121 
situated in or near the constellation Taurus. A careful exami- 
nation of all the stars in that quarter of the heavens made him 
finally fix upon Alcyone, the central orb of the Pleiades, as being 
the object of his search.” 
24. Now, while I must frankly admit that this final conclusion 
is at present somewhat uncertain, yet I bring it before you as 
one of the latest and grandest deductions of astronomical science, 
and as one which identifies itself with a hitherto obscure and 
unexplained passage of Scripture, in a manner that is eminently 
striking. If you turn to Job xxxviii. 31, you will find the 
following words : — “ Const thou bind the siveet influences of 
Pleiades?”* What are these sweet influences? For about 
three or four thousand years this question has remained in 
Scripture without any intelligible meaning. It bas been sup- 
posed to have reference to some old belief in the influence of this 
constellation on the weather, or to certain old astrological beliefs 
of some sort. But now the ambiguity may be clearing ; and the 
calm, quiet power of these magnificent influences may be begin- 
ning to be really understood. If so, is it not marvellous to find 
how it has awaited the successive discoveries of our most gifted 
astronomers thus unintentionally to interpret it ? And is it not 
an evidence that while, beyond all contradiction, some parts of 
Divine revelation are unscientific in their phraseology, others 
are in the highest degree accurate and philosophical ? 
25. This brings me to my third point, — viz. : — • 
III. To TEST THE BEARING OF THESE VARIOUS FACTS UPON 
THE QUESTION OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION. 
26. If the preceding portions of my paper be correct, we have 
seen : — 
1st. That the language of the Bible is sometimes utterly in- 
different to the duty of expressing itself with exactness upon 
scientific themes. The question which every theologian has to 
determine is, why was this so ? It is sometimes argued that, if 
holy Scripture be a bona fide revelation from God, it must neces- 
sarily be as correct in its scientific phraseology as it is in its 
theological, because an Omniscient and Infallible Mind could 
never have allowed one word to go forth in His name which 
* In the Hebrew Chimah. That it denotes the Pleiades is agreed ; being 
the least doubtful of the determinations of the Septuagint. See article 
“Pleiades” in Smith’s “ Dictionary of the Bible.” 
