Notice and Review of the Réliquide Diluvianae. 155 
ing was known of geology.* In this discussion, he brings 
forward not a single fact in proof of his position, and noti- 
ces but few of the facts which geologists adduce to support 
the contrary ; but relies on abstract reasoning. He ob- 
jects against ‘* maintaining a constant skirmish with cavillers 
and sophists, whose policy it is to challenge a perpetual 
warfare on the road, that it might not be travelled to the 
eud.”” These cavillers and sophists are none other than 
certain stubborn facts, and really we do believe they would 
have stopped Mr. Penn, had he not taken an airy route 
above them. Whether the course he has adopted, (to say 
nothing of the facts which geology discloses in opposi- 
tion to his peculiar views,) be preferable to one recently 
recommended in this country, viz. to ‘° deny une facts,?} 
we shall not undertake to determine. 
Mr. Penn seems to have become possessed with the idea 
that geologists are banded iigew ies against revealed reli- 
gion ; and he even tells us, “ itis manifest, that the min- 
eral geology, considered as a science, can do as well with- 
out God, (though in a question concerning the origin of 
the earth ;) as Lucretius did.” We know not but Mr. Penn 
may have met with infidel or atheistical geologists. But 
we can assure him, that there are very many among them, 
both in Europe and this country, who do not merely give 
their assent to the truth of revelation, but whose whole 
hope rests upon it; whose attachment to it is stronger than 
death, and who count it their chief glory and happiness, to 
defend and enforce its glorious truths :—men, who rejoice 
to seein every rock formation the marks of a creating and 
upholding God ; -and are they to be counted atheists, be- 
cause they happen to differ from Mr. Penn in regard to 
the mode in which creating energy was exerted? We 
sincerely protest against any such efforts to divorce sci- 
ence from religion. What “God hath joined together, 
let no man put asunder.” 
Although Mr. Penn appears to have studied geological 
writers attentively, we are persuaded he does not fully un- 
derstand them in regard to the original creation and sub- 
sequent arrangement of rock strata. He quotes from Ba- 
* And not much more of Chemistry: Ed. 
+See Evangelical Wiiness, March 1824, p, 374. 
