OF THE SEA AND LAND. 33 



period, and subsides through one not long, leaving on 

 an eminence, that vessel which was to preserve and 

 perpetuate Man. 



It is far from pleasing to be compelled thus to dis- 

 sect Scripture, and on a subject of a purely physical 

 nature. Yet it is to defend it from pernicious intru- 

 sion, to say that where it is simple, plain, and intel- 

 ligible, it must be taken simply and plainly. There 

 is nothing in this history from which we can infer a 

 state of turbulence or violence in the water. There 

 is nothing to make us suppose that the Deluge could 

 have disjoined islands,, excavated valleys, or deposited 

 alluvia. It is deficient alike in the two needful powers, 

 motion and time. Of the former in particular, and to 

 the extent and velocity required for such purposes^ no 

 mathematician can contrive the means: but they who 

 invent such hypotheses have rarely knowledge enough 

 to perceive their own wants : while in this case, where 

 a single purpose is declared, and declared to have been 

 executed, and where also that only purpose could have 

 .been perfectly executed in the tranquil manner which 

 must be inferred, the Almighty is asserted to have 

 done infinitely more than He has declared, and for no 

 end that can be conceived. If this be not that daring 

 perversion of Scripture to which a very harsh term is 

 applied, if it be not to assume a certain conduct in the 

 Deity because we desire it for our own ends, and this 

 too by those who profess peculiar reverence to Him 

 and His scriptures, while they persecute the simple 

 followers of His word, I know not well who can de- 

 serve the censure of wantonly misinterpreting the 

 Sacred writings. The Ark was scarcely a structure 

 to have lived on such waters as this geological specu- 

 lation presumes ; or, if miraculously preserved amid' 

 such unnecessary -commotion, to have settled in the 



VOL. II. D 



