The British and Foreign Review (Volume 12, No. 23); Or, European Quarterly Journal

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1841. Excerpt: ... writings. It cannot therefore be conceived unfair to cast a glance upon the scriptural account of man, in order to ascertain how it agrees with his theory. We apprehend that Mr. Combe himself would not dare openly to deny that virtue and happiness are the two principal objects of human attainment; so much so, that when they, on the whole, are augmented, man's condition is improved; when they are diminished, his condition is deteriorated, whatever may be the tendency of subordinate considerations. The scriptural account then is as follows: God created all things good, and man after his own image. We are given to understand, that man was in the first instance created perfectly innocent and happy, free from pain and death. This, then, is the startingpoint. Let us now search for the improvement The first event of importance, affecting the condition of mankind, is the transgression of Adam, and the consequent entrance of sin and labour, pain and death into the world. The next important event on record is the destruction of all mankind, save eight persons, by the Deluge, on account of the great and universal depravity of mankind. The next and last general incident recorded respecting the whole race, is the building of the tower of Babel in defiance of the Almighty. The consequence of this was the curse of different languages, and the consequent division into separate nations. After this, the covenanted portion of the human race may be regarded as the representatives of their condition. The Jews then began their national career as a pious and prosperous people: their nationality was terminated by the most terrible disasters which ever befell any nation. If, too, their own historian may be trusted, the inhabitants of Jerusalem were as remarkable for their crimes as for their misfortunes. ...