President's Address. Ill 



say that these theories, thus carried out, strike absolutely at 

 the root of all revelation, and, therefore, at all the aspirations 

 and hopes of man, either for time or for eternity. 



Cowper sketches a somewhat similar but perhaps less ad- 

 vanced class of scientific theorists of his day so well, that I must 

 quote part of his description here, as his bold declaration of the 

 opposing truth applies to all, doubtless, of every kind and 

 degree : — 



** Some say that, in tlie origin of things, 

 When all creation started into birth, 

 The infant elements received a law, 

 From which they swerve not since. 



Thus dream they, and contrive to save a God, 



The Lord of all. Himself through all diffused, 

 Sustains, and is the life of all that lives ; 

 Nature is but a name for an effect 

 "Whose cause is God." 



As a believer in the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and 

 revealed word and will of God to man, I agree with what our 

 old President, Professor Fleming, D.D., said long ago, but 

 which is still as true now as when it was written : — 



" Without controversy, the works and the words of God 

 must give consistent indications of His government, provided 

 they be interpreted truly. The talent, sagacity, learning, and 

 industry occupied for ages with the Book of Eevelation have 

 produced a mass of evidence by which its moral authority has 

 been established. But unfortunately for the -interpreters 

 of the Book of Nature, they have been few in number, their 

 field of observation too limited, and their prejudices too 

 obvious to permit any high value to be attached to their 

 theoretical deductions." ... 



Personally, I cannot put aside the most ancient history we 

 possess of creation, as given us in the books of Moses, which 

 have, I believe, been intended for the information of the 

 human race in every state of civilisation, and in every land, 

 though I may not be able to understand or explain it in aU 

 its details. Indeed, I do not expect or ask to understand the 

 deep mysteries of the creation, and all the relations of matter 



