64 LECTURES ON EVOLUTION in 



signify ; moreover, were I to affirm that this is the 

 Biblical doctrine, I should be met by the authority 

 of many eminent scholars, to say nothing of men 

 of science, who, at various times, have absolutely 

 denied that any such doctrine is to be found in 

 Genesis. If we are to listen to many expositors of 

 no mean authority, we must believe that what 

 seems so clearly defined in Genesis as if very 

 great pains had been taken that there should be 

 no possibility of mistake is riot the meaning of 

 the text at all. The account is divided into 

 periods that we may make just as long or as short 

 as convenience requires. We are also to under- 

 stand that it is consistent with the original text to 

 believe that the most complex plants and animals 

 may have been evolved by natural processes, 

 lasting for millions of years, out of structureless 

 rudiments. A person who is not a Hebrew 

 scholar can only stand aside and admire the 

 marvellous flexibility of a language which admits 

 of such diverse interpretations. But assuredly, in 

 the face of such contradictions of authority 

 upon matters respecting which he is incompetent 

 to form any judgment, he will abstain, as I do, 

 from giving any opinion. 



In the third place, I have carefully abstained 

 from speaking of this as the Mosaic doctrine, 

 because we are now assured upon the authority of 

 the highest critics, and even of dignitaries of the 

 Church, that there is no evidence that Moses 



