The Project Gutenberg eBook ofGeology and RevelationThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Geology and RevelationAuthor: Gerald MolloyContributor: James Dwight DanaRelease date: September 4, 2016 [eBook #52973]Most recently updated: October 23, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Charlene Taylor, Wayne Hammond, Dr. Aya Katzfor the Hebrew transcription, and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file wasproduced from images generously made available by TheInternet Archive)*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEOLOGY AND REVELATION ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Geology and RevelationAuthor: Gerald MolloyContributor: James Dwight DanaRelease date: September 4, 2016 [eBook #52973]Most recently updated: October 23, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Charlene Taylor, Wayne Hammond, Dr. Aya Katzfor the Hebrew transcription, and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file wasproduced from images generously made available by TheInternet Archive)
Title: Geology and Revelation
Author: Gerald MolloyContributor: James Dwight Dana
Author: Gerald Molloy
Contributor: James Dwight Dana
Release date: September 4, 2016 [eBook #52973]Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Charlene Taylor, Wayne Hammond, Dr. Aya Katzfor the Hebrew transcription, and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file wasproduced from images generously made available by TheInternet Archive)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEOLOGY AND REVELATION ***
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Sicut Augustinus docet, in hujusmodi quæstionibus duo sunt observanda. Primo quidem ut Veritas Scripturæ inconcusse teneatur. Secundo, cum Scriptura Divina multipliciter exponi possit, quod nulli expositioni aliquis ita præcise inhæreat, ut si certa ratione constiterit hoc esse falsum quod aliquis sensum Scripturæ esse credebat, id nihilominus asserere præsumat; ne Scriptura ex hoc ab infidelibus derideatur, et ne eis via credendi præcludatur.
S. Thomas,De Opere Secundæ Diei; Summa, Pars 1, Quæst. 68, Art. 1.
As Augustine teacheth, there are two things to be observed in questions of this kind. First, that the truth of Scripture be inviolably maintained. Secondly, since Divine Scripture may be explained in many ways, that no one cling to any particular exposition with such pertinacity that, if what he supposed to be the teaching of Scripture should turn out to be plainly false, he would nevertheless presume to put it forward; lest thereby Sacred Scripture should be exposed to the derision of unbelievers, and the way of salvation should be closed to them.
Saint Thomas,On the Work of the Second Day.
Geology and Revelation:OR THEAncient History of the Earth,CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OFGEOLOGICAL FACTS AND REVEALED RELIGION.WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.BY THERev.GERALD MOLLOY, D. D.,PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ST. PATRICK, MAYNOOTH.WITH AN INTRODUCTIONTo the American edition; and a chapter onCosmogony, [by permission]from the Manual of Geology, by Prof.J. D. Dana.NEW YORK:G. P. PUTNAM & SONS,1870.
Stereotyped byLittle, Rennie & Co., 645 and 647 Broadway, N. Y.Press of The New York Printing Company, 81, 83, and 85 Centre St., N. Y.
To the Very ReverendCHARLES WILLIAM RUSSELL, D. D.PRESIDENT OF SAINT PATRICK’S COLLEGE, MAYNOOTH,This Volume is Inscribed,WITH EVERY SENTIMENT OF AFFECTION AND RESPECT.
T
Theprogress of modern Science has given rise to not a few objections against the truths of Revelation. And of these there is none which seems to have taken such a firm hold of the public mind in England, and, indeed, throughout Europe generally, as that which is derived from the interesting and startling discoveries of Geology. Accordingly, when I was engaged, some years ago, in explaining and defending the Evidences of Revealed Religion, I found myself brought face to face with Geological phenomena and Geological speculations.
It was plainly impossible to consider, in a candid and philosophical spirit, the argument with which I had to deal, so long as I remained ignorant of the evidence on which it was based. I resolved, therefore, to make myself familiar with the leading principles and the leading facts of Geology. And thus I was drawn insensibly into the study of this science; to which I have devoted, for some years, the greater part of my leisure hours.
Impressed with the conviction that no fact can be really at variance with Revealed Truth, I determined, in the first place, to ascertain the facts which have been brought to light by the researches of Geologists. The general principles, which might afterward appear to be clearly involved in these facts when duly classified and arranged, I was fully prepared to admit. And I hoped, in the end, to search out and discover the harmony which, I was satisfied, must exist between conclusions thus established and the Inspired Word of God.
