and most credible explanation that can be given of this is, that the Omniscient Spirit, that sees and knows all truth, guided them to the knowledge of the facts and to the statement of the truths, to which the world would at last come, but which would be reached by men in their own investigations only after ages had passed away.

The theory that asserts the Races to be of different and distinct origins, as is ever to be expected from a doctrine founded in error, is adverse to the best interests of mankind, and tends to aggravate the direst evils under which the world has ever groaned-war and slavery. This is its obvious and certain tendency. It dissolves all the bonds of the human family, it dissevers all fraternal relation between peoples, it extinguishes all common sympathy, it makes differing races aliens one to another, and thus fosters the spirit of strife, enmity, and bloodshed. And hence the notorious fact, that in this country, in time past, it found some of its warmest advocates among those interested in the system of human slavery.

On the other hand, the Bible doctrine of the unity of mankind, in harmony with the eternal tendency of truth, is eminently conducive to the peace and highest welfare of the world. It teaches us that the earth's population constitutes one family; that we are all vivified by one and the same hereditary blood; and that we owe one to another the affection, sympathy, and kindness of brethren. Baron Humboldt, speaking of the important bearing of this doctrine, says, "Deeply rooted in the innermost nature of man, and enjoined upon him

by the highest tendencies, the recognition of this bond of humanity becomes one of the noblest leading principles in the history of mankind." Yes-for it supplies a foundation for the broadest philanthropy, and offers incentives to the exercise of universal benevolence. It enjoins upon us the spirit of brotherly love, and the practice of brotherly kindness, toward every human being. It bids us carry the light and the blessings we enjoy to every benighted and destitute child of Adam, whether dwelling on this or that side of the globe, whether bleached amid polar snows or blackened beneath tropic suns. It commands us to go forth into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature, with the assurance that whosoever believeth in the Son of God shall be saved.

NOTE.-To all that has been said above, we may add that the Traditions which prevail in all lands connect together the most distant and dissimilar races, and which, like the converging sunbeams, point us back to One Origin.

1. The Creation of Man has its place in the legions of Greece, in the beliefs of India, in the cosmogony of Peru, in the traditions of the North American Indians, and of the South Sea Islanders.

2. The Garden of Eden has its representation under the City of Brahma among the Hindoos, and under the Garden of the Hesperides among the Greeks.

3. The Tree of Knowledge of good and evil has its counterpart in the Golden Apples, the mysterious Tree, and the watchful Serpent in classic fable.

4. The Temptation of Eve has its record in the legend of the lovely Pandora, who, yielding to her fatal curiosity, opened the closed Box, from which flew forth diseases and wars to fill the world with woe.

5. The Original Innocence and happiness of the first Human Pair are embodied in the traditions of China, Thibet, Persia, Ceylon, and India. 6. The Division of Time into Weeks is found to have prevailed almost universally.

7. The Serpent of Eden has its memory preserved in the wide-spread prevalence of Serpent Worship; a practice found in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, the Friendly Islands, and various parts of America.

8. Of the Deluge traditions are found in China, India, Persia, Egypt, Greece, the Pacific Isles, and in North and South America.

9. The Institution of Sacrifice has been remembered and practised through all the ages, and among all the nations of the earth.

These and similar traditions, as Dr. Fraser observes, "constitute a cumulative argument in favor of One Race, which cannot be ignored or set aside. Their prevalence is utterly inexplicable, except through the Bible narrative. On its basis alone can we so adjust the facts of science, and the common traditions of dissimilar races, as to realize perfectly harmonious results."

CHRONOLOGY

AND

THE ANTIQUITY OF THE HUMAN RACE.

No other history than the Hebrew History even professes to go back to the creation of man, or to give any account of the events which connect existing generations with the first Progenitor of their Race. And of that history the sole object appears to be, to give in outline the ORDER of such transactions as had a special bearing on Religious Truth, and on the course of Spiritual Belief.-- DUKE OF

ARGYLL.

387

CHRONOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES:

I. IN REGARD TO THE AGGREGATE POPULATION OF THE EARTH; 2. WITH REGARD TO THE EGYPTIAN MONARCHY; 3. IN CONNECTION WITH THE EARLY OCCUPATION OF CHINA; 4. RESPECTING THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF MANKIND INTO DISTINCT RACES; 5. IN REGARD ΤΟ THE REMOTE EXISTENCE OF DISTINCT LANGUAGES.