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siah, and his followers. This Judæo-Mohammedan sect originated about the middle of the seventeenth century at Smyrna, and still exists, although its members are little known as such, but profess Mohammedanism or Judaism to cover their real opinions. Its literary basis is the esoteric Jewish system of doctrine called the Cabbala, the maturest fruit of which is the book of Zohar, dating from the close of the thirteenth century.

Abyssinia.-M. Rocher d'Hericourt, who has lately returned from a journey in Abyssinia, has brought with him about a score of MSS. in the Ethiopian language, all of vast antiquity and great literary value. They are folio in form, bound in red leather, with the Greek cross and strange ornaments on the covers. In some of them the writing runs straight across the page, in others it is in columns; in nearly all it is firm and bold in character. Some of the MSS. are on history, religion, and science; one of them is a complete and curious treatise on the mysteries of Eastern astrology; and one, which appears to have been written at the beginning of the eleventh century, contains a copy of the Bible, which differs in some respects from the ordinary version (?). To obtain these treasures, M. d'Hericourt passed a long time in Abyssinia, had to employ daring, cunning, persuasion, and force, to go through many extraordinary adventures, and endure many hardships and persecutions. He had, besides, obtained a mass of curious information on the religion (which it seems is half Jewish, half Christian), the manners, and the government of the singular people who inhabit Abyssinia; has ascertained all that could be learned in their country, of which so little is known (?); and has collected all the facts calculated to throw light on geology, mineralogy, botany, and other branches of science. He has also brought numerous specimens of a plant, the root of which reduced to powder is said to be a sovereign remedy for hydrophobia in men and animals.-Literary Gazette.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.

ENGLISH.

Anselm (Abp.)-The Life of Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury. Translated and abridged from the German of F. R. Hasse. By the Rev. William Turner. Post 8vo. pp. 260.

Baptism. The New Idea of Baptism. By Lord Congleton. 8vo. pp. 24.
Barham (Francis)-The Bible Revised: a carefully corrected Translation
from the Old and New Testaments. Part III. The Book of Micah. 24mo. pp. 28.
Bopp (F.)-A Comparative Grammar of the Sanscrit, Zend, Greek, Latin,
Lithuanian, Gothic, German, and Sclavonic Languages. By Prof. F. Bopp. Translated from
the German by Lieut. Eastwick. Part 3, 8vo. pp. 170.

Bosanquet (Rev. R. W.)-The Sacrament of Baptism; with Remarks on the
Ambiguity in the Modern Use of the word Regeneration. 8vo. pp. 60.
Candlish (Rev. Dr. R. S.)-Scripture Characters and Miscellanies.

pp. 582.

8vo.

Chesney (Lieut.-Col.)-The Expedition for the Survey of the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British Government in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837 preceded by Geographical and Historical Notices of the Regions situated between the Rivers Nile and Indus. In 4 vols. Vols. I. and II. royal 8vo. pp. 1621, 48 plates.

Cook (F. C.)—The Acts of the Apostles, with a Commentary, and Practical and Devotional Suggestions for Readers and Students of the English Bible. By the Rev. F. C. Cook. Post 8vo. pp. 336.

Dobbin (Rev. Dr. O. T.)—The Sabbath of Heaven: a Sermon. 8vo. pp. 29. Edwards (Rev. J.)—A Devotional Exposition of the Book of taining an Argument to each Psalm, a Paraphrase, Suggestive Remarks, &c.

Psalms; con8vo. pp. 342.

English

English (The) Reformation; containing a brief History of the Early British Church, the Arrival of St. Augustine, the Establishment of the Anglo-Saxon Church, and its gradual Corruption by Popery: also, a Short Sketch of the Reformation on the Continent of Europe. 12mo. pp. 118.

Exposition (An) of the Book of Revelation. 12mo. pp. 326.

Field (Rev. C.)-Scripture illustrated by interesting Facts, Incidents, and Anecdotes. By the Rev. C. Field. 18mo. pp. 160.

Frere (J. H.)-Notes, forming a brief, Interpretation of the Apocalypse.

8vo. pp. 172.

Grinfield (Rev. E. W.)-An Apology for the Septuagint; in which its Claims to Biblical and Canonical Authority are briefly stated and vindicated. 8vo. pp. 200. Grinfield (Rev. E. W.)-Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister: an Expostulatory Letter to the Right Rev. Dr. Wiseman, on the Interpolated Curse in the Vatican Septuagint, Deut. xxvii. 23. 8vo. pp. 20.

Hardy (R. S.)—Eastern Monachism. An Account of the Origin, Laws, Writings, Religious Ceremonies, &c. of the Order of Mendicants, founded by Gotama Budha. 8vo. pp. 460.

Heugh (Hugh, D.D.)-Life of, with a selection from his Discourses. By Hamilton M. Macgill. 2 vols. 8vo. (Edinburgh), pp. 1115.

How much longer are we to continue teaching nothing more than what was taught two or three centuries ago? By M. E. 8vo. pp. 42.

