第1章
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  Ourfabulistwarns\"thosewhoinquarrelsinterpose\"ofthefatewhichisprobablyinstoreforthem;and,inventuringtoplacemyselfbetweensopowerfulacontroversialistasMr。GladstoneandtheeminentdivinewhomheassaultswithsuchvigourinthelastnumberofthisReview,IamfullyawarethatIrungreatdangerofverifyingGay’sprediction。Moreover,itisquitepossiblethatmyzealinofferingaidtoacombatantsoextremelywellabletotakecareofhimselfasM。Revillemaybethoughttosavourofindiscretion。

  Twoconsiderations,however,haveledmetofacethedoublerisk。Theoneisthatthough,inmyjudgment,M。RevilleiswhollyintherightinthatpartofthecontroversytowhichI

  proposetorestrictmyobservations,neverthelesshe,asaforeigner,hasverylittlechanceofmakingthetruthprevailwithEnglishmenagainsttheauthorityandthedialecticskillofthegreatestmasterofpersuasiverhetoricamongEnglish—

  speakingmenofourtime。AstheQueen’sproctorintervenes,incertaincases,betweentwolitigantsintheinterestsofjustice,soitmaybepermittedmetointerposeasasortofuncommissionedscienceproctor。Mysecondexcuseformymeddlesomenessis,thatimportantquestionsofnaturalscience——

  respectingwhichneitherofthecombatantsprofessestospeakasanexpert——areinvolvedinthecontroversy;andIthinkitisdesirablethatthepublicshouldknowwhatitisthatnaturalsciencereallyhastosayonthesetopics,tothebestbeliefofonewhohasbeenadiligentstudentofnaturalscienceforthelastfortyyears。

  Theoriginal\"Prolegomenesdel’HistoiredesReligions\"hasnotcomeinmyway;butIhavereadthetranslationofM。Reville’swork,publishedinEnglandundertheauspicesofProfessorMaxMuller,withverygreatinterest。Itputsmorefairlyandclearlythananybookpreviouslyknowntome,theviewwhichamanofstrongreligiousfeelings,butatthesametimepossessingtheinformationandthereasoningpowerwhichenablehimtoestimatethestrengthofscientificmethodsofinquiryandtheweightofscientifictruth,maybeexpectedtotakeoftherelationbetweenscienceandreligion。

  Inthechapteron\"ThePrimitiveRevelation\"thescientificworthoftheaccountoftheCreationgiveninthebookofGenesisisestimatedintermswhichareasunquestionablyrespectfulas,inmyjudgment,theyarejust;and,attheendofthechapteron\"PrimitiveTradition,\"M。RevilleappraisesthevalueofpentateuchalanthropologyinawaywhichIshouldhavethoughtsureofenlistingtheassentofallcompetentjudges,evenifitwereextendedtothewholeofthecosmogonyandbiologyofGenesis:——

  As,however,theoriginaltraditionsofnationssprangupinanepochlessremotethanourownfromtheprimitivelife,itisindispensabletoconsultthem,tocomparethem,andtoassociatethemwithothersourcesofinformationwhichareavailable。

  Fromthispointofview,thetraditionsrecordedinGenesispossess,inadditiontotheirownpeculiarcharm,avalueofthehighestorder;butwecannotultimatelyseeinthemmorethanavenerablefragment,well—deservingattention,ofthegreatgenesisofmankind。

  Mr。Gladstoneisofadifferentmind。HedissentsfromM。Reville’sviewsrespectingtheproperestimationofthepentateuchaltraditions,nolessthanhedoesfromhisinterpretationofthoseHomericmythswhichhavebeentheobjectofhisownspecialstudy。Inthelattercase,Mr。GladstonetellsM。Revillethatheiswrongonhisownauthority,towhich,insuchamatter,allwillpayduerespect:intheformer,heaffirmshimselftobe\"whollydestituteofthatkindofknowledgewhichcarriesauthority,\"andhisrebukeisadministeredinthenameandbytheauthorityofnaturalscience。

  Anairofmagisterialgravityhangsaboutthefollowingpassage:——

  Butthequestionisnothereofaloftypoem,oraskilfullyconstructednarrative:itiswhethernaturalscience,inthepatientexerciseofitshighcallingtoexaminefacts,findsthattheworksofGodcryoutagainstwhatwehavefondlybelievedtobeHiswordandtellanothertale;orwhether,inthisnineteenthcenturyofChristianprogress,itsubstantiallyechoesbackthemajesticsound,which,beforeitexistedasapursuit,wentforthintoalllands。

