Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

A SKETCH OF A SCIENCE.

THAT God made the world-is a proposition which none but an atheist will deny; the very pagan freely asserts it.

That God dictated a book, wherein he gives his own account of the making of that world-is another proposition which only the infidel or the pagan will deny; all other men agree to it.

That he who made a thing is the best qualified to describe such making, and cannot err in the description, if he be an infallible Being,—is a self-evident proposition, which will not be denied by any man whatsoever, unless he have taken leave of his reason.

There is, however, a certain science abroad among men, which professes to give a better account of the world's creation than the Infallible Creator himself has given. Whether it have taken leave of reason, or not, is not for me to decide; but it determinately contradicts and puts aside God's own narrative of his own proceedings, and declares itself competent to give one much more philosophical, and more correct. God declares, that "in SIX DAYS he made heaven and earth, the sea, and ALL that in them is;" and this is not only related at length, in His history of the creation, but is succinctly and most emphatically repeated, as a reason for man's obedience, in that portion of his commands which is allowed to be of the most universal obligation. No, says The Science, OCTOBER, 1839.

2 A

this is quite a mistake; the world was made gradually, during ‘long successions of ages,' quite indefinite; or, at any rate, during 'six long periods' of many hundreds of years, and it is quite impossible that it could have been done in less time.

God says, that in one and the same day he created 66 grass, and the herb yielding seed, and the fruittree yielding fruit." Oh no, by no means, says The Science, that could not be; for we have discovered that reeds, rushes and aquatic plants were the only vegetation in existence for some ages; land plants, herbs, and trees were the growth of after periods.'

God says that "by MAN sin entered into the world, and DEATH by sin." No, says The Science, death took place long before man's existence; we have discovered that there were long periods, during which animals lived, multiplied, and died,' before man was created at all.

[ocr errors]

God says that all the animals were created within two days of each other, and all were beautiful of their kind; for when he saw them he pronounced them all to be " very good." Oh no, it could not be so, says The Science; for huge, hideous, unshapely' lizards and fish were the only animals existing on the earth' for some ages; the more beautiful and higher forms of life' were gradually produced,' after the lapse of long periods, which constituted what we call ' the age of reptiles.'

66

6

God says, that once upon a time, and only once, some two thousand years after the creation, a deluge came upon the face of the whole earth," and the "waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth, and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered,” because "the fountains of the great

6

deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened." As to that, says The Science, the convulsions of nature, which have occured during 'the age of reptiles,' and other similar periods, while the earth was gradually preparing for human inhabitants,' are quite sufficient to account for those 'disruptions of the strata' which we find everywhere, without any deluge at all. Some of us, certainly, consider all these to have arisen from the action of water;' and if so, you may as well have half-a-dozen deluges as one. As for that deluge that Moses talks about, it is a great deal too recent to have produced these effects which we have discovered, so it is no great matter which way we take it.

God says that " ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine," that is, for teaching or instruction. Perhaps, says The Science, it may be profitable' to teach men morality;' but as for philosophy, it knows nothing about it-how should it? Our present days are the days of knowledge, and of the march of intellect;' the bible was written a long time ago, according to the ridiculous notions of those times. The semi-barbarians of Palestine, who wrote it,' could know nothing of real science; it is absurd to imagine such a thing. We know better, and we can tell you all about creation, and strata, and fossils, a hundred times more correctly than this obsolete book of Moses.

And this is MODERN GEOLOGY!

X. Q.

LETTERS TO A FRIEND.

I.

WE have found out a sweet retreat for the summer season, in shade and solitude, on the banks of the Boyne, which sends out a beautiful stream to supply a lake in front of our cottage. We have bow-windows to the ground, from whence the view is enchanting I greatly enjoy the quiet scenery, unruffled water, rich foliage of trees standing alone in unrivalled luxuriance, and the deeper green of the more distant woods. We have sloping hills and rocks and rivers-every thing, in short, which can give beauty and brightness to the landscape, each feature of which you must arrange according to your own fertile imagination. Minute description is not my forte : I can never satisfy myself in any attempt to pourtray the eloquently-speaking combination of hills and dales-rippling rivers, rocks and mountains, &c. My sensations are unutterable, while I sit silently contemplating the wonders by which I am surrounded. In all this phenomena of nature I am taught to view the God of nature-none but a power supreme could have planned it; none but a hand divine could have formed it, and none but Almighty, everliving and overflowing Beneficence could dispense such innumerable blessings.

One object, the most delightful of all, I must not

omit-the lofty spire of the church pointing upwards, as if it would lead the thoughts to pierce through the clear canopy of heaven to the more magnificent brightness round about the throne of God.

Beyond the broad expanse of water, on a sloping eminence, stands the holy edifice, surrounded by the umbrageous foliage of well-grown trees. I love to see the temple dedicated to His praise who gives us "all things richly to enjoy." "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." It is a cold, insensible heart indeed which continued and universal benevolence cannot warm.

"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; and the little hills rejoice on every side: the pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn: they shout for joy, they also sing." "It is a joyful and pleasant thing to be thankful." The Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of his saints. It is his will and wish that we should rejoice in the works of his hands: it can bring no harm to the soul to indulge in such reveries as they produce. I sit silently watching the stately swans, with head erect and round white bosom, sailing along the smooth surface, in proud superiority over the lesser denizens of the lake. The pretty, timid water hens, and the wild ducks which float for a moment, and again dip into their hiding-places amid the rushy margin; or, if unalarmed, they bask in the beams of the sunshine, where the trout springs upon its prey, and the wants of all are liberally provided for. No sportsman is here permitted to level his piece, nor fisherman to spread his net, that the harmless te

« AnteriorContinuar »