ven and earth, the sea, and all things that are therein.' 'Worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of

waters.' Thou hast made heaven and earth." 'Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power.'

Again, the figurative language employed in numerous instances, indicates the exist ence of similar ideas and associations in the minds of the different writers respecting the creation of the earth and the changes it has undergone. The prophet Jeremiah thus depicts the desolations and miseries which were to be visited upon the Jews for their wickedness. 'I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down, at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.' So Isaiah: "Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with

thunder and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me; for, as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so,' &c. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee.' And David: 'The channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuking of the Lord.' The earth shook and trembled, the foundations of heaven moved and shook.' 'All the foundations of the earth are out of course.'

Isaiah He who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it.' Micah: 'Behold, the Lord will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth, and

the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place." Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth.'

These and numerous other passages strongly imply that one or more extraordinary catastrophes or violent convulsions, by which great changes had been effected in the state of the earth, were familiar to the minds of the writers. And on a careful examination it will appear, that the statements and references throughout the sacred volume, whether literal or figurative, concerning the creation, the objects which it comprehended, the purpose of it, its era, the changes which have taken place, and those which are yet in prospect, are all harmonious and concurrent with the import of the Mosaic record as commonly understood.