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 not--all 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