BESTOWED IN THE LIKE SPIRIT THAT THEY ARE RECEIVED,

WITHOUT OSTENTATION ON THE ONE HAND,

OR COMPROMISE OF FEELING

ON THE OTHER.

PREFACE.

The Discourses now submitted to public notice form part of a series, which was preached in the year preceding last before the University of Dublin, in consequence of the appointment of their author to the office of Donnelan Lecturer. The period which has elapsed since their delivery has been one of constant professional and official avocation; a circumstance mentioned to account for the delay which has attended their

preparation for the

press. Their purport (as announced at the time of his nomination) is, to connect the Biblical Records of Creation, as closely as their language and arrangement admit, with Physical Science; and to estimate the degree of evidence which arises out of the comparison, of the inspiration of their Author,

The details into which they enter have at all times attracted much attention ; more

b