342 



brought upon the earth, which prevailed on it for an hundred 

 and fifty days, and by which the whole race was nearly 

 destroyed. The Mosaic account of this deluge has, however, 

 been doubted, from the total absence of the fossil remains 

 of man. But reference will show that no circumstances are 

 stated in that account which will authorize the supposition, 

 that the deluge was accompanied by such subversive violence 

 as would bury its victims in those situations which would 

 dispose to the mineralization and consequent preservation of 

 their remains. 



The assumption of successive creations with accordant 

 changes in the state of the planet, does not, indeed, agree 

 with the Mosaic account of the creation, at least in its ordi- 

 nary acceptation. The facts, however, appear to be as they 

 are stated. May not the discordance depend on a miscon- 

 ception of the Sacred Writings ? Once more, with submis- 

 sion and deference may not the days of creation be consi- 

 dered as periods of long indefinite duration? 



This system of successive creations fitted to the existing 

 or predestinated state of the planet, appears, not only not 

 to derogate from the wisdom and power of the Almighty, 

 but to be perfectly in agreement with the agency of Pro- 

 vidence as taught by the Divine Author of our religion. 

 The world is seen, in its formation and continuance, con- 

 stantly under the providence of Almighty God, without 

 whose knowledge not one sparrow falls to the ground. 



Under these impressions, we view the results of these 

 several changes and creations as manifesting the prescience, 

 the power, and the benevolence of our great Creator. The 

 general form of the earth's surface, varied by the distribution 

 of hills and vallies, and of land and water ; the prodigious 

 accumulations of coal derived from the vegetables of a former 

 creation, with the accompanying slates and schists ; the 

 useful, durable, and often beautiful, encrinital and shelly 

 limestones; the immense formations of chalk and flint, and 



