DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0147
TESTIMONY OF THE BIBLE.
131
that harmonize in dates; jet no one doubts the facts they
state.
In this case, as in the kindred one of geological science, it
'Would seem that the simple purpose for which the book was
Written has been overlooked. The Bible was never intended
to be a system of chronology, nor a treatise on geology. Its
chief purpose (we speak now of the Pentateuch, the part more
lr«mediately before us) was, first, to communicate the great
fruth of one only God, the Creator, thus giving a death-blow to
'dolatry; and secondly, to preserve the leading facts connected
With the origin and progress of a nation, designed by God to
Preserve, in the midst of error and corruption, certain religious
ttltths important to man to know. If matters connected with
Science be mentioned or alluded to, the occurrence is inciden-
tal
1 i and though what is said is true, it does not necessarily
ernbody all truth on that subject, nor profess so to do. These
rettiarks are not made as an apology for the Bible, in its sup-
ped disagreement with the discoveries of science: we say
opposed disagreement; for we are free to confess that there
llQt, in our view, one syllable in the Bible contradicted by
^ e discoveries of the geologist, however ancient he may make
e oldest strata; nor have we any belief in the assumption
a chronology derived (as it is pretended) from monumen-
1 Science in Egypt, proves the falsehood of the ancient and
n y authentic history of man, contained in our Bible.
"Ut may it not with truth be said, that the Bible has not
been tr
^ seated with fairness by those who would find, in the
to V, URleuts> lts refutation 1 By common consent they seem
ave rejected its aid, though it is the only written record in
ence professing to be contemporary with some of the
nts sculptured on the monuments: they have turned away
131
that harmonize in dates; jet no one doubts the facts they
state.
In this case, as in the kindred one of geological science, it
'Would seem that the simple purpose for which the book was
Written has been overlooked. The Bible was never intended
to be a system of chronology, nor a treatise on geology. Its
chief purpose (we speak now of the Pentateuch, the part more
lr«mediately before us) was, first, to communicate the great
fruth of one only God, the Creator, thus giving a death-blow to
'dolatry; and secondly, to preserve the leading facts connected
With the origin and progress of a nation, designed by God to
Preserve, in the midst of error and corruption, certain religious
ttltths important to man to know. If matters connected with
Science be mentioned or alluded to, the occurrence is inciden-
tal
1 i and though what is said is true, it does not necessarily
ernbody all truth on that subject, nor profess so to do. These
rettiarks are not made as an apology for the Bible, in its sup-
ped disagreement with the discoveries of science: we say
opposed disagreement; for we are free to confess that there
llQt, in our view, one syllable in the Bible contradicted by
^ e discoveries of the geologist, however ancient he may make
e oldest strata; nor have we any belief in the assumption
a chronology derived (as it is pretended) from monumen-
1 Science in Egypt, proves the falsehood of the ancient and
n y authentic history of man, contained in our Bible.
"Ut may it not with truth be said, that the Bible has not
been tr
^ seated with fairness by those who would find, in the
to V, URleuts> lts refutation 1 By common consent they seem
ave rejected its aid, though it is the only written record in
ence professing to be contemporary with some of the
nts sculptured on the monuments: they have turned away