CHAPTER XIV. 



THE CONVERGENCE OF THE EVIDENCES. 



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

 assigned, the a priori, which we took first, were partly nega- 

 tive, partly positive. 



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

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

 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 on examina- 

 tion to have moral implications quite at variance with the 

 professed beliefs of those who hold it. 



Contrariwise, the " General Aspects of the Evolution-hy- 

 pothesis," 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. Instead of being a mere pseud- 

 idea, we saw that it admitted 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, we saw to be one that is actually going on around 

 us. To which add, that morally considered, this hypothesis 

 presents no irreconcilable incongruities. 



Thus, even were we without further means of judging, 



