The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-07
The FRS, Verse OF the Bible.

Editors OF the Register.
The volume of divine revelation open,
with the statement that, I'm the Begin
nina God created tie hsavsn and tht
EARTH" This is an account OF the ORR
gin of the universe.
AS such it is most appropriate to the
place which it occupies in the inspired
volume. 1t begins at the beginning
1t is also admirable 10 it's mode OF ex'
preston. 1t is characterized by brew
ity, simplicity, explicituess, and Won
dertul significance. And in these par
ticulars it is in marked contrast with al
heather legends AMI sacred books, and
with every uninspired attempt to deal
with the same subject How could
God himself in more fitting language
declare to us the stupendous fact tc
which the statement relates.
In this declaration there is nothing
which conflicts with science. The
phrase IN the beginning" is OF the
most indefinite character There 10 IN
it nothing which indicates how long
ago It was. Nor is there 10 it anything
which defines the length Of the period
which NAV have been covered by the
work to which i. relates. The original
is even more indefinite than our YER
sion. There is no article prefxed to
the noun. Literally it is in beginning
For aught that is here said, the work
NAV have been done numberless, myr
lads OF ages ago. In accordance with
it, God may have called all the uni
verse into existence at once. or he may
by successive creative acts have gwen
being to its ditferen. parts. Let the
antiquity OF our globe be what 1t may
it is covered by this language. Let the
processes to which it has been subject
ed in order 70 prepare it for the ha6'la-
ton Of man be what they may, mere
there is room lett for them.
In fact this declaration transcend'
the point to which it is possible thai
science should attain. Science can on
" deal with things after they have an
existence. Revelation, in its superior
itv as q source OF information, here goe'
back to their origin aud tells how they
came to have being. 1t speaks where
true science ever will modestly veil 1T
face and be silent.
In estimating the bearing OF science
on the truth OF the Bible, it certainly
is worthy OF notice that in this state
meat OF the origin OF the universe, writ
ten as it was when astronomy and ge-
ology were in their infancy, we have q
record which doee not now and never
can contradict their voice. This shows
thst be who wrote it must have hac
more than human light to guide him
But it must not be inferred on Int
other hand that this statement Is
mere latitude or vague generait,
which has no very positive meaning
It strikes directly at some o! the lead
ing forms which the opinions OF mer
have assumed. -,
I 1t contrsdicts atheism. The WORD
in it, for God, properly signifies all tina
we understand by deity. 1t IS renar'
kable that it is 10 the plural numoe
and vet it is used here with verb II
the singular, thus toreshadowlng to
doctrine of the trinity in unity oil tn
godhesd. Certainly it designstes
living personal being, who is possessed
of these infinite attributes involved II
the creation OF the universe. Thu
the declaration conflicts with the avow
ed atheism, which with the French Rev
olutionis;s atfirms tbst there is no God
and with that practical atheism. whicI
in one day ignores the question whsth