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touched the subject of my paper. Mr. Row’s comments have been somewhat 
severe as to the danger of such views as mine ; but all I can say is, that I 
have attempted simply to follow out the meaning of the Scriptures. The 
danger which Mr. Row spoke of, and Mr. Titcomb quite agreed with him, 
consists in attempting to interpret universal expressions too literally. Now 
I quite admit that such universal expressions as those gentlemen referred to 
are limited ; and I have admitted that over and over again. But what I 
contend is, that those expressions are not ahvays limited, and that the 
passages which I brought forward from Job, the Proverbs, and the Psalms, 
contain, just as the first chapter of Genesis contains, reasons, which I am sure 
cannot be set aside, for the literal meaning of the universal expressions which 
they contain. I am sure that all danger arising from that source may be com- 
pletely put aside. But another danger which Mr. Row seemed to fear was 
what he called the multiplication of miracles. I can scarcely add anything 
to what our chairman has said on this subject ; but if you admit the univer- 
sality of the Deluge — call it miracle or call it what you will, — the necessity for 
the reproduction of vegetable life is as manifest as anything can be. No plant 
or tree could have existed for several months under water. There must have 
been new life given to them, and to a vast number at all events of' the fishy 
tribe ; and what is there in going a step beyond that to admit that animal 
life might have been produced afresh ? I put this paper before you simply 
as what I have endeavoured to gather from Scripture ; and I must say that 
I have been for twenty years fully persuaded of this interpretation of the 
first and second chapters of Genesis. With regard to the passage from the 
104th Psalm, I am sure it is impossible to interpret that with reference to 
the Deluge, because it refers to the time when God formed the heavens and 
the earth. But I shall be very glad if my paper, when printed by the 
Institute, should be left open for further discussion. I expected that great 
fault would be found with it, but I am as persuaded of the universality of 
the Deluge as I am of any truth with which I am acquainted ; and I am 
sure that that will be admitted when all the confusion which geologists have 
been making will be brought into order by the scientific declarations of the 
Scripture. 
The meeting was then adjourned. 
