Such a fact would never
have occurred to an ignorant and uninspired writer.
It is here impossible to say whether the whole arrangements indicated
were made at once in obedience to the Divine Design, or were produced
gradually.
It has been suggested that uniformity of climate and temperature
continued up till the carboniferous ages, at any rate; and it is only in
the later ages that such differences of _fauna_ in different parts of
the world appear, as to show differences of climate more like what we
have at present.
Whether this is so or not, I am not concerned to argue. The narrative
tells us that God did, at a certain point in his Creative work, design
and ordain the necessary arrangements; and physical science may find
out, when it is able, how and when the adjustments spoken of came about.
(5) AND GOD SAID--
(i.) Let the waters bring forth the moving creature that hath life,
(ii.) Let fowl fly above the earth on the face of the expanse.
As to (i.) the "creation" consisted of--great sea-monsters (or water
monsters), and every living thing that moveth.
Then the animal life received a _blessing_. Animals, even the lowliest,
are capable of a new feature in life--happiness in their being, which
cannot be predicated of plants.
(6) AND GOD SAID--
(i.) Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind .
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214