470 NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN". 



Scripture, so as to preclude all further discussion upon it ? 

 Are we entitled to go beyond, and to risk any portion of our 

 faith upon statements or inductions derived from other 

 sources, if contradicting the interpretations commonly given 

 to this higher authority ? 



The question is one not new to modern science. In reply 

 to it, and to vindicate that right of reason and enquiry which 

 Man has received as one of the greatest gifts from his 

 Creator, it might be enough for us to cite passages from the 

 writings of several distinguished geologists, who have weighed 

 this point with all the seriousness and candour befitting their 

 reputation as men of piety and truth. The difference of the 

 subject here does in nowise affect the argument, which 

 applies alike and with equal force to both cases. Take 

 indeed what course we may, these questions, from their very 

 nature, must needs infix themselves deeply in the minds of 

 thinking men, and become in one form or other the matter 

 of earnest enquiry. That the cause of truth will assuredly 

 gain in the end, we can affirm with the greater satisfaction 

 in this case, because it is our conviction that the conclusions 

 of reason and science, unaided by Scripture, concur mainly 

 with that derived from the latter source. While admitting 

 the difficulties inherent in the subject, we think there are 

 sufficient grounds for believing that all races and diversities 

 of mankind are really derived from a single pair ; placed on 

 the earth for the peopling of its surface in the times before 

 us, and during the ages which the Creator may yet assign to 

 the present order of existence here. The arguments for such 

 belief we shall now state ; endeavouring to place the evidence 

 in as clear a form as possible, and to aid those unacquainted 

 with the subject in comprehending the relative value and 

 effect of the proofs so given. 



What then are the sources of knowledge, what the methods 

 of research, through which to attempt the solution of this 



