instead of a first creation excepting man by one method, and a second with
man by the other. This is now the remaining question between the
theologians and geologists; for all the minor points, as to the exact
interpretation, of each day, do not affect the general concordance or
discordance of the Bible and science.
On
this point, geology is now explicit in its decision, and indeed has
long been so. It proves that there was no return to chaos, no great
revolution, that creation was beyond doubt one in its progress. We know
that some geologists have taken the other view. But it was only in the
capacity of theologians and not as geologists. The Rev. Dr. Buckland,
in placing the great events of geology between the first and second
verses of the Mosaic account, did not pretend that there was a
geological basis for such an hypothesis ; and no writer since has ever
brought forward the first fact in geology to support the idea of a
rearrangement just before man ;—not one solitary fact has ever been
appealed to. The conclusion was on biblical grounds, and not in any
sense on geological. The best that Buckland could say, when he wrote
twenty-five years since, was, that geology did not absolutely disprove
such an hypothesis; and that cannot be said now.
It
is often asserted, in order to unsettle confidence in these particular
teachings of geology, that geology is a changing science. In this
connection, the remark conveys an erroneous, impression. Geology is a
progressing science, and all its progress tends to establish more
firmly these two principles. (1) The sfcw progress of creation through
secondary causes, as explained, and (2) the progress by periods
analogous to the days of Genesis.1
1 The various uses of the word day in the Mosaic account of creation are not all mentioned by Prof. Lewis. First, in verse 5, the light in general is called day, the darkness, night. Second, in the same verse, evening and mm-ning make the first day, before the sun appears. Third, verse 14, day stands for twelve hours or the period of daylight, as dependent on the sun. Fourth, same verse, in the phrase " days and seasons," day stands for a period of hventy-four hours. Fifth at the close of the account, in verse 4, of the second chapter, day means the whole period rf creation. These uses are the same that we have in our own language.
Vol. XIII. No. 49. io
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