GOD AND CREATION. BY ROBERT REID HOWISON, AUTHOR OF A HISTORY OF VIRGINIA," AND OTHER WORKS. RICHMOND: 1883. y of I erott Col 1805 (1280) Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, By ROBERT R. HOWISON, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Printed by WHITTET & SHEPPERSON, Cor. 10th and Main Sts., Richmond, Va. PREFACE. Nt O serious fear is felt that any competent critic will impute to this work an intent to introduce innovation into the established and truthful thought of mankind. A belief that was held during a period of four thousand years by many of the best minds that have ever existed on earth cannot be justly accused of being an attempted innovation. Neither is any apprehension felt that sound and unprejudiced believers in Christianity, who will carefully read the work, will attribute to it any departure from the very highest standard of belief in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. To those whose consciences will permit them to condemn what they have never read, or do not understand, no appeal is made herein. They will not be the judges upon whose decision the fate of this work will depend. The teachings concerning the verities of being, and concerning the deep questions relating to God and man-Creator and creature—which are herein presented, are all founded on the dual basis of revealed truth from God and common sense in man. No system of belief can be honestly and savingly adopted by man which has not both of these foundations. What the teachings are which are herein upheld can, of course, be ascertained only by a careful reading and study of the work itself. It will suffice to say here, by way of preface and anticipation, that the system of belief set forth herein is not Zoroastrism, nor Manichæism, nor any form of belief in |
