Adamites and Preadamites: a Hb A Popular Discussion CONCERNING The Remote Representatives of the Human Species and their Relation to the Biblical Adam, — ALEXANDER WIN! CHELL, LL.D., Professor of Geology and Loblogy in Syracuse University, and of Historical Geology and Zoblogy in the Vanderbilt University. [Originally published in the Northern Christian Advocate.] SYRACUSE, N. Y. JOHN T. ROBER1 1878,Adanites and Prendanites. CHAPTER I. A SAGACIOUS DUTCHMAN. In 1655 a small book appeared in Paris, which had for its title the unheard-of subject,“ Pre-Adamites.” It was written, in Latin, and its full title was as follows: Pra-Adamite, sive Exercitatio super Versibus duodecimo, decimo tertio et decimo quarto, capitis quinti Fpistole D. Pauli ad Romanos, quibus inducuntur Primi Homines ante Adamum conditi.” The book appeared anonymously; and those acquainted with the spirit of the dominant ecclesiasticism ‘ of that date will readily divine the motive of its author. It very « soon became known, however, that it was written by La Peyrere, - a Dutch ecclesiastic, whose name when Latinized was Peyrerius. * ‘The work was an attempt to prove from biblical authority that > men must have lived on the earth before Adam. Within a year ap- . peared its complement, from the pen of the same author, in which " the whole subject was newly argued and more thoroughly discussed. ‘This was a “ Theological System based on the Hypothesis of Pre- Adamites.” The two works may now occasionally be found in one volume. The Syracuse University possesses a copy. ‘The following year a book appeared in London, the title of which is a literal translation of that of “ Prae-Adamite,” but it includes also the “Systema Theologicum " of Peyrerius. In the undeveloped stage of scientific inquiry existing two and a quarter centuries ago, it is certain that no investigation respect- ing Pre-Adamites could have been conducted on true anthropo-6 ADAMITES AND PREADAMITES. of its sting. 6. Adam was the “first man” only in the same sense as Christ was the “second man;" for Adam “ was the fig- ure of Christ.” (v. 14.) °7. All men are of one blood in the sense of one substance —one “matter.” The Jews are descended from Adam ; the Gentiles from Pre-Adamites. The first chapter of Genesis treats of the origin of the Gentiles; the second, of the origin of the Jews. The Gentiles were created aborigines, in the beginning, by the “word” of God, in all lands; Adam, the father of the Jews, was formed of “clay,” by the “hand ” of God. Genesis, after the first chapter, is a history, not of the first men, but of the first Jews. 8. The existence of Pre-Adamites is also indicated in the biblical account of Adam's family, especially of Cain, who found a wife amongst some older peoples, and went forth in fear of violence from strange hands. 9. The biblical doctrine is corroborated by the evidence afforded by the “ monu- ments” of Egypt and Chaldea; and by the history of the astronomy, astrology, theology and magic of the Gentiles; as well as by the racial features of remote and savage tribes; and by those discoveries of fossil remains in the rocks, which were then recent events, but which have since become the founda- tion of the modern science of geology. 10. Hence the epoch of the creation of the world does not date from that “ begin- ning” commonly figured in Adam, but “ from a remoter beginning, which is to be sought in ageslong since passed.” 11. The deluge of Noah was not universal, and it destroyed only the Jews. Nor is it possible to trace to Noah the origins of all the races of men. Some of these positions were far in advance of the age; and it is only just to say that they were defended with learning and in- genuity, and, best of all, with moderation and candor. But they were all “heretical.” Peyrerius was, therefore, made a victim of the intolerance of the times. Numerous replies were thrown upon the world, in most of which, bitterness, contempt and denuncia- ° tion were employed to supply all deficiencies of argument. Many of these I have been able, through the kindness of Mr. Spofford, Librarian to Congress, to examine in the Congressional Library. The most important, whose translated titles I here present, will serve to convey an idea of the temper of the age. 1. “ No Pre-Adamite Being ; or a Confutation of a certain emp-