The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-04-06

E s0uR0HOL0en o. As1Dl.D:: =,
EDITOR JouRNAL.-In the zsmes
of last Saturday, there was an article
over the signature of"Ve.itas," if not
positively denying, yet strongly iusinu-
ating against the oredibility Of those
passages of Scripture I had compiled,
indicating the length Of time the hu-
man race has existed.
The writer says, at has occurred to
me that perhaps Mr.. Stewart is mist.-
ken in supposing the years spoken Of
In Genssis to be equal in duration to
our present years." .>,,..s,,..x .,.
Upon this asserted 'tpsrheps," With
out adduciug one tact to establish it, or
one argument to confirm it, he draws,
10 his way, reversed oonelasion, con.
tr,ry to Ill tho rules and principles Of
tho historian, the mathematician or
the logioian. ~.
He asserts, "Aeoo,ding 10 the best
Eoglish authorities tho Aseyrisns. Baby.
loniaus aud Egyptians, from whose SOL
ence and histories Moses received his
education, used the word year At
different periods t, signify lapses Of
time ranging from six months to seven
ty years aud even more." Fur this As.
sertion he gives us no authority what
ever. And were such IN assertion even
established, it is no argument that
Moses wrote with any such indefinite
or changing Specification of the words,
particularly those designating duration
of time. OF course he could net have
written at such "diHerent periods" hav-
ing but one brief life time in which to
perform his task on earth; and 30 when
he says "year," We must conclude he
designated the period Of time then
known Is such. However Moses vas
instructed in al the wisdom and knowl-
edge Of the Egyptians, yet no believer
in the inspiration Of the Bible believes
that he relied upon these in writing
the first five books Of that sacred VOL
ume. We are assured that he va
specially inspired, and that God revealed
Himself to him face to face, as'He did
to no other prophet.
Were the word "year" used in scrip
ture without definite Specification Of
the length Of time, when used 80 con-
ssoutiveIy a there it is, it would ap-
pear meaningless and confused. And
II the word were sometimes used in
one Specification, and At other times in
smother, without any sure indication to
know til proper meaning in each par
ticular place, it must At once loss al
authority. Whether ''Veritas" be ain.
ing At this result, his article may servo
to indicate.
But most clearly "year" in scripture
is used to designate a particular, def.
mite length Of time. It is divided IN
to months and weeks and days. And As
tho days are now marked by the revo.
luton Of the earth upon its axis, 50
wero they then. Hence we have a
definite standard by which to measure
the other divisions of time msde up Of
them. We are also assured Of the d.
vision Of the year into seasons, and
"While the Earth remaiaeth, seed time
! and harvest, and cold and heat, and
summer and winter, and day and night
shall not cease" (Gen. viii, 22.) Il
that anything like an indefinite period
or shorter or longer than one Of "ou,
present years!"
"Veritas" again reminds us, ave
must recollect that the Hebrew At Moses
time and the same language At Christ'l
time were vastly different" Twill no,
presume to pronounce upon his knowl
edge of, aud bis familiarity with, th.
Hebrew language. But when he ind
Gates that such great changes hav,
passed upon it, and draws his inference
Of 80 much importance therefrom, and
seeks to impress it upon the public
it is certainly due to the public, moi
only to give his authority for the asser
ton, but also to indicate what thos,
changes are, and how his own couclu
sions are sustained thereby.
The Hebrew scriptures we're acknoxl
edged Is Of authority in our Lord,
time on earth, aud were used aud quo
ted by him. This is sufficient to O.
tab)ish their authority and credible,
with Us now, and any change o.
the language since would not effect tina
at all.
Il :'Veritas" concludes with the asser
ton, "Our present inquis,t,e ago de
mands rational proofs rather than asser
lions or quotations, and without ,hi'
necessary support progressin Chsistiaui
~, art or science will come to 40 end
Notwithstanding this high.soundiuf
declaration, he has himself given u
nothing but ssaase1tions." g.. >~,'
But what IL tho direct tendency o
Fthis sentence, whether iutentioaal q