LECTURE XII. 



THE MOSAIC AND GEOLOGIC RECORDS. 



Natural religion not sufficient. Supposed origin of the Bible. 

 Correspondence to the works of nature. Seeming disa- 

 greement. First chapter of Genesis. Testimony of Hum- 

 boldt. Purpose of the Bible demands some account of the 

 creation. The position taken in the argument. Chemistry 

 our guide before the sedimentary rocks. Progress in crea- 

 tion. First condition of matter. Gravitation. Effect of 

 bringing particles together. Light. Nott and Gliddon. 

 Geologic day. Hugh Miller's view. Firmament. Office 

 of the atmosphere. Dry land. Introduction of life. Plants 

 created first. Sun and Moon. Water animals and birds. 

 Land animals. Man. Picture of creation as presented 

 to an intelligent being. Seventh day. Conclusion. 



WE have now considered the Bible as a provision 

 made to meet certain wants of man, growing out of 

 desires and capacities implanted in him. In this 

 respect it is such a provision as we might expect, 

 from the whole analogy of nature, would be made. 

 By accepting the Bible, we round out and complete 

 the argument from design, as shown by adaptation 

 of means to ends. Without the Bible, man, in the 

 desires of his highest nature, would be like a being 

 created with the torment of thirst, in a world desti- 

 tute of water ; or with a perfect eye, in a world of 

 eternal darkness ; or with the desire to breathe, 

 where no air ever existed. 