  First,lookinglargelyatthelatterportionofthenarrative,whichdescribesthecreationoflivingorganisms,andwaivingdetails,onsomeofwhichasinv。24theSeptuagintseemstovaryfromtheHebrew,thereisagrandfourfolddivision,setforthinanorderlysuccessionoftimesasfollows:onthefifthday1。Thewater—population;

  2。Theair—population;

  and,onthesixthday,3。Theland—populationofanimals;

  4。Theland—populationconsummatedinman。

  Nowthissamefourfoldorderisunderstoodtohavebeensoaffirmedinourtimebynaturalscience,thatitmaybetakenasademonstratedconclusionandestablishedfact\"p。696。

  \"Understood?\"Bywhom?IcannotbringmyselftoimaginethatMr。

  Gladstonehasmadesosolemnandauthoritativeastatementonamatterofthisimportancewithoutdueinquiry——withoutbeingabletofoundhimselfuponrecognisedscientificauthority。ButIwishhehadthoughtfittonamethesourcefromwhencehehasderivedhisinformation,as,inthatcase,Icouldhavedealtwith[143]hisauthority,andIshouldhavetherebyescapedtheappearanceofmakinganattackonMr。Gladstonehimself,whichisineverywaydistastefultome。

  ForIcanmeetthestatementinthelastparagraphoftheabovecitationwithnothingbutadirectnegative。IfIknowanythingatallabouttheresultsattainedbythenaturalscienceofourtime,itis\"ademonstratedconclusionandestablishedfact\"

  thatthe\"fourfoldorder\"givenbyMr。Gladstoneisnotthatinwhichtheevidenceatourdisposaltendstoshowthatthewater,air,andland—populationsoftheglobehavemadetheirappearance。

  PerhapsImaybetoldthatMr。Gladstonedoesgivehisauthority——thathecitesCuvier,SirJohnHerschel,andDr。

  Whewellinsupportofhiscase。IfthathasbeenMr。Gladstone’sintentioninmentioningtheseeminentnames,Imayremarkthat,onthisparticularquestion,theonlyrelevantauthorityisthatofCuvier。ButgreatasCuvierwas,itistoberememberedthat,asMr。Gladstoneincidentallyremarks,hecannotnowbecalledarecentauthority。Infact,hehasbeendeadmorethanhalfacentury;andthepalaeontologyofourdayisrelatedtothatofhis,verymuchasthegeographyofthesixteenthcenturyisrelatedtothatofthefourteenth。Since1832,whenCuvierdied,notonlyanewworld,butnewworlds,ofancientlifehavebeendiscovered;andthosewhohavemostfaithfullycarriedontheworkofthechieffounderofpalaeontologyhavedonemosttoinvalidatetheessentiallynegativegroundsofhisspeculativeadherencetotradition。

  IfMr。Gladstone’slatestinformationonthesemattersisderivedfromthefamousdiscourseprefixedtothe\"OssemensFossiles,\"Icanunderstandthepositionhehastakenup;ifhehaseveropenedarespectablemodernmanualofpalaeontology,orgeology,Icannot。Forthefactswhichdemolishhiswholeargumentareofthecommonestnotoriety。Butbeforeproceedingtoconsidertheevidenceforthisassertionwemustbeclearaboutthemeaningofthephraseologyemployed。

  IapprehendthatwhenMr。Gladstoneusestheterm\"water—

  population\"hemeansthoseanimalswhichinGenesisi。21

  RevisedVersionarespokenofas\"thegreatseamonstersandeverylivingcreaturethatmoveth,whichthewatersbroughtforthabundantly,aftertheirkind。\"AndIpresumethatitwillbeagreedthatwhalesandporpoises,seafishes,andtheinnumerablehostsofmarineinvertebratedanimals,aremeantthereby。So\"air—population\"mustbetheequivalentof\"fowl\"inverse20,and\"everywingedfowlafteritskind,\"verse21。

  IsupposeImaytakeitforgrantedthatby\"fowl\"wehaveheretounderstandbirds——atanyrateprimarily。Secondarily,itmaybethatthebatsandtheextinctpterodactyles,whichwereflyingreptiles,comeunderthesamehead。Butwhetherallinsectsare\"creepingthings\"oftheland—population,orwhetherflyinginsectsaretobeincludedunderthedenominationof\"wingedfowl,\"isapointforthedecisionofHebrewexegetes。

