93. Geology

Genesis 1:1‑2  •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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“An Inquirer,” Bury St. Edmunds. The subject of your note is of the deepest interest. We agree with you in thinking that God made heaven and earth in six days. Exodus 20:1111For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:11), is quite conclusive as to the time; and Hebrews 11:33Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3), as to the way. We have no objection, however, to the theory, that what is termed the geological period comes in between the first and second verses of Genesis 1. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This may have been millions of years back: and then, at verse 2, the inspired penman proceeds with the account of the six days’ work. Such is the theory; but we confess we have very little confidence in the conclusions of geologists. The facts of geology are intensely interesting; but the conclusions of geologists, and the systems based on these conclusions, are most uncertain, and wholly unworthy of confidence. One line of Holy Scripture is more precious to us than ten thousand volumes of geological speculation. Some of our most enlightened geologists are free to admit that “they are but on the threshold of the science; that the conclusions of the earth’s antiquity, and of the formation of strata, cannot be sustained; and that we must wait for further light and additional facts, before any conclusions can be drawn.”1