Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

CHAPTER V.

Page

EXEMPLIFIED, 3DLY, WITH RELATION TO THE METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS IN PHYSICAL INQUIRIES; AND TO THE INDUCTION, BY THE FORMER, OF THE MOST GENERAL PRINCIPLE WHICH OPERATES IN NATURE. DEFICIENCY OF THAT MOST GENERAL PRINCIPLE IN THE SYSTEMS OF THE MINERAL GEOLOGY.. 53

CHAPTER VI.

THAT DEFICIENCY DEMONSTRATED

[ocr errors]

FIRST, BY DEDUCING THE MODE OF FIRST FORMATIONS IN THE TWO KINGDOMS OF NATURE, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE

63

CHAPTER VII.

SECONDLY, BY APPLYING THE SAME RULE TO FIRST FORMATIONS IN THE REMAINING THIRD, OR MINERAL, KINGDOM:-THE MODE OF FIRST FORMATION, DEMONSTRATED TO BE, NECESSARILY, ONE AND THE SAME IN ALL THE THREE KINGDOMS; NAMELY, THE MODE OF INTELLIGENT CREATION, CONFORMABLY TO THE PRINCIPLES OF NEWTON'S PHILOSOPHY

.......

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CHAOTIC CHEMICAL PRINCIPLE, ASSUMED BY THE MINERAL GEOLOGY TO ACCOUNT PARTIALLY FOR FIRST FORMATIONS IN ONE ONLY OF THE THREE KINGDOMS OF NATURE, SHEWN TO BE CONTRARY TO, AND IRRECONCILABLE WITH, TRUE PHILOSOPHY; CONGENIAL WITH ALCHYMY-AND, THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT DEFICIENCY OF THE MOST GENERAL PRINCIPLE IN ITS SCIENCE, WHICH WAS BEFORE DEMONSTRATED

CHAPTER IX.

THE CAUSE OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE CHAOTIC PRINCIPLE BY THE MINERAL GEOLOGY, SHEWN TO BE, THE EXCLUSION OF MORAL PRINCIPLES FROM ITS PHYSICAL SPECULATIONS; IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THE METHOD OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY EMPLOYED AND TAUGHT BY NEWTON

79

103

117

CHAPTER X.

GENERAL CONCLUSION FROM THE PRECEDING ARGUMENT............................ 136

PART II.

Page

OF THE MODE OF THE FIRST FORMATIONS OF THE EARTH, ACCORDING TO THE MOSAICAL GEOLOGY.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE MOSAICAL GEOLOGY:-ITS FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE, UNIVERSAL INTELLIGENT CREATION-ACCORDANCE OF ITS PRINCIPLES WITH THE PHILOSOPHIES OF BACON AND NEWTON, WITH RELATION TO THE MODE OF ALL FIRST FORMATIONS

CHAPTER II.

[ocr errors]

145

OF THE NATURE OF THE RECORD AND VOUCHER FOR THE FACTS OF FIRST-FORMATION, OR CREATION, CONTAINED IN THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES, OR GENESIS

CHAPTER III.

159

TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIRST DAY OF CREATION, ACCORDING TO THE
EXPRESS, AND THE VIRTUAL, DECLARATIONS OF THAT RECORD:-
THIS GLOBE CREATED AT ONCE, PREPARED FOR THE ENDS WHICH
IT WAS TO SERVE-" INVISIBLE," FROM THE UNIVERSAL ENVE-
LOPMENT OF THE SUPERINCUMBENT OCEAN, AND FROM THE NON-
EXISTENCE OF LIGHT—“ UNFURNISHED," BECAUSE WITHOUT PRO-
DUCTIONS:-THE FIRST ILLUMINATION OF THE SOLAR ORB, IN
INFERIOR CONJUNCTION WITH THE LUNAR, OR FIRST NOVILU-
NIUM.-COMMENCEMENT OF THE EARTH'S DIURNAL REVOLUTIONS,
OR OF TIME-NO MENTION OR IMPLICATION OF A CHAOS, OR OF
ANY EDUCTION FROM A CHAOS, IN THE LANGUAGE OF MOSES-A
NOTION ESSENTIALLY IRRECONCILABLE WITH HIS HISTORY-OF
POSTERIOR HEATHEN ORIGINARISING ENTIRELY OUT OF AN
OBLIVION AND IGNORANCE OF CREATIVE POWER AND OPERATION.. 165

CHAPTER IV.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECOND DAY:-CREATION OF THE AERIAL ATMOSPHERE-ASCENT OF THE AQUEOUS VAPOUR IN CLOUDS

CHAPTER V.

....