While occupied in working out this problem for myself, it was suggested to me that others, who had not time or opportunityto pursue the same line of inquiry, would, perhaps, be glad to share in the fruits of my studies. In deference to this suggestion I consented, not without misgivings, to write a series of papers on Geology in its relations with Revealed Religion, which have appeared, from time to time, in theIrish Ecclesiastical Record. From the attention these papers attracted, crude and fragmentary as they were, it soon became evident that the question was not without interest for a large class of readers. And I have been led to believe that a more full and mature, but at the same time a popular, Treatise on the subject would be a welcome accession to ecclesiastical literature, and would supply a want that has long been felt. Such a Treatise I have proposed to myself in the present Volume.
In Geology I wish to disclaim at the outset, all pretension to original researches; which my opportunities did not permit, nor the scope of my Work demand. It was not my object to enlarge the bounds of Geological knowledge; but rather to ascertain what that knowledge is, and to set it before my readers in plain and simple words. For this purpose I have had recourse to the great masters of the science: and have endeavored to gather into a systematic form the phenomena upon which they are all agreed; to sketch in outline the general theory about which there is practically no dispute; and to draw out the line of reasoning by which, as it seems to me, this theory may be most effectively demonstrated.
Exact references are given to the original authorities on all questions of importance, and on many points even of minor detail: partly that I might not seem to claim as my own what belongs to others; partly that I might consult for the convenience of those who should wish to investigate more minutely what I have but lightly touched. And here it may be well to observe, with regard to the two classic works of Sir Charles Lyell, hisElementsand hisPrinciples, which have been reproduced so many times and in so many forms, that I have uniformly referred to the latest edition of each.
The Woodcuts which illustrate the Volume will, I venture to hope, help to convey a clear and distinct impression of many natural objects which can be represented but imperfectly in words. Some of the most striking and effective are taken from the admirable Manual of Geology brought out some years ago by the Reverend Doctor Haughton, of Trinity College, Dublin. My best thanks are due to the learned author for the kindness with which he placed his Woodblocks at my disposal. I have also to express my acknowledgments to Sir Charles Lyell, who has allowed me to reproduce some of the drawings that embellish his works; and to the eminent publishers, Messrs. Bell and Daldy of London, and Mr. Nimmo of Edinburgh, who have, with great courtesy, furnished me with electrotypes of several figures from the works of Doctor Mantell and Mr. Hugh Miller.
To my colleagues in Maynooth I am much indebted for their judicious suggestions and friendly assistance during the progress of the Work. In particular I desire to testify my obligations to our distinguished Professor of Scripture, the Reverend Doctor M’Carthy, for the unwearied kindness with which he has allowed me to draw at pleasure on his profound and extensive knowledge of the Sacred Text.
G. M.
Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth,December 1st, 1869.
Dr. Molloyhas, in the present work, made an important contribution to a department of scientific and theologic literature, which has already been enriched by the labors of several other Catholic Fathers, among whom must be mentionedCardinal Wiseman,1Father Perrone,2andFather Pianciani,3who, in Italy, maintain substantially, the same ground which, in England, has been sustained byDr. Chalmers,Dr. Buckland,Pye Smith, andHugh Miller, and we may now add with pleasure, byDr. Molloy. Names which, in the United States, find their counterparts inDr. Hitchcock,Prof. Silliman,Prof. A. Guyot,Dr. Thompson, andJ. D. Dana.
Reviewing the progress of opinion touching the relations of Science to Revealed Religion, it is noteworthy that while many Protestant theologians and writers on both sides of the Atlantic have, until a recent period, treated the discoveries of science, and especially of Geology, so far as they affect theological dogmas, in a manner, if not of contempt, at least of distrust or unfairness: on the contrary, the Romanist writers who have discussed these themes, have done so, generally, in a spirit of broad catholicity well calculated to command the respect it merits. They have shown no sensitiveness or timidity lest, perchance, their exegesis might be disturbed by candidly admitting the changes demanded by the discoveries of Science.
