been evolved by natural processes, lasting for millions of
years, out of structureless rudiments. A person who is not a
Hebrew scholar can only stand aside and admire the marvellous
flexibility of a language which admits of such diverse
interpretations. But assuredly, in the face of such
contradictions of authority upon matters respecting which he is
incompetent to form any judgment, he will abstain, as I do, from
giving any opinion.

In the third place, I have carefully abstained from speaking of
this as the Mosaic doctrine, because we are now assured upon the
authority of the highest critics and even of dignitaries of the
Church, that there is no evidence that Moses wrote the Book of
Genesis, or knew anything about it. You will understand that I
give no judgment--it would be an impertinence upon my part to
volunteer even a suggestion--upon such a subject. But, that
being the state of opinion among the scholars and the clergy, it
is well for the unlearned in Hebrew lore, and for the laity, to
avoid entangling themselves in such a vexed question.
Happily, Milton leaves us no excuse for doubting what he means,
and I shall therefore be safe in speaking of the opinion in
question as the Miltonic hypothesis.

Now we have to test that hypothesis. For my part, I have no
prejudice one way or the other. If there is evidence in favour
of this view, I am burdened by no theoretical difficulties in
the way of accepting it; but there must be evidence.
Scientific men get an awkward habit--no, I won't call it that,
for it is a valuable habit--of believing nothing unless there is
evidence for it; and they have a way of looking upon belief