The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-06
FOR The LANCASTER LEDGER.
Did it Rain before the Flood? =?
A ANOTHER VIEW

previous TO the flood. Permit me to sub
nit another view. ] am of the opinion,
during he sixteen ard half centuries
which elapsed before the food, the earth
and vegetation were often refreshed with
genial showers Of rain.
According to the principles Of natural
Philosophy rain is produced by moisture or
wafer ascending in The form of vopor
through tie different strata of atmosphere,
until it enters cold region. There it is
! condensed into gIobules or drops, which
being heavier than the surround,.l : atmos-
phero gravitate TO the earth--resuItiug in
that most delightful phenomenon, ut Ger.
tain seasons- cooling and refreshing show
er of ram.
Such is the l-sson SCIENCE teaches on
this interesting subject. Now let u. see if
there is not M agrermen: betwcem tie pre-
cepts of Moses aud the principles or Sci
ence. lf II Is true, ns is generally admitted
| he was skilled in all the learning of his age
and was very Philosophical historian W.
| with the laws Of Science. In tho fir,, oh p.
ter he gives synopsis Of the work Of ere.
alton In The second, he retra1cs tie same
ground, specifying particular, omitted in
his previous general statements The earth.
sun aud water hal been created But VA
ter descending npon the earth in lie foam
Of moilicnt showers was necessary 10 IT,.
| fruitfulness Moses, in the very languaye
alluded To by your correspondent, explains
on principles strictly scientific, how this
needful phenomenon WAS Produced ~
miN' or vapor ",cent up. from The earth and
rdiered the phoie face qf he ground II
he had Intended 10 Hsse:. in positive mad
| scientific terms, that it did rain Ayfor. the
flood, could he have selected more aypro
| pirate language The expression employ.
| ed describe Tho manner, in which, ererv
| shower is formed iha, ever blessed the earth
IL, then, every shower is produced by the
operation of these laws; and these laws
~ere in operation before lie food il Tee
essarily follows il raincd before that fearful
calamity Was sent upon TIE earth
IL is trne, after the fall the earth gas
cursed for mans ankle. But the curse was
in the form Of noXious vegetables, which
obstructed the growth of its fruits. and
subjected man t. arduOus, pcrsevcriag la
Dor. 1t is not said, II perpetual draught was
| Il part Of tho curse
Moreover, there i, difference between
de,o and rdin-not MS To their essential cle
mcnts, but the Iidce Of lhcir fornin,ion.-
De,o is vapor condensed near The eaitn, by
coming into contact with colder body
Ram is 'npor condensed in the upper strata
Of air by colder currents Now ~ il is
expressly sinisd This ,hpnr or mist "men,
up" toward that region where rain is foru-
cd, we are naturally led TO think Nose. is
explaining Tie pheRomcRvn Of ran and
not that Of dsp
Thus i appears, viewing tie inspired
Record from ~ Philosophical stand point,
il teaches showers did wafer and refresh
the earth before the de,uge. And be il re-
memb.rcd Ssienss and Revelation never
disagree.
In reference 10 the "6op in lie cloud" il
should be carefully observed, the inspired
penman does not assert n new object was
then formed md added 10 creations list
he only aIfrms new designation is now
given TO the bow. Up 10 tlis time, it, ap
pearnnce only announced the fact, drops oi
rain Were falling from dark clouds opposite
the n--tbose rays comiEg 10 the eye ol
The spectator ai!eT one reflection and two
r.fract'ons producing 'he primary bow, and
those reaching him after i,co reflections and
tioo refraciions producing the secondary OF
dim bow. But from this time for ward The
"bo,o' Is 10 announce another fact. The
world would never again bo destroy ed BY
watcr--il Is u sign or pledge TO Noah and
his posterity OF their exemption from sim
liar calamity. When liez.kiah demanded
a token or pledge Of returning health aus
restoration ts religious privileges a new
and unheard o: event is given: bat u.nrl
you the great difference 10 the langung,
used on these separate occasions. Th,
one describes a new event produced By III,
suspension Of The laws Of nature. The 9th
er new designation given TO the result 0
the regular operation Of these laws
The juice Of the grape is production o
nature, and existed long before ll,at memo
Fable night in which our Saviour was be
trayod ; but it was not till thea il beeam,
q sign or token Of that blood tba, was she,
for the redcmptiur of the world And til,
language in Gen. 9 eh. 10 v. is m if e.,
Supreme Being hid said "Noah. do you SCI
yon bow have set in The cIoud--tbal i
prodneed By tho regnIar operation of na
inss's laws. ] now appoint |, a token 0
pledge 10 ,oa and AL your dcseendspt.
that us long No tbs laws Of nature eSjst q,
world sbslI no. ssain be destroyed with
ds'sgs." :