solution of its numerous and opposite phæ

nomena.

Without professing, therefore, to search into the Mosaic account for any philosophical explanation of the structure of the earth, it will be useful to consider what we do actually find in the record, whether of matter of fact or description: that we may more distinctly perceive how the case stands at present as to the true bearing of geological discoveries upon Revelation.

So far as relates to the subject before us, the account in Genesis may be briefly summed up in these three articles: First, that God was the original Creator of all things: secondly, that, at the formation of the globe we inhabit, the whole of its materials were in a state of chaos and confusion and thirdly, that at a period not exceeding five thousand years ago (whether we adopt the Septuagint or Hebrew chronology is immaterial), the whole earth underwent a mighty catastrophe, in which it was completely inundated by the immediate agency of the Deity, and all its inhabitants destroyed, except the remnant

miraculously preserved to continue the species.

These are the great outlines drawn by the sacred historian; and if we add to them what may be generally collected, that the materials of the globe were in a fluid state previous to its organization, and that the mode of its organization was not nstantaneous, but a gradual process, we shall have placed before us all the important points which the records comprise, or the most zealous believer in their inspiration would think himself bound to maintain.

If such is the historical account, let us proceed to compare it with the appearances which the world exhibits. The conclusions which a natural philosopher of the highest authority thinks himself justified in laying down as certain, are these; first, "That the sea has at one period or other not only covered all our plains, but that it must have remained there for a long time, and in a state of tranquillity." Secondly, "That there has been at least one change in the basin of that sea which preceded

ours; it has experienced at least one revolution." Thirdly, "That the particular portions of the earth also, which the sea has abandoned by its last retreat, had been laid dry once before, and had at that time produced quadrupeds, birds, plants, and all kinds of terrestrial productions: it had then been inundated by the sea, which has since retired from it, and left it to be occupied by its own proper inhabitants *."

It is thus evident that the account of Moses, and the results attained by Cuvier, are so far from being contradictory, that they mutually coincide, and derive light and support from each other. First, the prevalence of the waters at the period of the creation described by Moses+: secondly, the separation of the land from

* Cuvier on the Theory of the Earth, edited by Professor Jamieson, p. 11, 13, and 14. Cuvier inclines to the belief, that the internal structure of the earth or crust of the globe bears signs of more than one revolution previous to the last, or Deluge; and of some previous to the existence of animate beings. To this idea I shall allude hereafter.

† Gen. i. ver. 6 and 9. "Let the waters under the "heaven be gathered together in one place, and let the dry land appear."

the waters, producing a revolution in the basin of the sea: and thirdly, the irruption of the sea over the continent, at a time when its inhabitants were not very different from those which it still continues to sup ́port: are satisfactory coincidences between the sacred historian and the philosopher; coincidences perhaps too vague to be relied on solely as evidences of the facts, but certainly sufficient to meet any objections which might be insinuated on the score of geology against the other testimony to the truth of the Mosaic writings.

Respecting the deluge indeed, its effects, and its universality, there is no uncertainty. Whatever revolutions the materials of our globe may have experienced, it arises from the nature of such revolutions that the effects of the last in order should be most distinctly and universally visible. Accordingly, it is from the legible characters of the deluge recorded by Moses, that geology furnishes the strongest corroboration to his history. Geologers acquaint us, that as soon as we pierce the vegetable mould and alluvial soil which form the usual surface of the earth, strata of rocks

appear of various descriptions, intermixed with an endless variety of hardened earths, and of calcareous and mineral substances; strata so blended and heaped together, as to baffle any hypothesis hitherto devised as to their formation: the account which is satisfactory on a partial view, or for a single district, being utterly inconsistent with the phænomena of others.

On the other hand, the Mosaic history informs us, that not more than five thousand years ago the whole inhabited world suffered a mighty convulsion, and was inundated by waters covering the highest mountains for one hundred and fifty days.

It is a problem of very difficult solution, to determine how much of that appearance of internal and external ruin which the earth uniformly exhibits is to be referred to the effect of this catastrophe, To ascertain this point with any approach to probability, we ought to be acquainted with the means employed; and the operation by which the submersion was immediately caused is only described by the historian in the most general terms. The sim