Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-06-20

believe that blind chance had l,nIdled hi
globe INTO lis present state OF disorder. tina
: that wise and holy God had made il so n
, hrst as place OF babiiatiun for innocent be
: Ings, hut where neverlhe less IL portion of hi
; innocent aud intelligent offspr ings had ne
, cessariiy, by reason OF climate, to be burn
MS black as ravens, and another portion o
!he contrary found IL extremely difficult 4
Keep The blood from freezing in their veins
and where amidst unutteraole anxiety an,
hardship, and affection, and toll, he is to Sc
cure his daily bread az lille, and then to min
gle with the dust again. For | conceive
that such theory ~ most likely To make
men lnfdeis, and the moment YOU adv ocate
II, you y ield one Of the most essential pr,o.
ciples of truth and Justice, and arm nfi,ielity
itself with two edged sword against reve-
ia'io"- Such theory, therefore presents
The most insuperable difficulties to my mind
not only from IFS want OF conformity to
scripture, but chiefly from its want of con
iormity TO reason itself, and also to the Di.
vine consistency.
| we admit sir, that we have no precise da
ia upon which we can build any scheme
with absolute certainty aud no iheorisi or
world builder believe mas ever laid claim 10
infallibility in his principles. All that any
one can do in The absence OF ell proof positive
m favor OF any particular theory lie, 10 form
the most reasonable conjectures from tie
best known and least disputed phenomena in
nature; hence the obvious difficulty of the
subject, and hence also OF consequence the
great liability TO variety and con- radic,ions.
Formerly great respect was had TO the Mo-
sale history but often great ahsurtlilies
and contradictions were maintained with
view TO illustrate and confirm The NJ sale
account; and hence the bible itself was
brought with many into disrepuie. In mod
ern hays we witness the justly anticipated
reaction, and the result IS exiravagances and
absnfdities, though Of an opposite character,
yet not less contradictory and mad than the
iormer. The fashionable rage of the presen,
day seems 10 be, Ia become wise without
God, and great and mighty independent of
him hence he often appears consistent with
reason, who 10 most opposed 10 revelation,
and lie claims for himself The highest
hanors OF science, who has Cast of his reve-
renee for divine illumination. The foEma.
ton therefore, Of a perfectly consistent theory
o, the earih,is task which yet remains Aud
how far my humble efforts shall succeed in
suggesting few hints useful Tor snch pur>
pose. shall leave TO you to decide. This
much however, | would remark by the way.
that do not intend 10 give systematic
view OF The science OF Geology IN this lee.
ture; my only aim at present is, TO exhibit
lew of such leading principles in The con
s'hu'ion OF the primogeniai and present
earth, as conceive in perfect accordance
with reason, scripture and analogy.
In order 10 have mos: just and adequate
view OF the form and constitution ot our
! earth, we must necessarily view il in con-
| nect:on with The first ant! original design Of
ITS Creator, and with his Capacity 10 carry
out his designs. When.an architect, erecis
building, he will proportion il to the char
ff irfo loI I'LL.
he a horse he will build stable, If rogue
prison-if nobleman or king he ill
bnlid mansion or palace with every posi-.
Die convenience and grandeur, and as far re.
moved as may he from eyerv thing thai is
painful, 'oaihsome and unpleasant. This
hint will he very useful 10 us as we proceed
We assume then as our leading axiom or
principle, (and we have as much right T., do
so as oihefs,) that The Great Crea,or, fully
adequate 10 the Performance Of the most
magnificent designs, and having created this
wotid as The place Of abode for innocent aud
holy beings, formed il originally in a man.
ner suitable to their condition, and consis
tent with his own goodness and Justice In
| asmucb as every thing he created was good
very good, and without any mixture of e,
wi, either moral or physical hence ii must
he admitted as a first principle that the con
siituton Of our globe originally was perfect
iy Tree from every thing which could render
u IDconvenienI, unpleasant and barren: and
that the whole earth, being intended 10 he
Inhabited by beings innocent and holy like
Adam IN Paradise, was therefore Parad;sicaI
IN her seasons, climates and fecundiiy, and
that every thing was adequately prepared
tor ibe comfort and convenience Of man -
10 suppose The contrary, is 10 suppose the
Almighty capable OF Inconsistency and con
'rat teton, and 10 impugn his Justice and
goodness. But we believe our position ca
pable oi demonstration and proof and The
principle of The Divine Consistency shall be
The Text or axiom 10 guide us through our
speculatjons, and The facts and phenomena
IN nature, so far as they have been ascertsin>
ed, shall he employed in our Illustrations o {
them.
Now IT is admitted on all hands, that. pr,
or 10 the formation Of this earth into repu.
lar orb, 1T was a sbapeless chaosl l. e. All the
materials of this giOte were in a con fused
fluid or Je'iied state, without form and void
! w neither these materials were yt Thai time
hrst called into existence out cg nothing or
whether they were the ruin, Of former
! globe ,Is point not necessary 10 our t,urpose
TO decide. The first impression made bv
the DIVINE FIAT upon this shapeless mass
! according To the Mosaic account, was 10 i'm
part motion with every other law that gov
ems matter, especially that OF graviraiiop
ard affinity. For 10 suppose laws Of nature
without The will OF some intelligent Iawciv-
! er, is an absurdity for msiier is no more
capable Of sell government than il ia of self
I motion. This therefore ~ what we are 10
understand by the expression, "ihe spirit Of
God moved upon The face 81 The wa,ers,' or