Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

26G INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTUREgroup, not less than six miles thick, not a single species now on the globehas been discovered. Hence the present races did not exist till after thosein the secondary rocks had died. No human remains have been foundbelow those alluvial deposits which arenow forming by rivers, lakes, andthe ocean. Hence geology infers that man was one of the latest animalsthat was placed on the globe.13G0. ''Thirtcenthly. The surface of the earth has undergone an enormousamount of erosion by the action of the ocean, the rivers, and theatmosphere. The ocean lias worn away the solid rock, in some parts ofthe world, not less than ten thousand feet in depth, and rivers have cutchannels through the hardest strata, hundreds of feet deep and severalmiles long;both of which eifects demand periods inconceivably long.13G1. " Fourteenthly. At a comparatively recent date, northern andsouthern regions have been swept over and worn down by thejoint actionof ice and water, the force in general having been directed toward theequator. This is called the drift period.1362. ^' Fifteenthly. Since the drift period, the ocean has stood somethousands of feet above itspresent level in many countries.1363. '' Sixteenthly. There is evidence, in regard to some parts of theworld, that the continents are now experiencing slow vertical movements—some places sinking, and others rising. And hence a presumption isderived that, in early times, such changes may have been oftenrepeated,and on a great scale.1364. " Seventcenthly. Every successive change of importance on theearth's surface appears to have been an improvement of its condition,adapting it to beings of a higher organization, and to man at last, themost perfect of all.1365. "Finally. The present races of animals and plants on the globearc for the most part disposed in groups, occupying particular districts,beyond whose limits the species peculiar to those provinces usually droopand die. The same is true, to some extent, as to the animals and plantsfound in the rocks ; though the much greater uniformity of climate thatprevailed in early times permitted organized beings to take a much widerrange than at present; so that the zoological and botanical districts werethen probably much wider. But the general conclusion, in respect toliving and extinct animals is, that there must have been several centresof creation, from which they emigrated as far as their natures would allowthem to range.1366. ''It would be easy to state more principles of geology of considerableimportance; but I have now named the principal ones that bearupon the subject of religion. A brief statement of the leading truths oftheology, whether natural or revealed, which these principles affect, and onwhich they east light,will give an idea of the subjects which I propose todiscuss in these lectures.