2 PRELIIVIINARY ESSAY. 



to ascertain, whether each, when rightly understood, does not declare the 

 same thing on this interesting subject. 



Now I am aware that some of the commonly received opinions 

 respecting the Mosaic account of the creation, are entirely at variance 

 with the inferences reasonably deduced from the researches of Geology. 



Eut common opinions are often far removed from truth, and it might 

 be particularly expected, that they would be erroneous in such a case as 

 the present. The ordinary Christian rarely looks to the Bible with a 

 philosophic eye; even where the opportunity and power of close exa- 

 mination exist, it is seldom that men inquire farther than into the 

 authoritative evidence in favour of revelation ; and finding that evidence 

 sufficient to satisfy their minds, they at once receive the Bible as the 

 Word of God. 



The same conviction which leads them to this implicit faith in the 

 Bible, as containing a revelation of divine truth, leads them also to look 

 to it without the smallest reference to the deductions of science. It is 

 viewed simply as the great repository of religious instruction ; and even 

 the historical parts, are rarely considered in any other Mght, than as the 

 vehicles of improvement under the form of example. Hence it happens, 

 that we are particidarly Hable to error, with respect to those parts which 

 incidentally touch upon scientific points. Even the best informed and 

 most serious Christian, never having been accustomed to consider them 

 scientifically, is in great danger of giving way to vulgar prejudices, and 

 thus of falling into the most palpable mistakes. 



Our consideration of the Mosaic account of the creation, will present 

 us with more than one instance of this description. 



It will probably occur to most readers that they can recollect the time 

 when they presumed that every night and day mentioned in the first 

 chapter of Genesis, must be strictly confined to the term of twenty-four 

 hours ; though there can be no doubt but that Moses never intended any 

 such thing. Critics moreover inform us, that his words ought never to 

 have been so translated as to lead us into the suspicion, that he intended 

 to make any declaration to this effect. 



