226 FACTS AND FANCIES 



to have originated. Such suppositions are un- 

 scientific (i) because no ancient remains of such 

 low forms of man* are known ; (2) because the 

 lowest types of man now extant can be proved 

 to be degraded descendants of higher types ; 

 (3) because, if man had originated in a low 

 condition, this would not have diminished the 

 probability of a divine revelation being given 

 to promote his elevation. 



On the other hand, it is a sad reality that 

 man tends to sink from high ideal morality and 

 reason into debasing vices and gross supersti- 

 tions thaf are not natural, but which, on the 

 contrary, place him at variance with natural as 

 well as with moral law. Thus the actual and 

 the possible debasement of man, instead of 

 proving his bestial origin, only increases the 

 need of a divine revelation for his improve- 

 ment. 



But, supposing the need of a revelation to 

 be admitted, other questions might arise as to 

 its mode. Here the anticipations of science 

 would be guided by the analogy of nature. 

 We should suppose that the revelation would 

 be made through the medium of the beings it 

 was intended to affect It would be a revela- 

 tion impressed on human minds and expressed 



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