formed in a manner worthy of the Supreme ures corresponding to the successive days, Being. It was accomplished with infinite the latest being at the top; while the horiease. "Let there be light," says the Crea- zontal lines include events supposed to be tor, and instantly the universe was illumi- contemporaneous. The second column gives nated. It was an invisible energy that per- the order of creation according to Genesis; meated the world of atoms, and developed the third enumerates the four great ages of fishes, fowls, and quadrupeds adapted to move organic life according to geology; and the in their several spheres. While other nations fourth explains the third, giving the names believed in imaginary deities, the Jews, of the more prominent formations as generthough surrounded by idolaters, were thus ally understood. It will be observed that effectually taught to believe in one great there is a general correspondence between the power above all else. Man's humble ori- events specified in the two columns except for gin from the dust of the ground was fitted the fourth day. In a few cases, there has been to teach lessons of dependence when re- a scanty development of the life ascribed to flecting upon his relations to Deity; while one age in that which preceded, as of a few his high endowments showed his superiority mammals in the age of reptiles; but the deover the brute animals. It was also de- sign is to show what animals predominated signed to remind men that a portion of their in the several periods, so as to give charactime must be consecrated to the service of ter to the several groups. We propose now God. Six days had been spent in fitting to describe briefly the condition of the earth up this beautiful world for human habita- during these past six stages of its growth or tion, and the seventh had been one of rest, development. therefore, in imitation of the example of the Creator, men are commanded to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Lastly, we think the creative chapter was designed by Him who sees the end from the beginning to confirm the truth of the sacred narrative in a remote sceptical age. The elements of truths, imperceptible to the inhabitants during the early and middle ages, are contained in this record, unfathomable mines of wealth reserved for the skill and acumen of interpreters of the nineteenth century of the Christian era. Though not given to teach scientific principles, the fact that the incidental statements of the oldest written document designed to illustrate the power, wisdom, and benevolence of God, are properly understood only till the present century, while whole systems of false creative philosophy and pretended revelation in the intermediate millenniums have been overwhelmed, proclaims unmistakably the truth and inspiration of the Scriptures. The first chapters of Genesis lie at the foundation of religion. If we call them myths, we impair the obligation of the Sabbath, the doctrine of human depravity, and the sanctity of the marriage relation.

In order to show at a glance the similarity between the order of nature and of biblical statement in reference to the creation of the earth and its inhabitants, we present in parallel columns the leading features of both accounts. The first column shows fig

First Day. We cannot speak of the proper order of development of the earth, at the beginning of things, with great confidence. So long as our information is derived from the strata and their contents, the infer

The earth is not a perfect sphere; the north
and south diameter being twenty-six miles
shorter than that from east to west through
the equator; it is therefore an oblate spheroid.
According to La Place, the present oblateness
is precisely that belonging to a fluid globe of
the size and weight of the earth moving at
its present rate. Hence it is inferred, that,
while melted, the earth revolved upon its
axis and orbit precisely as at present; and
that the peculiar shape then induced has
become immovably fixed by the cooling of
the surface to form a crust.
crust. The practical
conclusion from these facts is the establish-
ment, thus early, of days of twenty-four
hours, with intervals of darkness, as soon as
the earth ceased to emit its own light and to
intercept the rays of the sun.

ences are satisfactory. Previous to the impressed upon it during this igneous period. formation of the oldest portions of the crust now visible, the world must have passed through phases very unlike those afterwards manifested. After a careful study of all the theories proposed, independently of revelation, we conclude that the constituent atoms of the earth must have been created by some power or force not inherent in matter, and that these particles came into being as simple elements, all at the same time; forming a shapeless mass. But a mixture of newlyborn elements would not long remain quiescent. They are endowed with chemical and physical affinities promoting motion and combination. Many of the elements will combine, perhaps rapidly and explosively, giving rise to light and heat. At the same time the universal law of gravitation would affect the mass: it would begin to revolve upon an axis, and perhaps around other bodies in space. If, as many suppose, this original mass comprised the sun and all the planets, with their satellites, of our solar system, portions of it began to separate from the central portion, and to revolve around the primeval nucleus in orbits successively smaller, as it was the outer planets which were first dissevered. The intense heat produced by this primitive combustion would not allow the particles to remain solid, but would expand the whole into a vaporous condition. Hence this early period was one of vaporous diffusion both before and after the earth had become separated from the compound nucleus. The world was a nebula, or comet.

