CHAP. X.

PART II. operation, commencing at the same moment its first diurnal revolution, in which operation, the solid body of the earth was formed and constituted in all its parts distinct from the body of waters, which were diffused over its whole superficies. 5. That, on the third day, by a similar simultaneous operation, He caused the first formations of all vegetable matter, in their full maturity; and, 6. That on the fifth and sixth days, He in a similar manner caused the first formations of all animal matter.

We thus find, in the Mosaical geology, the three kingdoms of matter equally connected with their common Intelligent Cause ; by whom they were both "created, and set in "order, in such sizes and figures, in such pro"portions to space, and with such other proper"ties, as most conduced to the end for which "He formed them; and therefore, that none of "them rose out of a chaos, by the mere laws of "nature."

But, this is the very induction of Newton himself, derived from universal analysis. Which induction, therefore, being in perfect concord with the Mosaical geology, but in total discord with the mineral geology, decides the question with which we set out, namely, the MODE of first formations. For, both the geologies appealed to Newton; and, upon this appeal, Newton

determines, without hesitation, in favour of PART II, the Mosaical, and formally affixes to the conclusions of the mineral, the stigma of unphilosophical.

He calls

Bacon's philosophy, no less decidedly disclaims all chaotic formation, together with the periods of time to which it lays claim. He acknowledges no other agency, either in the act of power which created, or in the act of wisdom which arranged this globe, than the hand of God Himself: the former, in "one moment of time," the latter, in "six days," natural and consecutive; and he could discern no true, philosophical objection, to the admission of those facts. the first formation "confusa," in deference to the text of the received versions, and attempts no critical explanation of the word; but we have seen, that it is to be understood with relation only to vision, and not to the subject'. He allows of no fermenting, digesting, and preparing;" of no dissolution, precipitation, or crystallization;” of no creative seeds or elements;" of no other actor in arrangement, than God Himself, and of no other mode of his action, than immediate; and he pronounces all those laws, which physical philosophy denominates laws of nature, and to

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CHAP. X.

' See above, p. 132 and 150.

R

CHAP. X.

PART II. which the mineral geology would ascribe the arrangement of first formations, to be no other than the laws of the Creation; which did not, and could not, begin to operate, until God had called this mineral globe into being, in one moment of time, and had finished the perfect arrangement of every thing pertaining to its system. And he thus professes his belief:

"I believe, that God created heaven and "earth; and gave unto them constant and perpetual laws, which we call of Nature; " which is nothing but the laws of the Creation: "that the laws of nature, which now remain, "and govern inviolably till the end of the

world, began to be in force when God rested

from His work:-that, notwithstanding God "hath rested from creating, since the first "sabbath, yet, nevertheless, He doth accom

"

plish and fulfil His divine will in all things,

great and small, general and particular, as full "and exactly by providence, as He could do by "miracle and new creation; though His working "be not immediate and direct, but by com66 pass; not violating nature, which is His own "laws, upon his creatures 1."

".

! Confession of Faith.

PART III.

CHAPTER I.

CHAP. I.

It is now decided, upon a comparison of the PART III. two geologies with the philosophy of Bacon and Newton respecting the FIRST great object of our inquiry, viz. The MODE of First Formations; that philosophy and truth lie exclusively with the Mosaical. It remains for us, to institute a similar comparison with respect to the SECOND great object; viz. the MODE of the universal Changes, or Revolutions, which the mineral substances of the earth have since undergone.

But, a question here arises, with respect to the course by which this ulterior object ought to be pursued. In the former part of this disquisition, we began our investigation by examining the pretensions of the mineral geology; in order to bring it into a comparison with the Mosaical, and to try the validity of each by a common test. This object we have

CHAP. I.

PART III. accomplished, with respect to the first question; and the result has been, a clear demonstration of the validity of the latter, by the rule of that test, and the invalidity of the former. This issue of our examination, appears to render it reasonable, that we should now alter our course; and that, continuing to pursue the thread of the record thus far confirmed, we should apply our close attention to what it relates concerning an Universal Revolution, effected in the substance of this globe by the intervention of the same Power, who alone acted in the work of Creation; carefully examining, whether the evidences of revolution, which the earth reveals, correspond with the statements of the record, and are sufficiently accounted for by it; or, whether the mineral geology has discovered the evidence and the statements to be at variance, or has found evidences of revolution which are not reducible to those stated in the record; for, if they are so reducible, it will be equally contrary to philosophy and logic, to assume any others upon a ground of mere conjecture.

But, there is another reason why this course is to be preferred for this latter part of our inquiry, besides the superiority which the record has already acquired from the decision of the test, which is this: physical philosophy, for a long time past, had taken upon itself to deny