  Lastly,IsupposeImayassumethat\"land—population\"signifies\"thecattle\"and\"thebeastsoftheearth,\"and\"everycreepingthingthatcreepethupontheearth,\"inverses25and26;

  presumablyitcomprehendsallkindsofterrestrialanimals,vertebrateandinvertebrate,exceptsuchasmaybecomprisedundertheheadofthe\"air—population。\"

  NowwhatIwanttomakeclearisthis:thatiftheterms\"water—

  population,\"\"air—population,\"and\"land—population\"areunderstoodinthesensesheredefined,naturalsciencehasnothingtosayinfavourofthepropositionthattheysucceededoneanotherintheordergivenbyMr。Gladstone;butthat,onthecontrary,alltheevidencewepossessgoestoprovethattheydidnot。Whenceitwillfollowthat,ifMr。GladstonehasinterpretedGenesisrightlyonwhichpointIammostanxioustobeunderstoodtooffernoopinion,thatinterpretationiswhollyirreconcilablewiththeconclusionsatpresentacceptedbytheinterpretersofnature——witheverythingthatcanbecalled\"ademonstratedconclusionandestablishedfact\"ofnaturalscience。AndbeitobservedthatIamnotheredealingwithaquestionofspeculation,butwithaquestionoffact。

  Eitherthegeologicalrecordissufficientlycompletetoaffordusameansofdeterminingtheorderinwhichanimalshavemadetheirappearanceontheglobeoritisnot。Ifitis,thedeterminationofthatorderislittlemorethanamerematterofobservation;ifitisnot,thennaturalscienceneitheraffirmsnorrefutesthe\"fourfoldorder,\"butissimplysilent。

  Theseriesofthefossiliferousdeposits,whichcontaintheremainsoftheanimalswhichhavelivedontheearthinpastagesofitshistory,andwhichcanaloneaffordtheevidencerequiredbynaturalscienceoftheorderofappearanceoftheirdifferentspecies,maybegroupedinthemannershownintheleft—handcolumnofthefollowingtable,theoldestbeingatthebottom:——

  FormationsFirstknownappearanceofQuaternary。

  Pliocene。

  Miocene。

  Eocene。Vertebrateair—populationBats。

  Cretaceous。

  Jurassic。Vertebrateair—populationBirdsandPterodactyles。

  Triassic。

  UpperPalaeozoic。

  MiddlePalaeozoic。Vertebrateland—populationAmphibia,Reptilia[?]。

  LowerPalaeozoic。

  Silurian。Vertebratewater—populationFishes。

  Invertebrateairandland—

  populationFlyingInsectsandScorpions。

  Cambrian。Invertebratewater—populationmuchearlier,ifEozoonisanimal。

  Intheright—handcolumnIhavenotedthegroupofstratainwhich,accordingtoourpresentinformation,theland,air,andwaterpopulationsrespectivelyappearforthefirsttime;andinconsequenceoftheambiguityaboutthemeaningof\"fowl,\"Ihaveseparatelyindicatedthefirstappearanceofbats,birds,flyingreptiles,andflyinginsects。

  Itwillbeobservedthat,if\"fowl\"meansonly\"bird,\"oratmostflyingvertebrate,thenthefirstcertainevidenceofthelatter,intheJurassicepoch,isposteriortothefirstappearanceoftrulyterrestrialAmphibia,andpossiblyoftruereptiles,intheCarboniferousepochMiddlePalaeozoicbyaprodigiousintervaloftime。

  Thewater—populationofvertebratedanimalsfirstappearsintheUpperSilurian。Therefore,ifwefoundourselvesonvertebratedanimalsandtake\"fowl\"tomeanbirdsonly,or,atmost,flyingvertebrates,naturalsciencesaysthattheorderofsuccessionwaswater,land,andair—population,andnot——asMr。

  Gladstone,foundinghimselfonGenesis,says——water,air,land—

  population。IfachroniclerofGreeceaffirmedthattheageofAlexanderprecededthatofPericlesandimmediatelysucceededthatoftheTrojanwar,Mr。Gladstonewouldhardlysaythatthisorderis\"understoodtohavebeensoaffirmedbyhistoricalsciencethatitmaybetakenasademonstratedconclusionandestablishedfact。\"Yetnaturalscience\"affirms\"his\"fourfoldorder\"toexactlythesameextent——neithermorenorless。

