Science and the Bible; or The mosaic creation and modern discoveries

Preface

WO great Volumes have been laid before man for his instruction, and from which his ideas and science all have been derived — the material Works, and the inspired Word of God. These being the productions of the same wise and unchangeable Author, the harmonysubsisting between them is universal and complete. Both have for their end the manifestation of the invisible Deity. While in the Bible we have a verbal revelation of the wisdom and power and goodness of God, in material Nature we have a pictorial revelation of the same, " the invisible things of Him being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead."

Though both these revelations date from a period far back in the past, yet each retains, after the lapse of all the ages, its original interest and freshness undiminished. The Bible, though the oldest of books, is confessedly ever new and delightful to those who have been taught to enter into its spirit. The expanded pages of Creation, likewise, present us with a study that is as marvellous and attractive now as it was six thousand years ago. We of to-day discover as much to admire in the " great deep," in " the precious things of the everlasting

4 PREFACE.

hills/' in the overspreading vegetation, and in the living tenants of the earth, as did Adam when he walked forth to survey the beauties of Eden while arrayed in the glitter of its earliest dews. Neither the wealth of meaning, nor the depth of interest, treasured up in these divine volumes, will ever be exhausted.

In the following pages the study of these two books is combined; and the main design of the Writer, while all along indicating their harmony, is to illustrate the inspired Record of Creation by the marvellous developments of modern science in the various departments of Nature — to bring before the Reader, from among the abounding materials of each Day's work, such objects and scenes and agencies as present striking displays of the omnipotence, wisdom and beneficence of the Creator, and convincing evidences of his universal presence and unremitting agency. Such a presentation of the phenomena of nature in elucidation of the sacred Word, it is believed, will be found by every reflecting person, not only deeply interesting as a study, but also in the highest degree calculated to expand the views, enlighten the judgment, and improve the heart. In thus devoutly studying the Word of God in connection with his wonderful works, we discover the conceptions and plans, the reasonings and purposes, of God ; and, to the extent of our capacity, His mind becomes our mind, and His science our science. The more we investigate what He hath done, the more shall we know of Him, and the more we shall admire what we know, and love what we admire.

In regard to the scientific illustrations offered, it may be proper to state, that the Author entered nearly every quarry

PREFACE. 5

within his reach that promised materials suitable to his purpose, and fashioning them after his own plan, inserted them in the edifice rearing under his hands. Anxious, however, to profit all classes of readers, he has, in general, abstained from the more abstruse refinements of science, and, as far as practicable, from the use of learned technicalities; he feels assured, however, that the work on this account will prove none the less interesting or profitable to those who may chance to be familiar with both. Great pains have been taken to obtain the latest and most accurate results of science in every

department of the subject.

H. W. M.

Rochester, N. Y.,

January, 1871.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

i. Adam and Eve in their Innocence, Frontispiece.

2. Genealogy of Plants and Animals, . . Page 38

3. Ideal Scene in the Carboniferous Period, . . 39

4. Ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus, 40

5. Reign of Quadrupeds, . . . . . 42

6. Chaos coming on, . . . . . . . 51

7. Temple of Jupiter Serapis, . . . . -59

8. The Waters divided from the Waters, . . .99

9. Thunder-storm, 127

10. Snow-flakes, 134

11. Theory of the Tides, 151

12. Crystal Forms, . 171

13. Forest of the Coal Period, 174

14. Fossil Vegetation found in Coal, . . . .176

15. Mount Ararat, 180

16. Tropical Forest, . .226

17. Comparative size of the Sun and Planets, . . 241

18. Spots and Facul^e of the Sun, .... 245

19. The Moon's Surface (two phases) . . . .257

20. Eclipses and Annual Path of the Moon, . . 266

21. Planets — Mars, Saturn, and Earth, . . . .272

22. Diagram of the Solar System, . . . . . 308

8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

23. Two Remarkable Comets, .

24. Samples of Nebulae, .

25. Star Clusters, or Telescopic Views

26. The Whale, ....

27. The Cuttle-fish,

28. Let Fowl multiply in the Earth,

29. Advancing Clouds of Locusts, .

30. Habitations of Termites or White

31. Domestic Animals,

32. The Tiger, of Nebula,

Ants,

325 346

477 492