tarry worlds. And, since we have become familiarized
with their almost immeasurable distances from one another, we are
prepared to accept for their origin an immeasurably remote time. There
are stars so far off that their light, fast as it travels, has taken
thousands of years to reach us, and hence they must have been in
existence many thousands of years ago.

Geologists having unanimously agreed--for perhaps there is not a single
dissenting voice--that the chronology of the earth must be greatly
extended, attempts have been made to give precision to it. Some of
these have been based on astronomical, some on physical principles. Thus
calculations founded on the known changes of the eccentricity of the
earth's orbit, with a view of determining the lapse of time since the
beginning of the last glacial period, have given two hundred and
forty thousand years. Though the general postulate of the immensity of
geological times may be conceded, such calculations are on too uncertain
a theoretical basis to furnish incontestable results.

But, considering the whole subject from the present scientific
stand-point, it is very clear that the views presented by theological
writers, as derived from the Mosaic record, cannot be admitted. Attempts
have been repeatedly made to reconcile the revealed with the discovered
facts, but they have proved to be unsatisfactory. The Mosaic time is
too short, the order of creation incorrect, the divine interventions
too anthropomorphic; and, though the presentment of the subject is in
harmony with the ideas that men have entertained, when first their
minds were turned to the acquisition of natural knowledge, it is not in
accordance with their present conceptions of the insignificance of the
earth and the grandeur of the universe.

Among late geological discoveries is one of special interest; it is the
detection of human remains and human works in formations which, though
geologically recent, are historically very remote.

The fossil remains of men, with rude implements of rough or chipped
flint, of polished stone, of bone, of bronze, are found in Europe in
caves, in drifts, in peat-beds. They indicate a savage life, spent in
hunting and fishing. Recent researches give reason to believe that,
under low and base grades, the existence of man can be traced back into
the tertiary times. He was contemporary with the southern elephant,
the rhinoceros leptorhinus, the great hippopotamus, perhaps even