the work was actually thus accomplished, there et evidence that they really had the time allowed he results. It was not by shewing the mere fact ut by ascertaining the limitations of its influence, that the effects exactly correspond to a cause so nd limited in operation, that Newton placed his Lamantine base of proof. Let then the geologist

power in his physical causes, and shew their working at that rate according to fixed times and he results ascribed to them, and it will be conas built an edifice of sound philosophy. Till claim to be regarded only as mere opinions, and, be warped by every previous bias which the unof circumstances may have impressed upon his

truth, the Author of this work distrusts such umes, that, except they can be proved to be corded in Scripture are to be regarded as having 1; and that if true, we may rationally expect ature, that traces of them may remain to this d be discovered in the obscure traditions of naitten histories and monuments, or in the lasting mpressed upon the material frame-work of the nes besides, that such facts stated in Scripture, to such corroboration, might seem to be highly st impossible; when afterwards proved, not only sible, but to be actually supported by unexpected mena, for which they satisfactorily account; beorthy of credit, but nearly demonstrated to have d. Nor can we doubt, that this kind of proof, tion, is nevertheless, in the view of reason, fully We are not less certain of multitudes of truths ceptible of demonstration, than we are of those astrated. If the most questionable and astoundnts of a book, professing to have been given by , and otherwise established to be worthy of credit external media of evidence, are themselves also ported by subsequent discoveries; then, the book ltogether, without any deduction, worthy of full eracity. Nothing can have a more powerful effect mind, than such solutions of difficulty, such clearctions, such confirmation of otherwise confounding le that, unless it can be rigorously proved that no n account for them, refuses to admit such causes as assign for amazing effects, which effects he is neged to acknowledge, manifests that he has deterand to reject their verdict. He distrusts it as if

reverence for the Scriptures, or to hint discrepancy between a darling theory and authenticated fact. These gentlemen may have committed errors; but the scorn with which their honourable names have been loaded, has not on that account been cast on them; since blunders far more gross, in writers more congenial with the taste of these revilers, are treated gently. But the sin is, that they have thought to corroborate and to confirm the sacred records, by connecting facts of comparatively recent proof, with statements made some thousands of years ago. These gentlemen may have theorized without sufficient data; but neither is it on this account, that they have incurred such ireful censure; for their critics have their unsupported theories also. The offence, no doubt a grave one, is, that the theory takes the interdicted course. The wildest extravagances of Indian fables may meet with friendly entertainment, and it may even be hinted that modern science singularly favours them; but Moses must be held to be without the pale, and ridicule must needs alight on those who dare assert his claims to modern confidence. So sensible of this fact is the Author of the work before us, that, as a member of the Geological Society, he shrinks from encountering the obloquy, and chooses to withhold his name.

It is manifest, however, that the notion which assigns myriads of ages as the past duration of the world, is not less hypothetical than that which limits its duration to a few thousand years ;that he who pleads for a succession of innumerable partial revolutions, to account for that class of phenomena now generally called diluvial, is not less a theorist than he who attributes them to one of unlimited extent. Neither party confines himself to mere facts; each has his inferences; nor can either claim for his opinion the unyielding force of demonstration. To describe a multitude of disturbing causes now at work, in the manner of Mr. Lyell, and then to imagine myriads of ages for them to revel in, if it may illustrate the possibility, can scarcely be said to establish the probability, that all the changes which the crust of the earth has manifestly undergone, were thus produced in fact. Marble rocks have been worn by the kisses and genuflexions of devotees; and the supposition would therefore involve no absolute impossibility, that, in a period of incalculable duration, but which would still be as nothing compared with eternity, a valley might have been scooped out of the hardest rock by the mere kisses of successive generations; but there would be some difficulty in bringing our minds to acquiesce in such an explanation of the phenomenon, even if it could be shewn that such rocks had been the objects of a superstitious veneration. Little is proved, when it is shewn that certain physical agents would be adequate, at a given rate of energy, and in the course of indefinite periods of time, to the performance of certain assignable effects in order to con

vince us that the work was actually thus accomplished, there needs some direct evidence that they really had the time allowed them to effect the results. It was not by shewing the mere fact of gravitation, but by ascertaining the limitations of its influence, and by proving that the effects exactly correspond to a cause so ruled, defined, and limited in operation, that Newton placed his system on the adamantine base of proof. Let then the geologist define the rate of power in his physical causes, and shew their correspondency, working at that rate according to fixed times and distances, with the results ascribed to them, and it will be confessed that he has built an edifice of sound philosophy. Till then, his theories claim to be regarded only as mere opinions, and, as such, liable to be warped by every previous bias which the unestimated force of circumstances may have impressed upon his mind.