TRANSACTIONS OF THE THIRD DAY:- FIRST CHANGE OR REVOLUTION IN THE GLOBE'S SURFACE-RENT AND DEPRESSION OF THE ABYSSES TO FORM A SEA-BED-DEFLUX OF THE UNIVERSAL SUPERINCUMBENT OCEAN INTO THOSE RECEPTACLES — CONSEQUENT EXPOSURE OF A TERRESTRIAL SURFACE-ITS INVESTITURE WITH VEGETATION

206

209

CHAPTER VI.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE FOURTH DAY: -THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE MOON RELATIVELY TO THE EARTH, ACCORDING TO THE LAWS ORDAINED FOR ITS MOVEMENT AND REVOLUTION—MANIFESTATION OF THE SYSTEM APPOINTED FOR THE SIDEREAL INDICATION AND NOTIFICATION OF TIMES

225

CHAPTER VII.

Page

TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIFTH DAY:-CREATION OF THE FIRST ANIMALS-AQUATILE AND VOLATILE

252

CHAPTER VIII.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE SIXTH DAY:-CREATION OF QUADRUPEDSAND OF MAN....

257

CHAPTER IX.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE SEVENTH DAY:-CONSECRATION OF THE SABBATH - COINCIDENT CESSATION OF CREATIVE, AND COMMENCEMENT OF UNIVERSAL PHYSICAL OPERATION INSTITUTION OF HEBDOMADAL DIVISIONS OF TIME, OR WEEKS, IN PERPETUAL MEMORIAL OF THAT COINCIDENCE:-COINCIDENT INCHOATIONS OF THE MEASURES OF DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, AND YEARS, SUPPLYING A PERFECT FUNDAMENTAL EPOCHA FOR CHRONOLOGY. (See Note [II.] p. 307.) ·

CHAPTER X.

GENERAL CONCLUSION FROM THE TWO PRECEDING PARTS

269

[blocks in formation]

NOTES.

I. ON THE MOSAIC DAYS OF CREATION

II. ON THE JUBILEAN CHRONOLOGY OF FRANK
III. ON M. HUMBOLDT'S THEORY OF ROCKS

283

307

327

POST-SCRIPT TO THE INTRODUCTION.

December 23, 1825.

THE last Numbers of the British and Westminster Reviews induce me to subjoin a Post-script to the preceding Introduction, comprising all that I deem most material to observe, in acknowledgment of the criticisms contained in those two Journals.

[ocr errors]

The author of the strictures conveyed in the latter Journal, comes forward in aid of the British Critic, and in thirty-eight pages of corresponding invective, designed to shew how unworthy of his notice he considers the Comparative Estimate, formally impeaches its author of folly, "falsehood, wickedness, Inquisitorial persecution, &c. &c. ;" and, after professing a hearty hatred of canting, ends with an exhortation, "to recollect that Charity which con"demneth not." The Comparative Estimate, has preferred no graver charge than inadequate and remiss inquiry, and precipitate and unsupported speculation, naturally productive of essential error; the direct tendency of which error, indeed, and the mode of its operation, it exposes without compromise, and without reserve: this salutary exposure and caution, the preacher of Charity designates, a “calumny charging a whole body of men with Deism, Atheism, he does not know what to call it.”

[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors]

The "front of offence," which has raised this fever of agitation in the breast of the Westminster Reviewer, is, that the Comparative Estimate has at length, for the first time, brought the doctrine of a Chaos, which, during the last two centuries, has been unobservedly establishing a rooted authority in the general mind of Europe, to a distinct point before that mind; so that the consideration of the question cannot be any longer evaded, and it must now be deliberately inquired, and determined—whether it is more rational and more philosophical to believe, that the firstformed mineral masses, constituting this created globe, were the final results of an indefinitely long chemical process, exercised during a series of ages on pre-existing separate elements or particles; or, to believe, that those masses came, at once, into their perfect compound existences, by the virtue of the creative Fiat of Divine Intelligence and Power. The Westminster Reviewer adopts the first of these doctrines; the Comparative Estimate maintains the second; and the Reviewer is incensed, that the Estimate should presume to combat the doctrine which he has himself embraced. He calls it " persecution ;" and has formed so intimate an union in his imagination between the words of Scripture and persecution, that he has persuaded himself, whoever contends strenuously for the former, wishes "to rekindle the fires of Smithfield," and to burn him alive. Yet, the opposers of the doctrine of a Chaos, may certainly be permitted equal latitude of discussion with the upholders of that doctrine; and, if they will not burn us, we will promise not to burn them, but to leave the question for free and honourable controversy on each side: the force of unobstructed truth being amply sufficient to determine the issue of the question, without the aid either of the faggot, or of polemical malignity. To multiply his

« AnteriorContinuar »