I. 

 PRELIMINARY ESSAY. 



ON THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE MOSAIC ACCOUNT OF THE 

 CREATION, AND THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH. 



(in a letter to the author.) 

 Dear Sir, 



Sound philosophy, and revealed religion, are naturally connected with 

 each other. However widely they may differ as to the manner in which 

 they severally proceed, they are both professedly tending towards one 

 common object, — the establishment of truth. Philosophy sets out in its 

 pursuit of this object, from the lowest point, — Eehgion from the highest : the 

 former begins with the last effect, the latter commences with the first cause. 

 Hence the mutual advantages to be derived from alliance are obvious ; 

 for where both parties are found to arrive from various directions, at the 

 same conclusions, each will acquire an increased degree of confidence, as 

 to their attainment of the grand object which both had in view. 



With these ideas respecting the general connexion which ought to 

 subsist between philosophy and religion, you will perhaps excuse my 

 taking the liberty of sending you a few observations, relative to their 

 particular connexion, with respect to that department, on which you 

 have publicly announced your intention of entering. 



Geology and rehgion are inevitably brought into contact, on the great 

 point of the creation of the world, and it appears to me highly desirable 



