three dialogues-第24章
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Matter； or ； 。
When you have proved these points； then （and not till then） may
you bring the authority of Moses into our dispute。
。 It is in vain to dispute about a point so clear。 I am
content to refer it to your own conscience。 Are you not satisfied
there is some peculiar repugnancy between the Mosaic account of
the creation and your notions？
。 If all possible sense which can be put on the first
chapter of Genesis may be conceived as consistently with my
principles as any other； then it has no peculiar repugnancy with
them。 But there is no sense you may not as well conceive；
believing as I do。 Since； besides spirits； all you conceive are
ideas； and the existence of these I do not deny。 Neither do you
pretend they exist without the mind。
。 Pray let me see any sense you can understand it in。
。 Why； I imagine that if I had been present at the
creation； I should have seen things produced into being that
is become perceptible in the order prescribed by the sacred
historian。 I ever before believed the Mosaic account of the
creation； and now find no alteration in my manner of believing
it。 When things are said to begin or end their existence； we
｛252｝ do not mean this with regard to God； but His creatures。 All
objects are eternally known by God； or； which is the same thing；
have an eternal existence in His mind： but when things； before
imperceptible to creatures； are； by a decree of God； perceptible
to them； then are they said to begin a relative existence； with
respect to created minds。 Upon reading therefore the Mosaic
account of the creation； I understand that the several parts of
the world became gradually perceivable to finite spirits； endowed
with proper faculties； so that； whoever such were present； they
were in truth perceived by them。 This is the literal obvious
sense suggested to me by the words of the Holy Scripture： in
which is included no mention； or no thought； either of
；