  Suppose,however,that\"fowl\"istobetakentoincludeflyinginsects。Inthatcase,thefirstappearanceofanair—populationmustbeshiftedbackforlongages,recentdiscoveryhavingshownthattheyoccurinrocksofSilurianage。Hencetheremightstillhavebeenhopeforthefourfoldorder,wereitnotthatthefatesunkindlydeterminedthatscorpions——\"creepingthingsthatcreepontheearth\"parexcellence——turnedupinSilurianstratanearlyatthesametime。Sothat,ifthewordintheoriginalHebrewtranslated\"fowl\"shouldreallyafterallmean\"cockroach\"——andIhavegreatfaithintheelasticityofthattongueinthehandsofBiblicalexegetes——theorderprimarilysuggestedbytheexistingevidence——

  2。Landandair—population;

  1。Water—population;

  andMr。Gladstone’sorder——

  3。Land—population;

  2。Air—population;

  1。Water—population;

  canbynomeansbemadetocoincide。Asamatteroffact,then,thestatementsoconfidentlyputforwardturnsouttobedevoidoffoundationandindirectcontradictionoftheevidenceatpresentatourdisposal。

  If,steppingbeyondthatwhichmaybelearnedfromthefactsofthesuccessiveappearanceoftheformsofanimallifeuponthesurfaceoftheglobe,insofarastheyareyetmadeknowntousbynaturalscience,weapplyourreasoningfacultiestothetaskoffindingoutwhatthoseobservedfactsmean,thepresentconclusionsoftheinterpretersofnatureappeartobenolessdirectlyinconflictwiththoseofthelatestinterpreterofGenesis。

  Mr。Gladstoneappearstoadmitthatthereissometruthinthedoctrineofevolution,andindeedplacesitunderveryhighpatronage。

  Icontendthatevolutioninitshighestformhasnotbeenathingheretoforeunknowntohistory,tophilosophy,ortotheology。IcontendthatitwasbeforethemindofSaintPaulwhenhetaughtthatinthefulnessoftimeGodsentforthHisSon,andofEusebiuswhenhewrotethe\"PreparationfortheGospel,\"andofAugustinewhenhecomposedthe\"CityofGod\"

  p。706。

  Hasanyoneeverdisputedthecontention,thussolemnlyenunciated,thatthedoctrineofevolutionwasnotinventedthedaybeforeyesterday?Hasanyoneeverdreamedofclaimingitasamoderninnovation?IsthereanyonesoignorantofthehistoryofphilosophyastobeunawarethatitisoneoftheformsinwhichspeculationembodieditselflongbeforethetimeeitheroftheBishopofHippooroftheApostletotheGentiles?IsMr。

  Gladstone,ofallpeopleintheworld,disposedtoignorethefoundersofGreekphilosophy,tosaynothingofIndiansagestowhomevolutionwasafamiliarnotionagesbeforePaulofTarsuswasborn?Butitisungratefultocavilateventhemostobliqueadmissionofthepossiblevalueofoneofthoseaffirmationsofnaturalsciencewhichreallymaybesaidtobe\"ademonstratedconclusionandestablishedfact。\"Inoteitwithpleasure,ifonlyforthepurposeofintroducingtheobservationthat,ifthereisanytruthwhateverinthedoctrineofevolutionasappliedtoanimals,Mr。Gladstone’sglossonGenesisinthefollowingpassageishardlyhappy:——

  GodcreatedaThewater—population;

  bTheair—population。

  AndtheyreceiveHisbenedictionv。20—23。

  6。Pursuingthisregularprogressionfromthelowertothehigher,fromthesimpletothecomplex,thetextnowgivesustheworkofthesixth\"day,\"whichsuppliestheland—population,airandwaterhavingbeenalreadysuppliedpp。695,696。

  TheglosstowhichIreferistheassumptionthatthe\"air—

  population\"formsatermintheorderofprogressionfromlowertohigher,fromsimpletocomplex——theplaceofwhichliesbetweenthewater—populationbelowandtheland—populationabove——andIspeakofitasa\"gloss,\"becausethepentateuchalwriterisnowiseresponsibleforit。

  Butitisnottruethattheair—population,asawhole,is\"lower\"orless\"complex\"thantheland—population。Onthecontrary,everybeginnerinthestudyofanimalmorphologyisawarethattheorganisationofabat,ofabird,orofapterodactylepresupposesthatofaterrestrialquadruped;andthatitisintelligibleonlyasanextrememodificationoftheorganisationofaterrestrialmammalorreptile。Inthesamewaywingedinsectsiftheyaretobecountedamongthe\"air—population\"presupposeinsectswhichwerewingless,and,therefore,as\"creepingthings,\"werepartoftheland—

  population。ThustheoryisasmuchopposedasobservationtotheadmissionthatnaturalscienceendorsesthesuccessionofanimallifewhichMr。GladstonefindsinGenesis。Onthecontrary,agoodmanyrepresentativesofnaturalsciencewouldbepreparedtosay,ontheoreticalgroundsalone,thatitisincrediblethatthe\"air—population\"shouldhaveappearedbeforethe\"land—population\"——andthat,ifthisassertionistobefoundinGenesis,itmerelydemonstratesthescientificworthlessnessofthestoryofwhichitformsapart。

