Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-28

Culver, in his History or the Natural Sc'ebCes,
observes of Moses Ellis books show US that he
had perfect ideas respecting several OF the hiSh-
est questions Of Natural Philosophy. HIS cos
mogony especially, considered in purely sclen-
tific view, is extremely remarkable. nasmu CHI az
the order which it assigns to the different ep"chs
of creation, is precisely the same as that which
has been deduced from geological consdela.
tions''
On this text, there is, in the last number of the
Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, an elaborate
and learned commentary, which concludes with
the following remarks.
"It is thus, then, that the discoveries of geoIo-
~, when more matured. instead ut throwing sus-
pcon on the truths of revelaton, as the hrst steps
III ,hem led son'e persons to MAINTAIN, have fur.
ni-hed the mast Gve;powering evidence IN behalf
of one branch of these truths. The result Of
these discoveries has been in this respect similar
To- those of the Chinese and Egyptian histories.
end the Indian astronomy. but much more stri-
king Eminent men had pledged their fame in
setting up these histories, aud that astronomy, in
opposition to the chronology OF Genesis; but fur
ther and more careful inquiry into their true char
acters. discovered that when rightly understood,
they only tend to confirm it.
:. viii not human scirnce, then, c0ndescend
20 borrow some light to direct the steps oi IFS own
inquiries, from record, the accuracy OF which
it has itself proved, and which Is supported by
other proofs of the highest order! or, what
should we say 10 the illustrator OF the relics OF
Pompeii and Hercuaneum, who should reject the
Iiyht thrown on them by the letters ct Piiny, au-
thenticated as these are by the existing remains
Of the buried cities. a. well as the historical evil
dence which is proper to Themselves
.Among the questions which geology IL at
present attempting to solve. is that OF different
temperature of sumo regions "t The earth at re-
| mote age The discoveries of Pallas and Adams,
of rhinocpros and elephant in Siberia. having
coverings Of hair fit to protect them from The
cold Of the nohern regions, would seem to de-
eide the question: so far at least as to shew. that
| there has been no change Of temperature since
the creation of animals. But the question does
not seem vet so satisfactorily answered. 50 lar
back as to the age of the creation OF vegetables.
Does not the statement in Genesis, that the es-
adjustment Of our present days and seasons was
intermediate between the creation OF vegetables
and that Of ANIMALS. give US clew 10 direct our
| path in the inquiry!
sit does not come under our present subject
TO discuss the historical and moral evidences OF
thexliyine revelation of the Scriptures; but both
arSso full, even to overfowing, and impose upon
us 80 MANY insuperabe difficulties. in the way
of our being able to account for the quality and
consistency of these remarkable books, excepting
on the ground which has been all along assumed
by themselves. that they are of more than human
origin, that IN estimating the accuracy OF any
part of the matters contained in them, the fastl
diousness of human science appears to be carried
10 an unreasonable extent. not tn take these evil
d-nces into calculation. IN this country, where
for long period we have had the Scriptures in
our hands as popular book, they among US who
have been the most eminent for human learning
aud science. and whose fame has been in every
view the most unsulied. have been so convinced
by the force Of these evidences, that they have in
general been the most strenuous defenders of re.
velaton.
1--WE have only endeavored to illustrate and
point out the Consequences Of the statement Of
Baron Culver, that the order which the cosmon-
ony OF Moses assigns to the different epochs Of
creation. is precisely the same as that which has
been deduced from geological considerations. -
We have been guilty of no improper mixing up
of divine and human things. We have examin-
ed the meaning Of the terms in the first chapter
of Genesis, in consistency with the acknowIedy.
ed rules of criticism, and only BY the light con.
famed within itself, or that thrown upon It by the
other books, in the same language with which it
is associated. The human science we have not