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forms。 This development is one which we must believe to be at least
possible； if we allow that a Mind presides over the universe； and not a
mere brute necessity； a Law （absurd misnomer） without a Lawgiver； and
to it （strangely enough coinciding here and there with the Platonic
doctrine of Eternal Ideas existing in the Divine Mind） all fresh inductive
discovery seems to point more and more。
Let me speak freely a few words on this important matter。 Geology
has disproved the old popular belief that the universe was brought into
being as it now exists by a single fiat。 We know that the work has been
gradual； that the earth
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〃In tracts of fluent heat began； The seeming prey of cyclic storms；
The home of seeming random forms； Till； at the last； arose the man。〃
And we know； also； that these forms； 〃seeming random〃 as they are；
have appeared according to a law which； as far as we can judge； has
been on the whole one of progress； … lower animals （though we cannot
yet say； the lowest） appearing first； and man； the highest mammal； 〃the
roof and crown of things；〃 one of the latest in the series。 We have no
more right； let it be observed； to say that man； the highest； appeared last；
than that the lowest appeared first。 It was probably so； in both cases；
but there is as yet no positive proof of either； and as we know that
species of animals lower than those which already existed appeared
again and again during the various eras； so it is quite possible that they
may be appearing now； and may appear hereafter： and that for every
extinct Dodo or Moa； a new species may be created； to keep up the
equilibrium of the whole。 This is but a surmise： but it may be wise；
perhaps； just now； to confess boldly； even to insist on； its possibility； lest
any should fancy； from our unwillingness to allow it； that there would be
ought in it； if proved； contrary to sound religion。
I am； I must honestly confess； more and more unable to perceive
anything which an orthodox Christian may not hold； in those physical
theories of 〃evolution；〃 which are gaining more and more the assent of
our best zoologists and botanists。 All that they ask us to believe is； that
〃species〃 and 〃families；〃 and indeed the whole of organic nature； have
gone through； and may still be going through； some such development
from a lowest germ； as we know that every living individual； from the
lowest zoophyte to man himself； does actually go through。 They apply
to the whole of the living world； past； present； and future； the law which
is undeniably at work on each individual of it。 They may be wrong； or
they may be right： but what is there in such a conception contrary to
any doctrine … at least of the Church of England？ To say that this
cannot be true； that species cannot vary； because God； at the beginning；
created each thing 〃according to its kind；〃 is really to beg the question；
which is … Does the idea of 〃kind〃 include variability or not？ and if so；
how much variability？ Now； 〃kind；〃 or 〃species；〃 as we call it； is
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defined nowhere in the Bible。 What right have we to read our own
definition into the word？ … and that against the certain fact； that some
〃kinds〃 do vary； and that widely； … mankind； for instance； and the
animals and plants which he domesticates。 Surely that latter fact
should be significant； to those who believe； as I do； that man was created
in the likeness of God。 For if man has the power； not only of making
plants and animals vary； but of developing them into forms of higher
beauty and usefulness than their wild ancestors possessed； why should
not the God in whose image he is made possess the same power？ If the
old theological rule be true … 〃There is nothing in man which was not
first in God〃 （sin； of course； excluded） … then why should not this
imperfect creative faculty in man be the very guarantee that God
possesses it in perfection？
Such at least is the conclusion of one who； studying certain families
of plants； which indulge in the most fantastic varieties of shape and size；
and yet through all their vagaries retain … as do the Palms； the Orchids；
the Euphorbiaceae … one organ； or form of organs； peculiar and highly
specialized； yet constant throughout the whole of each family； has been
driven to the belief that each of these three families； at least； has
〃sported off〃 from one common ancestor … one archetypal Palm； one
archetypal Orchid； one archetypal Euphorbia； simple； it may be； in itself；
but endowed with infinite possibilities of new and complex beauty； to be
developed； not in it； but in its descendants。 He has asked himself；
sitting alone amid the boundless wealth of tropic forests； whether even
then and there the great God might not be creating round him； slowly but
surely； new forms of beauty？ If he chose to do it； could He not do it？
That man found himself none the worse Christian for the thought。 He
has said … and must be allowed to say again； for he sees no reason to alter
his words … in speaking of the wonderful variety of forms in the
Euphorbiaceae； from the weedy English Euphorbias； the Dog's
Mercuries； and the Box； to the prickly…stemmed Scarlet Euphorbia of
Madagascar； the succulent Cactus…like Euphorbias of the Canaries and
elsewhere； the Gale…like Phyllanthus； the many…formed Crotons； the
Hemp…like Maniocs； Physic…nuts； Castor…oils； the scarlet Poinsettia； the
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little pink and yellow Dalechampia； the poisonous Manchineel； and the
gigantic Hura； or sandbox tree； of the West Indies； … all so different in
shape and size； yet all alike in their most peculiar and complex
fructification； and in their acrid milky juice；… 〃What if all these forms are
the descendants of one original form？ Would that be one whit the more
wonderful than the theory that they were； each and all； with the minute；
and often imaginary； shades of difference between certain cognate
species among them； created separately and at once？