Parkinson, in his "Organic Remains," | striking is the fact, how wonderful the has argued with great strength and consideration, that amid the unnumclearness to prove, that coal is formed bered bones that have been discovered from vegetable matter in a state of in England, in France, in Europe, in bituminization. The vegetable matter the world, not a single human bone has must consequently be older than the been found in a fossil state. I repeat coal which is produced from it. But it: not a single trace, not a solitary coal is coeval with the most ancient vestige, of petrified human bones has fishes. It follows, that the first vege- ever been discovered.*-It was once table matter was anterior to the first imagined, that some bones which had fishes. Moreover, we are informed been brought from Gibraltar were huthat Werner himself ascertained that man; but the famous John Hunter coal is of still greater antiquity; that pronounced them to be the bones of it is even found along with the por- ruminating animals; and in this he phyry and greenstone, which are has been confirmed by Cuvier. Spalamong the primitive formations. Now, lanzani believed, that the bones which we have the most positive proof, that he brought from the island of Cerigo there were no living beings on our were human; but he was refuted by globe when the primitive rocks were Blumenbach, even before the time of formed. We may therefore consider Cuvier. This great, this unrivalled it as a fact indisputable, that vegeta- anatomist, has at length settled the bles were created before the produc- question. He has positively affirmed, tion of any living creatures. If we that no human bone in a fossil state gradually ascend from the lowest stra- has yet been discovered.-It may, tum, which contains any fossil remains, perhaps, be objected, that the quadruwe shall pass through a long succes- peds which Cuvier found in the gypsion of strata, which contain an infini- sum quarries round Paris were contude of shells both testaceous and fined to a small spot; and consecrustaceous, and some bones of the quently, that it is not so very extraor larger kinds of fish: but not a single dinary that no human relics should be bone of any land animal can be dis- found among them.-But this objeccerned among them. We have, there- tion will not apply to the alluvial beds. fore, the clearest evidence, that fishes Some of these alluvial formations, and existed in the sea at a period when the the animals which they contain, are earth was almost entirely covered with very widely extended. The fossil elewater, and land animals could not phants, for instance, have been found exist upon its surface. But when, in in almost every country, from one our journey upwards, we arrive at the extremity of Europe to the other; and newest of the flatz formations, we dis- they have been found even in America. cover the remains of terrestrial ani- We have therefore great reason to mals. When we ascend still higher, conclude, that land animals lived and reach the alluvial beds, we find upon the earth at a period when the the mineralized bones of land animals human race were not in existence. in greater quantities-But, oh! how means of proving that trees and other plants were produced before any animals began to exist. Still, however, it is apparent that coal, and consequently that vegetables, existed before the creation of the greater number of fishes; and that no animals whatever preceded them, excepting zoophytes and fishes of the testaceous kind. Now, the Hebrew terms, in which Moses describes the creation of fishes, plainly shew us, that he speaks of such fishes only as are loco-motive. But as zoophytes and testaceous fishes are not loco-motive, they must have commenced their existence at some other period. This is not my criticism, but the criticism of an ingenious writer in Tilloch's Philosophical Magazine. It should also be observed, that trees and other plants may, at an early period, have flourished upon some of Behold, then, the order of creation, the primitive rocks, although we have not the means of ascertaining their existence. * It is an opinion of the vulgar, that the fragment of a human skeleton, found at Guadaloupe, and now in the British Museum, is really petrified. But men of science speak a very different language: they tell us, that it is not a petrifaction, but only an incrustation. With regard to its antiquity, nothing can be pronounced; for the sandstone, in which it was imbedded, is capable of being converted in a few years from loose sand into solid stone. I must not omit to add, on the authority of Jameson, that Sir Humphrey Davy ascer tained that it still retains some of its animal matter, and all, or nearly all, its phosphate of lime. N with respect to this earth and to its inhabitants. You may read it in the book of nature as distinctly as in the page of Revelation. At first, the earth was covered by an accumulation of waters. At length, dry land appeared, and vegetation commenced. Afterwards, the series of animated beings arose: the aquatic tribes ;-the land animals; the human race. This we have received on the authority of Scripture. This we have long known to be the account of Moses. This we now know to be matter of fact.Hallelujah! But here it may be remarked, that Moses speaks of the birds as having been created together with, or at least immediately after, the fishes; and it may be asked, what is the decision of Geology herein?-I answer, that on this point the study of Geology has not yet afforded the smallest light. The fossil remains of birds are very rare.