CHAP. VI.
A View of the Economy of Nature, and necessity
of Wasting the Surface of the Earth,
in serving the purposes of this World.
There is not perhaps one circumstance, in the constitution of this terraqueous globe, more necessary to the present theory, than to see clearly that the solid land must be destroyed, in undergoing the operations which are natural to the surface of the earth, and in serving the purposes which are necessary in the system of this living world. For, all the land of the present earth being a certain composition of materials, perfectly similar to such as would result from the gradual destruction of a continent in the operations of the inhabited world, this composition of our land could not be explained without having recourse to preternatural means, were there not in the constitution of this earth an active cause necessarily, in the course of time, destroying continents.
It is therefore of great importance to this Theory, to show, that the land is naturally wasted, though with the utmost economy; and that the continents of this earth must be in time destroyed. It is of importance to the happiness of man, to find consummate wisdom in the constitution of this earth, by which things are so contrived that nothing is wanting, in the bountiful provision of nature, for the pleasure and propagation of created beings; more particularly of those who live in order to know their happiness, and who know their happiness on purpose to see the bountiful source from whence it flows.
We are to conceive the continent of the earth, when first produced above the surface of the ocean, to be in general consolidated, with regard to its structure, by the same mineral operations which are necessarily employed in raising it from its primary situation at the bottom of the sea, to that in which we now inhabit it.
We are now to consider the purpose of this mineral body, exposed to the influences of the atmosphere, that so we may see the intention of its solid composition, as well as that of its resolution, or natural solubility when thus exposed; and we are to trace the ultimate effects of this order of action in the economy of the globe, that so we may perceive the wisdom of nature perpetuating the system of a living world in an endless succession, of changing perishable forms.
The purpose of the land of this earth, in being placed above the sea and immersed in the atmosphere, is to sustain a system of plants and animals. But; for the purpose of plants; there is required a soil; and, as there is in the vegetable system a vast variety of plants with different habits or natural constitutions, there is also required a diversity of soils, in which those vegetable bodies are to be made to live and prosper. From the bare rock exposed to the sun and wind, to the tender mud immersed in water, there is a series to be observed; and in every stage or step of this gradation, there are plants adapted to those various soils or situations. Therefore nothing short of that diversity of soils and situations, which we find upon the surface of the earth, could fulfill the purpose of nature, in producing a system of vegetables endued with such a diversity of forms and habits.
The soil or surface of this earth is no more properly contrived for the life and sustenance of plants, than are those plants for that diversity of animals, which will thus appear to be the peculiar care of nature in forming a world. Scarce a plant perhaps that has not its peculiar animal which feeds upon its various productions; scarce an animal that has not its peculiar tribe of plants on which the economy of its life, its pleasure, or its prosperity must depend.
If we shall suppose the continent of our earth to be a solid rock, on which the rain might fall, and the wind and waves might dash perpetually, without impairing its mass or changing its constitution, what an imperfect world would we have! how ill adapted to the preservation of animal and vegetable life! But the opposite extreme would equally frustrate the intention of nature, in producing bounteously for the various demands of that multiplicity of species which the author of this world has thought proper to produce.
For if, instead of a solid rock, we shall suppose a continent composed of either dry sand or watery mud, without solidity or stability, how imperfect still would be that world for the purpose of sustaining lofty trees and affording fruitful soils!