It appears, then, if our general suggestion meets with any acceptance, that what occurred in the development of Hebrew religion was precisely what the Bible tells us did occur.  This must necessarily seem highly paradoxical to our generation; but the whole trend of our provisional system makes in favour of the paradox.  If savage nomadic Israel had the higher religious conceptions proved to exist among several of the lowest known races, these conceptions might be revived by a leader of genius.  They might, in a crisis of tribal fortunes, become the rallying point of a new national sentiment.  Obscured, in some degree, by acquaintance with ‘the idols of Egypt,’ and restricted and localised by the very national sentiment which they fostered, these conceptions were purified and widened far beyond any local, tribal, or national restrictions—­widened far as the flammantia moenia mundi—­by the historically unique genius of the Prophets.  Blended with the doctrine of our Lord, and recommended by the addition of Animism in its pure and priceless form—­the reward of faith, hope, and charity in eternal life—­the faith of Israel enlightened the world.

All this is precisely what occurred, according to the Old and New Testaments.  All this is just what, on our hypothesis, might be expected to occur if, out of the many races which, in their most backward culture, had a rude conception of a Moral Creative Being, relatively supreme, one race endured the education of Israel, showed the comparative indifference of Israel to Animism and ghost-gods, listened to the Prophets of Israel, and gave birth to a greater than Moses and the Prophets.

To this result the Logos, as Socrates says, has led us, by the path of anthropology.

[Footnote 1:  Science and Hebrew Tradition.]

[Footnote 2:  Op. cit. p. 361.]

[Footnote 3:_ Science and Hebrew Tradition_. p. 308.]

[Footnote 4:  Prin.  Soc. p. 306.]

[Footnote 5:  The Tshi-speaking Races, p. 183.]

[Footnote 6:  Some Australian tribes have cemeteries, and I have found one native witness, King Billy, to the celebration of the mysteries near one of these burying-places.  I have not discovered other evidence to this effect, though I have looked for it.  The spot selected is usually ‘near the camp,’ and the place for so large a camp in chosen, naturally, where the supply of food is adequate.]

[Footnote 7:  Cf. the Aryans, Principles of Sociology, p. 314.]

[Footnote 8:  Principles, p. 316.]

[Footnote 9:  Ibid. p. 317.]

[Footnote 10:  Jeremiah xvi. 6, 7.]

[Footnote 11:  Leviticus xix. 28.]

[Footnote 12:  Deuteronomy xxxiv. 6.]

[Footnote 13:  Short Introduction to History of Ancient Israel, pp. 83, 84.]

[Footnote 14:  Stade i 403.]

[Footnote 15:  Stade, i. 406.]

[Footnote 16:  Wellhausen, History of Israel, p. 437.  Mr. Oxford’s book is only noticed here because it is meant for a popular manual.  As Mr. Henry Foker says, ’it seems a pity that the clergy should interfere in these matters.’]