Page:Essays ethnological and linguistic.djvu/223

Rh the further development of creation of the fifth period. This, as suited to the yet incomplete condition of the earth, at first consisted only of fishes, and birds, and aquatic animals, the last often of great size, as fitted to range over the immense plains and marshes of the new-formed world, until, at a subsequent period, it became gradually fitted to receive creatures of a higher nature or organization, ending finally in the creation of man.

By analogy, then, from the leisurely course pursued with regard to the minutest works of nature under our constant observation, we might have concluded that the great works of creation had not been conducted on any different principle. Surely it is a thought derogatory to the Deity, that this wonderful creation should have been hurried into being as if it were only the work of men's hands, for mere mortal purposes. This consideration alone might have led the translators to reflect, that as large an interpretation ought to be given to the word in this passage as was found necessary to be given to it in any other part of the Scriptures; and if the mistake cannot be entirely rectified in the present day, some means at least should be adopted to obviate the consequences. If any inconveniences might be supposed to arise from an entire revision being ordered of our version of the Scriptures, some remedy might be found by the insertion in the margins of all future editions of the correct meaning of the original, in the many cases existing where misapprehensions must otherwise continue to prevail. It is certainly much to be lamented, that explanations on such, and so many points should be required; but the necessity is apparent when we find even men of great learning, in works of authority, succumbing to prejudices arising from this and other like misconceptions.

II. — ON THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE WORLD.

Another error which has taken a deep and apparently almost an ineradicable possession of the public mind, is that respecting the age of the world, or rather the period of time that has elapsed since the creation of man. Dr. Buckland, in the work already mentioned, refers to this period as of about 6000 years, in conformity with the common computation found in our version of the Scriptures, and adopted in almost every edition of them, so as to promulgate the error every day more widely. It would be an endless task to enumerate the authors who