47 S 



Illustrations of the 



Proceeding, accordingly, in diredl oppolition to 

 rules that have never yet been violated with im- 

 punity, and miflaking the true objed: of a theory 

 of the earth, they carry back their inquiries 

 to a period prior to the prefent feries of caufes 

 and efFeds, where, having neither experience 

 nor analogy to direct them, they pretend to be 

 guided by a fuperior light. They would have 

 us to confider their geological fpeculations as a 

 commentary on the text of Moses ; they endea- 

 vour to explain the adion of creative power, and, 

 with indifcreet curiolity, would tear off the veil 

 which the hand of the prophet has fo wifely re- 

 fpeded. But the veil cannot be torn off, and 

 all that is behind it muil be to man as that 

 which never has exifted. 



419. M. de Luc has neverthelefs treated very 

 diffufely of the hiilory of the folar fyftem, pre- 

 vious to the eftablifliment of the prefent laws of 

 nature, and has dwelt on it with great compla- 

 cency, and Angular minutenefs of detail. His 

 tenth letter to La Metherie has the follow- 



r J 



J 



ing title : 



*' On the Hiilory of the Earth, from the time 

 when that planet was penetrated by lighty till 

 the appearance of the fun ; a portion of time 

 which includes the origin of heat, and of the 

 figure of the earth ; of its primeval flrata, of the 



ancient fea, of our continents, as the bottom of 



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