to adopt that hypothesis. And as the same authority that furnishes the 
record of the phenomena also plainly intimates that the Deluge had a mira- 
culous character, it seemed not unreasonable to assume that the increment 
of temperature which accounts for the phenomena was extraordinary, and 
due to miraculous agency. In an analogous manner, as was appropriately 
remarked by Mr. P. V. Smith, the waters of the Red Sea were miraculously 
divided by the physical action of a “ strong east wind.” I can conceive of 
no ordinary physical agency whereby a change of the earth’s temperature, so 
sudden and effective as that required to satisfy the conditions of the Deluge, 
could have been produced. 
For the reasons above alleged, I am unable to assent to the view taken by 
Mr. Galloway, that the internal heat which my theory postulates “ would be 
accounted for by a change of axis.’’ 
The facts stated in the passages which Mr. Gorman has quoted from a 
work on the Principles of Chemistry, published in 1721, are all in favour of 
the supposition that the earth’s crust, as resting on a liquid mass, is suscep- 
tible of various conditions of equilibrium. 
The remarks made by Mr. P. Y. Smith relative to my being charged with 
mixing up miraculous and physical causes, and taking universal expressions 
in Scripture in a comprehensive sense, agree so exactly with the views I 
entertain on these points, that I have no occasion to add anything to what 
he has said. 
The objection raised by Mr. Charlesworth having been met by the remarks 
of the Hon. Secretary, it only remains for me to take notice of the reference 
made by Dr. Coleman to the bearing of scientific arguments, relative to 
Scriptural statements, upon the “ Inspiration” of Scripture. On the 
supposition that Scripture is inspired, it is a necessary consequence that 
there can be no real inconsistency between the statements it contains and 
the ascertained truths of physical science ; that is, between God’s Word and 
knowledge of His works. It is legitimate, therefore, on that supposition, 
to bring the results of modern physical science to bear on the interpretation 
of the Scriptural accounts of natural facts, such as those in the Book of 
Genesis relating to the Creation and the Deluge. In proportion as the 
stated facts may in this way be reasonably explained, confirmation is given 
to the hypothesis of inspiration. Such have been the character and the 
object of the arguments contained in the present paper, and in another 
(“On the Metaphysics of Scripture”) which I have since communicated to 
this Society. In the latter, the question as to where natural ageucy ends 
and miraculous agency begins is particularly dwelt upon. 
