great antiquity of the earth itself, is so irresistible and so unshaken by any opposing facts, that none but those who are alike incapable of observing the facts and appreciating the reasoning, can for a moment conceive the present state of its surface to have been the result of only six thousand years of existence. Those observers and philosophers, who have spent their lives in the study of geology, have arrived at the conclusion, that there exists irresistible evidence that the date of the earth's first formation is far anterior to the epoch supposed to be ascribed to it by Moses; and it is now admitted by all competent persons, that the formation even of those strata which are near the surface, must have occupied vast periods, probably millions of years in arriving at their present state."—p. p. 6768.
This question as it now stands before the religious world, may be fairly stated in the following form:—The science of Geology has demonstrated the great antiquity of our earth. But the works of the Lord cannot contradict the true meaning of his word; hence the true meaning of the Mosaic account of the creation must harmonize with the truths which Geology has demonstrated. I am aware, however, that there are some persons who will dispose of the above reasoning in a very summary way. They will coolly and gravely tell you that there are the most palpable and direct contradictions between the word and the works of the Lord, and that these contradictions are permitted for the purpose of testing our faith in his word. On this accommodating principle, they find no difficulty in admitting the truth of every geological fact, and at the same time maintaining that the first chapter of Genesis ought to be understood simply in its literal sense. But it is in vain to attempt to reason with men who thus virtually charge their Creator with trifling with his creatures, rather than admit their own ignorance of the true meaning of his word. Wherever there is any sincere love for the truth there must be a thankful acknowledgment that