* It appears, that they first occur in those formations which contain the most ancient beasts. Now, these birds may have been formed at the same time as the beasts, or they may have been formed a little before; we cannot ascertain which. In this case, therefore, the study of Geology has neither confirmed nor weakened the authority of Moses. If, however, we may argue from analogy, it is reasonable to infer, that could we gain any positive knowledge on the subject, we should find a perfect correspondence between the assertion of Moses and the fact in question. Having shewn that in several important points, a correct study of nature corroborates the Scriptures, I approach to the most difficult part of the task which I have undertaken. I am aware, that although the system which I have laid down does generally harmonize with the Bible, it does yet appear in some respects to be at variance. I am aware that objections *Two reasons may be offered, to account for the non-appearance of the petrified remains of birds. Firstly; their bones are much more slight and perishable than the bones of quadrupeds. Secondly; they possess the means of escaping, at least for a time, the ravages of a violent inundation. I hail the present opportunity of answering a very ignorant, and of course a very selfsufficient writer, who endeavours to account for the absence, or at least the paucity, of may be started, both by the Christian and the Infidel. Several have passed through my own mind. Some are so obvious, that they must strike every person who is capable of thinking. I shall therefore set down all the objections which have presented themselves to my mind, if I can recollect them all, and I shall place them in the strongest light possible. To each of the objections I shall subjoin the best answer which I am able to give.If I be in error, may God pardon me, for Christ's sake: but if truth be on my side, may I be enabled to plead with power, and may my cause be gained! May it be imprest with the seal of God, and registered in the courts of Heaven! Objection I.-Moses tells us in the most plain and simple language, that the work of creation occupied six days. That these are common natural days is evident, not only from the tenor of the first chapter of Genesis, but also from the manner in which they are referred to and applied in the fourth commandment. But if the crust of the earth was really formed in the manner you have described, and if there were so many successive generations both of fishes and of beasts before the formation of man, it is evident that the term day must be understood figuratively. From both, or from either of these reasons, it is manifest that the work of creation must have occupied an immense portion of time. Answer. To the above charge I must plead guilty. Yes, it is evident from both, or from either of the abovementioned causes, that the creation must have comprised a period of many years, perhaps of many ages. The fact is too plain, too glaring. It is in vain to deny it. But let the hardened infidel suspend his judgment, before he condemn the Scripture account as unphilosophical; and let the sincere but bigoted Christian pause, before human relics. He intimates, that the immense masses of bone which we find entombed in solid rocks may well have been preserved; but that the bones of man being small and slender, have naturally perished. It is really strange, that such a reason should be proffered by a man who is not unacquainted with the works of Cuvier. He might have learnt from him, that the bones of animals have been preserved, which are as small as those of a rat ; yea, as small as those of a field mouse. he reject as false what men of science | ing of that very creation which he had know to be true. I entreat both the just told us occupied six days. In this one and the other to hear me patiently verse he actually employs the word and dispassionately.-In every part day to designate the whole period of of the Sacred Writings, figures and creation. I conceive, that this pasimages are admitted; but in the pro- sage alone is sufficient to silence all phetic writings, they are particularly cavillers: and for this we are indebted conspicuous. It is well known to to Mr. Parkinson. He has pointed it those who have studied these books, out at the end of the third volume of that in the prophetic language a day is his organic remains. There is another put for a year. You will reply, that circumstance which is highly deserving in the first chapter of Genesis there is of our notice: a day, with us, is meano such thing as prophecy. I grant sured by the revolution of the earth on it; but I now proceed to shew you, its axis, which is performed in about that in many parts of Scripture which twenty-four hours; and we judge of are not prophetical, the term day is the time by the position of the sun. employed with equal and even greater But on the third day, the day in which latitude. Christ once discoursing with vegetables were produced, the sun the Jews said, "Abraham saw my was not made. It therefore follows, day, and was glad." The word day that this third day at least could not here refers either to the whole period have been exactly and precisely what of his sojourning on earth, or to the we now understand by the phrase a time of his public ministry. If we day.-Can you require any thing even restrict it to the latter, we shall farther? be able to shew that Christ used the It will probably be insisted, that term day to denote three years and a although the word DAY may be taken half. In the sixth verse of the ninety- in the most unlimited sense, it is evififth Psalm we read, "In the day of dent from the fourth commandment temptation, in the wilderness." It is that in the present case it must be clear, both from the end of this verse taken literally.