RECAPITULATION AND CONCLUSION. 67 



must not accommodate itself to the progi'ess of human knowledge 

 and bend before truth, if that truth be demonstrated. Hence 

 it is always hazardous to mix up theological arguments with 

 discussions of this kind, and to stigmatise in the name of reli- 

 gion any scientific opinion, since, if that opinion, sooner or 

 later gains ground, religion has been uselessly compromised. 

 The unskilful intervention of theologians in astronomical ques- 

 tions (rotation of the earth), in physiology (pre-existence of 

 germs), in medicine (possessions), etc., has formed more infidels 

 than the writings of philosophers. Why should men be placed 

 in the dilemma of choosing between science and faith ? And 

 when so many striking examples have placed theologians under 

 the necessity to acknowledge that revelation is not applicable 

 to science, why do they obstinately continue to place the Bible 

 before the wheels of progress ? x 



Sincere Christians have understood that the moment is come 

 to prepare the conciliation of the doctrine of the polygenists 

 with the sacred writings. They are disposed to admit that the 

 Mosaic narration does not apply to the whole human race, but 

 merely to the Adamites, from which sprung God's people ; that 

 there may have been other human beings with whom the sacred 

 writer had no concern ; that it is nowhere said that the sons of 

 Adam contracted incestuous alliances with their own sisters ; 

 that Cain, banished after the murder of his brother, had a mark 

 set upon him that no one might kill him ; that, besides the 

 sons of God, there was a race of the sons of man ; that the 

 origin of the sons of men is not specified ; that nothing 

 authorises us to consider these as the progeny of Adam ; that 

 these two races differed in their physical characters, since, by 

 their union, a cross-breed was produced designated by the 

 name of giants, ce to indicate the physical and moral energy of 

 mixed races." And that, finally, all these antediluvian races 

 might have survived the deluge in the persons of the three 

 dauo-hters-in-law of Noah. 2 



1 [Compare on this subject Professor R. Owen on The Power of God as 

 manifested in his Animal Creation, 12mo, London, 1863, in which the relations 

 of science to theology are excellently stated. Editor.] 



2 J. Pye Smith, Relations between the Holy Scriptures and Geology, third 

 edition, pp. 398-400. This passage is textually reproduced by Morton in a 



