was most probably ignorant, and which it was no part or object of his divine commission to make known. Nor could the Israelites, for whose immediate benefit this history was intended, have comprehended such matters: for who can suppose that they knew any thing of the nature of comets, or the planetary constitution of the earth?” J. G. Rosenmülleri Antiquissima Telluris Historia, à Mose Gen. i°. descripta; Ulm, 1776; pp. 6, 10, 11, 12, 71.

It is with peculiar pleasure that I copy the following passages of the learned and pious Bishop of Chester; and they are the more estimable as they were written before 1814, at a time when geological facts and doctrines were less accurately known than they are at present.

66

:

Any curious information as to the structure of the earth ought still less to be expected, by any one acquainted with the general character of the Mosaic records. There is nothing in them, either to gratify the curiosity or repress the researches of mankind, when brought, in the progress of cultivation, to calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies or speculate on the formation of the globe. The expressions of Moses are evidently accommodated to the first and familiar notions derived from the sensible appearances of the earth and heavens and the absurdity of supposing that the literal interpretation of terms in Scripture ought to interfere with the advancement of philosophical inquiry, would have been as generally forgotten as renounced, if the oppressors of Galileo had not found a place in history.--No rational naturalist would attempt to describe, either from the brief description in Genesis or otherwise, the process by which our system was brought from confusion into a regular and habitable state. No rational theologian will direct his hostility against any theory which, acknowledging the agency of the Creator, only attempts to point out the secondary instruments he has employed." Dr. Bird Sumner on the Records of Creation; vol. I. p. 270, 283.

Let us hear another distinguished clergyman.

"As to the first point [the antiquity of the earth,]—not the mere theoretical views of geologists alone, but the conclusions which appear, by the most cogent logical necessity, to result from the phenomena of the structure of the earth's surface, and the variety and order of the very numerous successive series of organic remains imbedded in the strata, do undoubtedly appear to require periods of very considerable duration; and to indicate that very many ages had elapsed

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before ("the diapason closing full in man,”—) a new exertion of the Creative Energy made, in its own image, a being of higher intellectual and moral capacities, as the head of its other terrestrial works. Now, the evidence of geological phenomena most satisfactorily agrees with the scriptural record, in assigning to this last great event a very recent epoch: and it is surely very valuable as an independent testimony to this most important fact, which clearly involves the necessary admission of an interference with the previous order of nature, by a new and direct exertion of creative power, and therefore strikes at once at the root of every sceptical argument against MIRACLES. It is surely no wise inconsistent with the fullest reception of revelation, to maintain that it professedly confines itself to the exposition of the dispensations of the great Creator, as they concern his final intellectual creation; that, in a word, the Bible is exclusively the history of the dealings of God towards men." The Rev. W. D. Conybeare; in the Chr. Obs. May, 1834, p. 308.

[FF.]

Referred to at page 284, by error there called G.

"THE modern geologist must and gladly will acknowledge the accuracy of the statement, that, after all things were made, the earth must have been in a state of chaotic confusion; in other words, that the elements, which later were to combine in the present arrangement of the globe, must have been totally disturbed and probably in a state of conflicting action. What the duration of this anarchy was, what peculiar features it presented, whether it was one course of unmodified disorder, or was interrupted by intervals of peace and quiet, of vegetable and animal existence, the Scripture has concealed from our knowledge; while it has said nothing to discourage such investigation as may lead us to any specific hypothesis regarding it. Nay; it would seem as though that indefinite period had been purposely mentioned, to leave scope for the meditation and the imagination of man." Principal Wiseman's Connexion of Science and Rev. Relig. vol. I. p. 295.

"So far then from finding, in the facts and conclusions of Geology, any objections to the Mosaic records, I find in them a striking evidence of the benevolence of the Deity. For, during the long period

above spoken of, the globe was evidently preparing for the residence of MAN and the other animals that now inhabit it. Before their creation, its temperature was too high, and its surface too liable to be broken up by volcanoes, and drenched by deluges, to be a secure and happy abode for the more perfect races of animals that now inhabit it. But it was adapted to the nature and habits of such animals and vegetables as we now find entombed in the rocks. The overflowing benevolence of the Deity, therefore, led him to place such beings upon it; and thus to communicate a vast amount of happiness, which seems to be a grand object in all his plans and operations. The vegetables that existed in those early periods have been converted, in the course of time, into the various species of coal now dug from the bowels of the earth; while the remains of the animals of those times have become changed into limestone. Even those violent volcanic agencies, by which the successive races of plants and animals. have been suddenly destroyed, have probably introduced into the upper part of the earth's crust, various metallic veins very important to human happiness. And in all this, we see indications of that same benevolent foresight and care for supplying the wants of his creatures, to which our daily experience of God's goodness testifies." Hitchcock's Geol. of Massachusetts; p, 250.

