Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-09
SPIRIT OF THE AGE A Weekly Family News paper.
The Geological Argument Against Pan-
theism,

theism.
In a review Of Bushnells Mature and the
Supernatural" in the North American Re
view for April, 1859, it is asserted that the
Geological argument does not refutc Panthe-
ism The argument, ii stated, Is, that there
was a time when a certain creature, say the
Mastodon, was not upon the earth, and then
was spon the earth; that there was a time
when man was not, and then a time whenh he
was hence successive creations have taken
place. These facts are recorded in the rocks
and cannot lie. 1t is claimed, therefore, by
Bushnell, that they demonstrate a supernat-
ural power. But the Reviewer, taking up
the argument for the Pantheist, Claims that
these are not original creations Of matter;
they exhibit only new modes and combina-
tons with corresponding activities, and hence,
inquiries, show do we know but the forma-
tive power in question, is la matter, and not
abooe it" as claimed by the Pantheist, But
we say, even admitting for a moment that it
is so, it does not account for the existence of
matter itself. We see, If we go one step back
Of the assumption Of the Pantheist, the exis-
tence of matter remains u~naccounted for and
when he claims a formative power in matter,
: he places the effect before the cause; for in
accounting for the existence of matter, it as
sumes an actioity Ia matter before matter er-
:, ists. So in truth, or substantially, it may be
affirmed with respect to all notifications Of
, matter, as it exists, as in the extinct Masto-
= don and Man.
In abstruse questions, however, Of this
kind, we are not lett to the guidance of rea-
q son alone: Revelation settles these disputed
IS points. 1t is declared,-'In the beginning
10 COP created the, heavens and the earth = and
eo still the Geological argument against meter
nifty Of matter is valid; and besides, Panthe-
ism cannot explain the scheme of creation as
'e- revealed by the researches Of Biologists, be-
cause that scheme necessitates unity contin-
re- ued through the lapse of ages. The Geolo-
Oh gist finds four harmonious plans on which
animals were created, and he finds, too, thai
in their increase by generation, a law is in
volyed which demands also in its execution
unity eeparposs. It is expressed thus :
we And the earth brought forth grass and herb
'o's n;a1a;na GOOD oftor bic lin and tree vieldin,
VII fruit, whose seed was in itself after his kind.
:" Now the law of descent or generation, as Sc
forth in the foregoing declaration, is in uni
nci- IN II 81 obcoryo+;on.
"S' goes back to the fossil remains in the oldes
or sediments of the globe. It is found that spt
aTe cies are all composed Of identical individuals
and there is now here a deviation from tn
law expressed in the words, "yield5ng see
- after has kind" These, and all parts of
similar kind, or class, go to prove @ntty
thought, or in other words, one mind, in str
king contrast with the results of mdny nina
aiy' as Pantheists must hold; and our reason d
ms clares, that anStg cannot grow out of Pa
more 1o;a,n hit ovon should we do,ht here. Y
y may fall back upon Revelation. In Natul
or in Geology, w find everywhere corrobc
ative evidence of the truth of Revelation.
We have really spread before US tao reDel
.l tions: Nature and the Word Of God, who
readings agree.
The many gods, as maintained by Pantl
lists, never could, in view of reason, have d
played in their activities unity Of thought a
'you I:.~ u.uau "a Ill.,. on1-
" God. The argument offered in refutation
~" Pantheism, is not precisely the ''reductio
= d~6surdum," but is closely allied to it. I
,e'er doctrine violates reason, is at variance W
- oxa oon.uod;ot, rova1o+;on
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