The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-25

the center OF an ocean, and all other con-
tinents were simultaneously submerged
and all living things destroyed, that con-
tinent would in the course OF "ges DO COW
cred with vegetation and fl, With living
creatures, according to that 0.Aversal law
Of life production or spontaneous genera
tons, impressed on nature by the original
fiat OF the Deity.
3. Now, In regard to man. l do not
think that evolution contMdicts the letter
OF the Scriptures, as is often claimed. In
the second chapter OF Genisis ii is said that
God formed man from the dust OF the
ground and breathed into his nostrils the
breath OF life." The question of dsputois
| as to the matter Of formation. How did
God form him? AS man is in his physical
nature as much of an animal and as sub
ject to physical laws as any fish, or bird, or
beast, it is to be presumed that he was
formed Just as the other animals; for il is
said that "God formed every beast of the
field out OF the dust of the ground" But
we are told how they were formed. The
waters and the earth produced them
that is, they were formed by natural
processes, which means by physical forces,
under natural conditions and according to
eternal laws. 1t is TO be presumed there
fore, that man was produced in tho same
way. We know that he is produced in
the same way now.
III. II, then. II should be proved that
man as to his body IL purely natural de-
velopment OF some lower type Of animal,
it would not contradict the text of Scrip
lures any more. or indeed rs much, as the
once disputed fact OF the revolution of tho
earth upon its axis, or the fact of the inn
measurable antiquity OF the globe. which
is no longer doubted by any educated man.
Because neither this account OF mans
creation, OF any other in the Bible, says
one word about the method OF his forma-
ton, and there IL no other possible con-
ception or definition OF the method by
which the infinite author OF the universe
either could or would have made him,
either as a genus or an individual, except
that which science shows to be the unver-
sal method.
As then this doctrine does not contradict
the language, II cannot contradict the
grand design OF Scriptural teaching. II
cannot assail the fact that God is the au-
thor OF all being; that natural law is the
regular and established method OF the
execution OF his will and plan, and that all
natural forces are in their ultimate analysis
the force of God Almighty. It can bring
no shadow OF an argument against the
proposition that whatever nature docs is
done by the Deity. II does not and can
not thrown any doubt upon the fact that
man is here with moral sentiments and
faculties, with inelfaceablo cognitions OF
right and wrong and indestructiblc recog.
milton OF his responsibility to law and
expectation Of interminablc existence.
These are the fundamental facts which
the Bible was intended TO impress on men.
and which would be facts II the Bible did
not teach them. Whether man came by
evolution from tadpolc or a monkey. or
whether by miraculous creation from pile
Of dust, these facts are still the same, the
same in history, the same in universal con-
seriousness, the same in their significance
| The intention Of tho Bible Is 10 emphasize
these facts that are already known, and to
| give them true direction. Tho first object
OF the Scriptures II 10 teach:
|. That man is n moral being. that he Is
therefore under moral obligation, and Is
responsible for his actions.
2. That man has violated moral law, and
is therefore criminal, liable to the penal
" OF violated law.
.. II teaches that the Deity in his mercy
has provided redemption for man, by
which he may escape the penalty OF Law
and reach eternal life.
4. II teaches that man, by faith In Jesus
Christ aud personal imitation fliyes, may
attain TO immortality oil soul, aud eternal
personal peace with God and moral gov
eminent.
These four great truths cannot be touch.
od by evolution or Darwinism:
/. That man Is a moral being, is q fact Of
science rs unassailablc m the law Of gray
itation. II Is interviewer by undyipg
threads OF consciousness, with every fiber
OF our being. To snuff ont mans con.
sciousness Of right or wrong, or his
feeling OF personal obligation, would
be TO snuff out his intelligence. There
Is moral science that stands
a. firmly based and indestructiblc rs any
physical science. II il plcasedtho Author
OF mans being 10 bring him TO the level OF
moral being by the ascending stair Of
physical development the method Of his
ascent can not inyalidalo the fact OF his
ascent, nor can Il lower or in the least de.
prceiatc the value and significance Of his
standing. lie Is there, no matter what
the way by which he came.
2. But the fact that man has violated
moral law, and Is therefore criminal, Is
as clear fact Of science. Moral law can
no more DO disputed than physical law.
Moral facts can no moro be questioned
than physical facts. IL IL one OF the old
est, the clcarost and most central facts Of
human knowledge and experience, that
man Is a criminal. Natural science,
neither through the theory OF evolution,
nor from any other point ~ view, can
throw the slightest doubt upon that fact
II there IL anything under which the
whole frame Of human nature, from th,
dawn Of history 30 the present moment
has been goaning. II Ia thodreadfnl, world
wide and perpetual fact Of human crime
OF profound consciousness OF guilt, and ex
expectation Of the penalty Of crime. Til,
would bo burning, blistering fact OF hu
man nature II there had never becn Z
Bible. II Is independent Of all revelation.
ID makes not tho slightest difference
whether mans progcnitofs were mollusks,
insects, fish or monkcys, man II neither
mollusk, fish or monkey. But ho IL man,
carrying Ia his breast the inciiaccable cog.
milton Of right aud wrong. and the mex
tinguishablo consciousness OF crime, and
tho haunting recognition that the pcnalt,
Of crime will inevitably recoiI upon him.
sclf-that ho Is Lost, in other words.
3. Nor can the theory Of evolution ration
ally contradict the scriptural statement
that all men need redemption, or that thoy
have boon redeemed. With that state
mcnt evolution has nothing 30 do. II Il
not matter for scientific inquiry, ailirma
lion. criticism or denial But mans owl