Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/362

 2 A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Exwninca..

its true and reasonable light. Let us hope that the intelli- gent, thoughtful, educated clergymen who so innocently shallowed the first exaggeration will be as ready to receive the truth on the subject as they were to accept the error. It is not our thought to speak slightingly of any one's honest endeavor to ascertain truth, however egregiously he may err in his attempts; neither is it our wish to make personal criticisms ; but extravagantly erroneous statements have been so freely made by men of large reputation and deficient comprehension, that it is necessary in defence of the truth, and for the assistance of the unlearned and non-professional, that this matter be critically examined. Our statements, therefore, are not to be considered personal, but a general criticism of all the learned men who have talked so foolishly upon this subject. Dr. Eaton and his figures merely come an conveniently at the present time. Our criticisms apply equally to the thousands of other great heads which Have similarly misapprehended the truth on this subject.

Before showing the reasonable figures for the total of humanity who have ever lived on this earth, let us give a simple illustration of the inaccuracy of Dr. Eaton's compu* tations that will be proof positive of the grossness of his error, even in his revised figures, to every one possessing a sufficiency of "gray matter" to be able to reason on any subject. Any one can demonstrate this matter, for the Doctor has told us Hs metnod of computation, namely, the doubling the popu- lation each century. Accordingly, the last century of the sixty would be the one-half of the entire sum, The demon- stration follows:

According to Dr. Eaton's largest figures the total population of the world at the present time

According to his second state-

According to the census taken

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