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74. Fourth , that a period of violence, and general corruption 
and degradation of manners, ensued on the fall of the mother of all 
living ; that in all probability, a glacial period of the earth’s history 
rendered most parts of the earth unfertile, whilst the abundant 
supply of animal food fostered a savage hunter’s life (apart from 
all pretence to civilization), of which we find the traces in the paleo- 
lithic period. 
75. Fifth, that at a subsequent period there arose a race of 
temple-builders, whose megalithic monuments of all kinds are 
spread over a large extent of the world, seeming to indicate the 
general prevalence of sun- and serpent-worship, probably after the 
Flood. This seems to coincide in part with the Neolithic period. 
76. Sixth, that in the race of Cain there supervened a material 
civilization of considerable importance to the future history of the 
world ; this being separated from religion, and, as anticipated by 
the first author of it, “hidden from the face of Jehovah.” 
77. Seventh, that the life of the patriarchs in the chosen line 
before the Flood was probably devoted to agriculture in the most 
favoured portion of the earth’s surface ; this being the state of 
society most suited to longevity and to the cultivation of the 
sciences of astronomy, and also of writing and other researches, 
much of which knowledge survived the Flood. 
78. On the whole, I conclude that the conception of man as a 
savage, improving himself from some apelike condition up to 
civilization, is repugnant to Scripture, opposed to the most reliable 
testimonies as to his early state, and most contrary to the endow- 
ment of noble faculties which his Creator has manifestly assigned 
to him. 
