MODERN DATE OF MATT. 53 



of our earth, far from being inconsistent with -the general 

 plan of creation, is only in accordance with the enlightened 

 views which have been formed of the universe, the mag- 

 nitude and grandeur of the phenomena of which as far 

 exceed those observable in our earth, as the whole transcends 

 the part. If geology, therefore, appears incredible, astronomy 

 must seem impossible ; yet, owing to the exact nature of 

 the latter science, its truths are 'susceptible of mathematical 

 demonstration. The astronomer reveals facts so far surpass- 

 ing our usual calculations and impressions, that the mind 

 unaccustomed to scientific investigation, might reject them 

 as fables, were it not that he, at the same time, foretels an 

 eclipse to the fraction of a minute, and thus proves his system 

 to be true. For instance, there are stars so incalculably 

 remote from our planet, that their light would require vast 

 cycles of ages to arrive at our earth ; and as these luminaries 

 occasionally become extinguished or invisible, it results that 

 we may actually be gazing on the light of a star which has 

 been lost to our sphere long before the creation of our race. 

 Sir William Herschel, in a paper* On the power of telescopes 

 to penetrate into space, informs us of the existence of bodies 

 which can only be detected by telescopes of great power, 

 being situated nearly twelve millions of millions of millions 

 of miles from our earth: whence it follows, that the light by 

 which those objects have become visible to us, must have 

 been nearly two millions of years in its progress. And when 

 we reflect that we can by no means assume these points, 

 however remote, to be the limit of creation, and* that if we 

 were removed to those distant orbs, we should behold, not 

 the end of the universe, but, as it were, only its beginning, 

 where fresh spheres in harmonious systems still extended 

 throughout illimitable space, we must cease all doubts, 

 acknowledge the insufficiency of the finite to comprehend 

 the Infinite, and cease from cavilling, to wonder and adore ! 

 MODERN DATE or MAN. The comparatively modern 

 period of the creation of man, is a fact revealed by Scripture 

 and confirmed by science. The same internal evid'ence which 

 convinces us of the antiquity of our planet, affords satisfactory 

 proof of the modern origin of our species. The whole vast 



* Dr. Pye Smith, on Geology, Philosophical Transactions, 1 800, p. 368. 



