The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-09
Extracts from the Christian NeighbOr,
Science and Revelation In Accord.

III Cne COSInOSOny Oh Cne HlateTldi
world, it is found by long, labored sci
entific Investigations, that the subver-
sion of old theories, and the develop
ment of new ones, give new blaze of
light, as if the scintillations of some
far-of star had just reached US, illum-
mating more and more the mysteries
of Holy Writ.
Itwas once theorized that fire, air,
earth and water, were the elements of
creation.
It is now known that these are all
complex compounds of the various
gases, multivariously compounded to
make the different tangible substances
that occupy the organic world. Oxy-
gen and hydrogen, the two fiery ele-
ments, when chemically united, pro-
portioned, two volumes of hydrogen
to one of oxygen, both invisible gass-
es, form our bland liquid water, which
is universal solvent, and diluent and
grand agent in generating and build
ing up all organisms. 1t also covers
and occupies three-fourths of the
globe, ministering to the wants of the
animal and vegetable kingdoms.
Water is used to extinguish fires.
Yet a current of electricity will re-
solve or decompose this we call water
into its two original fiery elements,
whose combustion, converged and uni
ted, the two streams into one, as in
the oxy-hydrogen-blowpipe, produce
the most intense heat of all fires, re-
ducing the most refractory metals.
Hydrogen and oxygen are here alone
discussed because of their prominence
among all the elements that build up
the world.
"Oxygen Is the most abundant Of
all the elements, uniting with all sub
stances but one (Fluorine) comprizing
one one-fifth of the air, eight-ninths
of the water (by weight, three-fourths
of all animal bodies, and one-half Of
the crust of the earth" Steel.
Hydrogen is also universally diff
fused"-the light of all known sub
stances (yet a constituent of heavy
water, one-ninth by weight)-''it per-
vades the crust of the earth and min
listers to tho transformation of miner
ais while as large constituent of all
living thlnga, its changes contribute to
carry on the processes of life."
ut is present in nearly all kinds of
compounds, combined with other ele-
ments. It is now known to exist free
in immense masses in the atmospheres
of the sun and stars" Younaans.
Most all the elements are invisible
gases, only to the eye of science, yet
called "substances," making tangible
matter by their various chemical un-
ions.
These elements were the "erea-
tions," "In the beginning" when the
"earth was without form and void"
and the spirit Of God moved upon the
face of the waters" and these elements
hostled to their thousand combinations
and the world was formed, stead
led in her orbit, garnished with living
organisms and imam became living
soul" to occupy it and govern all ma
teriaI things that were generated upon
it.
May not the legitimate inference
now be, with the prophecies before US,
that when the "fullness of time" shall
have come, "God's spirit will again
move upon the waters" and the light
nings and the thunders shall below
forth his proclamation, "Time Is no
more w And these waters be resolved
into their constituent elements, and
these mingling their combustihle pow
ers, leap into lurid gyrating cyclones,
and with fiery tongues lick up the
material glory Of earth? and Johns
apocalipic vision appear, when he
"saw a new heaven and new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away, and there was no
more sea-" These very waters were
once used by angered Jehovah to de-
stroy a rebellious world in Noah's
time.
The same bland liquid, composed as
it is, of fiery ingredients, may now
be waiting in the oceans, rivers and
clouds, as mighty magazines of wrath
to again be the instrument in Gods
hand for the final destruction and in
cineration of the world
Matter once created, may bechanged
in form, but as far as we know, not ut
terly destroyed. If so, this earth will
be left oscillating in her orbit, a black
ened, ruined mass! And why not the
prophesy be fulfilled, 81 saw new
heaven and a new earth?" "And I
John saw the holy city, New Jerusa-
lem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as bride adorned
for her hrsband" "And God
shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes" "For the 1orm0r tnlngs
are passed away"
"Winds! .ye shall bear HIS name aioua'