Prof. Hitchcock having adduced strong evidence to prove that an extensive denudation has, at some time, taken place in the New Red Sandstone on the Connecticut river, proceeds to say: "The immense period requisite to wear away such a mass of rock as this theory supposes to have once occupied the whole valley of the Connecticut, will seem to most minds the strongest objection against its adoption: I mean, supposing it to have been effected by such causes as are operating at present. But this is not a solitary example, in which geological phenomena indicate the operation of existing causes, through periods of duration inconceivably long. We may, in this case indeed, as I have already shown, suppose the occurrence of numerous deluges in the earlier periods of our globe. Still, even with the aid of such catastrophes, the work must have been immensely protracted. And why should we hesitate to admit the existence of our globe through periods as long as geological researches require; since the sacred record does not declare the time of its original creation; and since such a view of its antiquity enlarges our ideas of the operations of the Deity in respect to duration, as much as Astronomy does in regard to space? Instead of bringing us into

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collision with Moses, it seems to me that Geology furnishes us with some of the grandest conceptions of the Divine attributes and plans to be found in the whole circle of human knowledge." Ib. p. 226.

[G.]

Referred to at page 289.

THE following letter was courteously admitted into the Magazine of Popular Science, more than three years ago. It was intended to obviate some remarks, in a Review of Dr. Buckland's Treatise, which the writer thought to be of an unhappy tendency. It is republished here, in the hope of its being useful partly as giving a short view of some principal sentiments maintained in this volume, partly for the sake of representing the importance of the discussion, and partly also to call attention to the interpretation of Gen. i. 2, which is maintained in these lectures, and for the suggestion of which I am under obligation to the Rev. Baden Powell.

Sir,-With cordial approbation of the design and the general execution of your article, in the last month, upon Dr. Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise, I request your candid indulgence of some brief remarks.

[Some of your] observations appear to me capable of being misunderstood, or of being construed injuriously in various ways to the interests of both science and religion. The tendency of those observations appears to be, First, to assume (or at least to warrant the assumption) that the Holy Scriptures contain allegations and implications with respect to the natural history of our earth, which are contradicted and disproved by the demonstrations of modern Geology; and, Secondly, that it is the duty of a philosopher to abstain from any discussion of this discrepancy, and from any inquiry whether it be real or only apparent; as if it were said, Let these two branches of knowledge be kept far away from each other: let philosophers and geologists pursue their own course, and let theology and religion practise their own duties, and watch over their own interests; but let neither interfere with the other; let no inquiry ever be made whether they are in accordance or in opposition.

This short way of dismissing the matter has, indeed, been adopted by some eminent men; but I appeal, Sir, to your impartial reflection, whether it is not absurd and impracticable,

1. It is absurd. TRUTH throughout her whole domain, illimitable as is its extent, is one in principle, and harmonious in details. It is no other than the having our conceptions in accordance with the reality of things. And Truth in expression (= veracity) is the adapting of our language, written or spoken, to the honest utterance of our conceptions. A mere child, if he will reflect a moment, perceives that a proposition cannot be true and false, under the same circumstances; unless there be some artifice practised in the use of terms. An assertion cannot be true in theology, and false in geology, or any department whatever of scientific knowledge; nor inversely. It really is an insult to men's understandings, to admit indirectly, that there are affirmations or doctrines in the records of revealed religion, which are disproved by the clearest evidence of science; and then to proscribe investigation, with a solemn pretence of mysteries not to be inquired into, an hypocritical tone of reverence for sacred things. The veil is transparent; no man can be deceived by it but it is lamentable that any should attempt to deceive by it. We greatly wrong the interests of knowledge, and prejudice our own improvement, when we but seem to admit that theology is an insulated portion of science, which may be safely pursued by itself, and which yields no advantages to other departments. True theology, on the contrary, attracts to itself, illustrates, and harmonizes all other knowledge. It is the science which relates to the Author and Preserver of the whole dependent universe; whatever may be known concerning HIM, for the noblest purposes of intellectual improvement, of personal virtue, and of diffusive happiness. It is formed by strict induction from the works and the word of God; natural notices, and positive revelation. It is the friend of all science; it appropriates all truth; it holds fellowship with no error.

2. It is impracticable. This kind of ban upon a reasonable, an inevitable query, is never submitted to by any person of sound understanding. Either he receives the assumption,—and, as its consequence, he rejects covertly or openly the truth and authority of the Bible; or he searches out the matter fairly and fully, and then he learns that the assumption is false.

Is it then the fact, that such fair and impartial inquiry will bring out this result? Is it, after all, an erroneous assumption, that the