Among the later writers in opposition to the descent of mankind from a single pair is Pro fessor Alexander Winchell, in Preadamites, or a Demonstration of the Existence of Men Before Adam, Chicago, 1880. A multitude of able writ ers may be found who have advocated the unity of the human races. Among them may be enu merated Sir James Nlackintosh, Sharon Turner, Chevalier Bunsen, Bishop Berkeley, John Locke, Lord Brougham, Linmeus, Cuvier, Professor Buckland, Sir Charles Bell, Baron Humboldt. The arguments for this unity may be briefly summed up as follows: (I) Animals Widely Dispersed. The animals which render eminent services to man, and pe culiarly depend upon his protection, are widely diffused—the horse, the dog, the hog, the domes tic fowl. Now, of these the varieties in each species are numerous and different, to a degree so great that an observer ignorant of physiologidal history would scarcely believe them to be of the same species. But man is the most widely dif fused of any animal. In the progress of ages and generations he has naturalized himself to every climate and to modes of life which would prove fatal to an individual man suddenly transferred from a remote point of the field. The alterations produced affect every part of the body, internal and external, without extinguishing the marks of the specific identity.
(2) Comparison of Races. A further and strik ing evidence is, that when persons of different varieties arc conjugally united, the offspring, espe cially in two or three generations, becomes more prolific and acquires a higher perfection in physical and mental qualities than was found in either of the parental races. From the deepest African black to the finest Caucasian white, the change runs through imperceptible gradations, and, if a middle hue be assumed, suppose some tint of brown, all the varieties of complexion may be explained upon the principle of divergence influ enced by outward circumstances. The conclusion may be fairly drawn, in the words of the able translators and illustrators of Baron Curler's great work : 'We are fully warranted in concluding, both from the comparison of man with inferior animals, so far as the inferiority will allow of such comparison, and, beyond that, by comparing him with himself, that the great family of man kind loudly proclaim a descent, at some period or other, from one common origin.' (3) Cradle of Man. Follow the clue of history and it will lead us to the Mosaic Cradle of Man. mankind now reduced to a single family only time would be wanting, even without civiliza tion. to overspread the earth.
(4) Comparative Philology. Comparative Phil ology brings us to the same point. The striking analogies of language reveal man's essential unity.
(5) Mental Unity. There is a deep, real motto/
unity of the universal soul embracing the same intellect, affections, instincts, conscience, sense of superior Divine power and susceptibility of re ligion; there is the same power in the cross of Christ for the European, the Esquimaux, and the I lottentot.
(6) Comparatively Recent Origin. Geology demonstrates the comparatively recent origin of man and fails to reveal any arguments for a diver sity of races.
We may say, with Baron Humboldt, in his Cosmos: "Deeply rooted in the man's inmost na ture, as well as commanded by his highest ten dencies, the full recognition of the bond of hu manity of the community of the whole human race, with the sentiments and sympathies which spring therefrom. becomes a leading principle in the history of man" (vol. I, p. 351).
Thus, by an investigation totally independent of historical authority, we are brought to the conclusion of the inspired writings, that the Cre ator 'bath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth' (Acts xvii :26).
2. tile Original Capacities and Condition of Our First Parents have also been the subject of much discussion, hut lure again we shall find that the bent conclusions of reason harmonize fully on this point with the succinct Scriptural account of the facts as they occurred.
(1) Created in Maturity. It is evident upon a little reflection, and the closest investigation con firms the conclusion, that the first human pair must have been created in a state equivalent to that which all subsequent human beings have had to reach by slow degrees, in growth, experience. observation, imitation. and the instruction of others; that is, a state of prime maturity. They must have been endowed also with an infusion, eoncreat ion. or whatever we may call it, of knowl edge and habits, both pliv,ical and intellectual. suitable to the place which man had to occupy in the system of creation, and adequate to his necessities in that place.
Had it been otherwise, the new beings could not have preserved their animal existence, nor have held rational converse with each other, nor have paid to their Creator the homage of knowl edge and love, adoration and obedience, and rea son clearly tells us that the last was the noblest end of existence.
The Bible coincides with this dictate of honest reason, expressing these facts in simple and art less language, suited to the circumstances of the men to whom revelation was first granted. 'And Jehovah God formed the man [Heb. the Adam), dust from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living animal' (Gen. ii :7). here are two objects of at tention, the organic mechanism of the human body, and the vitality with which it was endowed.