Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-02

pererogatIon on the part OF the Almighty
For why should there have been such
display Of power, and such
vast quantity Of water collected, when the
same result could be effected by much
smaller means
But, admitting the deuge 10 have been
universal, from whence could such an i'm
mense quantity of water have been derived
1t is demonstrated that it would have re-
qured eight times the quantity now on the
earth. And whittier could it have gone when
its work Of destruction was accomplished? ?
1t conld not have gone into the centre of the
earth for that is occupied by a vast ocean of
liquid fire nor can we suppose that it evap-
GRATED, since, in that event, such an immense
amount Of watery ~apor would he collected
in the atmosphere as to render US LIABLE at
any time, to destruction by deluges and we
will not suppose that one particle of it was
annihilated, since that could he effected only
by the interposition Of miraculous power, |
which has been before denied.
Again, the distribution of animals and
plants on the surface of tho earth favors the
idea of limited deluge. 1t was for long
time believed that all the animals and plants
on the earth were created at one place, and
were thence diffuscd throughout the earth.
And this view was advocated by some dis
tinGnished naturalists. But since zoology,
botany, and other kindred sciences have been
more fully developed and established, such
an opinion has been entirely abandoned
and it is now maintained that there were
several centres Of creation. And this is cor
rotorated by the consideration that particu
lar species Of animals and plants are con-
fined to particular climates and particular
districts OF country--oEs,of which they can
not live and flourish Those which are pc
cular to the :Orrid zone, for instance can
not be successfully transplanted to temper
ate or irigid climates while those of the
icy regions Of the north would languish and
die beneath the scorching rays of a tropical
sun. But, in additions to this, there are ami
mails and plants peculiar to one section of
the world and not to another though these
places may have the same latitude, and hence
a similarity Of climate. 1t is true there are
a few animals, and man among them, which
have the power to adapt themselves TO any
climate. But this does not invalidate the
conclusion at which we aim. Now, it must
be evident that the fact of animals and plants
having natures adapted to certain places
has an intimate connection with, and a very
important bearing on the idea of the univer-
salty of the deluge. We may reasonably
conclude that the ark was built in temper
ate climate, if so, how could the animals Of
the torrid and frigd zones have been safely
transferred such immense distances, and to
a place 80 unsuited to their natures, and vet
live? And how was it possible for these
animals to reach the ark, supposng such to
have been the case? We read of Noah's
making no long voyages 70 collect them to-
I gf,her; and, indeed, ti15 msaas of visiting
distant countries were not at his command,
nor were such countries known to exist
But suppose all this was accomplshed-tha
couples and septuples of animals from all
parts of the earth were cole ected together
4 could they have been placed in so small q
4 compass as the ark evidently was We
1 think not. According to a distinguished
o commentator, the ark was only SAT #. long
:, 9l broad, and "a in height. Naturalsts have
already described no less than one hundred
: and fifty thousand species of animals, an'
z the true number is doubtless much larger
II And they were to be provided with foo
Y for twelve months, which must also hav
i occupied large portion of the ark. In viey
! of these considerations, we think it an absu
= lutte impossibilty for pairs of all the an
- mails on the earth to have been preserved i
y the ark. Hence we must conclude tha
there was either a new creation after tn
20 deluge or that it did not extend over tn
e, whole earth.
,t We add as a further, and, we think, NOR
to conclusive argument in our favor, the fact tha
there are, at present, in France, the cone
Of a large number Of extinct volcanoes, whic
y give evidence of having existed prior to tn
u deuge The lava, ashes and cinders %bic
re issued from these craters have formed exteI
t. sive beds Of stratifed rocks through whic
| cbo h,,y hao ~
m above which, grows large and ancient fo
IS t est of chestnut. There are now no volcano
:, in that district nor are any mentioned in hi
III tory, nor is there any tradtionary account
a. them. From these circumstances the Co
&c clusion is Just, that these cones and crate
a existed before the occurrence of the delug
e. But many of them are composed of pumiI
vo stone, which cannot withstand the action
- water and had they been subjected to Il
' corrosive energy of the flood they would ha
~ been leveled to the ground. Their presel
u existence renders a different conclusion j
sc evitable.
IS. Now the important question arises, a
in these views reconcilable with the history
m the deluge as related by Moses! The Bill
- is Of supreme authority; and whatever
III positively asserts must be unhesitatingly al
,e- cordially assented to; and whatever deyiat
* from its teachings must be as unhesitating
ID condemned And il the Bible positive
nd teaches the universally of the deluge, it mt
of be believed; and all the arguments and fac
,d which science furnishes against such
~ lief must be heartily repudiated. But
'li :, think that we hazard nothing in afirmi
!. that we are not compelled to believe that t
ad flood was universal from the account Civ
en- in Scripture 1t is true that there arc pas;
i6- ges in the narrative given in the Bible viii
rs if taken literally would, at first view, ct
AZ vey the idea that the deluge was univers
Aud God said, The end of all flesh is col
l'h before me. And behold, |, even |, do bri
eat food of waters upon tho earth, to destl
red all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, fir
ea- under heaven; and everything that is in
lad earth shall die We read also that
ION mountains were covered = that the dove for
H., no rest for the sole of her foot-for the
ters were on the face of the whole earth
NV that every beast and every creeping th
ice, and every fowl went forth from the ark
me, These passages seem to inculcate the doctI
the that the whole earth was deluged. But
han let us recur to the fact mentioned before
,alv Moses adapted his language to the COM
-. tensions Of those whom he addressed. 1
oi it is very evident from their manner of
ne their customs, and the absence of almost
Ved the appliances Of art and science, that t
ure were in a very low state of civilization. I