Chapter I

Three Theories Reviewed in the Light Of Scientific Facts.

In the study of Nature, aided only by natural phenomena, effect, suggesting cause, is everywhere apparent. These effects variously compounded point with accuracy only to secondary causes. First causes are hidden far behind all existing appearances.

Unaided nature leaves man to seek first causes only by hypotheses. As might be expected, on the same subject scientists widely differ in theory. Such reasoning must ever leave a large margin for opinion.

Notwithstanding the uncertainty of all such modes of reasoning, still that hypothesis must ever possess the greatest weight, that best accords with the largest number of existing facts. Reasoning _a priori_, from the providing care of nature’s God, as seen in stores of coal, oil, iron, copper, and various kinds of precious metals, we might reasonably conclude that he who created the intellectual as well as the religious nature in man would carefully provide for the full gratification of both. Knowing God’s nature, reason would suggest that what is wanting in nature must somewhere be supplied by special revelation of God.

The book of nature coupled with the Bible would be a necessity; not only for a complete worship, but for a full cosmology. We should expect the two volumes, when rightly rendered, to correspond. A noted atheistical lecturer upon cosmical changes stated in a series of lectures in Chico, Cal., that the “Bible theory of creation is decidedly watery. By the statements of this book, we should conclude that the center itself is one vast body of water, holding upon its bosom a crust of earth.” As a believer in the Plutonic theory, and having no reverence for the Bible, he added, “What fool does not know better?” What he gave as a “Bible Theory,” we will assume as a scientific hypothesis; and rest the proof of the same upon the facts in nature which scientists, in advocating the Plutonic theory, have given us.

It will be the object of this chapter to show that the more recently developed facts in geology point unmistakably to the Neptunian theory of Creation. This will be done by comparing the three theories, and each with lines of facts which have been well established. It will be necessary