154 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [APR. 2, 
“‘Considering the asserted origin of this book,’ indirectly 
from God Himself, we might justly expect that it would bear to 
be tried by any standard that man can apply, and vindicate its 
truth and excellence in the ordeal of human criticism. 
As years pass on, and human science becomes more exact, more 
comprehensive, its conclusions must be found in unison there- 
with. When occasion arises, it should furnish us at least the 
foreshadowing of the great truths discovered by astronomy and 
geology, not offering for them the wild fictions of earlier ages, 
the inventions of the infancy of man.”—Dr. Draper in The In- 
tellectual Development of Europe. 
Thus much for the positive side, now for the negative. 
Genesis does not say that world was made 6,000 years ago. 
It does not say that anything was done on any one of the 
“ days.” 
It does not speak of the first plants or water animals, or birds, 
nor of the first land animals. 
It does not say how they were made. 
It does not say that the earth is the largest body in the uni- 
verse. 
It does not say that it is larger than the sun. 
It does not say that the stars are less than the sun or moon. 
It does not say that all plant life began at one day—nor does 
it say that of either aquatic or land animals, or of birds. 
Dr. WARRING then read a paper on 
MIRACLE, LAW, AND EVOLUTION. 
I. Miracles and Law. 
I do not propose to discuss the reality of the miracles recorded 
in the Bible. Those who deny their possibility, as well as many 
who believe in them, look upon miracles as generically different 
from those occurrences which are said to take place in obedience 
to the laws of nature. There certainly is a difference. I pro- 
pose to inquire what it is. Evidently it is not in the degree of 
power required; for raising the dead is a less thing than the 
birth and growth of an individual. It is less to set in motion a 
watch that has stopped, than to make one. Causing the widow’s 
oil and meal to increase was a small matter in comparison with 
providing daily food for the millions that cover the earth. 
Nor are miracles intrinsically more wonderful than those 
things which we regard as the effect of law. Nothing is more 
common, or less excites our surprise than the working of the 
1 Dr. Draper is speaking of the Koran, but his words are better than 
he knew. 
