Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-09-26
For the Standard.
SCIENCE, A WITNESS FOR THE BIBLE.
By REV. ". N. pEsDLEros, D. D.

The author of this highly interesting volume has
been known to the christian public for several years
as aborious minister of the gospel and an accom-
plished scholar. A graduate Of West Point, and,
more than most educated clergymen, familiar with
physical science and devoted to physical enquiries
and possessed of reverental faith in the supernat
ural revelations of the inspired scriptures he is Pc
culiarly qualified for the successful accomplishment
Of the important work which he has undertaken
the Cancellation of the statements of the Bible and
the discoveries of science.
The work opens with striking extract from the
gifted and lamented Hugh Miller, the stone mason Of
Cromarty-the philosopher of Scotland-the glo-
ry Of Science-the champion ofScripture-in which
that eloquent writer deplores the too prevalent neg
lect of physical science the part of the present
generation of Christian Divnes; contends that the
battle of the Christian evidences has changed its
ground and exhorts the appointed champions of
the truth to array themselves in other apparel than
that which suficed for past age.
1t is not merely vindication of the general har-
mony of truth, but greatly to the credit of the de-
tenders of the aith that each successive species
and phase of error has arisen from the days of &C.
rinthus to the present. the teachers of the church
have vindcated her heavenly character as the pillar
and ground of the truth, and have converted the
weapons of her assaants into the armor of her de-
fence and the trophies of her victories. The only
permanent result of the repeated attacks of her
emies has been renewed manifestation of her in
destructible vitality.
The objections of the older English Inidels-
Herbert, SALISBURY, Tindal, Blount Wollaston,
Hume and Gibbon are not those which are most
frequently and confidently urged at the present day.
1t is therefore, not enough that the ministers of the
gospel to whom the defence of the christian religion
is especially entrusted, should be familiar with
these. They must be prepared to meet the adver-
saries Of the truth in their altered guise and on
their chosen ground. DR.. Chalmers, DR.. Pye Smith,
DR.. Whewell, and many others have clearly shown,
though on different hypothesis, that the opposition
of Science to Scripture is apparent only not real
and essential; of "Science falsely so-called;" not
of science true and tested, mature and certain.
The plan which the author has adopted seems to
US eminenty felicitous and satisfactory. He takes
a comprehensive survey of the principal sources Of
skeptical objection, especially on the part of the
most recent writer's and considers them successful
ly under the following heads:
l. Science and Revelation.
g. The Human Family.
g. The Chronology of the Creation.
T. The Age of Mankind
s. The Monuments of Lost Races.
1t will be perceived at glance that the several
topics embraced in the proposed discussion are OF
wide compass and Of SURPRISING interest-the orr
gin and history Of man upon the earth-the migra-
ton Of trbes-the growth and development of va
rying types of national civization-the testimony
Of the rocks and that arising from the structure and
relations of language extinct and existing races
| the fragments Of an earlier world-the dead past
and the living present-in word, the whole histo
tory of our globe and its inhabitants.
While many of our readers might be disposed to
dispute particular propositions to dissent from par
ticuar statements and to reject of the authors
theoretical solutions of acknowledged facts, we think
that without exception, they will acknowledge thu
intelligence and approve the spirit which pervade
the book
The volume may be obtained at the Bookstore O
H. D. Turner, of this city.