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

282 Apologetics. [APRIL
themselves upon a still more remote outpost of the disputed
ground.
It is curious to observe, that while science, in the flush of its
prime, sought to dispense entirely with divine agency, in the
creation of organic as well as inorganic nature, it has now
swung off to the opposite extreme, and objects to the sacred
narrative on the ground that its record of creation is inadequate
and defective. Instead of claiming to develope the human race
by natural law, from the inferior types of the animal kingdom,
it passes to the assumption that one primeval origin is insufficient
to account for the diversified races of men; and that there must
have been distinct and separate origins for each of the several
varieties of the species. It is to us a matter of sincere and
deep regret, that this hypothesis is due to a name so universally
respected and commanding in the world of science as that of
Professor Agassiz. We are entirely confident of these two
things,-1. That it owes its temporary ascendency mainly to
his great authority as a naturalist; and 2, that it is doomed to
a speedy overthrow; because no authority can stand long
against the pressure of accumulating evidence.
The difficulties which press upon this recent hypothesis of
diversity of origin for the single human species, grounded on
the anthropological diversities of the races, are multiplying every
day. The facts which research is daily adding to our knowledge, are already refusing to conform to the hypothesis; while,
on the other hand, the more the philological, anthropological,
and ethnographical details of the argument are studied, the more
they point towards a common origin for the whole human race.
In favour of this declaration we may cite the testimony of such
men as Humboldt, Bopp, Bunsen, Prichard, and Latham; all
devoted to different departments of the subject. Walls of separation between the races, lately deemed impassable, are already
levelled to the ground; and others still standing are only waiting similar researches, in all human probability, to follow in
their train.
We do not hesitate to say that the difficulties of the hypothesis
are already insuperable; while the current of research and discovery is setting steadily and strongly against it. A very brief