"It is the soul of a friend of mine, whom I recognise by its voice." Socrates and Plato both believed in the existence of a supreme intelligence, and the doctrines of these two philosophers approach nearest of any to the precepts and the doctrines of the Word of God.*

Such is a brief and rapid sketch of some of the curious speculations of the heathen mind with regard to the origin of the world, which may be summed up in a few lines.

The Chinese and Egyptians regarded water as the original element from which all things have proceeded. The Mexicans and Peruvians held the same doctrine. The Indian Cosmogonies assume the wildest and most extravagant form. Among the European philosophers were those who held that water is the original source of all things. Thales and Anaximander were the most renowned of this school. While Anaximines maintained that air is the primal element.

Later on arose a school which conceived the existence of a Supreme Intelligence distinct from matter, by whose agency the original elements were animated, reduced to order, harmony, and beauty. The most illustrious names belonging to this school were Anaxagoras, Socrates, and Plato.

Distinct from all these was Xenophanes, who was an avowed pantheist, and maintained that the universe was God.

Gathering up all these cosmogonies or theories of creation, we can see that there are in them small particles of truth mingled with a great deal of error. There are a few rays of light struggling through clouds of dense darkness. The intuitions of the human mind and the floating fragments of ancient tradition have united in forming systems of philosophical speculation in which are blended a few things which are right

*See Smith's History of Greece.

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with many things which are wrong. Let us now turn from speculation to revelation.

The Bible opens with a brief but authoritative statement on the origin and creation of the world. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." There is remarkable simplicity and majesty in this opening statement of the word of God. There is no hesitation, no dubitation; the words are the utterance of authoritative certainty. They cut at the root of nearly all the ancient cosmogonies of the world. They give the deathblow to pantheism. They assert that matter is not eternal. They declare that it was created by the Supreme Being. They are designed to set at rest all the perplexities of the human mind with respect to the origin of matter. They must be taken as final with respect to the origin of the universe in which we live.

The remaining portion of the Book of Genesis is occupied in giving a detailed account of the progress or the successive stages of the creation of the world. We gather from the statements of Scripture that the world as it now exists, with all its wonderful arrangements--its lofty mountains, its rolling oceans, its glassy lakes, its variegated islands, its waving forests, its blooming flowers, its roaming animals, its swarming insects, and its singing birds-was not the result of one instantaneous creative act. Believing in the omnipotence of God, of course we believe that such an instantaneous act of creation was within the range of possibility. But the Bible assures us that six successive days or periods of time were taken up in forming and finishing the world, and thus fitting it to be the abode of man.

On the first day. Light was created. The primal light was divided from the primal darkness-the light

was called day, and the darkness night.

On the second day. The firmament was made. The original word rendered firmament means Expanse, and most probably this expanse refers to the atmosphere. By means of the atmosphere a division was made in the waters.

On the third day. The waters were separated from the land. The dry land appeared. Grass, herb, fruit, each yielding seed after its kind, were produced on this day.

The fourth day was signalised by the making of two great lights or luminaries-the greater designed to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night. The stars also.

or

On the fifth day. God caused the waters to bring forth abundantly; the moving creature creeping thing having life; fowls that fly in the firmament of heaven. The great sea monsters also were created on this day.

On the sixth day were made the cattle, creeping things, and beasts of the earth; and finally MAN, who was the termination in the series of creative acts. A cloud of divine glory gathered about the form of man. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female

created he them."

Such is a brief outline of the biblical record of creation. For many centuries this record was read and its statements accepted in their literal form. Our forefathers saw

no difficulty in the way of interpretation. Matthew Henry goes clean through the chapter without the slightest throe or struggle of intellect. It should be stated, however, that Josephus, Philo, and Augustine, without any knowledge of the facts of geology, maintained that the word Day in the first chapter of Genesis was not to be interpreted literally, but meant an extended period of duration.

About the beginning of the present century geology began to be cultivated as a science. Up to this time all geological inquiries had been informal and unsystematic. In the earlier annals of geologic science are two great names, one an Englishman, the other a FrenchmanSmith and Cuvier. William Smith was the father of English geology. He was a man of shrewd common sense and indefatigatible industry. He was employed as a surveyor in connection with the cutting of canals; and with his daily avocation he blended geological research. He was always talking about stratum and strata, until he went by the name of Stratum Smith. He was the first to construct a geological map of the British Isles. Smith was one day walking near Dunstable downs, when he observed to a friend, "If any of the ground were broken up about the foot of these hills, we might find sharks' teeth." They had not gone far before they picked up six on the white bank of a new ditch in the course of formation.