Kitto (Dr. John)-Moses and the Judges: forming the Second Volume of "Daily Bible Illustrations:" being Original Readings for a Year on subjects from Sacred History, Biography, Geography, Antiquities, and Theology. 12mo. pp. 522.

Macbrair (Rev. R. M.)-The Happy Church. By the Rev. R. M. Macbrair.

18mo. pp. 126.

Mackay (R. W.)--The Progress of the Intellect as exemplified in the Religious Development of the Greeks and Hebrews. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 1030.

M'Crie (T.)-Lectures on Christian Baptism. By Thos. M'Crie, D.D.

8vo. pp. 188.

Meek (Rev. J.)-Scripture Emblems; or, Gleanings in the Field of Sacred Imagery. 8vo. pp. 412.

Miley (Rev. J.)-The History of the Papal States, from their Origin to the Present Day. 3 vols. 8vo. pp. 1094.

12mo. pp. 356.

Sacred Hymns of the Brahmins;

Monro (Rev. E. A.)-Sacred Allegories.
Müller (Dr. M.)-Rig-veda-Sanhita, the
together with the Commentary of Sayanacharya. Vol. I. 4to. pp. 1020.
Neander's General Church History.

(Edinburgh), pp. 484.

By Joseph Torrey.

Vol. VI. 8vo.

Osgood (S.)-Studies in Christian Biography; or, Hours with Theologians and Reformers. 12mo. (New York), pp. 408.

Payne (G.)-Lectures on Christian Theology. By the late Rev. George

Payne. With a Memoir and Reminiscences. Vol. I. 8vo. pp. 546.

Read (Rev. M.)-The Hand of God in History; or, Divine Providence historically illustrated in the Extension and Establishment of Christianity. 12mo. pp. 416. Schleiermacher (F.)—Brief Outline of the Study of Theology. By the late

Dr. F. Schleiermacher. To which are prefixed, Reminiscences of Schleiermacher, by Dr. F. A. Lucke. Translated from the German by the Rev. W. Farrar. Post 8vo. pp. 236. Smyth (Rev. Dr. F.)-The Unity of the Human Races proved to be the Doctrine of Scripture, Reason, and Science; with a Review of the present Position and Theory of Professor Agassiz. 12mo. (New York), pp. 430.

Song (The) of Solomon compared with other parts of Scripture. 12mo. pp. 248.
Spencer (Rev. J. A.)-The East: Sketches of Travel in Egypt and the
Holy Land. By the Rev. J. A. Spencer, M.A. 8vo. pp. 518.

Spring (Gardiner)-The Mercy Seat: Thoughts suggested by the Lord's
Prayer. With Illustrations of the Nature and Efficacy of Prayer. 12mo. pp. 312.
Thomson (Rev. James, D.D.)-Exposition of the Gospel according to St.
Luke, in a series of Lectures. Vol. II. 8vo. (Edinburgh) pp. 523.

Tomkins

Tomkins (S.)-The Influence of the Hebrew and Christian Revelations on Ancient Heathen Writers: an Essay which obtained the Hulsean Prize for 1849. 8vo. pp. 286. Trench (Rev. F.)-The Life and Character of St. John the Evangelist.

8vo. pp. 258.

Vaux (W. S. W.)-Nineveh and Persepolis: an Historical Sketch of Ancient Assyria and Persia, with an Account of the recent Researches in those countries. Post 8vo. pp. 446.

Venema (H.)—Translation of Hermann Venema's inedited Institutes of Theology. By the Rev. Alex. W. Brown. 8vo. (Edinburgh), pp. 536.

12mo. pp. 86.

Walker (Rev. S. A.)-Abraham's Bosom: the Parable of the Rich Man and
Lazarus, examined as a Revelation of the Future. 12mo. pp. 376.
Walker (George J.)-Essays and Tracts (Bath).
Whitwell (J.)-Apocalypse: Analysis of the Book of the Revelation of St.
John the Divine. With an Address to all Christians. By the Rev. J. Whitwell. 8vo. (Read-
ing), pp. 20.
Wilson (Rev. J.)-Memoir of his Life and Labours. By H. Hastings.
12mo. pp. 380.

Wyld (J. W.)-Brief Sketches from the Earliest to the Present Period, of the chief Religious Communities, Denominations, Sects, &c., founded on a full or partial acknowledgment of the Holy Bible. Square, pp. 334.

FOREIGN.

Bengel (J. A.)—Gnomon novi testamenti, in quo ex nativa verborum vi simplicitas, profunditas, concinnitas, salubritas sensuum coelestium indicatur. Editio II., per filium superstitem, E. Bengelium, quondam curata, tertio recusa adjuvante J. Steudel. 2 tomi, 8vo. (Tübingae.)

Chastel-Histoire de la Destruction du Paganisme dans l'Empire d'Orient. Ebrard (J. H. A.)-Wissenschaftl. Kritik der evangel. Gesch.: Ein Kompendium f. Geistliche u. Studirende. 2nd edit. 8vo. (Erlang.)

