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148 than that of the creation of the earth. Why, there are stars whose light has taken millions of years to reach this planet. They must, therefore, have been created millions of years before the earth.

Thus when the Scripture says that "the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them," as the result of six days work on the part of God; when, indeed, it allows six days for the creation of the earth, but only one for the myriad stars of heaven, it presents a problem which the undeniable deductions of science positively contradict. It is, certainly, an unpleasant predicament for the intelligent mind which fervently loves the Word of God, and yet cannot close its eyes to proven facts.

There is a way in which an attempt has been made to avoid the difficulty. It is said that the Hebrew word which is here translated day may mean not only a period of twenty-four hours, but also an indefinite cycle of time; and that therefore we have a perfect right to accept that usage of the term which will vindicate the consistency and justify the scientific accuracy of the Bible. That the original Hebrew term may under certain circumstances bear such a construction is, perhaps, true. But we are confronted with the fact that the Lord, in giving the ten commandments, expressly says that we are to keep each seventh day holy because that in six days He made the heavens and the earth and