we should find vegetable substances lower than animal remains, whereas the reverse is true. Animals have been found lower than vegetables.

4. Another theory asserts that God formed these fossil remains, just as they are. But such an idea is contrary to all analogy, and if admitted, then farewell to the hope of learning any thing from the study of God's works. When we see a shell, we are confident that it once contained a living creature, and if we pick up a single bone we know that it belonged to some kind of animal, and so when a shell and a bone are exhumed five or six miles from beneath the earth's surface, we must conclude that they once belonged to living creatures.

A far better method of reconciling these facts with the account of the creation as given in the first of Genesis, is to admit that the popular comments put upon that account are incorrect. There is no clashing between geology and Moses, when Moses is rightly understood.

Several explanations of that account have been given of which we have no time to speak, but that which appears the most reasonable, and upon which the most intelligent Christians seem disposed to settle down is as follows

The first verse, it is supposed, gives an account of the original creation, in short, stating that it was in the beginning, without fixing the date of that beginning. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The second verse, it is believed, expresses the confused and chaotic state in which the world was found, after some dire convulsion, when God commenced its present arrange"For the earth had become empty and desolate,

ment.

and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

With the third verse, begins the work of the first day. "And God said let there be light." It is evident that the first day's work begins with the third verse, from the fact that this form of expression begins each day's work · At the opening of the second day's work, it is said: “And God said, let there be a firmament," &c. (6) At the third day, it is said: "And God said, let the waters under the heaven be gathered together," and so throughout, at the commencement of each day, this form of words is used.

But it may be asked, would such a construction ever have been put upon Moses' words, had it not been for geological discovery? To this, we reply, that such a view, in substance, was adopted by many, long before geology existed as a science; amongst whom were Augustine, Theodoret, Rosinmuler and Bishop Patrick. It is also said that astronomy shows that other world's are now undergoing similar changes to what our world must have undergone before the present Mosaic creation.

Thus taking this view of the language of the Bible, (and certainly it is a fair view,) there is nothing in geology that contradicts the record of Moses.

We will attempt to point out some things in which geology manifestly agrees with the Bible.

1. Geology accords with the Bible in the idea of one Almighty, wise, and benevolent God, who was before all, and who in infinite wisdom presides over all. God, who is from everlasting to everlasting,

Who but a

could have

created and presided over this wonderful planet on which we dwell!

2. Geology further accords with the Bible in strongly suggesting the immortality of the soul. Numerous races of animals have succeeded each other, each race superior to its predecessor. The reptile succeeds the fish, and the animal, superior to both, succeeds the reptile. There has been progress in the races of animals that have succeeded each other, though there has been none in the individuals or generation of a class. The race of monkeys are now no wiser than they were a thousand years ago, and there is but little variety in the sagacity of individuals belonging to this class. But when man came upon the stage, he possessed not only the most perfect animal powers, but the capacity of improvement with in himself. It was needful that races of animals that could not improve should perish, and give way to those of a higher order; but when we come to man that necessity does not exist, since he has within himself the desire and capacity for endless improvement. All that would prevent this capability, is the feebleness and the mortality of his animal nature. Unless, therefore, man's very nature and the nature of the whole past animal race be a lie, man may be permitted, in some other sphere, to act out his nature and gratify his desires, as effectually, as each past race of animals have fulfilled the object of their being. This cannot be, unless man be immortal, since he has a nature, evidently adapted to immortality.

3. Geology accords with the Bible in teaching the necessity of a Saviour. There is a principle of degradation and decay in the animal kingdom, as well as of progress. If a

higher class has succeeded a lower till we come to man, the same class, instead of progressing, have always declined. Some races of animals have become extinct, and others are fast approaching the same crisis. The fossil remains of animals of the elephant class were much larger than any elephants now existing on the earth, and so with about all other animals. There is abundant evidence that the human race left to itself, has a tendency to degradation and decay. After arriving to a state of manhood, nations pass on to the state of old age, and eventually die. Every thing human is perishable, and hence the necessity of some remedial agent, who can check this tendency to decay.

Such a one is Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Whoever attaches himself to him has eternal life, and his works will suffer no loss, but abide the fire.

4. Geology establishes the Bible doctrine of miracles. He who has studied this earth's crust, must, of necessity, admit that miracles have been wrought. The beginning of each race of animals must have been a miracle. The ordinary law of nature is for like to beget like, but a race of beings cannot begin to be, in accordance with any known and established law of nature; and hence each race must have begun in a miraculous interposition of God. In examining these remains of animals in the earth's crust, we do not find one race gradually developing into another—the fish becoming a reptile the reptile becoming a monkey, and the monkey becoming a man, but the bones of each race are as distinct from all others, at the commencement of their being, as they have been at any subsequent period. A miracle, therefore, must have been wrought in the creation

of the first pair of each species of the animal kingdom. Considering the numerous and strong efforts that have been made to reason down and sneer down the miracles of the Bible, this unequivocal and incontrovertable evidence which geology yields to their possibility is peculiarly valuable.*

5.

Geology agrees with the Bible in teaching that man was created lord of the world.

No other animal has been capable of thriving in all countries, of traversing land and sea, of subduing all other animals, and of contemplating, and understanding the plan of creation. When God had written the earth's history on its strata of stone, and had laid away granite, lime, metals, minerals and coal for his use, when the empire was all fitted up, man was introduced as the emperor, who should have dominion over animate and inanimate nature.

6. Geology also agrees with the Bible in teaching that the earth is the great volume from which man is to derive instruction. What can be more clear than that God designed that man should view in these petrified vegetables and animals, evidences of his Divine perfections? And does not the book of revelation cite us to the same volume ?—(Job 12:7, 12: 7, 8.) "But ask now the beasts and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee; or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?"

*Though this idea has been more than once expressed in the previous lectures, yet this appeared to be the appropriate place for its formal introduction.