86 RAMBLES AND REVERIES. 



curately deciphered, it was perceived that creation 

 must have occupied long ages, and theologians, put 

 upon the right scent, quickly saw that the Mosaic 

 use of the word * day ' not only sanctioned, but even 

 demanded, its recent explanation as meaning in- 

 definite duration, or uninterrupted time." 



" But does not that interpretation imply the taking 

 of great liberties with the language of Scripture ? " 



" Not at all," I answered. " The word ' day ' has 

 never been, nor is it now, used to denote just twenty- 

 four hours, exeept in a technical way and by an 

 accommodation of language. In common parlance 

 ' day,' as you know, means the period of light as 

 distinguished from night. By general consent the 

 word is frequently applied to long and indefinite 

 periods. It is in this sense that Moses uses it in 

 Genesis, and, -indeed, in other places. The first 

 ' day ' was the first period in which light was 

 caused to shine on the darkness and confusion of 

 the earth's primary condition." 



" Yes, but how does that explanation fit in to the 

 succeeding days of creation ? " 



" Oh, perfectly well. The separation of the terres- 

 trial from the atmospheric waters took place during 

 the second epoch that is, the cooling earth had 

 become sufficiently low in temperature for water to 

 lie upon its surface instead of rising as vapour. 

 The gathering together of the seas in the depressions 

 of the earth, and the sprouting forth of lowly herbs, 

 occupied the third period, and during the fourth 

 the vapours had sufficiently condensed to allow of 

 the heavenly luminaries being visible, and becoming 



