An elementary treatise on geology: determining fundamental points in that science, and containing an examination of some modern geological systems, and particularly of the Huttonian theory of the earth / By J.A. De Luc, F.R.S. Translated from the French manuscript, by the Rev. Henry De la Fite.

  • Luc, J. A. de (Jean André), 1727-1817.
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An elementary treatise on geology: determining fundamental points in that science, and containing an examination of some modern geological systems, and particularly of the Huttonian theory of the earth / By J.A. De Luc, F.R.S. Translated from the French manuscript, by the Rev. Henry De la Fite. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    By the Jews, the Christians, and the Mahometans, the book of Genesis presented the history of the earth; and of mankind ; and if the Pagans were not favoured with such direct means of information, the grand out- line of their mythologies bore so striking a ‘resem- blance to the Mosaic records, . that it was impossiblé _ not to acknowledge them to be, in common with the other nations, the descendants of Noah; a cirtum- stance which strongly confirmed the authority: of Genesis to those who were so fortunate as to possess that exact history of the origin of the human race, and of the principal events which have befallen it. 5. No essential information, therefore, upon this subject, was. wanting to men; nor indeed can it be conceived that such knowledge should have been withheld from them, if they be considered only as rational and. moral, creatures of a God infinitely wise and good; for such a Being eould not have suffered them to remain ignorant of his existence, and of the relations which they bore to Him. ‘This reflection alone enabled the Theist to repel the arguments of a few sceptics against the reality of a revelation. from God to man. | 6. But a complete change was made in this state of things by geology. All those, who have formed geological systems, have endeavoured to rest them upon facts, which relate to the history of the earth. This has called back the attention of men to that his- tory, as it is contained in Genesis, and consequentiy to that of the human race, with which it is connected; - BQ Tee