310 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



and animals, as recorded by Moses. Our readers must have seen, 

 from the statements given above, tliat we have observed no such 

 coincidence ; and as the notions just mentioned cannot be reconciled 

 with facts, it is equally impossible, in our opinion, to reconcile them 

 with the sacred scriptures. 



The very attempt to extend the period of the creation to an inde- 

 finite length, looks like detracting from the honours of the Almighty, 

 whose power, instead of requiring six ages for the work, could easily 

 have accomplished it in six hours. The instantaneous execution of 

 the several parts of the work, is represented as an important accession 

 to its grandeur: "He spake, and it was done: He commanded, and 

 it stood fast." Independent of this, the formation system cannot be 

 made to agree with the narrative of Moses. He describes the work 

 of each day, and then represents the Creator as thus reviewing the 

 whole, at the close of the sixth day: "And God saw every thing 

 that he had made, and behold, it was very good." With what pro- 

 priety could these words have been used, if the work of some of the 

 preceding days had been destroyed, before the sixth day began? 

 Besides, each of the days is stated to consist of " morning and even- 

 ing ; " language which could not, without the most violent straining, 

 be applied to the formation pei-iods. It is true, that the terras day, 

 morning, and evening, are often in scripture, as in other writings, used in 

 a metaphorical sense; but it is contrary to the rules of sound criticism, 

 to understand them in this sense, in the simple narrative of the work 

 of creation. The mention that is made of the seventh day, seems to 

 put the matter beyond a doubt. God rested from his work on the 

 seventh day, which was therefore consecrated to be the sabbath; and 

 man was directed, after the example of God, to labour six days of the 

 week, and rest on the seventh. Now, that this may be a suitable 

 motive with us, to devote a seventh part of our time to sacred rest, we 

 must understand, that the six days of the creation and the sabbath 



