Show THE INFIDELS BOOK professor balmages Tal mages interesting lecture THE WORK OF CREATION AS RE CORDED IX GENESIS proof and logic unite science and theology on wednesday evening the finest lecture ever given in the theatre was eliat by professor jas E Tah nage of the B Y academy on the infidels boole on account of the inclemency of the weather but few were present those who were present however enjoyed a huge intellectual feast alie lecture was beautifully illustrated with nearly fifty stereopticon ster views and paintings which helped to impress the facts upon the minds of the hearers as they were adduced by alie lecturer the lecture occupied an hour and forty live minutes the lecturer aard there are few human records of antiquity in any way relating to the history and development of tho earth in its early stages not more than two centuries ago when a work entitled A theory of the earth appeared its author referred to liis labors as those of a pioneer and discoverer and yet doubtlessly alie various objects of creation bear in own structure the record of their formation and growth could we but read these finger marks of the great maker the pages upon which the history of creation is written are of more enduring material mats rial than man made paper or sheep skin parchment those books are alie rocks and stones of the earth and the volumes have been bound in lasting lava and time defying basalt the library shelves are the mountains and hills of our lobe and the canyon alcoves are teeming with ponderous tomes their pages profusely pictured and painted to more fully explain the deep and mighty text but we are told that the teachings of the rocks implant within alie students mind a disregard for the creators words and eliat it makes of him an infidel the claim made by a few that such study tends in anyway to atheism i e a disbelief in a god is scarcely worth a passing notice every sane mind would be led to a deeper reverence for the mighty maker of all by a contemplation of his ponderous von derous works yet many have supposed eliat the light of modern discovery and research lias effectually cast a shadow of inaccuracy and doubt upon the biblical account of creation and they are led in their minds to a condition of disbelief or infidelity toward the scriptures the chief discrepancy noted between the teachings of the bible and those of geology is iu regard to the time consumed in tha various processes the skeptic aada it is impossible that the events recorded in genesis i could have been brought about in the space of six days to this charge two potent answers be offered in the first place we are not sure that by the term day in that connection the space of twenty four hours is intended in that very chapter the word day is used with three or four distinct and diu erent meanings indefinite periods of time may be implied by that term but in the second place let us not establish ourselves as the judges of the powers of omnipotence true as far as alie operation of natural forces now in action upon the earth is concerned it would seem impossible that the achievements recorded in the opening chapter of the sacred volume could have been made in so short a time but in accepting such to be a fact wo assume the propriety of judging the past entirely and absolutely by tho present let us call a comparison to our aid in the days of the distaff and hand epin ning wheel many weeks would be required to weave a few yards ct cloth but now the fabric can be finished in a few hours A man unacquainted with any machinery but loom would never believe it possible that a single operator could fashion scores of yards per day and if the bible recorded such a fact eliat mans confidence in alie sacred pages would bo materially shaken science informs us that probably other worlds existed before the earth was formed in the beginning god created the heavens and the earth science declares alie primeval existence of all matter in a state of finely divided particles dirk and chaotic and the earth nas void science says that theae particles would ba attracted mutually forming denser bodies capable of reflecting und diffusing light rays and by their vary motion producing light avul sod said let there be light science teaches us that by the gradual cooling of the earth the gaseous matters surrounding it would enter into mechanical ch anical mixture and chemical combination forming air anil water and god said let there be a firmament on farther cooling volcanic disturb and convulsions would occur raising tho rocks above tho universal ocean as mountains and continents and god said let the dry land appear science informs us that after aliis alie lower forms of vegetation would appear such as algae lichens and fungi followed by certain plants bearing flowers and fruits like the fern and rush and conifers of today to day and god said let the earth bring forth grass the herb yielding seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit science declares eliat up to alie carboniferous boni ferous age of the earths history during which the plants referred to above flourished in rank luxuriance the earth was surrounded by heavy fogs and impenetrable vapors the interior libat of alie earth was such as to form an equable temperature over all alie earth without distinction of zones but that after that time alie air would be cleared the rays of alie sun would be felt upon the earth the moon would be seen and the seasons would bo established and god said let there be lights i ai the firmament of the heaven to U vide the day from the night and let them be for kigns fand for seasons and for days and years the disbeliever in the scriptures points to this fact with extreme satisfaction as totally disproving the words of moses that tho grass and herb and tree appeared before alie sun and moon but as already shown plants existed in that early day were of a kind to whose growth direct sunlight ie not essential science tells us that the animal life in the water and on land increased wonderfully after that time and god said let the waters bring forth abundantly scientific investigation has revealed in the later mesozoic time tracks and other evidences of bird life and fowl that mayfly above the earth science declares that monster sau riana and sea reptiles appeared in great numbers such as the plesiosaurus the ichthyosaurus the and many others and god created great whales JE normous land animals then upon the scene according to their remains found in the rocks there was the the ua the HyU and later the that monstrous beast whose average meal would be not less than eight or ten bushels tho mammoth whose ivory tusks weighed a quarter of a ton and many others and god made the beast of the earth after his tind science shows that the advent of cattle such as tha oxen and dear came later and cattle after their tind science indicates that the cereals and trees buch as yield bright flowena fl owera and edible fruits are of very late advent the lord planted a garden and out of the ground made the lord god to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food says that the highest greatest and latest created form is man and god created man in his own image finally as far as scientific researches has gone no fresh species of plants and animals have appeared since man and god ended the work had made we quo teas nearly as possible the words of the lecturer can we now doubt the agreement between the two records of creation the bible and the rocks they are the works of the same great author who is also the author of truth and cannot lie let the student refer the apparent discrepancies to his own inability to decipher correctly ithe words of those wondrous volumes the mosaic account is a beautiful song of admiration a soul stirring hymn a psalm of praise with creation as its theme it is by no means a scientific record of events and if such had been given man would scarcely comprehend it for he lacks comparison and analogy to aid his powers while tho great leader of the hosts was on kinais top sanctified by the thunders and encircling the high throne of deity by a holy he was quickened and could in a measure comprehend and nothing no less than tho holy influence of inspiration would enable us to understand the mighty stages through which the wonderous bt of the world how and when did man appear lie was introduced to earth created not evolved by his divine parent as soon as his habitation was fitted to receive him man the crowning piece of creation he differs from tho animals which preceded him in kind and not alone in degree the first records of man in the rocks are those of his works his weapons his ornaments his buildings his clothing and even hia work of art showing the exercise of divine reason within him true lie is clothed now in an animal body to suit his surroundings but the body is not the man let the earnett investigator take the lamp of inspired diligence and prayerful ardor in his hand and attempt to solve the great problems of creation by the application of the laws of revealed truth and he will succeed than too wil he learn how idle ia it to declare that man is but a trifle above the ape when the almighty has declared him to be but a little below the angels the lecture was listened to with the most wrape attention and a hearty applause was showered upon prof talmage ai ita close we sincerely hope and in doing so we utter the sentiments of many that the lecture will be repeated at some time when the circum are more propitious and the people are not so eager to squander khoii means in trash and frivolity |