Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity [pp. 250-294]

.Development ITypothesis.
not a living naturalist known to us, of any authority in science,
who would risk his reputation on its support. The very facts
which gave such an air of plausibility to the Development
Theory, though long regarded as settled conclusions of geological science, seem likely once more to be drawn into question,
at least so far as they have any bearing on the theory before
us. We have heard Professor Agassiz, ourselves, ascribe its
advocacy to ignorance and misconception of the real laws of
comparative physiology. Mr. Lyell, perhaps the highest purely geological authority now living, in the last edition of his
"Principles of Geology," and still more pointedly in the last
annual address to the Geological Society, which has long honoured his eminent scientific attainments by the gift of its Presidency, labours to prove that there is no sufficient geological
evidence of any progressive development of organic forms, from
the earliest epochs of organic life; and to explain the absence
of fossil remains of the higher types, in the lower strata of the
geological scale, by the agency of causes which are entirely
compatible with their existence in full proportion among the
very earliest products of the creative power. And while Professor Agassiz was thus turning to scorn the scientific logic of
the Development Hypothesis, and Mr. Lyell was assailing the
foundation facts on which it built its argument, Mr. Hugh Miller was propounding the counter hypothesis of degradation, as
the true law of organic change, pervading the animal kingdom
as a dark and terrible symbol of the moral history of that race
which the previous stages of creation were designed to prefigure
and to inaugurate.
In the view of this sketch of the Apologetics of physical
science, the most nervous among us may well acquire sufficient
steadiness of nerve to stand by, and if need be, hold the
torch of science, or even lend a hand in prosecuting to their
completion, researches which the varied experience of the past
must satisfy the candid observer will only render a more signal
testimony, and put more abundant honour on the inspiration of
the word of God. The whole ground once bristling with hostile bayonets, is now deserted, and the enemies of the gospel
have drawn up their forces for the next conflict, and quartered
1852.]
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