however, has been produced to place the subject beyond dispute.

The history which is given by Moses, of this terrific overthrow of a sinful world, is evidently the most ancient of any that has ever been preserved, and might, therefore, be expected to contain a more full and perfect account of that memorable event than any other now extant: And to all such as have examined this subject with attention, it must be obvious, that the account which Moses furnishes is the most full, simple and consistent, that has ever been submitted for rational inspection.

The probability of such an event as the deluge, is strengthened and confirmed by appearances, which admit of no other satisfactory solution: I mean the vast quantities of marine substances, found in every country, upon the highest mountains, at all distances from the sea, and to considerable depths below the surface of the earth. These must either have been tossed by the violence of earthquakes from the bed of the sea, to their present deposits, or have been formed during the long period which the waters of the flood remained upon the earth. But the supposition, that it was the effect of earthquakes, is totally inadmissible, since they are found upon the highest mountains, and at the greatest distances from the ocean. The only conclusion, therefore, which will bear the scrutiny of reason, is, that they were formed during the period in which the earth was overflowed, in the days of Noah.

A method which has sometimes been employed to account for these extensive fragments of marine production, by supposing that they might have been left by those gradual recedings of the ocean, from some parts of the earth, which have been recorded by historians; is, to say the least of it, extremely improbable, if not impossible :-For all the changes effected by the cause here urged, which historians have noticed, or tradition has handed down from the remotest antiquity, will bear no comparison with the effects which are too obvious for denial, in every part of the globe, of marine substances, which must have been left behind, when the waters of the deluge retreated. Indeed, the hypothesis we are considering, appears to be so

wild and extravagant, that we can see no reason for its being offered, except the unavoidable strait to which the deniers of revelation are driven by the unanswerable evidences of a general deluge, in every part of the globe. And when we consider all the instances which ever have, or can be produced, of additional portions of land to either islands or continents, by the waves of the sea; the accession has been so slow, and so trifling, that it would involve the conclusion of the world's antiquity, little inferior to the absurdity of its absolute eternity-But this hypothesis has already been refuted in the first lecture of this course.

It would be an unnecessary labor, besides an unreasonable tax upon your patience, to lay before you the objections which have been urged against the deluge, by ingenious philosophers, with the able, clear and conclusive replies which have been furnished by the friends of revelation. But I can refer those who wish to examine the arguments upon this subject at large, to the Encyclopedia, where they will find all the arguments and evidences which appear to be worth preserving and handing down to posterity, upon a subject so important to the faith and interest of revealed religion; and which are confidently believed to be sufficient to remove all doubts that may arise, respecting the veracity and credibility of the Hebrew historian.

I have now shown by undeniable evidence, that the Mosaic history of the deluge is supported by the testimony of all the most ancient nations, whose histories or traditions have reached the present age: I have proved, that in every continent, and among the most refined, as well as the most barbarous nations of the globe, the same general outlines of the deluge have been retained and believed, through all the generations which have succeeded that memorable epoch. And I now submit the question to the decision of your reason and sober understanding, whether any fact which must depend upon the voice of history, the voice of tradition, and the phys→ ical evidences which are scattered over the whole surface of the globe, has ever received a more full, clear, and ample support than the interesting part of the Mosaic history which has been the subject of this lecture: And

I am fully persuaded that whoever will consider the evidences which I have laid before you, with the least degree of candor, will be fully satisfied of the unqualified credit to which the Mosaic history is entitled.

But, after all the facts and evidences which have been adduced in support of the event which Moses has recorded, of an universal deluge, which destroyed the old world, we are urged, by the boasting disciples of reason, to shut our eyes against all these formidable evidences of truth, and attribute the whole narrative to the craft of a designing priesthood, and the eredulity of a world of superstitious, weak and deceived enthusiasts! And suppose we were to make the attempt; how should we reconcile the absurdity of supposing that the most distant ages and nations; of the most opposite opinions and religions; as well as pursuits and manners; should all agree without the least motive, or previous concert, to bear a united testimony to the same subject, for which no adequate foundation, reason or evidence was afforded? And further, we beg leave to ask them, in our turn; if the account which the bible furnishes of the deluge be not true, how will they, or how can they account for the existence of such an ample and universal testimony of the fact, as has bid defiance to the hand of time to erase, and all the arts of skepticism to evade? In closing this Lecture, I feel constrained to ask you, my hearers, what evidence have those, who would persuade you to reject the evidences of revelation, offered to convince you that the history of Moses, which records this tremendous event, is not true? Have they, or can they produce a single particle of proof, that the testimony of Moses is false? They dare not attempt to offer you evidence; for they know that the attempt would be fraught with nothing but insolence, and the most glaring abuse of your understandings. They may, indeed, scoff; they may ridicule the most solemn truths of revelation; but her solid foundations they can never remove, or even, for an hour, shake!

The Saviour of the world, not only accredited, but quoted the testimony of Moses, concerning the deluge, to enforce the solemn conviction of a tremendous judgment which hung over the polluted nation of the Jews. And

I may add ; an inspired apostle of our Lord, has admonished us, that this signal display of the righteous judgment of God, is a prelude to that awful catastrophe when the globe shall be wrapped in liquid fire, the elements be made to commingle by fervent heat, all human prospects be consumed, a just retribution be administered to every man, according to his works, and the end of the Messiah's reign be accomplished, in subduing all things to his government and kingdom.

7*

LECTURE VI.

ST. LUKE xvii. 27.

"They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark: and the flood came and destroyed them all.”

In commencing the subject of labor for this evening, I feel it important to notice a popular and prevailing objection to the doctrine of a general deluge, which was the burden of our last Lecture.

It is indeed acknowledged, that marine substances, both animal and vegetable, are scattered over the whole face of the globe, in such abundance, that to deny the fact of its having been at one time, or at different times, or by parts, successively overflowed with water, would betray an unpardonable ignorance of the surface of the globe, or a disgraceful indifference to the instruction which history has furnished to every enlightened and civilized nation, from the remotest records of antiquity. It is therefore admitted by the opposers of the Bible, that partial inundations of the earth have happened at different periods, and in almost every part of the globe: But still they deny the fact of a general, or universal deluge, because, as they contend, there is not a sufficient quantity of water attached to our orb, to produce such an overflow as described in the history by Moses.

If this assertion be true, they are indeed somewhat excusable for their unbelief: for natural impossibilities are never to be admitted, except where the evidence of the immediate and miraculous power of God, amounts to absolute demonstration of the fact proposed: We must therefore inquire whether there is, or is not, a sufficient quantity of water attached to our globe, to produce the deluge for which we have contended. I am aware, that I might safely refer you to the divine agency, for a cause,