REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
835 
to the first recorded day ! At this period, however, the earth was without form 
and void. The labor of creation was thus disposed-On the first day the dis¬ 
tinction between light and darkness was formed; on the second the waters which 
were under the firmament were divided from those which were above the 
firmament; on the third dry land appeared; vegetables, likewise, were created, 
with powers of reproduction ; on the fourth lights were established in the firma¬ 
ment to divide the day from the night, and to be 44 for signs and for seasons, and 
for days and years f on the fifth appeared birds, and marine animals ; and on 
the sixth land, animals and Man. 
Our readers now have, in juxtaposition, two accounts of the creation as opposite 
and as contradictory as can be well conceived. But we must here inquire, are 
you a geologist, or are you not ?—a puzzling question, truly, for those whose 
veneration for authority triumphs over their reason, but one for which the more 
plausible of even this class will not fail to find a ready reply, in the assertion 
that 44 day” in the Bible is a mistranslation for 44 age” or 44 period.” We fully 
believe that 44 day” is a correct version of the Hebrew word. But let us suppose, 
for the sake of argument, that we are mistaken. It appears, then, that so long as 
the mosaic records remained undisturbed by geological facts and inferences , they 
were not only considered unimpeachable in their correctness, but the hardy lover of 
truth who should venture to impugn their accuracy was denounced, with Christian 
zeal, as an Infidel—a name, as frequently applied, honourable in the extreme ; 
but no sooner are the facts produced, than this or some other equally mean 
subterfuge is conjured up to assist the decaying cause ! Thus, whether if be days 
or thousands of years, matters not; it must be found correct if published under 
authority. 
By the mosaic account, moreover, we are led to infer that matter, both organic 
and inorganic, was created by a direct fiat of the Almighty. Here again the 
Bible and Science are at issue, since the whole course of our researches in the 
latter study tends to point out that the world has ever been governed by 
fixed and immutable laws ; that the world 44 in the beginning” and the laws are 
of God’s ordainment, and that only thus far the Creator interferes with the 
progress of the earth and its countless inhabitants. We have related the manner 
in which, as geologists, we should explain the deposition of the earth’s crust. 
The creation of Man and other animals is far from being equally clear, and in 
fact Science has hitherto proved unable to grapple with the point. But neither, 
on the one hand, is this cause for dismay, nor, on the other, can it induce the 
rational geologist to adopt, even temporarily, a view alike opposed to facts and 
to reason. 
Lastly, prior to quitting this highly interesting question, let us briefly advert 
to a circumstance tending to cast doubt upon the accuracy of the first chapter 
of Genesis, and thereby supporting our argument. On the first day we are told 
2 y 2 
