Remarks on Prof. Stuart''s examination of Gen, I. 129 



Is the word day susceptible of comprehending Mr. Faber's thirty- 

 six thousand years of creation ; or the six hundred thousand years of 

 Mr. McCuUoch ; or the quadrilHons of millions of others ; or the in- 

 definite periods of a more cautious and less extravagant class of ge- 

 ologists ?" The geologists reply, that according to Prof. Stuart him- 

 self, "in Psalm 148: 4, the waters which are above the heavens, 

 that is, the expanse or firmament, are called upon to praise Jeho- 

 vah ;" and if this allusion to the first chaper of Genesis is an accom- 

 modation to received opinions and popular language, that is precise- 

 ly their own view of the reference in Exodus, They add, thsit as 

 to the language of Moses, in his history of the creation, " realities in 

 all cases are in one sense described, that is, something that is real and 

 true ; but the manner in which these things do actually exist, is not 

 described ;" that the distinct periods they consider as " realities," the 

 twenty four hours or the length of these periods, as "manner;" and 

 they put the question with some emphasis, what in their application 

 of this principle, is more inconsistent with philology, than in Prof. 

 Stuart's own application of it ? If a " solid and extended" firma- 

 ment may mean only thin air; and if "water above the firma- 

 ment," and " windows" in the firmament, may mean nothing at all^ 

 why may not twenty four hours be understood as a definite time for 

 an indefinite ? As to quadrillions of millions of years. Prof. Stuart 

 himself says, that the heavenly bodies are represented by Moses as 

 placed " in the firmament," and he would no doubt maintain, that this 

 is not inconsistent with the immeasurable distance of the fixed stars ; 

 i. e. he would admit that their actual distances are incalculably great- 

 er, than would be inferred from a literal interpretation of the text. 

 Grant us, say the geologists, to be as free in construing the length of 

 the Mosaic day, as Prof. Stuart, from his admissions, is in construing 

 the distance of the Mosaic firmament ; that is, allow us to take the 

 same liberties with time, that he necessarily must with space, and 

 we will rest satisfied. 



But Prof. Stuart rejoins, (p. 52.) " Any speculation that leaves 

 untouched the real affirmations which Moses himself makes, I can 

 easily concede that any one should indulge; and this without theo- 

 logical or philological offence. But if the philosopher or the geolo- 

 gist bids me pass by, or wink out of sight, or turn awry, any of the 

 declarations that Moses has actually made as to particulars, then I 

 must beg leave to demur, or to deny the correctness of his theory.^' 

 The geologists reply. Do we not read in the first Chapter of Genesis, 



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