PREFACE.

I SHALL shortly state the circumstances which have induced me to come before the public with the present work.

Mr Combe is now well known, not only in this country, but on the Continent, and in America, as the most able, zealous, and active supporter and propagator of the new Science of Phrenology, or the doctrine founded on the discoveries of Doctors Gall and Spurzheim. In the preface to the Essay which we are now about to consider, he says, that Phrenology appears to him "to be the clearest, the most complete, and best supported system of human nature which has hitherto been taught," and that he has "assumed it as the basis of his work."

No one certainly could blame Mr Combe for adopting, in a work on the Constitution of Man, that system of human nature which he believed to be the best, and for making it the basis of his speculations; but, not contented with this, he has attacked our divines as guilty of a gross neglect of duty in not at once adopting the same views,

THE

HARMONY OF PHRENOLOGY

WITH

SCRIPTURE:

SHEWN IN

A REFUTATION OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL ERRORS

CONTAINED IN

MR COMBE'S "CONSTITUTION OF MAN."

BY WILLIAM SCOTT, Esq.

When men arrogantly abandon their guide, and wilfully shut their eyes on the light
of heaven, it is wisely ordained that their errors shall multiply at every step, until
their extravagance confutes itself, and the mischief of their principles works its own
antidote.-ROBERT HALL.

SECOND EDITION.

EDINBURGH:

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AND W. CURRY, JUN. & CO. DUBLIN.

Phil 5938.1

Reed March 6, 1846

4407 hand of 1942

622

EDINBURGH:
Printed by ANDREW SHORTREDE, Thistle Lane.

PREFACE,

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Page vii

EXAMINATION OF MR COMBE'S HYPOTHESIS, THAT THE WORLD IS CONSTI-
TUTED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SLOW AND PROGRESSIVE IMPROVEMENT
-GENERAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT.

Mr Combe's analogies in support of his Hypothesis-Analogies tending to prove the opposite of Mr Combe's doctrine-Evidence derived from History, and from Ancient Monuments, respecting the Condition of the Human Race in the Earliest Ages-Progress of Civilization over the World-Progress of Civilization in Britain, and the Causes which have given rise to the Improvement of its Inhabitants Conclusion of the Argument.

1

CHAPTER II.

MR COMBE'S OPPOSITION TO THE DOCTRINE OF DIVINES, RESPECTING THE
ORIGINAL PERFECTION, AND SUBSEQUENT DEGENERACY, OF THE
HUMAN RACE.

Statement of the Doctrine of Divines-Mr Combe's Theory-Question, which of these accords best with the Evidence-Recent Origin of ManState of man in Heathen Ages-Ruin of all the Ancient Empires,

CHAPTER III.

THE REMEDY FOR EXISTING EVILS.

First Propagation of Christianity, and its Effects Moral and other Improvements derived from Christianity-On the Efficacy of Preaching as a Means of Improvement,

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61

CHAPTER IV.

EXAMINATION OF MR COMBE'S VIEWS RESPECTING THE NATURAL LAWS.

I. General view of the subject-Views of the French Philosophers respecting the Natural Laws-Dr Spurzheim's views-Mr Combe's views