MAN IGNORANT BUT INNOCENT. 39 and urge him onwards by calling attention to superior heights not yet attained. If we do not regard the Word in this light, we overlook much that is solemn and interesting in its objects: in such a case, its reality vanishes like a meteor, and its spirituality perishes like a dream. CHAPTER III ORIGINAL STATE OF MAN. THE SUCCESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF HIS MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. HIS DUTY AND PREROGATIVE AS AN IMAGE OF GOD. THE EXCELLENCY OF EVERY THING THAT WAS MADE. "The foundations of religion and virtue being laid in the mind and heart, the secret dispositions and genuine acts of which are invisible, and known only to a man's self; therefore, the powers and operations of the mind can only be expressed in figurative terms and external symbols.” -DR. JOHN CLARK. Folio Collection of Boyle's Lectures. Vol. III. p. 229. FROM the facts and principles which have been laid down, we are somewhat prepared to consider the evidence for regarding the early portions of Genesis as treating, first, of the original state of the most ancient people; next, of that progressive development by which they became spiritual, and at length celestial men, when they constituted the most ancient church; afterwards of their declining state and absolute fall; then of the religious condition of succeeding generations; and, finally, of the state of wickedness which prevailed among the posterity coeval with the flood, by which catastrophe the celestial dispensation perished. Viewed in this light, assisted by the corroborations of other parts of the Scriptures, and the facts of spiritual experience, we shall be enabled to recognize in those portions of the Word, a meaning beautifully consistent with themselves, and in perfect harmony with all the demands of a true mental philosophy; and, at the same time, disclosing principles whereby to answer every requirement which the most enlarged idea of revelation can suggest. THE BEGINNING. The narrative opens with this beautifully simple declaration, "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." The beginning certainly denotes the remotest time connected with the history of the human race; then was the period for commencing the operations subsequently described. But what phenomenon was about to be operated? We answer, that it was to be a con through which it had pleased the Lord to raise man into a state of spiritual excellence, and at the same time, regards this process as essential to the security of all the privileges, which the Sabbath not only represented, but which, as a selected portion of time, was to be employed as a means for upholding. The literal structure of the above reason, then, is in conformity with the literal structure of the first of Genesis, because they both relate to the same spiritual fact, and conduce to the internal rest, peace, and sanctity of man. The people, at the time of the Exodus, had long mistaken the outer sense of this latter document for its actual meaning; but the reason adverted to was not written to confirm them in that error; its true object was to recognize its spiritual design, and therefore, it is referred to in a similar style of expression, -a style which inspiration, considered as the utterance of those living sentiments, which were to have responses in perpetuated humanity, - preferred to adopt. These considerations show very satisfactorily, that the Mosaic description is not to be received as a circumstantial history of physical creation. The best minds have been compelled, by irresistible evidence, to abandon, as erroneous, the popular and longstanding view which has been cherished concerning it: and although great efforts have been made to sustain the idea of its cosmogonal character in some sense, yet it is evident, from the specimens of those efforts which have been adduced, that such senses are not those which Moses intended. But the giving up of such an interpretion of the narrative, by no means involves any impeachment of its Divine authenticity: that fact concerning it stands upon other grounds, and it is indicated, rather by the intellectual experiences of mankind, than by any agreement of its statements with mundane phenomena. But rational investigation, and the appliances of science, have not only disturbed the erroneous interpretations, which have so long weighed upon this portion of God's Word; they, also, bring considerations, which extensively affect the supposed historical character of several succeeding chapters. For instance, how difficult is it to conceive, that Eve was really made from a rib, taken from Adam, during a deep sleep, induced upon him for the purpose; that a tree could produce the knowledge of good and evil; that a serpent was capable of speech, and reasoned so successfully with the woman, as to induce her to violate the command of God! DIFFICULTIES OF THE LITERAL SENSE. 29 Moreover, in the fourth chapter, there is an indication of the existence of another race of men, besides those described as the descendants of Adam, and who are popularly regarded as the first progenitors of the human race. When Cain went forth from the face of the Lord, it is said that a mark was set upon him, lest any, finding him, should slay him. At that period, Cain was the only surviving descendant of Adam, who, with his mother, Eve, made only three, then in existence. Why then set a mark upon him, to prevent others from slaying him, if there were no other persons than his father and mother to perpetrate the deed? Surely, the circumstance of imposing a mark for such a purpose, plainly indicates, to historical criticism, the existence of another race besides that of Adam. There is, also, another fact, leading to the same conclusion, related in the same chapter. Cain is described to have possessed a wife; but there is no intimation of her origin: he also had a son, and built a city in the land of Nod; which circumstance plainly indicates, that a number of persons must have been there collected, that some of them must have been acquainted with the arts, and many of them industriously employed in erecting