  Indeed,wemaygofurther。Itisnotevenadmissibletosaythatthewater—population,asawhole,appearedbeforetheairandtheland—populations。AccordingtotheAuthorisedVersion,Genesisespeciallymentions,amongtheanimalscreatedonthefifthday,\"greatwhales,\"inplaceofwhichtheRevisedVersionreads\"greatseamonsters。\"Farbeitfrommetogiveanopinionwhichrenderingisright,orwhethereitherisright。AllI

  desiretoremarkis,thatifwhalesandporpoises,dugongsandmanatees,aretoberegardedasmembersofthewater—populationandiftheyarenot,whatanimalscanclaimthedesignation?,thenthatmuchofthewater—populationhas,ascertainly,originatedlaterthantheland—populationasbatsandbirdshave。ForIamnotawarethatanycompetentjudgewouldhesitatetoadmitthattheorganisationoftheseanimalsshowsthemostobvioussignsoftheirdescentfromterrestrialquadrupeds。

  AsimilarcriticismappliestoMr。Gladstone’sassumptionthat,asthefourthactofthat\"orderlysuccessionoftimes\"

  enunciatedinGenesis,\"theland—populationconsummatedinman。\"

  Ifthismeanssimplythatmanisthefinaltermintheevolutionalseriesofwhichheformsapart,Idonotsupposethatanyobjectionwillberaisedtothatstatementonthepartofstudentsofnaturalscience。Butifthepentateuchalauthorgoesfurtherthanthis,andintendstosaythatwhichisascribedtohimbyMr。Gladstone,Ithinknaturalsciencewillhavetoenteracaveat。Itisnotbyanymeanscertainthatman——ImeanthespeciesHomosapiensofzoologicalterminology——has\"consummated\"theland—populationinthesenseofappearingatalaterperiodoftimethananyother。Letmemakemymeaningclearbyanexample。Fromamorphologicalpointofview,ourbeautifulandusefulcontemporary——Imightalmostcallhimcolleague——thehorseEquuscaballus,isthelasttermoftheevolutionalseriestowhichhebelongs,justasHomosapiensisthelasttermoftheseriesofwhichheisamember。IfIwanttoknowwhetherthespeciesEquuscaballusmadeitsappearanceonthesurfaceoftheglobebeforeorafterHomosapiens,deductionfromknownlawsdoesnothelpme。Thereisnoreason,thatIknowof,whyoneshouldhaveappearedsoonerorlaterthantheother。IfIturntoobservation,IfindabundantremainsofEquuscaballus

  inQuaternarystrata,perhapsalittleearlier。TheexistenceofHomosapiensintheQuaternaryepochisalsocertain。

  Evidencehasbeenadducedinfavourofman’sexistenceinthePliocene,orevenintheMioceneepoch。Itdoesnotsatisfyme;

  butIhavenoreasontodoubtthatthefactmaybeso,nevertheless。Indeed,IthinkitisquitepossiblethatfurtherresearchwillshowthatHomosapiensexisted,notonlybeforeEquuscaballus,butbeforemanyotheroftheexistingformsofanimallife;sothat,ifallthespeciesofanimalshavebeenseparatelycreated,man,inthiscase,wouldbynomeansbethe\"consummation\"oftheland—population。

  IamraisingnoobjectiontothepositionofthefourthterminMr。Gladstone’s\"order\"——onthefacts,astheystand,itisquiteopentoanyonetohold,asapiousopinion,thatthefabricationofmanwastheacmeandfinalachievementoftheprocessofpeoplingtheglobe。Butitmustnotbesaidthatnaturalsciencecountsthisopinionamongher\"demonstratedconclusionsandestablishedfacts,\"fortherewouldbejustasmuch,oraslittle,reasonforrangingthecontraryopinionamongthem。

  ItmayseemsuperfluoustoaddtotheevidencethatMr。

  GladstonehasbeenutterlymisledinsupposingthathisinterpretationofGenesisreceivesanysupportfromnaturalscience。Butitisaswelltodoone’sworkthoroughlywhileoneisaboutit;andIthinkitmaybeadvisabletopointoutthatthefacts,astheyareatpresentknown,notonlyrefuteMr。

