IN THE CREATION STORY OP GENESIS. 



87 



no shortcomings. It is absolutely unerring. It is, if there is no 

 other portion of the Bible so, verbally inspired. I have investigated 

 that chapter in the Hebrew, letter by letter, in the fiercest light of 

 modern and recent science, and I can find no discrepancy ; and I 

 should like to hear anyone here put it to the test and see if they 

 can find an error or mistake. It is a revelation from God. We 

 know it was not designed for the first or second age, but for all ages. 

 Its simple beauty is perfect. Philosophically and scientifically 

 considered, it is unsurpassed by any literature in the whole world. 

 It is unapproached, because it is in a language that, better than any 

 other, can express the course of Nature. 



This language is distinguished by its tenses. These tenses are i 

 not tenses of time, but express modes of action. Now it is the j 

 modes of action that are of all importance. One tense that is 

 used 49 times is the imperfect, and it means that which is the I: 

 incoming, the unfinished, the continuous. It is used throughout, i 

 and there could not be a better expression of evolutionary | 

 law than the incoming, the unfinished, the continuous ; or to > 

 put it in the language of Duncan Weir, who did not believe in 

 evolution, it is expressing action in process and progress of evolution. 



Then the next point that I would like to refer to is the expression 

 " God said." Dr. Irving thinks this implies directivity, but the 

 true explanation of it is found in John i, 1. "In the beginning 

 was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was 

 God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were 

 made by Him." 



I would like to refer to a few special points. Directivity I j 

 look upon as absolutely unscientific and unscriptural. None of us I 

 believe in directivity in regard to inorganic evolution. We know 

 that all the changes from the nebulous state down to the present 

 changes that are going on in this earth, namely, shifting of sea 

 and land, are all due to the properties, previously impressed upon 

 matter and energy in the beginning. With regard to organic life, 

 God gave it all that dowry of attributes which has led to progressive 

 evolution up to man himself, and we have in the fact the grandest 

 light possible thrown upon the moral responsibility of man. Life is 

 an independent factor, and was always held responsible for its 

 actions from the lowest form up to man. If it failed, death was 

 the unfailing penalty. 



G 



