Evolution of Animal Life. 145 



but by archaeology, philology and historical and literary 

 criticism. It is the analysis of Scripture itself, its struc- 

 ture, its origins, and its meaning, which has undermined and 

 shaken the post-Eeformation doctrine, put forward with 

 ludicrous audacity as ancient and orthodox ; and it is this 

 study of the Bible itself which will restore to us the truly 

 Scriptural and truly Christian doctrine of inspiration. 

 With that contest, the physical and biological sciences have 

 little or nothing to do. 



4. Neither theory necessarily either involves or excludes 

 the origin of species from single pairs. Darwinism, as first 

 propounded, may seem to require a numerous ancestry ; yet 

 even this condition ceases to be necessary under the latest 

 form of that hypothesis. But, however that may be, Evo- 

 lution makes no such requirement. Nor, on the other hand, 

 does the independent origin of species require a single pair ; 

 since it is equally conceivable that the natural or super- 

 natural cause which could produce one pair could produce 

 any number at the same time. 



III. The Inquiry. 



Having thus cleared the ground of misleading and 

 confusing side-issues, we may freely inquire whether 

 species are permanent or plastic; whether they origi- 

 nated independently, or by descent with modifications. 

 The argument cannot be a mathematical demonstration. 

 It remains to the end a weighing of probabilities. And ■ 

 you will doubtless be relieved to hear that it is not the pur- 

 pose of the remainder of this lecture to state it in detail. 

 You will pardon me for saying that I am no great believer 

 in the usefulness of lectures for such a purpose. They may 

 stimulate, suggest and assist ; but they cannot replace the 

 study of books which alone will enable you to appreciate 

 the considerations urged on either side. Fortunately, there 

 are books enough, both learned and popular. 



What I purpose now, is simply to lay out before you the 

 elements of the discussion, and to explain, briefly, and there- 

 fore incompletely, its general situation at the present day, 

 particularly as regards the Darwinian hypothesis, as a mode 

 of Evolution. 



First of all, we start with a postulate, common to both 

 sides, namely, that the universe is a system addressing it- 

 self to reason (whether it be, or be not, the product of a 

 Divine reason). The sequence of cause and effect is urn- 



