82 M.. Frayssinous's Defence uf' ChristianHy. 



Creation and the Deluge. It will be useful to shew, then, how 

 the explanations of the learned prelate have rendered all rational 

 disputation between science and orthodoxy henceforth impos- 

 sible ; it will also serve to convince religious men that they need 

 not now, from scruples of conscience, refuse to give their assent 

 to the sound theories of science ; and, lastly, it is of importance 

 in giving a more extensive diffusion to accurate ideas respecting 

 the book of Genesis, and the principal geological facts related 

 in it, that the useless discussions which frequently arise in the 

 world may be avoided ; — such, for example, as disputes with 

 regard to the age of the world — the universal deluge — whether 

 the fossil shells were produced by the Mosaic deluge, &c. 



By distinguishing, in the language of Moses, the expressions 

 in common use, which it was necessary for him to employ, in 

 order to be understood, and by making allowance for the differ- 

 ence of times and of nations, and for the genius of the Hebrew 

 language, and by adhering, at the same time, to the narrative 

 of the historian, M. de Frayssinous has consecrated, by his suf- 

 frage, interpretations which have been elicited by a conscientious 

 ju<^gment. Henceforth the cosmogony of Moses, assuming in 

 some degree a different character, presents only an assemblage 

 of facts, which ienter, without effort, under the dominion of the 

 natural laws, imposed from the beginning by the Creator of the 

 universe, and which, therefore, harmonize with the enlightened 

 opinions that may be formed regarding the origin of the globe. 

 For this important observation must not be overlooked : Moses 

 lays down his cosmogony in few words, and in very general 

 terms ; and the meaning of the word day being once fixed, we 

 have only to consider the order and succession of creations there 

 recorded. M. de Frayssinous shews the agreement thus subsist- 

 ing between scientific facts and the Mosaic record, viewed in its 

 true light, and in this respect he renders an eminent service to 

 religion, to science, and geology. 



When, in fact, we call to mind the lamentable disputes which 

 have taken place, in these latter ages, on the subject of the 

 Book of Genesis ; when, on the one hand, geology, formerly 

 so theoretical, appeared to encourage the attacks of infidel phi- 

 losophers, and, on the other, religious men, possessed sometimes 

 of more zeal than science, denounced, with so much heat, opi- 



