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account, even from a neutral standpoint, the testimony of so ancient, and in 
every sense, so remarkable a document as the first chapter of the Book of 
Genesis : he would then, I judge, confer with all those who have 
examined that document, to see exactly what it does say. That is one of the 
first things involved in a strictly scientific investigation. He would have to 
get at the basis and groundwork of everything, and the discussion as to 
what the document is, whence it proceeds, how it was given, and what exactly 
it does state, enters not only into a theological, but into what I should 
call a “ strictly scientific ” view of the subject. I do not think that we 
have in Mr. Titcomb’s paper, able as it is, materials for this ; for I con- 
sider that he has not gone to the foundation of a “ strictly scientific ” 
view of the whole matter. Mr. Titcomb gives us, for instance, the 
view that Moses received all this account of creation in visions, and 
represented those visions to us. Now, we do not anywhere in Scripture 
(that I am aware of) learn this. We do not, in the first place, know 
that this information was first given to Moses. There are certain indi- 
cations in the style, and language, and manner of the Book of Genesis, 
as all those who have studied it very well know, which lead one to suppose 
that it might be the incorporation of the previous knowledge handed 
down from the very first beginning of the family of man, and in a certain 
line preserved, and then incorporated into the Book of Genesis. I have not 
the Scriptures with me, or I could easily point out that which probably is 
known to many here ; — “ These are the generations of the heavens and of the 
earth,” as co-related with “ these are the generations of Noah,” and “these 
are generations of the sons of Noah,” and so forth ; also in one place, “ this 
is the book of the generations of Adam.” Then, of course, it is a very old 
observation that the first chapter and two or three verses of the second 
chapter are called by some critics the “Elohim” document, while the next 
portion is called the “ Jehovah Elohim ” document. There must surely be 
allowed to be a very great difference of opinion upon a subject which we 
admit is one of great difficulty, and which will probably so remain ; for 
as yet the conclusions of science are fluctuating, and by no means 
certain. Our own views are undergoing changes, and, ten years hence, 
the subject may be looked upon in a very different light from what it 
is this evening. I have no doubt whatever in supposing that Mr. Titcomb 
is right in thinking that very extensive periods were occupied in the work of 
creation, but I desire that we should rather subordinate all these questions 
to that which I regard as the truly scientific way, of beginning at the begin- 
ning ; — if we cannot tell how the Revelation was communicated to Moses, to 
admit that fact, and to let the document speak for itself. It seems to me 
that the Scriptures, as the first of Genesis, come before us very much as 
nature comes before us. We are brought into this world, and find that it is 
a world full of difficulties.' If we have power to master those difficulties we 
attain good results, but no one can deeply think upon or contemplate the 
creation or nature, without seeing that it presents very great and in some 
cases insoluble difficulties. Any one who has studied the Scriptures will 
