DISCOVERIES WITH SACRED HISTORY. 33 
to express a new arrangement of materials that 
existed before.* 
After all, it should be recollected that the 
question is not respecting the correctness of the 
Mosaic narrative, but of our interpretation of it ; 
and still further, it should be borne in mind that 
the object of this account was, not to state in what 
manner, but hy ivhom, the w^orld was made. As 
the prevailing tendency of men in those early 
days was to worship the most glorious objects of 
nature, namely, the sun and moon and stars ; it 
should seem to have been one important point in 
the Mosaic account of creation, to guard the Is- 
raelites against the Polytheism and idolatry of 
the nations around them ; by announcing that all 
these magnificent celestial bodies were no Gods, 
but the works of One Almighty Creator, to whom 
alone the worship of mankind is due.f 
* See Note, p. 22. 
t Having thus far ventured to enter into a series of explana- 
tions, which I think will reconcile even the letter of the text of 
Genesis with the phenomena of Geology, I forbear to say more 
on this important subject, and have much satisfaction in being 
able to refer my readers to some admirable articles in the Chris- 
tian Observer (May, June, July, August, 1834) for a very able 
and comprehensive summary of the present state of this ques- 
tion; explaining the difficulties with which it is surrounded, and 
offering many temperate and judicious suggestions, as to the 
spirit in which investigations of this kind ought to be conducted. 
I would also refer to Bishop Horsley's Sermons, 8vo. 1816, vol. 
iii. ser. 39 ; to Bishop Bird Sumner's Records of Creation, vol. i. 
p. 356 ; Douglas's Errors regarding Religion, 1830, p. 261-264, 
GEOL. D 