required habitations. Further on, it is related, that the sons of God, who are commonly understood to have been angels, or at least, beings of some superior nature, fell in love with the daughters of men, and thereby originated a progeny that was mighty and valiant. We are also informed, that the ordinary period of human life extended over several hundred years, and that the Lord repented that he had made man upon the earth. These, and many other statements which could be easily selected, forbid both science and criticism to approach them, if they are to be received as real and credible history. This, however, was not its purpose. The meaning of these relations will be discussed in their proper place; we can here only generally observe, that they, with all the other peculiarities recorded in the first eleven chapters of Genesis, were never intended to convey to mankind, any information respecting the natural world, or the earthly history of its inhabitants. We believe that their true intention was to describe the moral and spiritual states, which distinguished the people of primeval times; and that they are related in a historical form, because that was the method of speaking of such things, common to those early periods of civilized life. plicitly and reverentially received, whether we understand them or not; and that it is mere presumption for man, with his carnal mind and puny intellect, to attempt to comprehend those wonderful things which it has pleased God to deliver, rather for his faith than his knowledge! This may be a pious submission to divine authority, taking its rise in religious feeling, but it is certainly mistaken in its application. We have no doubt that such obedience is very becoming, provided it be accompanied with intelligence; but in the case before us, it wants the ingredient necessary to enlighten and give it value. Those who can satisfy themselves with such notions, are, therefore, beyond our reasonings. We can render them little service. They have faith for any thing — but that free and sensible inquiry into the legitimate meaning of God's Word, which we regard to be the duty and prerogative of man. The second mode, is that which asserts, that the Scriptures are "very simple in their structure;" and describes them as being for “simple minds,” “plain readers," "the common people,” “the unlearned," and so forth: thereby insinuating that those explanations are to be suspected which require labor, research, and intellectual culture for their discovery and comprehension. It is readily granted, that the Scriptures are so written, as to be serviceable even to the lowest states of human apprehension, but we do not believe that such a state apprehends the whole truth, contained in any one passage that may be presented to it.* There is just so much seen as the intellectual condition will admit of, and no more. The highest disclosures of divine wisdom, are not to be discerned by the lowest states of the human mind. The simple may receive the Word in simplicity, but the wise man understands it in wisdom, and the latter makes the nearest approaches to its true meaning. The apostle declared the rule when he said, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Cor. xiii. 11.) The word is rightly viewed when it is regarded, not only as capable of improving the heart, but also of enlightening the understanding: and therefore, its wisdom must be adapted to all the advancing conditions of the human mind. It is the wise and friendly character of revelation, not only to assist man in his intellectual elevation, but likewise to accompany him in his progress, "Of those who actually read the Scriptures, multitudes are very imperfectly able to understand most of what they read." - Timothy Dwight, LL. D. Sermon 152. MAN IGNORANT BUT INNOCENT. 39 and urge him onwards by calling attention to superior heights not yet attained. If we do not regard the Word in this light, we overlook much that is solemn and interesting in its objects: in such a case, its reality vanishes like a meteor, and its spirituality perishes like a dream. CHAPTER IIL ORIGINAL STATE OF MAN. -THE SUCCESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF HIS MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. HIS DUTY AND PREROGATIVE AS AN IMAGE OF GOD. THE EXCELLENCY OF EVERY THING THAT WAS MADE. "The foundations of religion and virtue being laid in the mind and heart, the secret dispositions and genuine acts of which are invisible, and known only to a man's self; therefore, the powers and operations of the mind can only be expressed in figurative terms and external symbols.” - DR. JOHN CLARK. Folio Collection of Boyle's Lectures. Vol. III. p. 229. FROM the facts and principles which have been laid down, we are somewhat prepared to consider the evidence for regarding the early portions of Genesis as treating, first, of the original state of the most ancient people; next, of that progressive development by which they became spiritual, and at length celestial men, when they constituted the most ancient church; afterwards of their declining state and absolute fall; then of the religious condition of succeeding generations; and, finally, of the state of wickedness which prevailed among the posterity coeval with the flood, by which catastrophe the celestial dispensation perished. Viewed in this light, assisted by the corroborations of other parts of the Scriptures, and the facts of spiritual experience, we shall be enabled to recognize in those portions of the Word, a meaning beautifully consistent with themselves, and in perfect harmony with all the demands of a true mental philosophy; and, at the same time, disclosing principles whereby to answer every requirement which the most enlarged idea of revelation can suggest. THE BEGINNING. The narrative opens with this beautifully simple declaration, "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." The beginning certainly denotes the, remotest time connected with the history of the human race; then was the period for commencing the operations subsequently described. But what phenomenon was about to be operated? We answer, that it was to be a con |