APPENDIX. NOTES. 377 



merit, and to arrive at the truth as to what changes may 

 have taken place in it, and by what means. When we 

 further consider that we are informed by the highest 

 authority, that the original earth and its heavens, with all 

 their animal inhabitants those only excepted, which, by 

 his command, took refuge in a vessel built according to 

 his direction were destroyed by a universal deluge, which 

 overtopped the highest mountains, and continued in force 

 for nearly a year : when this great catastrophe is duly 

 considered, surely, from the account given of it in Scrip- 

 ture, much may be gleaned that will throw a light upon 

 the subject, that can never be struck out by the unassisted 

 investigations of the Geologist who can penetrate so little 

 below the earth's surface. 



My own knowledge of Geology and its principles, as 

 now laid down, is too slight to qualify me to compare them 

 with what has been delivered in Scripture on the subjects 

 here alluded to ; but as it appears to me that the scrip- 

 tural account of the great Cataclysm has not been duly 

 weighed, and its magnitude, duration, momentum, varied 

 agency, and their consequences, sufficiently estimated by 

 geologists, I will endeavour, as briefly as I can, to call 

 their attention, and that of Christian Philosophers in 

 general, to the most striking features exhibited by it, as 

 stated in the seventh and eighth chapters of the book of 

 Genesis, still requesting them to bear in mind these words 

 of the poet, as expressing my own feelings. 



Fungor vice cotis exors ipse secandi. 



My only wish being to excite others better qualified, by 

 their knowledge both of Scripture and Nature, the Word 

 and the Work of the same Almighty Being, to undertake 

 the task. 



It must be borne in mind that the scriptural account 



