HI LECTURES ON EVOLUTION 65 



wrote the Book of Genesis, or knew anything 

 about it. You will understand that I give no 

 judgment it would be an impertinence upon my 

 part to volunteer even a suggestion upon such a 

 subject. But, that being the state of opinion 

 among the scholars and the clergy, it is well for 

 the unlearned in Hebrew lore, and for the laity, 

 to avoid entangling themselves in such a vexed 

 question. Happily, Milton leaves us no excuse 

 for doubting what he means, and I shall therefore 

 be safe in speaking of the opinion in question as 

 the Miltonic hypothesis. 



Now we have to test that hypothesis. For my 

 part, I have no prejudice one way or the other. 

 If there is evidence in favour of this view, I am 

 burdened by no theoretical difficulties in the way 

 of accepting it ; but there must be evidence. 

 Scientific men get an awkward habit no, I won't 

 call it that, for it is a valuable habit of believing 

 nothing unless there is evidence for it ; and they 

 have a way of looking upon belief which is not 

 based upon evidence, not only as illogical, but as 

 immoral. We will, if you please, test this view 

 by the circumstantial evidence alone; for, from 

 what I have said, you will understand that I do 

 not propose to discuss the question of what testi- 

 monial evidence is to be adduced in favour of it. 

 If those whose business it is to judge are not at 

 one as to the authenticity of the only evidence of 

 that kind which is offered, nor as to the facts to 



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