Meyer (H. A. W.)-Kritisch exeget. Handbuch üb. die Briefe an die Thessalonicher. 8vo. (Götting.)

Migne (L.) Démonstrations évangéliques de Tertullien, Origène, Eusèbe, S.-Augustin, etc. Vol. 18 et dernier, 8vo.

Ritter (C.)-Der Jordan u. die Beschiffung des Todten Meeres. 8vo. (Berlin), map.

Vendidad Sade-Die heiligen Schriften Zoroaster's Yaçna, Vispered u. Vendidad. Nach den lith. Ausg. v. Paris u. Bombay m. Index u. Glossar hrsg. v. H. Brockhaus. Royal 8vo. (Leipz.)

Wette (W. M. L. de)-Predigten. Vol. V. 8vo. (Basel.)

Zimmermann (C.)—Atlas v. Palaestina u. der Sinai-Halbinsel. Zu C. Ritter's Erdkunde 1:333333. Folio (Berlin), 15 coloured sheets.

THE

JOURNAL

OF

SACRED LITERATURE.

NO. XII.-OCT. 1850.

GENESIS AND GEOLOGY;

OR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE RECONCILIATION OF THE MODERN DOCTRINES OF GEOLOGY WITH THE

DECLARATIONS OF SCRIPTURE.

WHEN the conclusions of any inductive science appear to militate against the declarations of that volume which the Christian has been taught to consider as the inspired word of God, it becomes the duty of the candid inquirer after truth, not upon the one side, hastily to reject the deductions of science, nor upon the other, to fall into the more dangerous error of laying aside the doctrine of the

a The following pages are the result of the author's first application to the study of geology, and an attempt upon his part to supply, at least in some degree, what he himself felt to be a desideratum, to those who were anxious to find out in what degree some of the various hypotheses for reconciling geology with Scripture, could be borne out by the general tenor of the sacred writings. It suggested itself to his mind, that a mass of Scripture, bearing more or less directly upon this subject, lay yet, in some degree at least, unexplored-that many passages, not hitherto, as far as he was aware of, brought forward, might with respect to this be turned to account, and the credibility of the whole made stronger by a more minute sifting of the parts. The vast importance of the matter is the only apology which he, as a layman, can offer for intruding into a subject generally considered the peculiar province of the clerical profession. The, in some respects, unfavourable circumstances under which the ensuing pages were written, (chiefly at intervals during a foreign tour in pursuit of health,) must form at least a part of the excuse which he must offer, for the many imperfections, which he is well aware, must in all probability lurk in them. If, however, anything which he may have put forward, should be the means of directing some abler hand into the same track, of confirming the faith of a Christian, or removing a doubt from the mind of a sceptic, his end will have been fully answered. He must acknowledge his obligations to the Dean of Westminster's, Bridgewater Treatise for its chapter upon the Consistency of Geolo

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the Divine inspiration of the Scriptures, but to examine impartially whether the difference between the two be real, or only apparent, and whether the seeming discrepancies admit of a sound reconciliation.

Such is the state of the case between the modern science of geology, and the first chapter of the book of Genesis, for whilst the former has assigned an enormous antiquity to our earth, and shown upon apparently valid grounds, that for a lapse of countless ages it has been the habitation of successive tribes of animal, and vegetable, existences, the latter has appeared to many to define and limit both the age of our planet, and also the first dawn of organic life upon its surface, to a comparatively short period: whence a contest, detrimental to the interests both of science, and religion, has begun-the unbeliever, considering the facts of geology as all upon his side, whilst many well-meaning friends of revelation, but amongst the number of those who have not considered the subject in all its phases, have been of opinion that geological studies bring with them a tendency to scepticism.

It shall be my endeavour to investigate this apparent contradiction between geology and Scripture, and also, whether the doctrines of the modern school of geology are, or are not, incompatible with the declarations of the first chapter of the book of Genesis, taken in their grammatical signification, and agreeably to the analogy of Scripture, according to the use of the same terms in other parts of the sacred volume.

In order to the accomplishment of this intention, it seems necessary first, to state how far I think I can proceed with security, and secondly, what lies beyond my powers. With respect to the former, it appears to me that the credibility, according to the analogy of Scripture, of the following ten propositions, which I shall proceed to enumerate, may be safely maintained. With respect to the latter, I shall only state that in no case do I attempt demonstration, but confine myself exclusively to showing credibility. My propositions are as follows:

First, That the absolute age of our earth is not defined in the sacred volume.

gical Discoveries with Sacred History,' of a great part of which the author has availed himself; and to Dr. J. Pye Smith's Lectures On the Relation between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science,' for what he has said upon his third proposition. By the assistance of the latter able work, which the author first met with, after the substantial composition of the ensuing essay, he was enabled to supply some proofs of the credibility of a limited extent of the flood, in which his original had been deficient. The reader will do well to bear in mind, that the object of the author has been,-avoiding any synthesis based upon the assumption of the truth of both revelation, and geological deductions, to analyse the various positions supposed to be required by the latter, solely, according to the Scripture where it speaks, according to its analogy, where it is silent.

Secondly.

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