatory motion. And having done so, we shall endeavour to prove as the first position in our continued and important chain of argument, that these primitive, dark, and atmosphere less waters were the abode of innumerable races of living apulmonic creatures, independent alike of light or atmospheric air for life or motion; the greater part consisting of descriptions which either were entirely fixed, or moved but imperfectly. That of these there were several successive generations. And that this position is as consistent with the true meaning of Scripture as it is accordant with the results of philosophical investigation and of geological research.

It may, perhaps, be attended with beneficial effects, were we to retrace the outlines of the path by which we ourselves arrived at the conclusion that, during the protracted period of non-rotation, the primeval waters were the abode of innumerable and successive races of apulmonic creatures, to the exclusion of all, of every description, which depend for locomotion on atmospheric air.

Long after we became convinced that the Earth had revolved for ages in a state of non-rotatory motion around the unillumined sun; had been the abode of certain classes of molluscous animals, whose shelly coverings are everywhere discoverable in its stratified masses; and that all this had been previous to the Mosiac week, we were under the most painful perplexity as to how such a state of matters could be made reconcileable with the announcements of Scripture; prepared, as we were, to give up everything which might be at variance with this standard of our faith: believing, at the time, most firmly, as probably all do who have not paid the like attention to these points, while they possess equal confidence in the word of God, that no warrant was to be found in it for the conclusion that anything could possibly have existed which was not made during the Mosaic week. The consequent state of mind was, of course, far from enviable. It was positively distressing, for, relying most implicitly on the words of the Divine Record, and ready to sacrifice every thought which might be inimical to it, we could not, on the other hand, close our eyes to the full glare of noon-day light, to the convictions of our senses, which led us to conclude, by what we saw around us, that the remains of those marine animals, found everywhere on the face of the earth, and high above the present level of the ocean, must have been deposited previously to the revolution of the globe around its axis; consequently, before the formation of the light, and while as yet the primeval ocean surrounded its entire spherical surface.

Assailed thus powerfully and equally by contending opinions, both of which appeared to carry the evidence of conviction, while they seemed to resist a cordial reconciliation with each other, we were completely at a loss which way to turn. During one of these fierce and protracted contests, when every argument

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had been tried, and every instancia cruces had been brought forward in vain; when, almost worn out with the intensity and tenacity of the jarring principles within, and about to seek rest by abandoning the philosophical evidences altogether and adhering implicitly to the words of inspiration, it occurred to us, as a last resource, that, perhaps, the expressions therein made use of might admit of such an interpretation as would pave the way to a thorough reconciliation between the two; and thus save us from making such a sacrifice as that which we felt inclined to make to secure, as we thus thought, the tranquil enjoyment of our scriptural tenets, but which, in fact, would have had the effect of greatly lessening that enjoyment.

Fortunately, the Bible, which at that juncture lay most convenient for immediate consultation, was the celebrated Spanish one by the Very Rev. F. Scio de San Miguel; on taking it up and referring to the passage in question, we found the following explanation, which, unphilosophical as it may appear, supplied the first step towards unravelling the difficulty:

"God also said, Let the waters produce animated reptiles* (more literally, "reptiles of living minds"), and birds which fly above the earth under the firmament of heaven. Gen. i. 20.

This, although a very unscientific explanation of the passage commented on, nevertheless was made the means of awakening us to a conception of the truth, faint, it must be confessed, at

That is, animated reptiles, or those which have life. Fishes are so called, because what is principally recognized in them is the head and tail; and as they are deficient of limbs (literally of both legs and arms), they appear to move as if dragging themselves through the water. And thus the word "reptile" is alike applicable to fishes which swim and to animals which drag themselves along the ground.*

"Dixo tambien Dios; produzcan las aquas reptil, de anima viviente, yave que vuele sobre latierra debaxo del firmamento del cielo."

* "Esto es, Reptiles animados, o que tengen vida, asi llaman a los peces, porque lo que principalmente se reconoce en ellos, es la cabeza y-la cola; y-como carecen de pies y de brazos, parece que van arrastrando por las aquas. Y, asi el Reptil se aplica tanto al pez que nada, como al animal que va rastrando por la tierra.”—Biblia por el M. R. P. Phelipe Scio de San Miguel. Tomo 1, pagina 8.