88 RAMBLES AND REVERIES. 



was applying it to periods when as yet the sun 

 was not referred to." 



" This is all new to rne," said Baxter, with ani- 

 mation. " You see I have never been drawn out in 

 this direction before. But I begin to think I have 

 been labouring under very great delusions, and I 

 shall certainly look with more reverence on geology 

 henceforth, now that I see how valuable a handmaid 

 it is to the adequate understanding of the Mosaic 

 record of the creation." 



" I am glad to hear you say that," I replied. " And 

 if ever you should set about the study of geology, 

 don't forget Dawson, and Dana, and Kingsley. You 

 will, of course, be obliged to read Lyell, and Geikie, 

 and Boyd Dawkins, but be sure you look at Hugh 

 Miller, Hitchcock, and Pye Smith. But, if you don't 

 care to go into the subject to any extent, let me 

 recommend you to read, at least, an admirable little 

 book, published by the Sunday School Union, on 

 The Creation:' 



" Do you really think this kind of reading would 

 help me at all in my preaching?" 



" Decidedly I do. There are persons, I am aware, 

 who deride scientific study, but they are only those 

 who are densely ignorant of science. All scientific 

 knowledge is valuable to the preacher if he knows 

 how to keep it in its proper place. Many a chord 

 in the Bible has lain silent for ages, and might have 

 remained so for ever, had not science discovered it 

 and caused it to vibrate with sweet music." 



We had by this time reached the cutting that 

 we were searching for, and, turning off the road, 



