Thus, from remains of the saurian reptiles being found at a greater depth than those of any other living creature, they have concluded that these must have lived long before other animals, man included, as they have seldom found his skeleton very deep. From this, and from Psalm xc. 4. 2 Peter iii. 8. Job x. 5. they conclude that each of the days of creation may have been a thousand years.

But this is suiting the Bible to theories, instead of founding theories on the Bible: for at the end of every day, it says, "And the evening and the morning were that day."

As man was born in the east, from whence they spread over the earth as from a centre, we should look for their remains in that quarter principally; since, although they might have dispersed to great distances, yet these parts would be much more thinly inhabited, so that a large tract of country might be explored without finding their residence.

It is probable that at the time of the deluge men fled to the highest mountains, where we ought to look for their remains; or rather, in the plains and vallies

tum of rich earth below them: forgetting that these could be formed of volcanic ashes, or the accumulation of sand and mud. (Dr. Ure.)

Dr. McCulloch, in 1831, conjectured, from the depth of the coalmines of Newcastle being 300 feet and more, and as a Scottish lake only shoals at the rate of six inches per century, that the age of the world is 600,000 years. And among others Dr. Buckland himself, in a former work, the Reliquiæ Diluvianæ,' stated that the gravel which covers a large portion of the northern hemisphere, including the various cave deposits, was a result and evidence of the Mosaic deluge. This, in page 95, of his 'Bridgewater Treatise,' he now refutes; thus showing, as Sharon Turner justly observes, how careful we should be in founding any theory, however strong the appearances may be, which is inconsistent with known and revealed truth. These theories are principally founded on the immense time they ascribe to the hardening of rocks, whereas numerous instances might be adduced of their rapid formation.

round these mountains, where they would be imbedded in the sedimentary strata. But many of them would have recourse to boats and other vessels, which being at length swamped would sink to the bottom of the ocean.

Animals, on the contrary, would have been more generally distributed, fleeing for their safety from each other and from man: these at the time of the deluge (not having the instinct of man) would retreat from the waters to the hills or even little hillocks, where being soon drowned, their remains may be discovered.

But it is not certain that all the present mountains existed from the foundation of the earth; for some may have been formed at the deluge, when "the fountains of the great deep were broken up;" see vii. 11. Nevertheless it is certain that there were mountains from the creation, for it says (vii. 19.) "and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered;" and in verse 20. " and the mountains were covered." Whilst therefore the first step is uncertain, the whole length of reasoning may be fallacious; but we may be assured, even though it should not appear confirmed, and notwithstanding the assertions of men, that the Mosaic account is true in its literal and simple signification. But human skeletons have been found, and even if only one had been discovered, that would be sufficient to upset such theories.'

1 Sharon Turner observes, that human remains have been discovered, though rarely. In Lower Austria, by Count Razamouski, mixed with animals now extinct. In France, in the department du Gard, at Poudre Jouvignarque, (Acad. de Sciences); also at Bize. In a grotto at Mount Griffon, near Palermo, they have been found with hippopotami, &c. They have also been seen at Geava (Canobio); in

St. Augustine and Theodoret supposed this verse to relate to the creation of matter and the elements, in a former time, into the state described in verse 2. Dr. Buckland and others again suppose, (and their opinions come nighest the Mosaic account,) that this verse signifies as though Moses had said :-This earth and heavens, which you see, were created by God in the following manner. In the beginning, on the first day, God created the earth in a state of chaos, “without form and void;" though perhaps more properly speaking, it was made perfect at first, but being a true sphere, and consequently covered with water, it was said, in verse 2, to be "without form;" for, in verse 9, it says, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." This speaks merely of their appearing, not of their being formed.

Dr. Buckland says, in the 18th page, that' vegetables and sea-animals are found at equal depths;' now vegetables were created on the third, and seaanimals on the fifth day, but how can we reconcile this when we are told that each day may have been a thousand years or so. Dr. B. affirms the existence of a former world and visible heavens, to be not inconsistent with the cosmogony of Moses, (page 29); and that the darkness described in verse 2, arose from the accumulation of dense vapours, which dispersed on the fourth day, but that light had existed before. Page 29, 30.

Verse 2. Even supposing that the earth may have

the mountains of Dalmatia (Donati and Germar); at Baden lake (M. Boue); near Krems, in Lower Austria (Count Breuner); at Kostriz, in Saxony (Sterberg); at Chili; at Dufort (M. Renaux); at Auvergne and Clermont (le Coq).

existed several years in a state of chaos before it was ultimately formed for the habitation of man; this verse positively contradicts the theories of those who imagine it to have been inhabited by animals now extinct unless we suppose a total destruction of the globe to have taken place. For it says, "the earth was without form and void."

But we may take vi. 7, 19. as a proof that the earth never had existed before, with these animals upon it. For when God was going to destroy man from off the earth, he would not suffer the beasts to remain. But when Noah found grace in his sight, then God ordered that one or seven pair of all animals, according to whether they were clean or unclean, should be preserved also.

Besides, of
Could not

As we may therefore consider it proved that the earth has never had a former existence, as the habitation of animals only, and as no remains of any intelligent beings have been discovered, it is also proved that the earth has never existed before. what advantage would it be if it had? God as easily create the world out of nothing, as out of a mass of chaos? And even then, there must have been a time when this was formed out of nothing.

Among the supposed primitive animals may be mentioned the trilobite, which had its eyes, like those of a butterfly, so constructed that it could see in any direction; but of what use would they have been, when it says, "and darkness was upon the face of

the deep."

Verses 3, 4, 5. This light (verse 3) is supposed to be a general brightness, which in verse 4 is described as collected into one place, though it may not have had

any determined form, and this was afterwards attached to the sun (see verse 16). Or these verses may be understood thus :-God caused light to proceed from him; and though God, being a Spirit, is everywhere at the same time, yet he might cause by his will, that the effect of his presence should be limited to one place-in the same manner that, although he is able to do all things in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, yet he divided his works of creation into six days; for, that he created all things as it were with his own hands, when he might have created them with a single 'BE,' is evident from chap. ii. 2, 3. Doubtless this was done thus in order that man might not so easily forget it, lest by being merely told that God created all things in a moment, they might (this passing their understanding) invent divers fables, and deliver them down to their descendants.

Thus, then, we may suppose "God to have moved upon the face of the 1world," (see verse 2), thereby causing light to appear and pass away successively, (during which solemn procession "all the sons of God shouted for joy," Job xxxviii. 7.), and to have done this until the fourth day, when he created the lights of the firmament, to "be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years."

Verse 5. The evening is described before the morning, because the Jewish day commenced in the evening. Levit. xxiii. 32.

Verse 6. The waters above the firmament refer to the vapours borne upon the atmosphere, to send rain

The word "waters," in verse 2. is there used for world, because the world being spherical, was entirely covered with water till the third day, when " the dry land appeared." See verse 9.