-It is there stated, and from the beginning of the eighth, "that we must do all the work which that the sacred poet is speaking of the we have to do in the six days of the forty years which the Israelites passed week, but that we must refrain and in the desart. Here, then, a day rest on the seventh."-I answer, that stands for forty years. The prophet the argument grounded on this passage Malachi calls the Christian dispensa- is certainly plausible; but it has one tion," the day." Now we know that fault, it proves too much. It is said, this day has already occupied the space that God employed six days in the of nearly two thousand years. Christ execution of his work, and rested on and the Apostles speak repeatedly of the seventh; and that we, on this the day of judgment. It is also called account, must execute our works in the last day, the day of the Lord, the the six days, and rest on the seventh. day of Christ, &c. No person who Now, if you insist that the days must thinks upon the subject can imagine, be the same in the one case as in the that the important, various, and com- other, I shall insist that the labour plicated business which is to be trans- and the rest must be of the same acted at that awful period, will really nature in the one case as in the other. be hurried over in a few short hours. I shall insist that the Deity, after I shall next notice that remarkable working constantly for six days, was passage wherein St. Peter declares, fatigued, and had need of rest.—You that one day is with the Lord as a see to what a degree of absurdity, I thousand years." It were easy to mul- might almost say of impiety, you have tiply quotations, for the purpose of driven me, by your obstinate perseshewing that no word in the whole verance, in maintaining that the term Scripture is used more variously and day must be taken literally. You will indefinitely than the word day: but I probably say, it is evident from the shall content myself with pointing out nature of things that the Deity could one more. In the fourth verse of the not really be fatigued, and therefore second chapter of Genesis, Moses him- could not rest literally. I answer, it self uses the word day with consider- is evident from the nature of things, able latitude. This passage is the more that this earth, constituted as it is, to the point, because Moses is speak-could not have been made in six days. I readily grant that God could, if he had pleased, have formed the earth with all its inhabitants in one day or in one hour. But the question is, not what God could have done, but what it appears he has done.-We know, that working and resting, with respect to God, are extremely different from what they are with respect to man. We might, therefore, reasonably conclude, even if we had no other ground to stand on, that six days, with regard to the Lord, are very different from six natural common days. who see you must think you ridicu MEMOIR OF WM. WILBERFORCE, ESQ. (With a Portrait.) THE name of this gentleman is so intimately connected with the abolition of the slave trade, that it cannot fail to cease to be a virtue. On the coast of Africa, and in the negro's hut in our West India possessions, it is well known; and the arduous contest in which he engaged, and from which he retired encircled with all the honours that justice, virtue, and triumphant victory could bestow, has given it dignity in every state of Europe, and throughout the civilized world. The laurels which he has acquired, are planted in a soil that never can be im freshness, when those of many kings and heroes shall lose their lustre ; and, in the eyes of posterity, they will be rendered imperishable from the pleasing circumstance, that they have not been stained with blood. But it may be objected, that it dero-command respect, until humanity shall gates from the greatness and power of the Almighty, to suppose that he spent some thousand years in bringing this globe to its present state.-My friend, this argument has the same fault as your last: it proves too much. Why did the work occupy six days? Could he not have effected it in six hours, or in six minutes, or in one minute? Nay, would he not have given a more stupendous proof of his omnipotence, if he had produced the whole in a single second?-My view of the sub-poverished; they will retain their ject differs widely from yours. When I think of the immense period which the creation occupied, I am led into the following reflections: May not this plan have been adopted, "That the thrones and dominions, the principalities and powers, might take the deeper interest in the destinies of that being for whom God was making so royal a preparation?" The cottage of a peasant may be built in a few weeks, but a palace fit for the reception of a monarch requires whole years to erect and to furnish. How dear must he have been to the common Father of the universe, how worthy of the respect and the regard of angels, for whom so much was done! What ideas must they have formed of the coming guest, of the unknown stranger, when so many ages were required to erect his palace, to lay out his parks, to adorn his gardens, and to furnish his abode with every thing that was beauteous, and every thing that was delightful! (To be continued.) REPROOF. A person was remonstrating with a friend, inclined too much to dandyism, on