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the lights of the church and the light of science-第3部分
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remembered (apart from all written memorials) for the space of
150 years; being handed down through five generations; it must
be allowed (even on more human grounds) that the account which
Moses gives of the Temptation and the Fall is to be depended
upon; if it passed through no more than four hands between him
and Adam。
If 〃the trustworthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ〃 is to stand or
fall with the belief in the sudden transmutation of the chemical
components of a woman's body into sodium chloride; or on the
〃admitted reality〃 of Jonah's ejection; safe and sound; on the
shores of the Levant; after three days' sea…journey in the
stomach of a gigantic marine animal; what possible pretext can
there be for even hinting a doubt as to the precise truth of the
longevity attributed to the Patriarchs? Who that has swallowed
the camel of Jonah's journey will be guilty of the affectation
of straining at such a historical gnatnay; midgeas the
supposition that the mother of Moses was told the story of the
Flood by Jacob; who had it straight from Shem; who was on
friendly terms with Methuselah; who knew Adam quite well?
Yet; by the strange irony of things; the illustrious brother of
the divine who propounded this remarkable theory; has been the
guide and foremost worker of that band of investigators of the
records of Assyria and of Babylonia; who have opened to our
view; not merely a new chapter; but a new volume of primeval
history; relating to the very people who have the most numerous
points of contact with the life of the ancient Hebrews。
Now; whatever imperfections may yet obscure the full value of
the Mesopotamian records; everything that has been clearly
ascertained tends to the conclusion that the assignment of no
more than 4000 years to the period between the time of the
origin of mankind and that of Augustus Caesar; is wholly
inadmissible。 Therefore the Biblical chronology; which Canon
Rawlinson trusted so implicitly in 1859; is relegated by all
serious critics to the domain of fable。
But if scientific method; operating in the region of history; of
philology; of archaeology; in the course of the last thirty or
forty years; has become thus formidable to the theological
dogmatist; what may not be said about scientific method working
in the province of physical science? For; if it be true that the
Canonical Scriptures have innumerable points of contact with
civil history; it is no less true that they have almost as many
with natural history; and their accuracy is put to the test as
severely by the latter as by the former。 The origin of the
present state of the heavens and the earth is a problem which
lies strictly within the province of physical science; so is
that of the origin of man among living things; so is that of the
physical changes which the earth has undergone since the origin
of man; so is that of the origin of the various races and
nations of men; with all their varieties of language and
physical conformation。 Whether the earth moves round the sun or
the contrary; whether the bodily and mental diseases of men and
animals are caused by evil spirits or not; whether there is such
an agency as witchcraft or notall these are purely scientific
questions; and to all of them the Canonical Scriptures profess
to give true answers。 And though nothing is more common than the
assumption that these books come into conflict only with the
speculative part of modern physical science; no assumption can
have less foundation。
The antagonism between natural knowledge and the Pentateuch
would be as great if the speculations of our time had never been
heard of。 It arises out of contradiction upon matters of fact。
The books of ecclesiastical authority declare that certain
events happened in a certain fashion; the books of scientific
authority say they did not。 As it seems that this unquestionable
truth has not yet penetrated among many of those who speak and
write on these subjects; it may be useful to give a full
illustration of it。 And for that purpose I propose to deal; at
some length; with the narrative of the Noachian Deluge given
in Genesis。
The Bampton lecturer in 1859; and the Canon of St。 Paul's in
1890; are in full agreement that this history is true; in the
sense in which I have defined historical truth。 The former is of
opinion that the account attributed to Berosus records
a tradition
not drawn from the Hebrew record; much less the foundation of
that record; yet coinciding with it in the most remarkable way。
The Babylonian version is tricked out with a few extravagances;
as the monstrous size of the vessel and the translation of
Xisuthros; but otherwise it is the Hebrew history down to its
minutiae。 (p。 64)。
Moreover; correcting Niebuhr; the Bampton lecturer points out
that the narrative of Berosus implies the universality of
the Flood。
It is plain that the waters are represented as prevailing above
the tops of the loftiest mountains in Armeniaa height which
must have been seen to involve the submersion of all the
countries with which the Babylonians were acquainted (p。 66)。
I may remark; in passing; that many people think the size of
Noah's ark 〃monstrous;〃 considering the probable state of the
art of shipbuilding only 1600 years after the origin of man;
while others are so unreasonable as to inquire why the
translation of Enoch is less an 〃extravagance〃 than that of
Xisuthros。 It is more important; however; to note that the
Universality of the Deluge is recognised; not merely as a part
of the story; but as a necessary consequence of some of its
details。 The latest exponent of Anglican orthodoxy; as we have
seen; insists upon the accuracy of the Pentateuchal history of
the Flood in a still more forcible manner。 It is cited as one of
those very narratives to which the authority of the Founder of
Christianity is pledged; and upon the accuracy of which 〃the
trustworthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ〃 is staked; just as
others have staked it upon the truth of the histories of
demoniac possession in the Gospels。
Now; when those who put their trust in scientific methods of
ascertaining the truth in the province of natural history find
themselves confronted and opposed; on their own ground; by
ecclesiastical pretensions to better knowledge; it is;
undoubtedly; most desirable for them to make sure that their
conclusions; whatever they may be; are well founded。 And; if
they put aside the unauthorised interference with their business
and relegate the Pentateuchal history to the region of pure
fiction; they are bound to assure themselves that they do so
because the plainest teachings of Nature (apart from all
doubtful speculations) are irreconcilable with the assertions
which they reject。
At the present time; it is difficult to persuade serious
scientific inquirers to occupy themsel
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