The effect of intense heat upon compound bodies is to resolve them into their original elements; while they may remain unaltered when only melted. Hence we may say, conversely, that, when the heat of the nebulous period had somewhat subsided by its radiation into space, the gases would become sufficiently cooled to unite into compounds, and take on the form of a liquid. When all the elements capable of this fiery condensation had become united, the world was like a mass of melted iron, or freshly erupted lava, giving out light and heat as a sun. This was the stage of igneous, fluidity. The elements now composing the air and water must have rested like an atmosphere upon this raging surface of fire, as gases and steam; and as yet the distinction of clouds and water was impossible.

The peculiar shape of the earth was

The scriptural statements may refer to some of these early conditions. The beginning was the creation out of nothing (bara) of the heavens and the earth, or the whole material universe apprehended by the senses. There was nothing but bare matter; for the earth was very empty. But the Spirit of God was hovering over this bottomless commixture of elements,’ dark and desolate. He spake, and light came, evidently something different from that of the sun, but explicable by the chemical light produced by the union of the primitive elements. The brooding action of the Spirit implies a long period. The light was divided from the darkness, producing the distinction of day and night. No mention is made of igneous fluidity; but the establishment of day and night involves a rate of axial revolution of the earth similar to that impressed on the primitive surface. The distinction of day and night was induced in the latter part of the period, following naturally after the creation of matter and of light.

Second Day. - The earth is now covered over by a crust formed by the refrigeration of the surface of the ball of fire. Light is no longer emitted into space; but the heat is continually radiating, causing the solid part to augment in bulk. The constituents of this crust must have been the same elements now visible, though perhaps combined in different proportions, and without organic débris. The rock was not granitic, but more like the slag of a furnace, containing many soluble compounds; while the atmosphere was heavily charged with steam, the whole of the

"Huro

simply organized animals most nearly allied to the vegetable kingdom. Few organized vegetable structures have been discovered in these eozoic rocks; but there are enormous beds of iron ore and of plumbago in the Laurentian, the first of which is formed only in the presence of vegetation; and the second is supposed to be the remains of once living plants. The protozoans formed a species of coral reef several hundred feet thick`; but they lived beneath the surface of the ocean, where they were not obvious to ordinary inspection.

water of the ocean, carbonic acid, and other | oldest of which we have any knowledge, acids easily volatilized. Until purified, the (twenty thousand feet thick), and are called atmosphere would hardly be recognized as Laurentian by geologists. Great disturbsuch by an unscientific eye; the barometer ances agitated the crust at the close of this indicating a pressure seven times greater than period; and upon the edges of the upturned that now experienced. The steam, however, Laurentian strata another series of sedimentwould condense into drops, and fall to the ary beds, over ten thousand feet thick, were earth in the form of rain, dissolving in its deposited, called "Labradorian.' Still andownward passage many of the gaseous acids, other series, called Cambrian," or and bringing them into contact with bases nian," twelve thousand feet thick, are found dissolved out of the slaggy surface. The lying upon the edges of these older beds. carbonic acid would unite partially with These three series contain certain remains certain bases, as to form limestone, while of life, - plants and protozoans, or those much of it would remain behind until absorbed in the vegetation of future lifeperiods. Hence we perceive the origin of an atmosphere, the formation of a solid crust, and circumstances favorable for the condensation of rain. With rain commenced the work of denudation. Wherever water fell, currents and streams would form, more or less powerful, according to the nature of the inequalities of the surface, and begin to wear away the earth, and push it into hollows. The water would also dissolve whatever soluble bases might be met with; and pools would collect, in which the acids from the air might combine with these terrestrial bases, and form the salt now in the ocean, and other compounds. We cannot say how long these processes of denudation and deposition may have been continued previous to the introduction of life. No remains of this primitive crust, or of the first formed stratified rocks, are anywhere exposed at the surface, so far as known. It is not probable that they equal in extent the Laurentian deposits. The sacred writer has described in the second scene the formation of a firmament or atmosphere in which clouds floated about, separated from the waters lying upon the surface of the earth. These agree with the statements of science. We cannot agree with those who interpret the " "waters "of the second day by the gases of the nebulous period.