the absurdity of following such foppish fashions. "They are really contemptible, (said he,) and I am sure all This celebrated statesman, who is a native of Hull in Yorkshire, was born in the year 1759. His grandfather, William Wilberforce, Esq. was twice mayor of Hull, first in the year 1722, and again in the year 1740. As a magistrate, this gentleman continued to fill his public station until the year 1771, when, finding the infirmities of age warning him of his mortality, he resigned his gown, and retired from public business, after a long and faithful discharge of his duties as an alder man. The father of the present Mr. Wilberforce dying when he was young, deprived him of those advantages which the inexperience of youth has a right to expect from the observations of maturity, and which duty compels the father to impart to the son. Thus circumstanced, the care of his education, during his earlier years, devolved on his mother, whose prudence, ability, and affection, fully qualified her for the important undertaking. Her first care was to select for him a suitable preceptor, which she found in the person of the Rev. Mr. Pockington, to whose | tuition he was committed. On removing from him, he was placed in the grammar school of the Rev. Mr. Milner, where he finished his provincial education. From this seminary he removed to Cambridge, where he was entered at St. John's College in the year 1774. The only remarkable circumstance which occurs in his history while at the university, is, that it was here he first formed an acquaintance with the late celebrated Mr. Pitt, and with Dr. Isaac Milner. It happened in the course of events, that Mr. Wilberforce came of age, only a few weeks prior to the general election which took place in the year 1780, and to this coincidence of circumstances, he was probably indebted for his early introduction to the house of commons, of which he has ever since continued one of the most distinguished members. garded to his disadvantage, by those whose suffrages had sent him to the house. In the year 1784, he was again elected with Mr. Thornton; and shortly afterwards was signalized with the more distinguished honour of being chosen a representative for the county of York. Benevolent in his disposition, and sympathizing with those who suffered from the galling yoke of oppression, Mr. Wilberforce had long turned his attention to the unhappy state of the Africans. He had marked the manner in which myriads had been torn from their native homes; and had listened to the groans of slavery that had reached his ears across the Atlantic, and excited in his bosom the sigh of commiseration. Satisfied that the principles of eternal justice were continually violated in their servitude, and that the social ties, which bind man to man, were torn asunder by the manner in which their slavery was conducted, he determined to raise his voice in the British senate, in the behalf of outraged humanity. He was not ignorant of the arduous task which he had undertaken to advocate, nor of the formidable opposition which he was about to encounter. Interest, and long-established custom, he was fully satisfied, would unite their energies against his efforts; but having truth and compassion engaged in his favour, he determined to rely on the justice of his cause, and leave the issue of his exertions with God. It was soon after the meeting of Parliament in 1787, that Mr. Wilberforce, gave notice of his intention to submit to the house a measure respecting the Mr. Wilberforce having attained the age of twenty-one, made an entertainment for his friends, and invited many of the freemen of Hull to partake of the festivity. An ox was roasted whole, and several hogsheads of ale accompanied the repast. This act of generosity, giving him no small degree of celebrity for benevolence, in the estimation of popular opinion, strongly attached to his interest, many who had a voice in the choice of their future representative. In the mean while, as his character stood high with all ranks, he was stimulated to offer himself as a candidate at the ensuing election, and, in conjunction with Lord Robert Manners, he was almost unanimously elected as a member for Hull. Being young of years, and unwill-slave-trade. ing to risk his reputation on points which he had not fully investigated in all their bearings, connections, and consequences, he took no active part in the business of this session. He was not, however, inattentive to the affairs which came before the house; but making himself acquainted with passing events, and with the rules that were observed in the transaction of public concerns, he gradually prepared himself for that conspicuous station he Pleased with these intimations, the was destined afterwards to fill, when nation at large became interested in the liberation of Africa was in no small the decision of the important question degree to depend upon his talents, and about to be agitated; and petitions perseverance in the cause of humanity. were immediately presented from the His silence however, during this ses-Universities of Cambridge, Glasgow, sion, was neither unnoticed, nor re- and Aberdeen. The Quakers, ever This was the first intimation of the kind, that had ever been given respecting this unhappy and degraded race. He had not, however, been singular in turning his thoughts to this important subject; and it must have been to him no small source of consolation, to hear the celebrated Charles Fox immediately declare, that it had been his intention to bring this affair under the consideration of parliament. |
