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OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

1. Though they may be few, compared with LECT. I. the general population of any country, yet, if Answered. we take the aggregate of persons possessed of the qualifications required, in an eminent degree, we shall find them to rise to a very high amount, in Europe and the European settlements throughout the earth. Here might be

mentioned a long line of illustrious names, both British and foreign, whom it would be a delight to honour; but I deny myself the pleasure of so doing, because, though the catalogue of those whose names instantly rise in an admiring and grateful memory would be very considerable, many of high and probably equal merit would be omitted, and thus no little injustice would be inflicted.*

2. It is no extravagance to affirm that the distinguished men to whom I allude, and who have given us the details of their travels and labours, are entitled personally to the fullest credit of their testimony upon the facts and scenery which they describe. Yet, if any person,

* I venture to adapt to this topic the words of Leclerc. "Whoever attempts this study should well understand what a task he undertakes, and by what laws he must be governed: or else he will be a most infelicitous critic [geologist ;] and, instead of reaping that high honour which men of real erudition [and science] have obtained from this art, he will become contemptible and ridiculous. I think I hear my reader asking me, Whether I myself look for any portion of this honour?- -I will only venture to say, that I do not PROFESS this arduous and hazardous study, though. I highly honour

LECT.I. moved, I doubt not, by honourable and even religious principles, should allow a painful suspicion still to lurk in his mind, let him consider that the individual veracity of persons of the finest talents and the greatest advantages of education, and whose integrity is unquestionable, is not our only guarantee; but that the number of explorers and observers is great, that they belong to different nations and parties, and are subject to be influenced by various interests and prepossessions, so that the correction of any involuntary mistake is sure and speedy; but, if superficial observation, or negligent statement, or designed misrepresentation, were to occur, the detection would be prompt and the penalty severe, in a public forfeiture of character and confidence. From some measure of knowledge and some care in observation, I feel myself bound in duty to profess my thorough persuasion, that the firmest reliance may be placed on the reports and descriptions for which we are indebted to the most distinguished geologists of our time.

those who do profess it, and have long read their writings with great pleasure, from which perhaps some tinge—may have adhered to me." From a larger quotation out of his Ars Critica, in Pye Smith's Scripture Testimony to the Messiah, vol. III. p. 25, third ed. Yet, if any should suspect me of being captivated by novelty and ensnared by a precipitate disposition, I take leave to say that these are not to me the studies of yesterday, and that I have professed and taught the leading sentiments of this volume, within my own circle of connexions, for at least five and thirty years.

AFFINITY OF KNOWLedge.

3. All the natural sciences ramify into each LECT. I. other, in so extensive a manner, that their points of contact shew themselves perpetually. This fact not only brings to view the necessity of the combination of these parts of knowledge, but it creates an ardent desire for practically effecting it; it opens numerous avenues into the domain of other sciences; it suggests methods of proceeding for making the desired acquirements; and, while we feel ourselves obliged to submit to the necessity of being but imperfectly acquainted with many parts of the field, we are preserved (if we maintain a becoming moral discipline) from the vanity and pedantry of halfknowledge, we are enabled to apprehend with accuracy what we do learn, and we gain safe positions from which, when the opportunity may occur, we can make further advances.

4. Any person of good mental faculties and liberal education, if he will take the pains of attention and some self-cultivation, may acquire an ability to draw satisfactory inferences from the facts recited and the reasonings propounded in the best geological works; or at least to exercise an unpresuming judgment whether the conclusions are sound which others have drawn.

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consequences

ing the neces

But it cannot be denied and ought not to be Injurious suppressed, that a different view of the whole of overlookmatter is taken by many estimable persons. The sity of those objects of geological investigation, especially in tions. the department of organic remains, are in the

qualifica

LECT.I highest degree attractive: casual allusions and fragments of information float plentifully in the atmosphere of social intercourse, so that none but the incurious can fail to hear something: and the periodical papers of the day have occasionally paragraphs of wonder, upon real or alleged geological discoveries; which frequently indeed turn out to be the echos of ignorance. Hence, the assumption is easily made, that the circuit of this kind of knowledge may be filled up by any young and ardent mind, with a small degree of trouble and a little easy reading; without laying in even a moderate share of the prerequisites. Above all, it is incumbent upon us to be aware, that a vague idea has obtained circulation, that certain geological doctrines are at variance with the Holy Scriptures. This notion works with pernicious effect. The semblance of discrepancy is indeed undeniable; but I profess my conviction that it is nothing but a semblance, and that, like many other difficulties on all important subjects which have tried the intellect of man, it vanishes before careful and sincere examination. The naked fact, however, the mere appearance, is eagerly laid hold of by some irreligious men, and is made an excuse for dismissing from their minds any serious regard to the LAW and GOSPEL of GOD, and any rational investigation of the Evidences of Revelation; for they are very willing to assume that Christianity is either a mass of obsolete prejudices, or a theory

UNJUST IMPUTATIONS.

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so labouring under heavy suspicion as to have LECT. I. but slender claims upon a philosopher's attention. In the opposite extreme, many excellent persons, devout and practical Christians, knowing that "the word of our God shall stand for ever," feel no desire to become acquainted with the real merits of the question; and sit down with a persuasion, that geological theories are visionary plausibilities, each having its day of fashion, then being exploded in favour of some other vagary, which in its turn gives way, and all falling under the description of false "philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, the rudiments of the world;-the oppositions of science falsely so called;-perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth,— reprobate concerning the faith." (Col. ii. 8;

1 Tim. vi. 5; 2 Tim. iii. 8.) *

* A clergyman whose piety and integrity, as manifested in his book, attract my sincere respect, notwithstanding egregious defects of candour and justice in his animadversions, has expressed the opinions of many other good men, in the following words. "J. P. S.- deprecates the idea of any person entering upon Geological questions, who does not possess considerable acquaintance with the principles of Chemistry, Electricity, Mineralogy, Zoology, Conchology, Comparative Anatomy, and even of the sublimest Mathematics.' It will be readily conceded that, to prosecute the study of Geology advantageously, some insight into most of the natural sciences is necessary. But, when this assertion is intended to deter men of good common sense from giving their opinion upon Geology in its connexion with the Scriptures, the position may be safely questioned. It would be just as reasonable to