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PART III.

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CHAPTER I.

CHAP. I.

It is now decided, upon a comparison of the PART III. two geologies with the philosophy of Bacon and Newton respecting the FIRST great object of our inquiry, viz. The MODE of First Formations; that philosophy and truth lie exclusively with the Mosaical. It remains for us, to institute a similar comparison with respect to the SECOND great object; viz. the MODE of the universal Changes, or Revolutions, which the mineral substances of the earth have since undergone.

But, a question here arises, with respect to the course by which this ulterior object ought to be pursued. In the former part of this disquisition, we began our investigation by examining the pretensions of the mineral geology; in order to bring it into a comparison with the Mosaical, and to try the validity of each by a common test. This object we have

CHAP. I.

PART III. accomplished, with respect to the first question; and the result has been, a clear demonstration of the validity of the latter, by the rule of that test, and the invalidity of the former. This issue of our examination, appears to render it reasonable, that we should now alter our course; and that, continuing to pursue the thread of the record thus far confirmed, we should apply our close attention to what it relates concerning an Universal Revolution, effected in the substance of this globe by the intervention of the same Power, who alone acted in the work of Creation; carefully examining, whether the evidences of revolution, which the earth reveals, correspond with the statements of the record, and are sufficiently accounted for by it; or, whether the mineral geology has discovered the evidence and the statements to be at variance, or has found evidences of revolution which are not reducible to those stated in the record; for, if they are so reducible, it will be equally contrary to philosophy and logic, to assume any others upon a ground of mere conjecture.

But, there is another reason why this course is to be preferred for this latter part of our inquiry, besides the superiority which the record has already acquired from the decision of the test, which is this: physical philosophy, for a long time past, had taken upon itself to deny

CHAP. I.

the truth of the Mosaical geology, and with PART III. much sarcasm, because it assigned a date of not more than about four thousand years ago for the period of a revolution, which was able to cause marine substances to be imbedded in all parts of this habitable earth; even in places the most remote from the sea, and in elevations very considerably above its level. But, the progress of physical research, during the last few years; conducted by naturalists of acute, sober, and honest minds; has at last terminated in so signal a concession to the testimony of the Mosaical record in this particular, that, added to the authority of Bacon's and Newton's philosophy, it renders that testimony paramount, as the rule by which all inquiries, concerning revolutions general to the globe, ought henceforth to be conducted. For, the mineral geology has been brought at length, by physical phænomena alone, to this conclusion; "that the soils of all the plains were de

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posited in the bosom of a tranquil water; that "their actual order is only to be dated from "the period of the retreat of that water; and "that the date of that period is not very an"cient1." Dolomieu, Saussure, De Luc, Cuvier,

1 D'AUBUISSON, i. 252.

CHAP. I.

PART III, and the most distinguished naturalists of the age, have coincided in this conclusion, to which they have been led by the evidence of various monuments, and natural chronometers, which the earth exhibits; and which remain perpetual vouchers for the veracity of the Mosaical chronology, with respect to the epocha of the revolution which the Mosaical history relates. Let us, therefore, prosecute the thread of that history, until it brings us to the relation of the Revolution in question.

CHAPTER II.

CHAP. II.

THE first act of Almighty God, after the work PART III. of Creation was completed; and when, by the formation of a female, he had provided for the perpetuation of the race of man, under the sacred bond of matrimonial union; was to prescribe a moral rule to those highly favoured beings, whom His goodness had called to a happy existence, and to whom He had granted the "DOMINION" over his earthly system, in subordination only to HIS OWN SUPREMACY. For that purpose, and in perpetual evidence of that subordination, He reserved and prohibited one, and only one object, out of the universal grant; the reservation and prohibition of which, though trivial in itself, was amply sufficient for the end designed, which was, to prove whether the moral being, thus bountifully endowed, acted with a due sense of his subjection; or whether he aimed to act in chief, and without respect to his divine Sovereign and Benefactor. That slight and solitary privation, was imposed upon the declared principle of divine judgment: "He who is faithful in that which is LEAST,

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