The Relation Between the Holy Scriptures and Some Parts of Geological Science

CONTENTS.

Object, design, utility, and importance of geological science. Requisites and
method of the study. Harmony of all science with the announcements of
Revelation. Truth. Evidence. The world. The SUPREME BEING. Accountable-
ness. Authority of Scripture. Necessity of ascertaining its genuine sense.
Danger of presumption. Citations from Christian Philosophers.

LECTURE II. Page 26.

DEUTERONOMY XXXIII. 13, 15, 16. Blessed of the Lord be his land; for

the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that

coucheth beneath, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains,

and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious

things of the earth and the fulness thereof.

Change in the material universe, constant, but according to law. A series
of Propositions, describing the most general facts relating to the crust of the
earth. Internal condition. Pyrogenous rocks. Stratified formations. Remains
of creatures which once had life. Their distinct periods, and areas. Separate
creations. Uniformity of sequence.

LECTURE III. Page 54.

ROMANS XI. 36. Of HIM, and through HIM, and to HIM, are all things:

to whom be glory for ever.

Recital of opinions which are by many assumed to be asserted or implied in
the Scriptures, but which are contrary to geological doctrines. I. The recent
creation of the world. II. A previous universal chaos over the earth. III. The
creation of the heavenly bodies after that of the carth. IV. The derivation of
all vegetables and animals from one centre of creation. V. That the inferior
animals were not subject to death till the fall of man.

GENESIS vi. 17. And behold I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon

the earth, to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life from under

heaven and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

Continuation of apparent discrepancies between geological doctrines and the
testimony of Scripture, as generally understood. VI. Concerning the deluge.
The reason for that judicial infliction, in the righteous government of God.
The testimony of history and tradition. Common ascription of geological
phænomena to the Deluge erroneous.

LECTURE V. Page 88.

2 PETER II. 5. God spared not the old world,―bringing the flood upon

the world of the ungodly.

Continuation. More accurate and discriminating inquiry. Investigation of
the masses of rolled stony fragments which have been attributed to the diluvial
action. Those masses found to be of different character and age. Effect of
the investigation upon the convictions of the most eminent geologists. Evidence
from phænomena in Auvergne and Languedoc. The quantity of water requisite
for a deluge geographically universal. The effect of such an addition to the
bulk of the earth. The reception of animals in the ark. Estimated number of
the animal creation. Other difficulties.

LECTURE VI.

PART I. Page 119.

1 THESSALONIANS v. 21. Prove all things: hold fast that which is

good.

Examinations of various methods which have been proposed for the removal
of the difficulties and alleged contradiction, between Geology and the Scriptures.
I. Denial of any difficulty, by shutting the eyes to the evidence of geological
facts, and representing the inquiry as impious.

PART II. Page 140.

II. Sacrificing the Mosaic records, as unintelligible, or as being the language

of mythic poetry. III. Regarding the Mosaic six days as designed to represent

indefinite periods. IV. Attributing stratification and other geological phæno-

mena to the interval between the Adamic creation and the Deluge, and the

action of the diluvial waters.

PART III. Page 156.

Examination continued of the Diluvial Theory.

PSALM XII. 6.

LECTURE VII.

PART I. Page 169.

The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried
in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

The certain and infallible truth of all that is taught in the Holy Scriptures,
when taken in its own genuine sense. Our duty to elicit that sense. Induction
and examination of the forms of language used in Scripture to convey to man
a knowledge of the nature and perfection of GOD. The gracious condescension
and benefit of this method, for the religious instruction of mankind. This
character of the scriptural style displayed in the descriptions of natural objects.
General rule of interpretation hence derived. Prejudices of former interpreters,
both Romanist and Protestant. Galileo. Milton. Superior advantages of the
Christian dispensation.

PART II. Page 192.

Application of the principle established, to the interpretation of the narrative
concerning the Creation. The independent position of the first sentence.
Astral creation. The subsequent description refers to a limited region of the
earth. The series of operations. The human creation. Death, before the fall
of man. -The same principle applied to the fact of the Deluge, which is
shown to have been universal as to the extent of the human population, but
not geographically universal.-Concluding vindication of the principle and its
applications, as irrefutable, and absolutely necessary for maintaining the honour
of the word of God.

LECTURE VIII. Page 224.

ECCLESIASTES XII. 13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole of

man.

Religion the perfection of our nature. The duty of scientific studies, espe-
cially in a course of education. Exhortations to personal efforts for improve-
ment. Peculiar claims of Botany and Geology. The proper accompaniments
of scientific pursuits. Advantage to the comforts of life. Moral uses. Re-
sponsibility to the just and holy GOD. Interest and urgency of these
considerations. The rational claims and attractions of religion.

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES.

A, referred to at pages 7 and 209.

DISSERTATION on the Laws of Organized Natures involving the Necessity

of Death; and on Geological Studies in general

B, referred to at page 11.

On the Evidence derived from Astronomy to the Extent and Antiquity of

B b, referred to at page 34.

On the Thickness of the Solid Crust of the Earth.