Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8 — John Shaqi
Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8Paxton, J. D. (John D.)
Religion
Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8
Paxton, J. D. (John D.)
Palestine -- Description and travel
The whole upper part of the Mount, from where we pitched our tents,
which was near the sandstone formation, is limestone with its
varieties. It lies horizontally, and is stratified with unusual
regularity. This can be seen with great distinctness on the west
side of the Mount, where the deep hollow, in which a branch of
the river Beyroot heads, terminates against the cone, and makes a
regular, steep, sloping descent of, I should think, from four to
six thousand feet. Near the top, on the west side, I saw a small
spot of fine white marble--much of the rock, indeed, approximates to
marble. High up, at the north-east corner, we found some limestone
breccia, and saw, also, in various places, much arragonite, which is
a peculiar and rare variety of crystallised limestone.
But what gave us most interest were the shells which we found at
many places as we ascended, and also on the top itself. We found
some very fine specimens of them--four or more varieties. I procured
several, nearly as large as a common conch shell; all of them were
petrified. At various places on the side, and also on the summit,
we saw rocks that appeared little else than a mass of shells. As
to when and how they got there, I have at present but little to
say. Of one thing, however, I am fully satisfied, that they do not
contradict the Mosaic account. It is possible that they may, with
other facts which are collecting, prove, finally, that in some
points we have put a wrong construction on the Mosaic account.
Thus it was when the newly received system of astronomy was first
brought forward. It was assailed with more zeal than knowledge, by a
certain class of religionists, who insisted that it was at variance
with the Bible, which said the sun rose and set; whereas, this new
system made the sun stand still and the earth turn round,--and not
only the anathemas of the church, but the fire and fagot were called
into requisition, to maintain the good old received opinion, that
the earth stood still for the quiet of man, and the sun, moon, and
stars, which had nothing else to do, went round and round to give
him light. It was, however, found out at last, that the truth in
astronomy was not at war with truth in revelation--that the earth
might turn round, and move at the same time in its orbit, without
infringing, in the least, against the truths of the Bible. Thus, I
doubt not, it will be found with the geological fossils, which are
now accumulating, and some of them are truly singular. They will be
found to coincide with revelation.
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