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tent expositions of the sacred text, against the incontrovertible truths established in geological researches, are not content with the silent enjoyment of their own opinions, nor possessed of sufficient humility to pray for grace and knowledge to enable them to perceive and understand the sublime physical revelation which the labours of geological science have brought to light, and the necessary agreement of that revelation with the one contained in the Holy Scriptures; but they presume, and in some cases evidently without the qualification of any geological knowledge, to interpret the records of the fossil world, to define the meaning of the scriptural narrative, to take the really "dangerous" ground of representing the well established conclusions of Geology to be opposed to the announcements of revelation; and then, with the view of evading the difficulty they have thus, themselves created, traduce the merits and the authority of geological research, and denounce it as the "new weapon of philosophical scepticism and infidelity."

This is a most uncandid course; and in adopting it, the anti-geologists little calculate on the mischief they produce to the cause which I will give them the credit of wishing to support. For it is certain that multitudes of persons who have not become acquainted with the researches of Geology, and therefore are not prepared with the means of judging correctly for themselves, are liable to be misled by these efforts of anti-geologists, and to form very

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erroneous conclusions-to decide, perhaps-(on the strength of the authoritative character which by common reputation they know the evidences of Geology to possess)-very unfavourably to the Divine authority of the sacred text; or, perhaps, to decide against evidence altogether, to hold a faith which is contradicted by the unquestionable certainties of science, and to commit the folly, nay, almost the sin, of rejecting the exalted testimonies adduced by the researches of Geology.

The Christian philosopher must deeply lament either of these results: and although the science of Geology is too justly and therefore too firmly established to need any defence, so far as the interests of the science are concerned, and is impregnably fortified against the attacks of those prejudiced and partially informed writers, who presumptuously call on the discoveries of science to bend to their own narrow interpretations of the sacred text, it is so valuable and important, and its cultivation is so exalting and instructive, that it becomes a public duty to vindicate the merits of geological research; to make known the inherent elements of theological instruction whereby Geology has tended to confirm, so far from weaken, the fundamental doctrines of natural religion, and the announcements of revelation; to enforce the important facts with which the geologist is familiar, viz., that the venerable monuments of the fossil world present conclusive demonstrations to the arguments for design in creation,

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and to the constant presidence of a beneficent and all-powerful Creator; and that in the fossil remains of the various systems of animated nature, which flourished, and passed away from the globe, in ages long preceding the creation of man, the same evidences of adaptation, of skill, and wisdom, are exhibited, as we trace throughout the varied range of the creations which are cotemporary with the human race; to demonstrate by a consideration of these results, the inestimable value of geological research; and to extend the conviction of its importance to religion, in having carried back to primeval systems in nature,-systems, of which revelation is, consistently, silent, and to which no other methods of inquiry can attain-the evidences contributed throughout existing creation, to "the Power, the Wisdom, and the Goodness" of Him who made, who sustains, and still supremely governs, the mighty whole! And thus to shew that the conclusions of Geology are not only an essential support to theological doctrines, and are not only "incapable of opposing any religious principles, or of supporting any sceptical views;" but that they actually furnish from the department of nature whence such testimonies were the most to be desired, conclusive demonstrations of the eternal Being, and the perfections of GOD; and concurrent arguments in favour of the sacred character awarded to the Scriptures throughout the Christian world. The results which have. attended the recent cultivation of geological re

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searches entitle Geology to take in the discussion this altered ground-that whereas, in the earlier periods of the science, the banner of religious faith was unfurled in the crusade against its doctrines, Geology now becomes the champion of religion as well as of scientific truth, and arrays its evidences in opposition to the suicidal efforts of prejudiced hostility. A knowledge of the reconciliation which the anxious, the sincere, and unremitting labours of Christian philosophers have succeeded in establishing between the unquestionable testimonies of science, and the declarations of Scripture, is the more important, as the position taken for the purpose of sustaining the received interpretation of the sacred text, against the evidences of science, have been construed by the thoughtless and the wavering, most unfavorably to the sacred interests of religion, and consequently of mankind; and have impeded the general appreciation so much to be desired, of the great result by which the researches of Geology have been crowned, namely, the illustration of the perfections and the eternity of GOD, in a department of nature which renders such evidences of incomparable value, and invests them with peculiar and impressive force.

CHAPTER II.

General View of the Nature, the Objects, and the Relations of Geological Research.

THERE is not any branch of Natural Philosophy in which science and observation have achieved results more astonishing in their character, and replete with all "the splendour of original discovery," than are those which characterize the researches of Geology; nor any department of nature in which the labours of scientific research have disclosed phenomena more interesting and instructive than those of Geology, more completely new and unexpected, or more important in the conclusions to which they lead. By the lights of geological science, we are enabled to deduce from monuments, the very existence of which would have remained unknown and unintelligible but for its researches, the history of our planet, from ages to whose remote antiquity no other inquiries can possibly attain, and the most clear and only certain narrative of the events by which it has been affected, as well as of the myriads of animated forms by which its ancient surface was peopled during "the long succession of ages" which preceded not only the commencement of human records, but the creation of the human race.

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