The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-08-18
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE BIBLE CAN SETTLE IT ALL.


My Dear Sir,-I am obliged to you for
your kind offer to loan me " Lubbock on the
Origin of Civilization and the Primitive Con-
dition of Man" True, | had not read it;
but in several elaborate papers read some
time ago bearing upon the question OF the
received Biblical chronology and the an
tiquity of man, as we'll as the question here
raised which is now disturbing such learned
writer's as are not very firmly attached to
the humbling doctrines of Christ and to the
Inspiration Of HIS Word, all that is essential
of his facts and conclusions were presented.
Also the views of Lyell, Lartet, ct 1t Omne
genus.
If you have been interested in this general
subject, permit me to call your attention to
Virginia book, "The Recent Origin Of
Man, as illustrated by Geology, and the
Modern Science of Prehistoric Arche DO
gy," byJ. c. Southall. The Princeton Reuie~
for July contains notice of it, marking it
as an cable and scholarly work, written In
view of all the facts ''-"it seems to com
pletely overthrow the current arcl geological
doctrines, and turns the startling discoveries
of Arche )logists to the positive support Of
Biblical statements ''-"reviews in great de-
tail and order all the evidence on this sub
ect which has been accommodating during the
past twenty years" From this, and other
high opinions of it have seen, am not to
be surprised if he has put his men to confu-
sion. Examine, and Judge for yourself.
For my own part l confess to little taste
for such intellectual Babel-building as Lub-
book, and others of his kind are engaged in.
The facts which they unearth are all very
we'll; but they will never, it seems very clear
to me, reach heaven by their construction
of them. No more will their theories ever
lead to any practical good for society.
1t matters very little to ME, indeed, that
they have written; or after having written,
that Southall has rcfuted them, if that be 80
since to me the Inspiration Of the Scriptures
rests upon evidence of ats own, as Mary Jane
Graham has so clearly shown in her little
treatise, "The Test of Truth, with which
hope land believe) you are pleased. (Oi
course she does not touch the great field Of
external evidence.
In the preface to this work Lubbock the
question is presented, "Was primeval man
developed and superior being who has retro
graded into the savage state, or Vtce Uersa|
He continues, " these are grave questions
now impending in the world of thought ant
which are of high practical interest; for tt
know the fundamental lar Of Increment a
humanity (the italics are mine) is the pre-
requisite of all wise and successful measures
of social amelioration."
Now I" the fundamental law of moyemen
in humanity" is plainly enough revealed il
the Word of God, if that goes for anything
and it will ever be found impossible to anne
liorate mans condition upon this theory o
a primitive savage state and natural pro
gress upward. And this because, as it seems
to me, it leaves out of view the direct con
nection of the Creator with the creature, an(
ignores the relation of Regeneration of fal
len creatures to their civilization, or eleva
ton; it ignores the presence of leavenins
element in the world (not of man, and tina
the regeneratiDg power of God the Spirit ii
the secret spring of all civilization, and thu
absence of His presence and power the con
dition of progressive degradation. Paul tt
the Romans, 1St chapter.
This theory provides no place for the COS
pei. 1t forgets the entrance of sin into tn
world, and the corruption Of our whole ma
ture. 1t seems as puerile and incomplete {
view of "the movement of humanity" wher
we examine it in all its bearings and ultimate
results, as any dissertation on the movemen
of the Earth would be which negectS who'll.
to consider its relation to the Sun, and th
Suns constant influence upon it.
This theory represents man as an indie
pendent creature working out his own des
tiny within himself. The Bible represent
mans true condition as walking with Coz
and feeling the leading of His hand. Ant
Paul shows, Romans 1St chapter, that wher
men get tired of holding their Fathers hand
when they do not even like to retain God il
their knowledge, God gives up such to hard
ness of heart, to walk by themselves. An(
they ever have gone and ever will go from
Light to gross and still groSSer darkness, i
God leaves them to themselves. "They
love darkness because their deeds are evil.
Like Adam, they try to hide themselves il
the darkest recesses of the earth. That cor
rupt nature we have, if left to grow and worl
It's own destiny never conducts US upward
Lubbock and his likes know this as well al
we do. And therefore l must suppose then
to doubt this very foundation truth of God
Revelation, viz: The Fall of Man; and tina
in them we behold only the resurrected bones
of Ros8eau and other philosophers of tn,
French school, who taught that culture an(
wise legislation would inaugurate the colder
age, and thus do for man what the Bible dc
clares change Of heart can alone accom-
plish.
1t was by these wild and peStilent notion
about civilization, viewed in the darkness o.