8 CONSISTENCY OF GEOLOGICAL 
and ancient order, unfolding records of the ope- 
rations of the Almighty Author of the Universe, 
written by the finger of God himself, upon the 
foundations of the everlasting hills. 
Chapter II. 
Consistency of Geological Discoveries ivith 
Sacred History, 
It may seem just matter of surprise, that 
many learned and religious men should regard 
with jealousy and suspicion the study of any 
natural phenomena, which abound with proofs 
of some of the highest attributes of the Deity ; 
and should receive with distrust, or total in- 
credulity, the announcement of conclusions, 
which the geologist deduces from careful and 
patient investigation of the facts which it is 
his province to explore. These doubts and 
difficulties result from the disclosures made by 
geology, respecting the lapse of very long periods 
of time, before the creation of man. Minds 
which have been long accustomed to date the 
origin of the universe, as well as that of the 
human race, from an era of about six thou- 
sand years ago, receive reluctantly any infor- 
mation, which if true, demands some new 
modification of their present ideas of cosmo- 
