I did not see how to resist the inference that the book is made up of heterogeneous documents, and was not put forth by the direct dictation of the Spirit to Moses.
A new stimulus was after this given to my mind by two short conversations with the late excellent Dr.Arnold at Rugby.

I had become aware of the difficulties encountered by physiologists in believing the whole human race to have proceeded in about 6000 years from a single Adam and Eve; and that the longevity (not miraculous, but ordinary) attributed to the patriarchs was another stumbling-block.

The geological difficulties of the Mosaic cosmogony were also at that time exciting attention.

It was a novelty to me, that Arnold treated these questions as matters of indifference to religion; and did not hesitate to say, that the account of Noah's deluge was evidently mythical, and the history of Joseph "a beautiful poem." I was staggered at this.

If all were not descended from Adam, what became of St.Paul's parallel between the first and second Adam, and the doctrine of Headship and Atonement founded on it?
If the world was not made in six days, how could we defend the Fourth Commandment as true, though said to have been written in stone by the very finger of God?
If Noah's deluge was a legend, we should at least have to admit that Peter did not know this: what too would be said of Christ's allusion to it?
I was unable to admit Dr.Arnold's views; but to see a vigorous mind, deeply imbued with Christian devoutness, so convinced, both reassured me that I need not fear moral mischiefs from free inquiry, and indeed laid that inquiry upon me as a duty.
Here, however, was a new point started.