Third Day. We can now learn more of the history from geology. The gradual refrigeration of the crust of the earth caused it to shrink, so that great ridges and furrows were formed. There were changes of level in the crust; and the water collected in the depressions, leaving the ridges, so that dry land and seas began to exist. Since that time, there always have been continents. The rocks deposited at this time are the

The features of the third biblical day may be recognized in the geological history. The waters were gathered into one place to make oceans, and the land was massed into continents; but this was a work requiring long periods of time for its accomplishment.

Next, life is introduced. God commands the earth to bring forth the tender grass, such as cattle feed upon (probably including the seedless or cryptogamous plants); the herb yielding seed, such as the different species of cereals; and the fruit-tree bearing fruit. These include the most useful plants, and in no other part of the chapter is any reference made to plants. Hence we would interpret the meaning of the passage to be that God established upon the earth the vegetable kingdom, and that before the commencement of animal life. Thus explained, there is an essential agreement in both records concerning the events transpiring upon the third day. We have reason to believe that the plants of the Laurentian as well as of the Silurian ages were marine; and no land-plants have been discovered earlier than the Devonian.

Fourth Day. Following the geological record, we are brought to the great Paleozoic age of life, including the formations known as Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Per

mian, whose groups of life have a general may be that of importance as well as of resemblance to one another. The Silurian time. life was entirely marine, and may be styled the Fifth Day.- Next follows the Mesozoic age of trilobites or of mollusks, from the pre-age, embracing the Triassic, Jurassic, and dominance of these two classes of animals. Cretaceous periods, in which reptiles, often Enormous fishes abounded in the Devonian; of large size, predominated. Many of the land-plants accumulated sufficiently to form a few coal-beds; and a few insects began their existence. The Carboniferous age was pre-eminently one of prolific vegetation. Most of the coal-beds wrought in the world were formed at this time from trees and reeds of gigantic size and tropical luxuriance, chiefly tree-ferns, tree club-mosses, and fern-conifers. Amphibious reptiles and enormous fishes flourished in the waters of this period, besides all the smaller marine shells, worms, and crinoids.

humbler ancient types of life had entirely disappeared, and most exhibited peculiarities by which they can be distinguished from their congeners of every age. The Trias afforded frogs as large as oxen, traces of turtles, flocks of birds, reptilian birds, and a few small marsupials. The Jura af forded crowds of immense saurians or reptiles, swimming, flying, and crawling, besides small mammals. In the Cretaceous there were trees similar to those now growing in warm temperate regions, modern fishes, true crocodiles, and whales. The age, therefore, was one of reptiles.

The fifth day of the sacred writer was marked by the introduction of creeping things, fowls, and great dragons. Jarchi says creeping things include "every living thing which is not high above the ground, such as flies, ants, worms, beetles, lizards, weasels, mice, snails, and other like creatures, and all fishes. The term “fowl" includes bats, grasshoppers, and flying insects generally, besides birds. Great dragons may include serpents, crocodiles, and seamonsters. There would be no difficulty in referring all the Paleozoic and Mesozoic animals to these descriptions; but the great dragons were particularly characteristic of the latter.

These four periods were probably synchronous with the appointment, not creation, of the heavenly bodies to the office of giving light, and regulating the seasons. It is probable that these worlds existed as early as the earth, but were not visible from our planet till this time. During the Paleozoic age, the atmosphere was heavily charged with carbonic-acid gas, so that animals of delicate organization could not have lived. The air was purified by its absorption into vegetation, which has been preserved in the form of coal. Such an atmosphere would increase the temperature enough to have produced a universal tropical climate. This heat, combined with the density of the air, and an immense surface of water exposed to evaporation, would probably have occasioned the formation of a great number of clouds, especially during the earlier Paleozoic period. It may be that the presence of these clouds explains the apparent absence of the sun until the purification of the The distinguishing feature of this age was air permitted the sun to shine through. the presence of warm-blooded quadrupeds, Some have imagined the presence of nebu- or mammals in great abundance; while the lous matter about the sun to explain all great reptiles had culminated, and mostly these phenomena. The impression is given disappeared. There were whales, elephants, that this day was as long as any of the oth-mastodons; and in the Rocky mountain reers, hence it may represent this Paleozoic gion were many forms now characteristic of age of geologists. As nothing is mentioned the Eastern continent, as the hyena, rhibesides the heavenly bodies, we may suppose noceros, horse, and camel, as well as an exthe attention of the prophet to have been so tinct type related to the tapir. There are much occupied by extra-terrestrial objects, evidences of different climates; and many that he overlooked the progress of events regions had peculiar local characters, the upon the earth, none of which were remark- same as now, but enormously developed, — in ably different from what had been previous- Australia the land of marsupials, and Braly observed. It is not certain that these zil the home of the edentata, or sloth famidays were all of equal length, and the orderly. As a class, the mammals were better

