CHAPTER XIV. 



THE CONVERGENCE OF THE EVIDENCES. 



§ 171. Of the three classes of evidences that have been 

 assigned in proof of Evolution, the a priori, which we took 

 first, were partly negative, partly positive. 



On considering the " General Aspects of the Special-crea- 

 tion hypothesis," we discovered it to be worthless. Dis- 

 credited by its origin, and wholly without any basis of 

 observed fact, we found that it was not even a thinkable 

 hypothesis; and, while thus intellectually illusive, it turned 

 out to have moral implications irreconcilable with the pro- 

 fessed beliefs of those who hold it. 



Contrariwise, the " General Aspects of the Evolution- 

 hypothesis " begot the stronger faith in it the more nearly 

 they were considered. By its lineage and its kindred, it was 

 found to be as closely allied with the proved truths of modern 

 science, as is the antagonist hypothesis with the proved 

 errors of ancient ignorance. We saw that instead of being 

 a mere pseud-idea, it admits of elaboration into a definite 

 conception : so showing its legitimacy as an hypothesis. In- 

 stead of positing a purely fictitious process, the process which 

 it alleges proves to be one actually going on around us. To 

 which add that, morally considered, this hypothesis presents 

 no radical incongruities. 



Thus, even were we without further means of judging, 

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