The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1875-02-27

covered and lost again, the econ
clusions that are made and re-
modelled, the theories that are
established and renewed, the flaws
that are fixed and reconstructed, the
"species that are created and van
ish every year under the hand OF
these gentlemen, it does not seem to
me extremely dangerous to wait
awhile and to hold fast to the old
Book, with its method of pardon
which we need and the comfort and
peace which it somehow gives to so
many people. The Bible-and this
one cannot but belive that even DR..
Draper will Acknowledgements ever
more been the friend and helper of
science. The hour when it was given
to the people and began to throw its
radiance over Europe was the hour
whom science w,ked to a new life.
The lands where it is freest, where
1T IS most read, are the lands where
the scientist has lis most favored
home. Whether lie acknowledges it
or not, he sits under It's shadow with
great delight. While this book of
DR.. Draper's will take its place among
the multitude of like attempt to
impugn the Bible as a revelation
from God, and with them will grow
silent, the fact will still be none the
less true, that for man of science
to attack the Bible is to do an un-
grateful and an nngracious thing.
Meanwhile when DR.. Draper tells MS
approvinsly that the decision of
critics is that Genesis is a narrative
based upon legends; that Exodus is
not historically true that the whole
Pentatehch is nnhistoric and non.
Mosaic it contains the most extra
ordinary contradictions and impos-
slbilities sufficient to involve the
credibility of the whole,' it is inter-
esting ut least to know that these
very books are just now studied more
carefully and Systematically and by
manifold more minds than ever be-
fore since they were written that
Sabbath by Sabbath over a large
portion OF the Christian world the
eyes Of young and old are bent upon
them, and that somehow they seem
more real and valuable than ever
before. He who believes the Bible
can afford to be satisfied with the
present position of things, and can,
think, feel at case. When this
class of scientists, who talk so loftily
and with such confident assertion,
come to some5tolerable sort of agree
ment among themselves as to their
facts, We may attempt to adapt our
Interpretation of the record to them.
No one needs fear the result when
that time comes. Believers in the
Bible can say to the men of science,
with propriety emphasized by all
its past history. You have enlarg
ed the domain OF thought you have
given us new and glorious views of
the c'eation of God Your telescope
and your microscope have opened
before MS visions of the greatness Of
.1od which fill us with ndoring won
der +; we welcome, we glory in your
Investigations, we stand side by side
with you in your researches and
your questionings Of nature and the
past we pnrsne them with the ar
dor and enthusiasm that inspire YOU:
we will not permit you to thrust us
away from you, we have helped Won
IN the past, we are sure that we can
help you in the future but let ust
not be hasfy in onr conclusions or
too confident in our assertions. The
domain OF nature is very large we
ire not very great nor very wise.
Nature is very old, we are OF yester-
1ay and know nothing. Facts are
not easily reached in the great un.
Known" The Bible is II very pro-
found hook. AS Robinson said
and $50 years have all the while
oeen confirming it-"New light is {
,vermore breaking forth from the
Word Of God" We have often
oeen compelled to correct our in
expectations of it. We shall prob
IDLY have to do so again. In our
explanations both of nature and Of
he Word, modesty becomes us
both. VIM. ALTMAN, u. d.
Detroit, Mich. Feb l, 1875.