Contemporary with William Smith was the great French naturalist, Baron Cuvier. While Smith was engaged in observing the order of the strata of the earth, Cuvier was employed in examining, comparing, and classifying the bones of animals found in the crust of the globe. He brought bone to bone, and limb to limb, until he built up some of those wonderful skeletons of the remains of ancient life which adorn the museums of Europe. Cuvier died in

1832-Smith, 1839.

Since the days of these eminent and indefatigable men, the science of geology has made rapid advancement. Some of the highest and noblest intellects have been attracted to its fascinating investigations. It takes its appropriate place now in the circle of the sciences. "Geology," says Sir John F. W. Herschel, "in the magnitude and sublimity of the

objects which it treats, undoubtedly ranks in the scale of the sciences next to astronomy."

Geology is the science which investigates, compares, and classifies the various rock-formations composing the crust of the globe. It aspires to tell the story of the earth's history. All rocks are divided into two great classes-stratified and unstratified. They are also called aqueous and igneous. Igneous rocks are supposed to have been formed by the action of fire, aqueous rocks by the action of water.

In their normal position the igneous rocks are the lowest in the strata of the earth with which man is acquainted. The igneous rocks have been classified under three heads, viz., granitic, trappean, and volcanic.

The granitic rocks may be looked upon as forming the "foundations of the earth." They support the superincumbent mass of rocks which rise above them. In certain parts of the earth these granitic rocks have been thrown up to the surface by volcanic agency or internal convulsion. Some of the most remarkable mountain ranges are of granitic origin.

The systems of rocks overlying the primordial granite have been arranged into three great divisions. Formerly they were designated Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. These names have given way to others. Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Caenozoic are the terms generally used now to express the great geologic classifications of the crust of the globe.

*

These three comprehensive divisions of the sedimentary or stratified rocks may be figuratively regarded as three great compartments of nature's stone library. In these pri mary divisions each system of rocks may be considered as a volume. Some of these volumes are very thick, and have a great many leaves.

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All these systems of rocks are stratified, or composed of layers, and according to geology have all been formed by the action of water. Fossils, or the petrified remains of ancient organic life, have been found in all these systems of rocks. There is a regular gradation in the scale of animal life, from the zoophyte up to the mammoth and mastodon. These rocks, with their marvellous formations and their wonderful fossils, are facts, and open to the investigation. of all inquiring minds.

Now when these geological phenomena were first brought to the light, the question at once arose as to how they harmonized with the first chapter of Genesis. Geologists asserted that the earth bore within her own bosom incontrovertible evidence that the creation had been in existence many thousands of years. These assertions of science created a great clamour in theology. theologian said, Six thousand years, and I bring infallible inspiration to prove it. Science said, Not six, but sixty thousand years, and I bring incontrovertible evidence to support it.

The

The most bitter controversies ensued. The geologist was looked upon as an infidel. The science of rocks and fossils was called an infernal science. Preachers denounced the rock-breakers in their sermons, and wrote bitter things against them in their books. The theologian said, I am sure I am right, and you are wrong, for I have inspiration and the whole church with me. The geologist retorted, I am sure I am right, and you are wrong, for I have all the rocks and myriads of fossils with me.

In the year 1814 a remarkable young man was producing considerable excitement in Scotland. He was a great mathematician, and a considerable chemist. He studied for the church, and found a pulpit. He was high-spirited, bold, fearless, and speculative. He looked all things full in the face. He manfully confronted the geological and theological controversy. He firmly believed the Bible, but he could not deny the facts of science. He arrived at what he thought to be the solution of the vexed problem. He adopted a theory of creation which. he considered would settle the angry controversy. In lecturing at St. Andrew's, Dr. Chalmers (for to him I refer) made this statement-" There is a prejudice against the speculations of the geologist which I am anxious to remove. It has been said that they nurture infidel propensities. It has been alleged that geology, by referring the origin of the globe to a higher antiquity than is assigned to it by the writings of Moses, undermines our faith in the inspiration of the Bible, and in all the animating prospects of immortality which it unfolds. This is a false alarm. The writings of Moses do not fix the antiquity of the globe."

