Theories of Creation and the Universe [pp. 177-194]

192 THEORIES OF CREATION AND THE UNIVERSE.
sound is transmitted," and the material out of which the chemical
operations of the lungs distil the element that purifies the blood, and
imparts to it its life-sustaining power. " Without the atmosphere,
even supposing we could live in its absence, however perfect might
be our organs of speech and hearing, we should possess them in vain.
Voice we might have, but no word could we utter; listeners we
might be, but no sound could we hear." It is no less important " in
diffusing in an agreeable manner the solar light, and mitigating its
intensity. In its absence the light of the sun would only illuminate
objects on which its direct rays would fall; all other places would be
dark even at mid-day; we should have no other degrees of light,
but the glare of intense sunshine, or the most impenetrable nig(ht.
It retains and diffuses warmth, whether proceeding from the sun
above, or from sources of internal heat within the globl)e itself," and
by this means prepares the globe for animal and vegetable life. "It
preserves the seas liquid(l, and by supply iing )ropitiouts winds to
stimulate the intercourse of nations, knlits tog(ethler races of beings
who occupy the most dlistant points by the ki(ndly bonds of reciprocal beneficence." WVithout an atmno5phere nothing could existman's highest privileges are connected with, and( appear dependent
upon it; yet " it is not essential to any of the great mechanical
functions of the earth in the economy of the solar system." Without this atmosphere, the globe would perform her regular revolutions, maintain her axis, and discharge all its various offices to the
system of which it is a member; yet it would be an arid waste.
Volcanoes it might have; but no cities for destructionsmountatins
and valleys might diversify its surface; but they would be unenlivvened by the murmur of streams, or the music of animate matter.
Seeing, then, that the atmosphere does not arise from any known
physical law, and is not essential to any of the mechanical functions
of the earth in the economy of the solar systein; but is ind(lispenrsable to the existence of vegetable and a.nimal life, as well as the higher
faculties of man; are we not driven to the conclusion, that it was
cast around the earth by Ilim " who careth for us," expressly for
the well-being of its occupants?
From the worm of the dust and flower of the field, andl bird of
the forest, to our own globe, and the innumerable wvorld(s that shine
above our heads, reflecting the image of each other in the grand,
still mirror of infinity, traces of the same all-pervading, eternal wvisdom are seen in the beauty of arrangement and ad(aptation to each
other. Mian himself, more mysterious than all else-grand(ler than
the world with all its spirit-stirriiig scenery-more,glorious than the
star-bespangled firmament-higher, highest of all created matterwhose eternal part enables him to grasp the whole, and will live in
the freshness of its youth when all else shall have passed aw avis but a farther exhibition of the same almighty, all-desi,lgning
power.
We have thus noticed the prominent parts of the work; and wvould
gladly devote a few pages to the less important divisions, if the space
allowed us would permit. WVe will not, however, pass that part in
which the author refers to resemblances of the brain of the human
feetus to the different species in silence. To support this absurdity