The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

132 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.ruling conceptions, and only indirectly withdetails, the relations of the animal and vegetablekingdoms may be passed, with the acknowledgmentthat the two are obviouslydistinct, and yet that the vegetable verynearly merges into the animal at certainpoints, as illustrated by sensibility, if notby locomotion. So may we waive discussionof the classification of aiiimals, whichinvolves important points closely connectedwith the main question. Allowing that thewonderful diversity in animal organization,may adrnit of different modes of classification;and yet granting that the structure ofthe animal econoiny in all its forms proceedson common principles, which must lead topractical agreement as to modes of classification;we deal with the single question asto the natural causes serving to explain differentorders.Mr. Darwin's suggestion, largely supportedby evidence from many quarters, and nowcommanding a very general support is, thatall this diversity may be regarded as theproduct of a long process of development.This theory takes the whole orders of existenceinto one sweep. The lowest type of