Dr. Chalmers regarded the first verse of the first chapter of Genesis as forming an introduction to the account of the creation of the world

as the abode of man. The word "beginning," he says, is indefinite. It allows room for the lapse of innumerable ages. It gives the geologist full scope and swing for all his stony calculations. For a time the theory of the young ingenious Scotch theologian was accepted as a plausible settlement of the difficult question.

It

As geological discoveries were pushed forward, the great stonebreakers, however, were not satisfied. with the explanation of the powerful preacher. They could not fit the facts of science into the theory propounded. This theory demanded a break in the course of creation. called for a universal chaotic period when the whole earth was submerged, (under water, and enveloped in darkness,) just previous to the creation of man. All the facts of geology, said the men of science, go dead against this theory, and we can't admit it.

He

Twenty years passed, and all were again out at sea on the mystery of creation. In the year 1838 an eminent man was invited to give a course of public lectures on the alleged difficulties between Scripture and Geology. This remarkable man was a native of Sheffield. Sheffield has reason to be proud of his name. Dr. Pye Smith was a man of broad scholarship and scientific genius. His industry knew no bounds. took a wide and comprehensive view both of the facts of science and the statements of revelation. He was thoroughly acquainted with the original languages in which the Scriptures were written. He had a masterly acquaintance with the theories and phenomena of geology. He endeavoured to harmonise science and revelation. To meet the requirements of geology he propounded the theory that the chaos spoken of in the second verse of the first chapter of Genesis was not universal, but local, and limited to that part of the earth where man was

first placed. He agreed with Dr. Chalmers as to the interpretation of the first verse, and his local and limited chaotic period was put forth to remove the stumbling-block which beset the theory of Dr. Chalmers. Dr. Pye Smith's theory of creation was never favourably accepted. His book is a model of candour, philosophical research, and learned criticism, but it fails to establish the special point he had in view. The word "earth" in the second verse was held to be co-extensive in its meaning with the word "earth" in the first verse, and therefore would be fatal to this theory of conciliation.

Matters remained in this state for several years. Controversies went

on on both sides. In the year 1855, one of the greatest geologists of the day was invited to give a lecture before the Young Men's Christian Association in Exeter Hall. This eminent practical geolgist was also a profound student of the Bible as well as an indefatigable explorer of his own native rocks. He had risen from being a working stonemason to be regarded as the first descriptive scientific writer of his day. Hugh Miller is the man I mean. He took for the subject of his lecture, "The two Records-the Mosaic and the Geological." He propounded a theory of creation differing from that of Dr. Chalmers on the one hand, and that of Dr. Smith on the other. The speciality and peculiarity of his theory is derived from the fact that he interprets the word "day" not as a literal day of twenty-four hours duration, but as an extended and indefinite period of time. Josephus, Philo, and Augustine had held the same view, without being at all acquainted with the science of geology. Cuvier had also observed that the successive stages of creation, as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis, were exactly the same as those developed in the rock-formations of the earth. Dr. Buckland, though

39

he held the literal day theory, said that there was no critical objection to the lengthened period interpretation. Hugh Miller's theory accounts for only three days of the creationthe third, fifth, and sixth days-the creation of vegetables, the creation of reptiles, the creation of mammals. He looks upon the Mosaic record as an inverted prophecy-prophecy read backwards. He argues his theory with great acuteness, enthusiasm, and a matchless eloquence. Hugh Miller was the Shakespeare of his own darling science.

Some nine years ago the theory of Hugh Miller was taken up by another acute and eloquent writer. Dr. McCausland published a little book, entitled, "Sermons in Stones." It has passed through eleven editions. Like Hugh Miller he takes the days not as literal days of twenty-four hours each, but as extended periods of duration. He finds in the geological record not only the three days of the eloquent Scotchmen, but the whole six days accounted for. This writer seems to have no doubt about the correctness of his theory. A capital summary of his book is to be found in the article " Creation," in the new edition of Kitto's Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, edited by Dr. Alexander.

These, then, are the principal theories propounded by learned and scientific men with the view to reconcile and harmonise the statements of the Bible with the facts of geologic science

1. Dr. Chalmer's Theory, which severs the first verse of the first chapter of Genesis, and regards it as merely an introduction to the rest of the narrative.

2. Dr. Pye Smith's Theory, which follows Dr. Chalmer's with reference to the first verse, but which assigns a limited and local area to the chaotic state of the earth described in the second verse.

3. Hugh Miller's Theory, which