8 PRELIMINARY ESSAY. 



The works of the two first days do not come within the limits of 

 geological inquiry ; yet I cannot help noticing, that though Moses speaks 

 of an original creation of light and atmosphere, he does not forbid the 

 presumption, that the earth had enjoyed Hght, and atmosphere, previously 

 to the chaotic period. 



In the second day's work, moreover, an operation is described, which 

 is exactly such, as geology seems to require, for the original deposition of 

 strata. It is to be presumed, that the body of water with which the 

 globe was covered, held a quantity of earth in suspension and solution. 



Now during the second day, or period of time, when a. Jirmameiit was 

 made, we are told that the waters were divided, and a great body of them 

 was elevated in the form of vapour. 



The natural consequence of this operation, would be the deposition 

 of a vast body of earth ; I say, such would have been the natural con- 

 sequences of this operation, for no positive inference on this point, can be 

 drawn from the words of Moses ; and much less can we infer any thing 

 from INIoses, as to the extent of the effects produced. We must presume, 

 however, that its effects could only have been superficial, as the mass of 

 the earth had been created before ; and as geology gives us reason to 

 conclude, that no very great deposition of strata has taken place, since the 

 last order of creation perished. 



The only purpose, therefore, for which I would be understood to make 

 the above remarks, is to shew that tendency of the Mosaic account to 

 which I have already alluded, viz. its leading us to infer, that the last 

 crust of the earth was formed by deposition from water. 



The next work described is more decidedly to our purpose, and most 

 remarkably illustrates the observations of the geologist. On the third day 

 Moses represents the Almighty, as willing, first, that the waters should 

 be gathered together into one place ; secondly, that the dry land should 

 appear. Here are two operations exactly corresponding with what the 

 geologist declares to be necessary, in order to account for the present 

 appearance of the immediate surface of the earth. 



