nmong geologists wholher nny of the earliest the latter half of the third creative day. In formed metamorphic rocks uow remain (cf. the Creation Series of Chaldeau tablets are Groan's 'Geology,' p. 308); but still it is two fragments, which George Smith con- sugceptiblo of nlmost perfect demonstration jectures have a referenr,e to tho first part of thnt plants preceded nnimals upon the earth. the third day's work. The one is- I. Among the hypozoic strata of this early I. When the foundation of the ground of period limestone rocks and graphite havo rock (thou didst make) been discovered, both of these being of 2. The foundation of the ground thou organic origin. 2. In the process of cooling didst call . . . the earth must have been fitted for vegetable 3. Thou didst l,eautifv the heaven . life a long time before nnirnals could have 4. To the face of the heaven . . . existed. 3. As the luxuriant vegetation of 5. Thou didst give . . . the coal· period prepared the way for the The other, which is much more mutiJ,.1,r,l subsequent introduction of nnimal life by and obscure, describes the god Sar (or Assur) ridding the atmosphere of cai·bonie ncid, so as saying- by the presence of plants must the ocean 7. Above the sea which is the sea of ... have been fitted to bo the abode of aquatic B. In front of the esara (firmament) which lifo. 4. Vegetation, being directly, or medi- I.have made. ately, tho food of animals, must have had a 9. Below the place I strengthen it previous existence. On these grounds Pro- I 0. Let there be made also e-lu (earth 1) fessor Dana concludes that tlie latter part of for the dwelling of [man!] the .Azoic age of geology corresponds with ('Chahlcan Genesis,' p. 63.)
HO:\IILETICS. Vers. !J-12.-Sea, land, and vegetation, contrasted and compared. I. Cox- T RAST ED; in respect of - 1. Their constitiitions ;-sea being matter liquid and mobile, land matter solid and dry, vegetation matter organised and living. All God's creatures have their own peculiar natures and characteristic structures. Each one's nature is that which makes it what it is. A change of constitutional character- istics would be equivalent to an alteration of being. The nature nnd strncture of each nre assigned it by God. Whence may be gathered-(!) that if all creatures are not the same, it is because God has so willed it; (2) that God has so willed it, for this among _other reasons, that he delights in variety; (3) that no separate creature can be other than its individual nature will allow; (4) that to wish to be different from what God has made us is to be guilty of a foolish ns well as sinful discontent; and (5) that a creature's highest function is to act in accordance with its God-assigned nriture. 2. '!'heir sitmitions; 'l\•hich were all different, yet all adapted to their respecth·e natures nnd uses, and all wisely appointed. The waters were gathered into the earth's hollows, the lands raised above the ocean's smface, the plants spread upon the ground. It is the nature of water to seek the lowesl levels; nnd, collected into ocean, lake, nnd river beds, it is of infinitely greater value than it would have been had it continued to oYersprend the globe. Similarly, submerged beneath the waters, neither could the lancl ha Ye been arrayed in verdure, or made n habitation for the beasts, much less a home for man; nor could the plants have grown without a dry soil to root in, while their beauty would have been con- cealed nnd their utility destroyed. And then each one h:is the place assigned it by God, out of which it cannot move, aud ngain~t which it need not fret. The place founded for the waters has received them, and God lias set a bound to them that they cannot pass. The dry land still maintains its elevation above the sea; nnd, ns if in obedience to the Divine Creator's will, the waves are continually building up terraces and rni~ed beaches in compensation for those they are taking down. Nor does it seem possible to shake off the vegetation from the soil. Scarcely has n square inch of ground been recovered from the waters, than it begins to deck itself in green. Let us leurn here (1) that every creature of God, man included, has its own plnce; which is (2) best suited to its nature, functions, and uHcs on the earth; and (3) nssigned it by God. Also, (4) that to vacate that place would be to run counter to God's ordinance and to God's wisdom, as well as to its own nature and usefulness; and (5) that it becomes every one to abide in that sphere of life in which he hns bern phced liy God ro11tcntcclly, cheerfully and diligc1,tly seeki,,g to glorit'y L' ~ 20 THE BOOK OF GENESlS. (OH. I. 9-18.