PREFACE. XXIX 



Was it by Creation or Evolution, not as 

 propounded by Mr. Darwin, but as set 

 forth by Professor Haeckel, to the extent of 

 dead matter being capable of evolving 

 organic life ? 



2. Is the Mosaic Cosmogony, as re- 

 corded in the first chapter of Genesis, or 

 are the early Cosmogonies of those who 

 were without a revelation from on high, 

 the most like what we now know to be 

 truth as the result of modern scientific dis- 

 covery ? e.g.. Which is true, the Ptolemaie 

 system of the ancients, or the Copernican 

 system of the moderns ? Do the ancient 

 Cosmogonies, such as that of the Egyptians, 

 who traced the origin of the universe to 

 " the Egg of the great Cackler ; " or that of 

 the Phoenicians) who considered " Mud " to 

 be the origin ; or the Chaldceans, who pro- 

 nounced in favour of "Chaos;" or the 

 learned Grecians, who, according to Empedo- 

 cles, named " the four elements 7 ' of Fire, Air, 

 Water and Earth) as the original creator 

 of all things ? I ask if such doctrines are to 

 be believed, in preference to the calm and 



