93 
narrative as universal ; whose account is hence fairly open 
to the scientific objections raised against it, Which cannot, 
however, touch the fundamental spiritual truths which lie 
within it. 
The next class of objections are those concerning Scriptural 
Ethnology, suggested by the account of the descendants of 
Noah in Gen. x., and that of the confusion of tongues in the 
former part of Gen. xi. Here it is urged, — 1st, that Scripture 
is wrong in certain details, as especially the assignment of the 
Canaanites and Chaldeans to a Hamite origin, whom Philo- 
logy teaches were Semites ; and other similar instances. 2nd, 
that Scripture is wrong also in its fundamental view, repre- 
senting the existing diversity of languages as brought about 
by supernatural interference, instead of as the inevitable result 
of natural causes. To which, 3rd, some also add a still graver 
charge, involved, indeed, in previous sections, but most con- 
veniently considered here, that Scripture errs in speaking 
of all tribes and nations as descended from a common 
parentage. 
The first and third of these objections are at present too 
much disputed among scientific men themselves for theological 
opponents to trouble themselves much concerning them, and 
they are hence generally met in the spirit of the first general 
group of answers : — your Science is incorrect. In respect to 
the second objection, however, there are some who prefer to 
concede the apparently natural origin of languages by altering 
their interpretation of the Biblical history of Babel. While 
there are yet others who on all three points are prepared, if 
necessary, to admit the objections as valid, but deny their 
importance. 
Lastly, the genealogical lists of Gen. v. and xi., defining 
the interval of time between Adam and Abraham, afford the 
objector one more weighty charge yet. The Hebrew Scrip- 
tures, it is said, by these lists require us to place the creation of 
man as somewhat less than 6,000 years ago, whereas the 
evidence derived from the geological position of his imple- 
ments and bones, and his demonstrated contemporaneousness 
with animals long extinct, confirmed by the length of time 
which ethnologists and philologists assert to be necessary for 
the development of races and languages, goes to prove 
that he must have existed on the earth for a vastly longer 
period. 
The majority of theological advocates adopt here the first 
mode of answer, and deny the validity of the scientific 
argument ; some by representing the implements in question 
as purely natural productions, the human bones as merely 
