INTKODTJCTOEY. 21 



which forms his whither in the great cosmical scheme 

 of continuity and progress. Man has his natural- 

 history relations — of that there can be no gainsaying ; 

 and we merely seek to apply to the determination 

 of these the same methods of research which by 

 common consent are applied to the determination of 

 the relations of other creatures. It is surely of some 

 interest to man to know something of the origin, 

 antiquity, and destiny of his race ; of some importance 

 to conform his practice in life to the relations which 

 God has evidently established between him and the 

 rest of creation. We have no iatuitive knowledge of 

 these ; we seek to know them ; and no statement will 

 satisfy that fails to recommend itself to rational dis- 

 cernment. In dealing with topics such as these we 

 have nothing to do with preconceived opinions. Sci- 

 entific research must abide by scientific methods ; 

 scientific convictions must rest on scientific investi- 

 gations. We appeal unto Csesar, let us be judged by 

 Csesar's laws. It is true the subject is a delicate one, 

 and requires delicate handling; but the interests of 

 truth are always best secured by a candid utterance 

 of beliefs, and whatever may be the value of these 

 beliefs, there should at least be no faltering or hesi- 

 tation in expressing what they are, or in stating the 

 grounds upon which they are founded. In the words 

 of Bishop Tait to the Edinburgh Philosophical In- 



