[11] Another difficulty has been found in the statement of Genesis that "vegetation" was complete two days before animal life appeared, but the disagreement is more apparent than real. The geological record, it is true, shows many more animal than plant remains in the very ancient rocks. It was not until Devonian and Carboniferous times that the plants became very abundant, as far as the geological records go. Indeed, in the oldest rocks in which animal remains occur, no plant remains have been discovered. However, this is not to be {64} taken as proving that animals existed before plants, because low forms of the latter, having no hard parts, would be preserved with difficulty. Moreover, in some of the primitive forms, it is not easy to distinguish plants from animals. But, apart from the records in the rocks, both biologists and geologists believe that plants existed as early as animals, if not earlier, for the latter needed the former to live upon. An eminent geologist, Professor U. S. Grant, of Northwestern University, has expressed his opinion to the writer in these words: "It seems to me that, viewed in an abstract way, the Genesis statement of vegetation appearing before animal life is not far from correct." [12] The Book of Genesis, p. 25. [13] Natural Theology, Vol. I, pp. 229, 230. [14] History of the Old Covenant, Vol. I, p. cxxix. [15] The Testimony of the Rocks, Lecture IV. [16] Reconciliation of Science and Religion, pp. 356ff.; compare also Pre-Adamites, _passim_. [17] Origin of the World According to Revelation and Science, _passim_. [18] Bibliotheca Sacra, 1885, pp. 201ff. [19] The Conflict of Truth, pp. 162ff. [20] Kurtz, Miller, Dawson, Dana, and the rest. [21] Expositor, 1886, p. 38. [22] The writer wants it clearly understood that an "ideal," harmony, as described above, can be established. He is equally certain, however, that the harmony cannot be carried into details. [23] Psa. 19. 1, 2. [24] Expository Times, October, 1907, p. 20. [25] See above, Chapter I, p. 12. [26] Presbyterian Review, 1881, p. 239. [27] Marcus Dods, The Book of Genesis, pp. 4, 5. [28] Presbyterian Review, 1881, p. 239. [29] Expository Times, October, 1907, p. 20. {65} [30] Surely, there is not the slightest claim in Scripture that Moses or any other biblical writer received divine information concerning the beginnings of the universe; nor is there anything to support the assumption that the account of creation was supernaturally revealed to Adam, and that from him it was transmitted word for word through the families of the pious antediluvians, of Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., until it was finally received and committed to writing by Moses. [31] The Book of Genesis, p. 5. [32] H. E. Ryle, The Early Narratives of Genesis, pp. 5, 6. [33] Biblical Criticism and Modern Thought, p. 90. [34] Astronomy in the Old Testament, p. 1.