Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

ON THE MORALS OF CHRISTIANS.2G71367. " The first point rclatcH to the age of the -world. For while itLas been the usual interpretation of the Mosaic account that the worldwas brought into existence nearly at the same time with man and theother existing animals, geology throws back its creation to a period indefinitelybut immeasurably remote. The question is, not whether man hasexisted ou the globe longer than the common interpretation of (Jencsisrequires,—for liere geology and the Bible speak the same language,—butwhether the globe itself did not exist long before his creation ; that is,long before the six days^ work, so definitely described in the Mosaicaccount ? In other words, is not this a case in which the discoveries ofscience enable us more accurately to understand the Scriptures ?1368. ''The introduction of death into the world, and the specific characterof that death described in Scripture as the consequence of sin, arethe next points where geology touches the subject of religion. Here, too,the general interpretation of Scripture is at variance with the facts ofgeology, which distinctly testify to the occurrence of death among animalslong before the existence of man. Shall geology here, also, be permittedto modify our exposition of the Bible ?1369. " The subject of deluges, and especially that of Noah, will nextclaim our attention. For though it is now generally agreed that geologycannot detect traces of such a deluge as the Scriptures describe, yet uponsome other bearings of that subject it does cast light; and so remarkableis the history of opinions concerning the Noachian deluge, that it couldnot on that account alone be properly passed in silence.''Oar actions dependentj under Godj on organization, education, and theextent to which ive are tempted extraneously.1370. "Are not the hairs of your head all numbered ?—Which of you bytaking thought can add one cubit to his stature ?" Luke xii. 7, 25.1371. May it not be consistently inquired, who, without God's assistance,can make his passions less ardent ? his counteracting reason or conscientiousnessmore competent to restrain them ? Who, prior to his sublunaryexistence, had the option, whether he should be born a Jew, aGentile, or a Christian ;whether in the Boman, Grecian, Episcopalian, ordissenting churches; whether his progenitors should be Chinese, Hindoos,Europeans, negroes, or savages? Who has, through his own previouschoice, been brought up, on the one hand, by ignorant and vicious, or onthe other, by virtuous and well-educated, parents ? Can any soul be allegedto be responsible for entering the body of an infant begotten by idolaters,and thus subjected to the curse of the commandment ? Or can a soul bedeemed to have any merit because it came into the world as the progenyof parents orthodox in their own estimation, and happy in the belief thatwhile myriads are to suffer to eternity in another world, for errors or crimesarising from causes beyond their control, a few are to be made eternally