PART II. CHAP. VI. "ments; in order, 1. to penetrate that mass; 66 days." And therefore, because the mode illustrated by this obscurity is the only mode in which "WE can understand it," the text of Moses is to be interpreted by no other rule than our incapacity to understand it; although that incapacity proceeds, solely, from our deficiency in the knowledge requisite for understanding it. Let this principle be applied to any other object of research, and its absurdity will be at once manifest; to say nothing of its necessary consequence, with respect to truth. "Take heed, that the LIGHT that is in "thee be not DARKNESS," is a caution, which the mineral system of geology would do well to observe, with respect to its own science. ! Lettres Géologiques, p. 101, &c. 66 66 CHAP. VI. Dolomieu acutely remarked to De Luc; "that PART II. though light might produce fire, and fire "water, yet no progress would thereby be "made in the problem to be solved; because, the simple liquidity of water would "be inoperative, without the accession of some principle of activity which does not essentially pertain to it." To this forcible observation, which paralyzed the primum mobile of his chemical chaos, De Luc replied, as was usual with him on similar occasions, by referring to an answer in a future work; so sturdily did he now stickle for time. Time, is the great fascinator of all unbelievers, semi-believers, and conditional and systematical believers; and equally sagacious are the various ways in which they seek to extend it. Professor Meinars, argued the length of time which must have been necessary for the gradual discovery of the great truth, of a One, supreme, Creator and Governor of the world. Bailly, argued the same, respecting other important principles of natural religion and morality. But, by the more philosophical supposition, which the Mosaic record confirms; that the Intelligent Creator endowed His intel CHAP. VI. PART II. ligent creature with these principles at his first formation, in order to render him" conducive "to the end for which he formed him;" those unnecessary and unphilosophical measures, are at once abscinded from the true computation of time. The same error has sought the same measures, in imagining the time requisite for making and collecting the various celestial observations, by which man could arrive at a knowledge of the heavenly bodies, their movements, and indications, and apply them to the computation of time. But, the same philosophical principle will dispel the error in this case, as in the former; and the Mosaical record expressly acquaints us, in the article we have been now considering, that the Creator, on this fourth day, disposed His celestial calendar in its first sensible and complete order of indications, and appointed it to serve for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years," preparatory to the proximate creation of MAN; to whom it was to be imparted, and for whom alone it was to be conducive to those relative ends. Thus, then, it is sufficiently manifest, from the concurring authorities of learning and philosophy; that the solar light, which, upon the fourth day of creation, was transmitted imme CHAP. VI. diately and optically from the solar orb, was PART II. the same light that, during the three preceding days, had been transmitted through a nebulous medium, interposed between it and the earth: μητε ήλιον, μητε αςρων επιφαινοντων - “ neither sun "nor stars having been apparent,” during that covered and clouded period. CHAPTER VII. PART II. THE sacred historian goes on to his Fifth Article, and relates: CHAP. VII. "And GOD said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, "and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ઠંડ "And GOD created GREAT WHALES, and every living creature that moveth, which the "waters brought forth abundantly after their "kind; and every winged fowl after its kind. "And GOD saw that it was good. "And GOD blessed them, saying: Be fruitful "and multiply, and FILL THE WATERS IN THE SEAS; and let fowl multiply in the earth. 66 "And the evening and the morning were "the FIFTH DAY." 66 The word ", which our version renders bring forth abundantly," is rendered by the Greek interpreters, ayayeтo, which simply expresses “bring forth," without the qualifica |