Sixth Day. The deposits remaining are mostly superficial, belonging to the tertiary and alluvium of geologists, or the Cenozoic period.

developed in the Tertiary period than at present.

in the earth, that six thousand years afford too little time for the deposition of the overAt the beginning of the alluvium, the lying strata. Inasmuch as many species have high northern and southern latitudes were become extinct within the memory of man, covered with ice, constituting the Drift or the others may have disappeared also since Glacial period, when all the Tertiary animals the supposed time of Adam, and therefore and plants not exterminated must have the first point is inconclusive. The second been driven into other zones. Many new depends upon the truth of a theory not unispecies were introduced subsequently, eith-versally accepted by geologists, that the er just before or in company with man. rate with which changes are now going on Human remains are confined to these post- in the earth's crust must be taken as the glacial deposits; and all geologists agree measure of the length of previous periods. that man is the latest born of all the animals.

Volumes have been written describing the interesting association of the bones and implements of man with those of certain animals, partly extinct (five or ten per cent), but more generally still living. Stone implements fashioned by the hand of man have been found with the bones of gigantic elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotami, wild oxen, deer, horses, boars, wild cats, lynxes, leopards, tigers, hyenas, bears, beavers, wolves, and other species now extinct, and that in regions not now occupied by their modern. representatives. Some of the living species contemporary with the extinct forms are the modern deer, reindeer, auroch, wild cat, boar, wolf, fox, weasel, beaver, rats, mice, and a host of others. Many species have become extinct within the time of human history, particularly the gigantic birds of New Zealand and Madagascar.

The biblical account of the sixth day harmonizes with the geological record. The earth, obedient to command, is covered with living souls, cattle, and the remes, or small land animals with a creeping motion, and wild beasts. They represent the mammals, the highest type of the animal king dom; and thus correspond to the Tertiary groups of geology. Last of all, as the closing act of the creation, God fashioned man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. In addition to the animal, he has received a mental and moral nature, rendering him superior to all his predecessors and associates.

Some recent writers maintain that man has lived upon the earth several thousand years longer than the hitherto admitted chronology permits. Two lines of argument are suggested; first, man's remains have been found associated with the relics of extinct animals; second, they occur so deep down

The following is an example of its inaccuracy when applied to the calculation of solar years. In the Valley of the Nile, bricks evidently fashioned during the Roman occupation of Egypt have been dug up from the depth of sixty feet. At the present annual rate of increase of Nile mud, these fragments must lie beneath sediment requiring seventeen thousand years for its accumulation. But, according to accepted Roman chronology, they cannot be over two thousand years old; and therefore the geological calculation is erroneous.

It must be admitted, however, that the belief in a greater antiquity of man is rapidly gaining ground among those best qualified to judge of the arguments in its favor. Such a view would not conflict with scriptural statements; for the old Testament is not committed to any fixed chronology, the three oldest versions varying greatly from one another, and modern interpreters still more. By following the Septuagint version, and allowing some latitude for supposed omissions, fifteen hundred or more years will be added to Ussher's scheme, perhaps enough to meet all geological facts.

THE NOACHIAN DELUGE.

The Noachian Deluge was probably not co-extensive with the earth's surface. It would have been unnecessary if the descendants of Adam occupied a limited portion of the continent of Asia, as has generally been supposed. It would have been contrary to analogy to suppose all the continents to have been submerged simultaneously, so that there would have been a universal ocean. The ark built by Noah was not large enough to contain pairs of all the land animals besides their food. This vessel was not more capacious than "The Great Eastern ; and it would have been required, were the