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of the Scriptural Account of the Deluge to Physical Science/' 
would suffice for causing the dry land to appear. It is here, 
I think, we may see on what kind of foundation the science of 
Geology rests. We cannot predicate the primordial state of the 
earth ; but this being told us, the physical consequences are matters 
for logical inquiry and mathematical investigation. 
43. By the combined action of water and heat the surface of the 
dry land might be prepared for the reception of herbs and trees, 
which in Gen. i. 11, 12, are said to have been created on the same 
third day. Respecting this creation it suffices for my purpose to 
remark that the Scripture states that the herbs and trees were of 
different kinds, and that each kind was complete in itself, having 
seed in itself, and yielding seed. The seed is the primitive fact. 
The science of Botany , which has nothing to do with the origina- 
tion of seed, consists in ascertaining the laws of growth therefrom, 
and of the reproduction of herbs and trees. 
44. The creation of “the two great luminaries” and of “the 
stars also,” is referred to the fourth day. Speaking scientifically, 
we should say that they were already in existence, having been 
created at the same time as the earth. But here a principle 
discoverable in Scripture narrative is to be taken into account, the 
non-recognition of which has given rise to much error (as, for 
instance, in Dr. Colenso’s writings on the Pentateuch). The 
principle is, that an order of narration with respect to time is 
subordinated to an order governed by relation. The pervading 
purpose of the statements in Genesis i. is to indicate the successive 
steps by which the earth was made fit for the life, growth, and 
reproduction of plants and animals. Alternation of day and night 
and of seasons might not have been necessary for the life and 
growth of plants in remote geological times, and, in fact, would not 
"have existed, if, as might reasonably be assumed, the earth, by 
reason of a high degree of temperature, was then self-luminous. 
But, according to existing circumstances, alternations of day and 
night and seasons are required for the life and sustenance of animals 
and of man. Between the epoch of the first creation of plants 
and that of the creation of animals, the decrement of terrestrial 
temperature might have so modified the cloud-stratum as to give it 
the ever-varying and intermittent conditions which we witness at 
the present day, and allow the luminaries to be seen so as to rule 
days and nights, and months and years. According to the above- 
stated principle, their creation would be mentioned in connection 
w'ith that change. It is to be noticed that what began to be 
effected by the luminaries on the fourth day is chiefly dwelt upon, 
their creation being only incidentally mentioned. 
45. On the fifth day God commanded the waters to bring forth 
