474 Rough Notes on the controversy against Geologists. 



condemn any science, because it may have been put to 

 abuse ; for it is God that giveth wisdom to the wise, and 

 knowledge to them that know understanding. 



In answer to some objections made against the language 

 of some particular passages in Scripture, seemingly at va- 

 riance with the mathematically proved truths of natural 

 philosophy, it is now generally admitted, that in all such 

 passages, and on all such subjects, Scripture speaks accord- 

 ing to the ideas regarding them prevalent in the age in 

 which it was written, or according to their appearances; 

 that it was intended for one great purpose only, to be the 

 guide of man in spiritual things ; to make him aware of his 

 position in this life, brought about by the introduction of 

 sin into a world originally good ; and to instruct him in the 

 manner in which he may regain his lost happiness, and the 

 favour of his God, by compliance with the means for that 

 purpose therein detailed and pointed out. While this is 

 dwelt upon and explained with the utmost clearness, even to 

 the meanest capacity of intellect, all other things are slight- 

 ly touched on, or alluded to in illustration merely, and not a 

 few things of this passing incidental character are now 

 unintelligible through our ignorance of ancient manners and 

 events. The Scripture reveals moral truths, and on these 

 it is a safe and certain guide ; but it was never intended 

 to teach even the principles of physical science. These it 

 leaves, just as it found them, in the state of elucidation to 

 which the intellect of the age had brought them, con- 

 tented with expressions which are so worded as to be in 

 accordance with the ideas of its times, and yet not in con- 

 tradiction to any discoveries by w r hich the research of man 

 might afterwards fill up the outlines of such a general 

 sketch. The finding out of physical truth has been left by 

 it to the unaided intellect of man as a fitting subject for 

 its exercise, and nobly, in many instances, has that intellect 

 fulfilled the task thus assigned. Different, however, was the 



