XXXI.-The Flesh, Body, &c., as the Cause of Sin,... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ERRATA. Page 69, line 7 from the top, for "inconsistency," read "inconstancy." Page 112, line 6 from bottom, for "travelling," read "trading." Period 2075 V.2 1845 UNIVERSALIST QUARTERLY AND GENERAL REVIEW. ARTICLE I. Geology-Its Facts and its Inferences. GEOLOGY is perhaps second to no other science in the extent of its researches, both in time and space; in the grandeur and utility of its developements; and in the accuracy with which its facts are unfolded. In space, it accompanies the telescope as it sweeps the heavens, and fixes its corner-stone on the sublimest revelation in Astronomy. In time, it stretches its vision far into ancient periods, and brings those wonderful phenomena to view, which, until a recent era, were impenetrably sealed up in the crust of the earth. In order to present its facts clearly, Geology calls to its aid, not only the light afforded by the higher branches of Physics, but also the knowledge derived from those splendid discoveries which form the admirable sciences of Mineralogy, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, and comparative Anatomy. Furnished with these guides, it penetrates the solid strata of the earth; separates the rocks into their simple elements; and establishes the position, that there was a period when those elements had no combination. Revealing truth more strange than the tales of Arabian fiction, it shows that the fossil coal which burns in our grates once formed the trees and plants of dense and luxu1 VOL. II. rious forests; and that the valuable mineral which enters so largely into the comforts of civilized society, once existed as ferruginous mud, borne along and deposited by water at the bottom of its various basins, where chemical action consolidated it into iron-stone. It developes the astonishing fact, that large proportions of some of the strata of the earth have been derived from the organic remains of various species and classes of innumerable animals, who lived and died, and were changed into solid rocks, parts of which form the lofty temple, or add beauty to the drawing-room, in the shape of marble ornaments. Thus, equally connected with the highest branches of knowledge and with many of the common comforts of life, Geology presents a field of sublime and exciting study, and opens that volume of nature, whose Author has impressed its language on the everlasting rocks. But notwithstanding the glory and utility of Geology, it is a source of deep regret that so many of its teachers have pursued a course which has established a perpetual warfare between some of its supposed facts and certain historical records found in the Bible. And so far has this spirit of opposition influenced some of the leading geological teachers, that any system which accords with the Mosaic account of the creation and of the deluge, is treated by them as unworthy of serious attention. They cherish a fixed skepticism in regard to the references made to Geology by the Scriptures. And their writings have affected numbers of individuals with a latent, lurking unbelief, that often needs but a spark to kindle it into the flame which consumes all confidence in divine revelation. This fact is proved by certain past incidents, which are recorded in history, wherein a new geological discovery, accompanied by certain inferences deduced from it, has thrilled men like an electric shock, overturned the faith of many, and caused that of others to reel like a ship struck by a sudden tornado. Thus an unwarranted antagonism is kept up between Geology and the Bible, and the rule is too often adopted, that Geology must destroy the validity of the Scriptures. "No sooner," says the Rev. Mr. Conybeare, "has any new discovery, whatever might have been its subject, occurred, (whether it was a fragment of Indian chronology, or an Egyptian zodiac, or the mechanism of the universe, or that of living bodies, or, lastly, some new fact relating to the structure of the earth,) than the first aspect under which some minds have seemed anxious to view it, has been, whether it would not furnish some new weapon against revelation." But in the midst of this war, one fact should be well considered, though it is generally kept out of sight. Geology is yet a progressive science, a science which still has vast discoveries to make, and whose system, certainly so far as undoubted deductions from established facts are concerned, remains to be completed. The history of Geology presents a long array of theories, which have had their brief day, and were successively exploded by fresh discoveries in the science. The physical facts seen on the surface of the earth are indeed always the same, but in deducing principles from these facts, geologists differ as much from each other as men differ on other subjects; a position which is clearly seen even in the most eminent works relating to the science. Cuvier, after alluding to many varying and contradictory systems, declares that "much diversity of opinion and contradiction has arisen," even among the most cautious geologists. Among these opinions are some, which, at the time of their establishment, were considered clear refutations of the Mosaic record. Yet, while they have been exploded by later discoveries, the Bible remains unchanged, like an ancient temple, which, though it has withstood centuries of desolating storms, is still as fresh as when it received the finishing touch of the architect. Nor is it a less significant truth, that some of the ablest geologists have not only made no discoveries in the sublime field of their research which militate with revelation, but have recognised on the everlasting rocks the writing of the same finger which makes the pages of inspiration glow with the living fire of divine truth. One great cause of this warfare is the want of care on the part of many geologists, not to deduce any conclusions from discovered facts, save those which are perfectly obvious. This important truth is developed in the following 1 For a compend of this history, see Lyell's Principles of Geology, vol. i., the first four chapters. 2 Revolutions on the Surface of the Globe, p. 31. quotation: "But the testimony of geological monuments possesses, at least, the advantage of being free from all suspicion of misrepresentation. We may be deceived in the inferences which we draw, in the same manner as we often mistake the nature and import of phenomena observed in the daily course of nature; but our liability to err is confined to the interpretation, and if this be correct, our information is certain."3 This is the precise difficulty -the interpretation of geological monuments has too often been erroneous. The history of geology proves that multitudes of unwarranted and contradictory conclusions have been deduced from the unquestionable facts of the science. Geological priests frequently give wrong explanations of their texts. And from the want of knowledge to enable them to detect the fallacy of such explanations, many people confound them with geological facts themselves, and then yield their confidence in the Scriptures to the influence of errors thus embraced. The following instance illustrates this position: An individual discovered near mount Etna a stratum of lava which, according to his supposition, flowed during an eruption that occurred about two thousand years since. On sinking a pit, he remarks that seven distinct strata of lava were found, on each of which about two feet of soil is deposited. Assuming that two thousand years are required to decompose lava so as to form soil, and applying this assumption to the seven strata, he concluded that the lowest stratum must have flowed full fourteen thousand years since. This conclusion was esteemed an undeniable fact; and as Moses did not make the world half so old, it was considered by many persons to be completely destructive of his testimony, which they rejected as unworthy of confidence. Now the whole difficulty, in this instance, exists in confounding inferences with facts. That the strata of lava and soil really exist, is undeniable; but the time assumed for their deposition is an unfounded inference. And this inference was annihilated by the discovery of six strata of lava and soil over Herculaneum, which were deposited in less than eighteen centuries. Mr. 3 Lyell's Principles of Geology, vol. i. p. 19. 4 Comstock's Geology, p. 369, and onward. |