If the [Vestiges] be true, the labours of sober induction are in vain religion is a lie human law is a mass of folly, and a base injustice morality is moonshine our labours for the black people of Africa were works of madmen and man and woman are only better beasts!

The pretended physical philosophy of modern days strips Man of all his moral attributes, or holds them of no account in the estimate of his origin and place in the created world.

A cold atheistical materialism is the tendency of the so-called material philosophy of the present day.

The powers of nature are never in repose her work never stands still.

Volcanic action is essentially paroxysmal yet Mr. Lyell will admit no greater paroxysms than we ourselves have witnessed-no periods of feverish spasmodic energy, during which the very framework of nature has been convulsed and torn asunder. The utmost movements that he allows are a slight quivering of her muscular integuments.

From first to last it is a dish of rank materialism cleverly cooked up ... . And why is this done? For no other reason, I am sure, except to make us independent of a Creator.

As a system of philosophy it is not like the Tower of Babel, so daring its high aim as to seek a shelter against God's anger but it is like a pyramid poised on its apex.

We cannot take one step in geology without drawing upon the fathomless stores of by-gone time.