The author’s discussion of the principles of Geology evinces much familiarity both with the science and what is equally important, the necessities of the unscientific reader. He has presented, in the second part of his book, an interesting review, infused by copious quotations from the Christian Fathers, from the time of St. Augustine, showing that long before Geology had any existence as a science, and of course, when the discussions and doubts it has excited were unknown, the essential points respecting Time and the order of Creation had received careful attention from devout thinkers, and that the conclusions at which they arrived, on purely theological grounds, were, in most cases, much the same as those which the best writers of our time deduce from Geological evidence.
It is now thirty-five years since (1835)Cardinal, thenDr. Wiseman, delivered in Rome, before the English College, of which he was the head, his Lectures, already referred to, on the connection between Science and Religion, in the fifth and sixth of which he considers more particularly the Geological argument. The spirit of these lectures was a just rebuke to the narrow bigotry of such writers asMr. Croly,Fairholm, andGranville Penn, as well as certain American theologians, who, by means of arrogance and denunciation, sought to silence the voice of truth, as proclaimed in the language of discovery, announcing the nature and the extent of those changes in life and in physical development which are recorded in the Genesis of the Rocks, because they conceived these immutable truths must of necessity conflict with the Genesis of Moses; the real conflict being only with their narrow interpretations. With rare moral courageDr. Wisemangrappled with the great questions discussed so well in his lectures, at a time when there prevailed, with reference to such themes, a very wide-spread distrust, even among men of moderate opinions. In fact, the candor and courtesy displayed byDr. Wisemanin his lectures, presents an enviable contrast to the acrimony of many theologians, and worthy of all praise, and in harmony with the learning and good taste which characterize his writings.
Dr. Molloyis a worthy disciple of the same school, andwe are glad to find in him the same candor and liberality which it is certainly to be hoped he will receive at the hands of those who may differ from him. His geological arguments and illustrations are very naturally drawn, chiefly from British authorities. It is evident that the condition of opinion upon these matters among religious teachers and readers in Great Britain is less advanced than it is in this country or in continental Europe. Our author has obviously but little familiarity with the American literature of this subject. The similarity in some parts of his book both in thought and style with the writings on this subject of the lateProfessor Silliman, of Yale College, is quite noticeable. He has obviously not seen the writings ofDr. Hitchcock, ofGuyot, ofDana, and of other American writers. We have therefore by the kind permission of the author reproduced in this edition the chapter onCosmogonyfromProfessor Dana’sManual of Geology.4The views set forth, in a very condensed form, in this chapter, embrace also the ideas ofProfessor Arnold Guyot, of Princeton, as presented by him in his unpublished lecture upon the same subject.
American readers will remember also thatProfessor Danahas discussed this subject much more at length in a series of papers published in theBibliotheca Sacra,5in a review ofDr. Tayler Lewis’sSix Days of Creation.6It is greatly to be desired thatProfessor Danashould soon make a revised edition of his various writings upon this subject, a work which would be received with interest on both sides of the Atlantic.
We do not propose here to present the bibliography of this subject with any completeness, but we desire to mention, to those who have not seen it, a little volume of excellent spirit byDr. Jos. P. Thompson, of New York, entitledMan in Genesisand Geology,7which discusses chiefly the relations of man to creation, in seven lectures, the first of which is an “Outline of Creation in Genesis.” Even as we write another small volume on this subject comes to hand under the title ofChemical History of the Six Days of Creation,8byMr. John Phin, which also contains the substance of a series of lectures delivered by the author, who handles his theme in a spirit equally reverential and scientific, and well calculated to do good.
Those who desire to know the best exposition of this subject at the hands of a modern theologian will read the first part ofDr. Lange’sGenesis, or the First Book of Moses,9inDr. Tayler Lewis’stranslation, pp. 159-177. The candid and scholarly spirit of the learned authors of this work indicates a marked change in discussions of this nature when compared with similar literature of the last generation.
These few suggestions, chiefly on the American literature of this subject, are offered in the belief that some readers may be glad to know where to turn for similar discussions, whileDr. Molloywill certainly not misinterpret our kindly intentions in suggesting to him some contemporary sources of information to most of which he very probably had no means of access when his excellent work was prepared.
July, 1870.
GEOLOGY AND REVELATION.
Scope of the work explained—Geology looked on with suspicion by Christians—Hailed with triumph by Unbelievers—No contradiction possible between the works of Nature and the Word of God—Author not jealous of progress in Geological Discoveries—Points of contact between Geology and Revelation—The question stated—The answer—Division of the work.