Aware of this truth, the Author of this work distrusts such theories. He assumes, that, except they can be proved to be false, the facts recorded in Scripture are to be regarded as having actually occurred; and that if true, we may rationally expect from their very nature, that traces of them may remain to this present time; and be discovered in the obscure traditions of nations, in their written histories and monuments, or in the lasting results of them impressed upon the material frame-work of the globe. He assumes besides, that such facts stated in Scripture, as, antecedently to such corroboration, might seem to be highly improbable, almost impossible; when afterwards proved, not only to have been possible, but to be actually supported by unexpected concurring phenomena, for which they satisfactorily account; become not only worthy of credit, but nearly demonstrated to have certainly occurred. Nor can we doubt, that this kind of proof, if not demonstration, is nevertheless, in the view of reason, fully as convincing. We are not less certain of multitudes of truths which are unsusceptible of demonstration, than we are of those which are demonstrated. If the most questionable and astounding announcements of a book, professing to have been given by Divine authority, and otherwise established to be worthy of credit by internal and external media of evidence, are themselves also shewn to be supported by subsequent discoveries; then, the book itself becomes altogether, without any deduction, worthy of full reliance on its veracity. Nothing can have a more powerful effect upon a sound mind, than such solutions of difficulty, such clearing of contradictions, such confirmation of otherwise confounding statements. He that, unless it can be rigorously proved that no other causes can account for them, refuses to admit such causes as the Scriptures assign for amazing effects, which effects he is nevertheless obliged to acknowledge, manifests that he has determined beforehand to reject their verdict. He distrusts it as if

reverence for the Scriptures, or to hint discrepancy between a darling theory and authenticated fact. These gentlemen may have committed errors; but the scorn with which their honourable names have been loaded, has not on that account been cast on them; since blunders far more gross, in writers more congenial with the taste of these revilers, are treated gently. But the sin is, that they have thought to corroborate and to confirm the sacred records, by connecting facts of comparatively recent proof, with statements made some thousands of years ago. These gentlemen may have theorized without sufficient data; but neither is it on this account, that they have incurred such ireful censure; for their critics have their unsupported theories also. The offence, no doubt a grave one, is, that the theory takes the interdicted course. The wildest extravagances of Indian fables may meet with friendly entertainment, and it may even be hinted that modern science singularly favours them; but Moses must be held to be without the pale, and ridicule must needs alight on those who dare assert his claims to modern confidence. So sensible of this fact is the Author of the work before us, that, as a member of the Geological Society, he shrinks from encountering the obloquy, and chooses to withhold his name.

It is manifest, however, that the notion which assigns myriads of ages as the past duration of the world, is not less hypothetical than that which limits its duration to a few thousand years ;that he who pleads for a succession of innumerable partial revolutions, to account for that class of phenomena now generally called diluvial, is not less a theorist than he who attributes them to one of unlimited extent. Neither party confines himself to mere facts; each has his inferences; nor can either claim for his opinion the unyielding force of demonstration. To describe a multitude of disturbing causes now at work, in the manner of Mr. Lyell, and then to imagine myriads of ages for them to revel in, if it may illustrate the possibility, can scarcely be said to establish the probability, that all the changes which the crust of the earth has manifestly undergone, were thus produced in fact. Marble rocks have been worn by the kisses and genuflexions of devotees; and the supposition would therefore involve no absolute impossibility, that, in a period of incalculable duration, but which would still be as nothing compared with eternity, a valley might have been scooped out of the hardest rock by the mere kisses of successive generations; but there would be some difficulty in bringing our minds to acquiesce in such an explanation of the phenomenon, even if it could be shewn that such rocks had been the objects of a superstitious veneration. Little is proved, when it is shewn that certain physical agents would be adequate, at a given ate of energy, and in the course of indefinite periods of time, to performance of certain assignable effects: in order to con