We may rejoice, therefore, in “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;” and, instead of being dismayed or disheartened because we cannot fathom the unfathomable depths of the unfathomable counsels of our God, we would rather say with St. Paul, “Who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?” and cling, with more tenacity than ever, to this sacred and holy Book, thus shown by its very mystery to be superhuman and supernatural, nothing less than a revelation from God. THE RACES. OUR subject now is one of almost unlimited extent, for we are to call as “witnesses” the races of the world. We are to take the evidence of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and of all the nations, tongues, peoples, and languages that are dispersed throughout them; and we are to consider the evidence which they bear to the inspiration of the Scriptures. As some limit must be put to such an enquiry, I propose to confine our thoughts to the study of one passage of Scripture; viz., Gen. ix. 25–27, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” Some people appear to speak with great disrespect of the Pentateuch. It is well, therefore, to take from it an ancient prophecy, and to study first the historical truth, and secondly the prophetical accuracy of these remarkable words. I. THE HISTORICAL TRUTH. It is not an uncommon thing in these days to set science in opposition to the Scriptures, and to speak as if the one were opposed to the other. As a general rule, the persons who do so are persons who have a very shallow acquaintance with either, for the truly scientific man, and the true student of the Scriptures, are both so conscious of their own limited attainments in the face of the vast fields of unlimited knowledge which are still unexplored, that they are sure to feel humbly on the subject, and to be very shy of bold assertions respecting matters that they do not understand. But, instead of science being opposed to the Scriptures, we are quite prepared to call in science as a witness to its truth; for science is the study of the creation of God, and it would be indeed strange if His own works were at variance with His Word. So we will turn now, if God permit, to one of the great results of modern scientific discovery, and see what testimony it bears to the truth of the Pentateuch.