Dr. [Samuel] Miller [1769-1850], professor of church history and theology at Princeton] defends a global deluge and champions a young earth in the book that earned him his literary reputation, which was one of his first and the largest it seems of his numerous publications, "A Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century. containing a sketch of the revolutions and improvements in Science, Arts, and Literature, during that period" (NY:1803, 2 vols). On pages 156-189 he reviews the geological literature of the century. Miller writes (1.184; 188-189):
"But although there has been, in modern times, as appears from the foregoing pages, a wonderful variety of fanciful productions, under the name of geological theories, we are by no means to imagine that little has been usefully done in this department of natural history. Amidst all the splendid rubbish with which it has been incumbered, some precious treasures have been brought to light. Amidst the speculations which have 'darkened counsel,' large additions have been made to our knowledge of this important subject. These may be summed up in the following particulars.Finally, the researches of modern geologists have given abundant confirmation to the sacred history, not only with respect to the general 'deluge,' but also with regard to the 'age' of the earth. Early in the century, and, indeed, until within a few years, several geological phenomena were considered, by superficial inquirers, as indicating that the creation of the globe we inhabit was an event much more remote than the sacred history represents it; and some theorists even went so far as to profess a belief that it existed from eternity. These opinions were kept in countenance only as long as geology was in its infancy. Every successive step which has been lately taken in the improvement of this science has served to show their fallacy. The investigations of the latest and most accurate philosophers have afforded proof little short of demonstration, that the earth, a least in its present form, cannot have existed longer than appears from the Mosaic account; the absolute falsehood of many positive assertions, and specious inferences, hostile to the scripture chronology, has been evinced; and thence has arisen a new presumptive argument in support of the authenticity of that Volume, which contains the most ancient, and the most precious of all records."
How quickly the tide changed in the 19th century.
Posted back in March, but worth its own place.
"But although there has been, in modern times, as appears from the foregoing pages, a wonderful variety of fanciful productions, under the name of geological theories, we are by no means to imagine that little has been usefully done in this department of natural history. Amidst all the splendid rubbish with which it has been incumbered, some precious treasures have been brought to light. Amidst the speculations which have 'darkened counsel,' large additions have been made to our knowledge of this important subject. These may be summed up in the following particulars.Finally, the researches of modern geologists have given abundant confirmation to the sacred history, not only with respect to the general 'deluge,' but also with regard to the 'age' of the earth. Early in the century, and, indeed, until within a few years, several geological phenomena were considered, by superficial inquirers, as indicating that the creation of the globe we inhabit was an event much more remote than the sacred history represents it; and some theorists even went so far as to profess a belief that it existed from eternity. These opinions were kept in countenance only as long as geology was in its infancy. Every successive step which has been lately taken in the improvement of this science has served to show their fallacy. The investigations of the latest and most accurate philosophers have afforded proof little short of demonstration, that the earth, a least in its present form, cannot have existed longer than appears from the Mosaic account; the absolute falsehood of many positive assertions, and specious inferences, hostile to the scripture chronology, has been evinced; and thence has arisen a new presumptive argument in support of the authenticity of that Volume, which contains the most ancient, and the most precious of all records."
How quickly the tide changed in the 19th century.
Posted back in March, but worth its own place.
