| THE ANTIQUITY OF THE EARTH CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO THE HISTORY OF GENESIS. | |
|---|---|
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| STATEMENT OF THE QUESTION AND EXPOSITION OF THE AUTHOR’S VIEW. | |
| The General Principles of Geological Theory accepted by the Author—These Principles plainly import the extreme Antiquity of the Earth—Illustration from the Coal, the Chalk, and the Boulder Clay—This Conclusion not at Variance with the Inspired History of the Creation—Chronology of the Bible—Genealogies of Genesis—Date of the Creation not fixed by Moses—Progress of Opinion on this Point—Cardinal Wiseman, Father Peronne, Father Pianciani—Doctor Buckland, Doctor Chalmers, Doctor Pye Smith, Hugh Miller—Author’s View explained—Charge of Rashness and Irreverence answered—Admonitions of Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas, | 280 |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| FIRST HYPOTHESIS;—AN INTERVAL OF INDEFINITE DURATION BETWEEN THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE FIRST MOSAIC DAY. | |
| The Heavens and the Earth were created before the First Mosaic Day—Objection from Exodus, xx. 9-11—Answer—Interpretation of the Author supported by the best Commentators—Confirmed by the Hebrew Text—The Early Fathers commonly held the Existence of created Matter prior to the Work of the Six Days—Saint Basil, Saint Chrysostom, Saint Ambrose, Venerable Bede—The most eminent Doctors in the Schools concurred in this Opinion—Peter Lombard, Hugh of Saint Victor, Saint Thomas—Also Commentators and Theologians—Perrerius, Petavius—Distinguished Names on the other side, A Lapide, Tostatus, Saint Augustine—The Opinion is at least not at Variance with the Voice of Tradition—This Period of created Existence may have been of indefinite Length—And the Earth may have been furnished then as now with countless Tribes of Plants and Animals—Objections to this Hypothesis proposed and explained, | 300 |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| SECOND HYPOTHESIS;—THE DAYS OF CREATION LONG PERIODS OF TIME. | |
| Diversity of Opinion among the Early Fathers regarding the Days of Creation—Saint Augustine, Philo JudÆus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Saint Athanasius, Saint Eucherius, Procopius—Albertus Magnus, Saint Thomas, Cardinal Cajetan—Inference from these Testimonies—First Argument in favor of the popular Interpretation; a Day, in the literal Sense, means a Period of Twenty-four Hours—Answer—This Word often used in Scripture for an indefinite Period—Examples from the Old and New Testament—Second Argument; the Days of Creation have an Evening and a Morning—Answer—Interpretation of Saint Augustine, Venerable Bede, and other Fathers of the Church—Third Argument; the Reason alleged for the Institution of the Sabbath Day—Answer—The Law of the Sabbath extended to every Seventh Year as well as to every Seventh Day—The Seventh Day of God’s Rest a long Period of indefinite Duration, | 318 |
| CHAPTER XXI. | |
| APPLICATION OF THE SECOND HYPOTHESIS TO THE MOSAIC HISTORY OF CREATION—CONCLUSION. | |
| Summary of the Argument—Striking Coincidence between the Order of Creation as set forth in the Narrative of Moses and in the Records of Geology—Comparison illustrated and developed—Scheme | 343 |
