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literality of the Scriptures, a circumstance which is not only important as 
regards the view we take of the Scriptures themselves as inspired works, but, 
in my opinion, it has a very strong bearing against those who would make out 
that the book of Genesis and the earlier books of the Old Testament are 
forgeries of a date as late as the Babylonian Captivity. (Hear, hear.) If 
this really were the case, I do not think we should find the extremely literal 
and remarkably graphic touches which have been noticed by Dr. Porter, and 
of which, indeed, I may say, the book of Genesis is full. I shall now be glad 
to hear any remarks from any present. 
Mr. D. Howard. — I think the paper we have just heard one of the 
very highest value, not merely from the extreme interest it awakens on import- 
ant matters of Biblical criticism, but also when regarded from a geological 
point of view. Here we have disproofs of the most absolute character of a 
mere uniformitarianism and proofs of convulsions of the vastest kind. Surely 
some stupendous convulsion has depressed the Yallev of the Jordan, which 
begins at the level of the sea, and sinks to the profound depths of the Dead 
Sea, which in itself is one of the most remarkable of the phenomena of the 
globe. Indeed, at each step of the Valley we have the most striking proofs 
of uniformitarianism, but not uniformitarianism in the sense in which it is 
often understood. We have the water-worn terraces which form the level of 
the Valley and the deep bed, dug out apparently after the alteration of the 
level, causing the increased rapidity of the river. A more remarkable study 
of the mode of the formation of valleys could not, I believe, be found ; but 
still more remarkable is the formation of the Dead Sea. There are few more 
interesting geological formations than the salt-beds, of which that at Stanfurth 
is perhaps the most perfect example. In the Dead Sea we have before our 
eyes the conditions under which such a salt-bed may form. A diminution in 
the supply of water from the Jordan would cause the almost saturated brine 
of the Dead Sea to deposit its salt in the same state as in the beds mentioned, 
but with this difference, that here, in the Jordan Valley, you have the 
extraordinary evidence of volcanic action which has been described in Dr. 
Porter’s paper. You do not usually find beds of salt associated with 
sulphur and bitumen, pointing as the latter do to the marvellous convul- 
sion which destroyed the Cities of the Plain. The problem is one which 
would take a great deal of time to work out, and more minute study 
than it has yet been feasible to give to it on the spot ; but there are 
few phenomena more interesting, from a geological point of view, than 
those presented by the Valley of the Jordan. It is extraordinary to 
find the notices of this Valley, as given in the Old Testament, so scientifi- 
cally accurate. ' Undoubtedly the Old Testament was not intended to teach 
science ; and it is a remarkable proof of the truthfulness of the eye- 
witnesses, that these little points of detail which are so compatible with 
scientific truth, are those which it is absolutely impossible that a forger should 
have put in. It is inconceivable that a forger, — I do not mean in the worst 
sense of the word, but some old scribe improving ancient documents, could 