  Gladstone’sinterpretationofGenesisindetail,butareopposedtothecentralideaonwhichitappearstobebased。

  TheremustbesomepositionfromwhichthereconcilersofscienceandGenesiswillnotretreat,somecentralideathemaintenanceofwhichisvitalanditsrefutationfatal。Eveniftheynowallowthatthewords\"theeveningandthemorning\"havenottheleastreferencetoanaturalday,butmeanaperiodofanynumberofmillionsofyearsthatmaybenecessary;eveniftheyaredriventoadmitthattheword\"creation,\"whichsomanymillionsofpiousJewsandChristianshaveheld,andstillhold,tomeanasuddenactoftheDeity,signifiesaprocessofgradualevolutionofonespeciesfromanother,extendingthroughimmeasurabletime;eveniftheyarewillingtograntthattheassertedcoincidenceoftheorderofNaturewiththe\"fourfoldorder\"ascribedtoGenesisisanobviouserrorinsteadofanestablishedtruth;theyaresurelypreparedtomakealaststandupontheconceptionwhichunderliesthewhole,andwhichconstitutestheessenceofMr。Gladstone’s\"fourfolddivision,setforthinanorderlysuccessionoftimes。\"Itis,thattheanimalspecieswhichcomposethewater—population,theair—

  population,andtheland—populationrespectively,originatedduringthreedistinctandsuccessiveperiodsoftime,andonlyduringthoseperiodsoftime。

  ThisstatementappearstometobetheinterpretationofGenesiswhichMr。Gladstonesupports,reducedtoitssimplestexpression。\"Periodoftime\"issubstitutedfor\"day\";

  \"originated\"issubstitutedfor\"created\";and\"anyorderrequired\"forthatadoptedbyMr。Gladstone。Itisnecessarytomakethisproviso,forif\"day\"maymeanafewmillionyears,and\"creation\"maymeanevolution,thenitisobviousthattheorder1water—population,2air—population,3land—

  population,mayalsomean1water—population,2land—

  population,3air—population;anditwouldbeunkindtobinddownthereconcilerstothisdetailwhenonehaspartedwithsomanyotherstoobligethem。

  Buteventhissublimatedessenceofthepentateuchaldoctrineifitbesuchremainsasdiscordantwithnaturalscienceasever。

  Itisnottruethatthespeciescomposinganyoneofthethreepopulationsoriginatedduringanyoneofthreesuccessiveperiodsoftime,andnotatanyotherofthese。

  Undoubtedly,itisinthehighestdegreeprobablethatanimallifeappearedfirstunderaquaticconditions;thatterrestrialformsappearedlater,andflyinganimalsonlyafterlandanimals;butitis,atthesametime,testifiedbyalltheevidencewepossess,thatthegreatmajority,ifnotthewhole,oftheprimordialspeciesofeachdivisionhavelongsincediedoutandhavebeenreplacedbyavastsuccessionofnewforms。

  Hundredsofthousandsofanimalspecies,asdistinctasthosewhichnowcomposeourwater,land,andair—populations,havecomeintoexistenceanddiedoutagain,throughouttheaeonsofgeologicaltimewhichseparateusfromthelowerPalaeozoicepoch,when,asIhavepointedout,ourpresentevidenceoftheexistenceofsuchdistinctpopulationscommences。Ifthespeciesofanimalshaveallbeenseparatelycreated,thenitfollowsthathundredsofthousandsofactsofcreativeenergyhaveoccurred,atintervals,throughoutthewholetimerecordedbythefossiliferousrocks;and,duringthegreaterpartofthattime,the\"creation\"ofthemembersofthewater,land,andair—populationsmusthavegoneoncontemporaneously。

  Ifwerepresentthewater,land,andair—populationsbya,b,andcrespectively,andtakeverticalsuccessiononthepagetoindicateorderintime,thenthefollowingschemeswillroughlyshadowforththecontrastIhavebeenendeavouringtoexplain:

  GenesisasinterpretedbyNatureasinterpretedbyMr。Gladstone。naturalscience。

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  SofarasIcansee,thereisonlyoneresourceleftforthosemodernrepresentativesofSisyphus,thereconcilersofGenesiswithscience;andithastheadvantageofbeingfoundedonaperfectlylegitimateappealtoourignorance。Ithasbeenseenthat,onanyinterpretationofthetermswater—populationandland—population,itmustbeadmittedthatinvertebraterepresentativesofthesepopulationsexistedduringthelowerPalaeozoicepoch。Noevolutionistcanhesitatetoadmitthatotherlandanimalsandpossiblyvertebratesamongthemmayhaveexistedduringthattime,ofthehistoryofwhichweknowsolittle;and,further,thatscorpionsareanimalsofsuchhighorganisationthatitishighlyprobabletheirexistenceindicatesthatofalongantecedentland—populationofasimilarcharacter。

