quities : "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (Gen. vi. 12, 13.) The fiat went forth, and the whole world of mankind, with all the results of their labour, and the productions of their genius, sank into one common ruin. Yet, in judgment He remembered mercy; and as the earth contained one righteous man, the Lord saved him and his family from the common destruction, to show unto all ages that he discerneth between those that serve him, and those that serve him not.

CHAPTER V.

THE DELUGE.

REASON of the Calamity-Scriptural Account of it-Wickedness of Man -Faith of Noah-Form of the Ark-2 Peter ii. 5-Provision for the Safety of the lower Animals-The Catastrophe The Release-OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED-Alleged Impossibility and Want of Necessity-Alleged Difficulty of accounting for the Quantity of Water-Alleged Want of historical Confirmation-PROOF TO THE CONTRARY-Identity of Heathen Deities with the Noachian Family-Osiris- Bacchus- Saturn- Uranus- Deucalion- AtlasOracles of Zoroaster-Theology of ancient Egypt-Hindu Triad— Greece and Rome-Persia-Scandinavia-Sacred Names, Buildings, and Rites of the Heathen World-Temple of Theba-Processions of the sacred Ship-Picture at Herculaneum-Symbolic Ark of Bacchus-Historical and traditional Evidence-BerosusLucian-Apamean Medal-Traditions of the Hindus-ChinesePersians-Egyptians-Scandinavians-Jewish and Christian Testimonies American Traditions-British Traditions-The Geologists, their Agreements, Differences, and Admissions-Necessity for the Scriptures-Value of corroborative historical Testimony.

We have now to contemplate the most terrible infliction with which our world was ever visited; an infliction as extensive in its range, as it was destructive in its effects. The world had existed more than two thousand years, and had become exceedingly populous. On it God had sent showers of blessings, and given unnumbered displays of his goodness; but now he speaks the word, and it is subjected to wide and wasting ruin. Before we proceed to consider the important particulars included in the subject of the Deluge, it may be well distinctly to notice the immediate cause of this fearful calamity. The Flood did not destroy the world because its Maker had ceased to regard the workmanship of his hands, and to watch over the creatures to whom he had given existence; nor was it destroyed for his pleasure, or as a part of the purpose of his

will concerning it; nor from any cause beyond the Divine control, by the law of an unalterable fate. No; the world was destroyed by God, when he would have preserved it; destroyed by him in the exercise of his Divine government and watchful care. The world was judicially destroyed on account of the sins of its inhabitants. No truth within the whole compass of revelation is more clearly enunciated than this. While, therefore, this great event exhibits the holiness and justice of God, and the moral responsibility of man, it speaks, in language not to be misunderstood, “Verily, there is a God that judgeth in the earth: ""The wicked shall not be unpunished." We call special attention to this fact, because a distinct recognition of its truth and influence, is, as we conceive, essential to a correct understanding of the subject. It is the great and prominent feature of the case. The Deluge may, and undoubtedly does, present to our view many curious and interesting, as well as grand and mysterious, subjects; all worthy of careful research and serious attention. But, over all these, the fact to which we have adverted should cast the serious influence of its deep solemnity. The Flood was a Divine infliction, a punishment of sin. It exhibits the Divine government, shows the purity and justice of God, and places those attributes before us in energetic operation. We see the world corrupt and impure, and filled with violence; the whole world sunk into the unmitigated darkness of error and iniquity. Or, if this darkness is at all broken, it is only by the piety and preaching of one individual man. We gaze

in painful surprise on the moral desolation of the scene; and while we look, the clouds of Divine vengeance gather, the floods descend, the unrighteous are swept away in one universal ruin, the whole earth is submerged in the mighty deep. But, amid all this vengeance, mercy to man is richly manifested in the preservation of the righteous family; who, enclosed within the ark by the Divine appointment, float in safety over the watery expanse, and ultimately leave their sanctuary to occupy a renovated earth, and to supply it with a new series of inhabitants.

It is in this aspect that we propose to investigate this interesting subject.

Our first object will be to explain and illustrate the scripture narrative; after which we shall furnish the corroborative evidence which is afforded by profane history; adding such general observations as may be required.

The first intimation of the Divine purpose is communicated in these remarkable terms: " And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Gen. vi. 5—8.)

It is impossible for a serious mind to read these words without being painfully affected by their serious peculiarity.

The testimony thus borne to the general character of mankind is not relieved by one single righteous feature. The thoughts of the heart are evil, unmixed evil in continual operation. From this unholy source flowed unmingled. impurity of conduct. Men were wicked, their wickedness was great, and, as population increased, was going on at a fearful rate of progress. Religion did not exist, and sin reigned in uncontrolled dominion. No language can more fully exhibit this case, in all the depth and intensity of its evil, than the words of the sacred text just cited.

But the most remarkable part of this declaration is that which refers to the feelings and judgment of the Divine Mind on this lamentable state of things. We must, of course, admit that the language employed is used, to some extent, figuratively; just as when eyes, ears, and hands are attributed to the Divine Being. God cannot change his mind, or be the subject of pain, which would, in the ordinary application of language, appear to be indicated by the terms "repented," and "grieved him at his heart." But

we greatly err if we allow our knowledge of this obvious fact to explain away or neutralize the meaning of this important portion of holy writ. The words are a part of inspired truth, chosen by the Holy Spirit to describe what took place on this momentous occasion; and they are replete with meaning, however difficult it may be in other or added terms to set forth this meaning more clearly. We are, however, plainly told that the great wickedness of the world was not only observed by the Divine Being, but that it made an impression, produced an effect, on His mind, which is best exhibited to our limited apprehension by the words we have quoted. Again: we are taught by this language, that even when Jehovah enters into judgment, he ceases not to be compassionate and merciful; but that the influence of these attributes does not prevent the exercise of His justice. We add a translation of the Septuagint rendering of this passage, which may aid us in entering more fully into its meaning than any lengthened observations: "And the Lord God having seen that the wicked actions of men were multiplied upon the earth, and that every one in his heart was intently brooding over evil continually, then God laid it to heart that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered it deeply. And God said, I will blot out man whom I have made from the face of the earth, even man, with cattle, and reptiles, with flying creatures of the sky; for I am grieved that I have made them." *

Immediately after the Divine purpose was thus declared, it was communicated to Noah: "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hun

* This, and most of the translations from the Septuagint which we may give in future pages, are taken from Bagster's English Version by Sir L. C. L. Brenton, Bart.