productions. Till that variety was occasioned on the globe, it was not the fitting place for intellectual man that it now is; for, surely among the other uses and co-relations of the visible creation, this is one, by its inexhaustible diversity and ever-growing newness, to interest, with a perpetual charm, the growing mind of a rational being, and lead him, by a flowery path, to the cultivation of the Divine essence within him which raises him above all that his senses make known; and thus to fit him for the highest contemplation of which he is capable, viz. the relation which he bears to the unseen Author of all this visible material world.

Thus, to the mind of a geologist, nature is one glorious book; one system of appointed and associated law, independent of time, and exempt from change, but operating under conditions which vary with time and place. The past has prepared the present; the present explains the past, and points to the future." Professor John Phillips's Suppl. Note, in Professor Powell's Connexion of Nat. and Div. Truth. p. 309.

CHAPTER III.

Summary of the Geological Discoveries which establish the high Antiquity of the Earth; and General View of the Evidences presented by the varied Strata and Organic Fossils, and Reasons for assigning to its Duration a far more remote Antiquity than the Era supposed to be fixed by the Sacred Narrative.

From the consideration of the distinctive merits of geological research, of its noble and exalted tendency and results, and of those theological evidences disclosed in the study of the fossil world, which assure us of its value to religion, and which render the monuments of the globe a revelation of the Creator, of His eternal being, His wisdom, beneficence and power, we now pass to the consideration of those evidences disclosed in geological investigation which seem opposed to the narrative contained in the scriptural revelation of His will; assured à priori, that those evidences cannot by possibility be at variance with the word of God properly understood, or do otherwise than corroborate and strengthen the foundations and the sanctities of religious faith; and consequently, that they do not furnish the slightest occasion for alarm

NATURE OF GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.

29 to even the most jealous advocate for the truth of of the Inspired Record, or establish, with reference to that record, any other conclusion than that it has received an erroneous interpretation; leaving to philological considerations the satisfactory achievement of establishing, that the doctrine which the Mosaic text has been represented as teaching is not the only doctrine fairly deducible from its language.

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Before entering on the consideration of the proofs contributed by the researches of Geology, it may proper that I should here suggest a few reflections on the nature and force of geological evidences.

To any competent and unprejudiced observer it must be clear, that the evidence presented in Geology is, from its very nature, most conclusive and satisfactory. Indeed, the results established in the researches of what are termed the exact sciences, cannot boast more demonstrable truth and certainty than Geology is entitled to claim for its established conclusions. Geological truths demonstrate themselves to be such, by, in many cases, the self-evident testimony immediately rendered apparent by the perception of the senses themselves; and where the conclusions of Geology do rest upon inference or deduction, the process is as rigorous and as exact as that employed in the science of geometry, or in any other branch of the mathematics, and as logical as the principles of the strictest reasoning. The conclusions of Geology are indeed deduced by the most rigid process of logical

30

VALIDITY OF ITS CONCLUSIONS.

induction from phenomena, which carry with them an undeniable evidence, and it is as impossible to entertain a reasonable doubt of such conclusions when once ascertained, as it would be to deny any other evidence present to the senses. And as regards the validity of the conclusions thus deduced, it is to be observed, that the inductions of Geology are not the calculations of one set of observers, nor are they made on any one natural fact, or on any one series of phenomena observed, but are the concurrent and the consistent result of distinct and independent observations-of observations made in different localities, upon different phenomena, and distinct and separated instances of the same general formation, made by different and independent observers, observers of consummate skill, and habituated to patient research, and whose qualifications for correctly observing and judging, as well as their credibility, are attested by their eminent attainments in the several branches of science, by their general ability, long experience, and high character; and the correctness of whose observations thus independently made, is further guaranteed by their being subjected to renewed collation, comparison, and examination by other well qualified observers, by geologists, and by minds of acute perception,— in many cases previously opposed to the conclusions which thus convince their own reason,--and these observations and conclusions are afterwards subjected to public consideration, and thus again exposed to

INCONSISTENCY OF THEIR OPPONENTS.

31

correction, were there opportunity for it. And the evidence cannot be weak, or the induction doubtful, that has led the most eminent Christians and Philosophers to "read their recantation" of opinions they had adopted, and long warmly cherished.

It has been truly observed, that we readily give implicit credit to the calculations of the immortal Newton, Laplace, Bradley, and Herschel, made in a sphere where their conclusions necessarily rest upon calculations alone, and as necessarily want many of those present and sensible corroborations and safeguards which attest the validity of geological conclusions, while at the same time we deny the inferences and conclusions established in geological research. We admit the plurality of worlds in the Siderial system, but deny the plurality of creations upon our own globe-and this, although the plurality of worlds is established by reasonings not more convincing than those which enforce the conclusions of Geology. And since those conclusions are thus supported, thus sanctioned, and thus guaranteed, and since they in addition "speak for themselves," and require not the elucidation of merely arithmetical and mathematical evidences, and moreover are not based on arguments from analogy only, why is it that we do not give as implicit credence to the facts and reasonings of Geology? Can the most zealous opponents of geological truth bring to their aid one reason to justify this glaring inconsistency, this positive injustice? To the present hour they have been unable to