  Then,sincetheland—populationissaidnottohavebeencreateduntilthesixthday,itnecessarilyfollowsthattheevidenceoftheorderinwhichanimalsappearedmustbesoughtintherecordofthoseolderPalaeozoictimesinwhichonlytracesofthewater—populationhaveasyetbeendiscovered。

  Therefore,ifanyonechoosestosaythatthecreativeworktookplaceintheCambrianorLaurentianepoch,inexactlythatmannerwhichMr。Gladstonedoes,andnaturalsciencedoesnot,affirm,naturalscienceisnotinapositiontodisprovetheaccuracyofthestatement。Onlyonecannothaveone’scakeandeatittoo,andsuchsafetyfromthecontradictionofsciencemeanstheforfeitureofhersupport。

  Whethertheaccountoftheworkofthefirst,second,andthirddaysinGenesiswouldbeconfirmedbythedemonstrationofthetruthofthenebularhypothesis;whetheritiscorroboratedbywhatisknownofthenatureandprobablerelativeantiquityoftheheavenlybodies;whether,iftheHebrewwordtranslated\"firmament\"intheAuthorisedVersionreallymeans\"expanse,\"

  theassertionthatthewatersarepartlyunderthis\"expanse\"

  andpartlyaboveitwouldbeanymoreconfirmedbytheascertainedfactsofphysicalgeographyandmeteorologythanitwasbefore;whetherthecreationofthewholevegetableworld,andespeciallyof\"grass,herbyieldingseedafteritskind,andtreebearingfruit,\"beforeanykindofanimal,is\"affirmed\"bytheapparentlyplainteachingofbotanicalpalaeontology,thatgrassesandfruit—treesoriginatedlongsubsequentlytoanimalsallthesearequestionswhich,ifImistakenot,wouldbeanswereddecisivelyinthenegativebythosewhoarespeciallyconversantwiththesciencesinvolved。AnditmustberecollectedthattheissueraisedbyMr。Gladstoneisnotwhether,bysomeeffortofingenuity,thepentateuchalstorycanbeshowntobenotdisprovablebyscientificknowledge,butwhetheritissupportedthereby。

  Thereisnothing,then,inthecriticismsofDr。Revillebutwhatrathertendstoconfirmthantoimpairtheold—fashionedbeliefthatthereisarevelationinthebookofGenesisp。694。

  TheformintowhichMr。Gladstonehasthoughtfittothrowthisopinionleavesmeindoubtastoitssubstance。Idonotunderstandhowahostilecriticismcan,underanycircumstances,tendtoconfirmthatwhichitattacks。If,however,Mr。

  Gladstonemerelymeanstoexpresshispersonalimpression,\"asonewhollydestituteofthatkindofknowledgewhichcarriesauthority,\"thathehasdestroyedthevalueofthesecriticisms,Ihaveneitherthewishnortherighttoattempttodisturbhisfaith。Ontheotherhand,Imaybepermittedtostatemyownconviction,that,sofarasnaturalscienceisinvolved,M。Reville’sobservationsretaintheexactvaluetheypossessedbeforeMr。Gladstoneattackedthem。

  TrustingthatIhavenowsaidenoughtosecuretheauthorofawiseandmoderatedisquisitionuponatopicwhichseemsfatedtostirunwisdomandfanaticismtotheirdepths,afullermeasureofjusticethanhashithertobeenaccordedtohim,Iretirefrommyself—appointedchampionship,withthehopethatIshallnothereafterbecalleduponbyM。Revilletoapologisefordamagedonetohisstrongcasebyimperfectorimpulsiveadvocacy。

  But,perhaps,Imaybepermittedtoaddawordortwo,onmyownaccount,inreferencetothegreatquestionoftherelationsbetweenscienceandreligion;sinceitisoneaboutwhichIhavethoughtagooddealeversinceIhavebeenabletothinkatall;

  andaboutwhichIhaveventuredtoexpressmyviewspublicly,morethanonce,inthecourseofthelastthirtyyears。

