M. Frayssinoui>'*s Defence of Christ} anity. 85 



nions which, at the present day, give no offence to the hghts of 

 the church, — we are constrained to hold forth to pubhc appro- 

 bation the spirit with which the Bishop of Hermopohs has con- 

 sidered this book, and to extend the knowledge of the opinions 

 which he adopts on the fundamental points which it contains,—- 

 as thereby furnishing the friends of religion, science, and geo- 

 logy, who might still find themselves exposed to attacks similar 

 to those to which we have been- alluding, with victorious arms 

 for repelling them. i 



If, however, there is at the present day one truth more than 

 another to which general assent is given, it is this — that the pro- 

 gress of all kinds of real knowledge has entirely banished from 

 us that spurious philosophical spirit, of which so much is still 

 said, as if it could be renewed. What geologist is there, in our 

 days, who, while he admires the exalted genius of Voltaire, is 

 not moved with pity at his scientific arguments against the 

 book of Genesis ? And do we now see a single dissertation of 

 a similar nature, by any writer, enjoying the smallest degree of 

 reputation in the scientific world ? Were a work of this de- 

 scription to appear at the present day, would not the silence 

 and dissatisfaction of the learned consign it to neglect, more 

 promptly, and with more effect, than the Index of the Sorbonne 

 could ever have done? In vain do some interested, ol* too cre- 

 dulous, individuals attempt to revive the terror of such philoso- 

 phers; there is nothing to justify their alarms: and did not 

 every thing around us testify, that science is always the surest 

 guide for liian, geology (which, after having in its infancy fur- 

 nished weapons against the sacred writings, may now be ren- 

 dered subservient to the support of the Mosaic cosmogony) 

 would furnish a memorable example. In truth, setting aside 

 the considerations and sentiments which command belief, it is 

 upon M. Cuvier''s researches that the most important fact in the 

 Mosaic record, namely, the order of the creation of living 

 beings, rests; it is the investigations of MM. Champollion and 

 Letronne, which M. de Frayssinous adduces in support of his 

 historical relations ; and, lastly, it is the discoveries of Dr Young 

 and M. Fresnel that afifbrd the learned prelate the means of 

 explainmg the passage of Qenesis, which refers to the creation 

 of light. We are therefore authorized to repel with indignation 



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