  Theantagonismbetweenscienceandreligion,aboutwhichwehearsomuch,appearstometobepurelyfactitious——fabricated,ontheonehand,byshort—sightedreligiouspeoplewhoconfoundacertainbranchofscience,theology,withreligion;and,ontheother,byequallyshort—sightedscientificpeoplewhoforgetthatsciencetakesforitsprovinceonlythatwhichissusceptibleofclearintellectualcomprehension;andthat,outsidetheboundariesofthatprovince,theymustbecontentwithimagination,withhope,andwithignorance。

  ItseemstomethatthemoralandintellectuallifeofthecivilisednationsofEuropeistheproductofthatinteraction,sometimesinthewayofantagonism,sometimesinthatofprofitableinterchange,oftheSemiticandtheAryanraces,whichcommencedwiththedawnofhistory,whenGreekandPhoeniciancameincontact,andhasbeencontinuedbyCarthaginianandRoman,byJewandGentile,downtothepresentday。Ourartexcept,perhaps,musicandoursciencearethecontributionsoftheAryan;buttheessenceofourreligionisderivedfromtheSemite。IntheeighthcenturyB。C。,intheheartofaworldofidolatrouspolytheists,theHebrewprophetsputforthaconceptionofreligionwhichappearstometobeaswonderfulaninspirationofgeniusastheartofPheidiasorthescienceofAristotle。

  \"AndwhatdoththeLordrequireofthee,buttodojustly,andtolovemercy,andtowalkhumblywiththyGod?\"

  Ifanyso—calledreligiontakesawayfromthisgreatsayingofMicah,Ithinkitwantonlymutilates,while,ifitaddsthereto,Ithinkitobscures,theperfectidealofreligion。

  Butwhatextentofknowledge,whatacutenessofscientificcriticism,cantouchthis,ifanyonepossessedofknowledge,oracuteness,couldbeabsurdenoughtomaketheattempt?Willtheprogressofresearchprovethatjusticeisworthlessandmercyhateful;williteversoftenthebittercontrastbetweenouractionsandouraspirations;orshowustheboundsoftheuniverseandbidussay,Goto,nowwecomprehendtheinfinite?

  AfacultyofwrathlayinthoseancientIsraelites,andsurelytheprophet’sstaffwouldhavemadeswiftacquaintancewiththeheadofthescholarwhohadaskedMicahwhether,peradventure,theLordfurtherrequiredofhimanimplicitbeliefintheaccuracyofthecosmogonyofGenesis!

  Whatweareusuallypleasedtocallreligionnowadaysis,forthemostpart,HellenisedJudaism;and,notunfrequently,theHellenicelementcarrieswithitamightyremnantofold—worldpaganismandagreatinfusionoftheworstandweakestproductsofGreekscientificspeculation;whilefragmentsofPersianandBabylonian,orratherAccadian,mythologyburdentheJudaiccontributiontothecommonstock。

  Theantagonismofscienceisnottoreligion,buttotheheathensurvivalsandthebadphilosophyunderwhichreligionherselfisoftenwell—nighcrushed。And,formypart,Itrustthatthisantagonismwillnevercease;butthat,totheendoftime,truesciencewillcontinuetofulfiloneofhermostbeneficentfunctions,thatofrelievingmenfromtheburdenoffalsesciencewhichisimposedupontheminthenameofreligion。

  ThisistheworkthatM。Revilleandmensuchashearedoingforus;thisistheworkwhichhisopponentsareendeavouring,consciouslyorunconsciously,tohinder。

  FOOTNOTES

  1TheNineteenthCentury。

  2[Earlier,ifmorerecentannouncementsarecorrect。]

  3ItmaybeobjectedthatIhavenotputthecasefairlyinasmuchasthesolitaryinsect’swingwhichwasdiscoveredtwelvemonthsagoinSilurianrocks,andwhichis,atpresent,thesoleevidenceofinsectsolderthantheDevonianepoch,camefromstrataofMiddleSilurianage,andisthereforeolderthanthescorpionswhich,withinthelasttwoyears,havebeenfoundinUpperSilurianstratainSweden,Britain,andtheUnitedStates。Butnoonewhocomprehendsthenatureoftheevidenceaffordedbyfossilremainswouldventuretosaythatthenon—

  discoveryofscorpionsintheMiddleSilurianstrata,uptothistime,affordsanymoregroundforsupposingthattheydidnotexist,thanthenon—discoveryofflyinginsectsintheUpperSilurianstrata,uptothistime,throwsanydoubtonthecertaintythattheyexisted,whichisderivedfromtheoccurrenceofthewingintheMiddleSilurian。Infact,Ihavestretchedapointinadmittingthatthesefossilsaffordacolourablepretextfortheassumptionthatthelandandair—

  populationwereofcontemporaneousorigin。

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