Bos. The Ox. The bones of the ox tribe are common in several parts of Europe. 8. Hyena. The fossil remains of this animal, are also common in Europe. 9. Equus. The Horse. Common in many places. 10. Megalonyx. (Jefferson,) Green Briar. Virginia. Not yet found in any other place. Historical proofs of the Deluge. Notwithstanding the abundant proofs, which, in the opinions of most geologists, the earth presents, of a general deluge, there are still some respectable writers on that subject, who, giving no credit to the Mosaic History, seek out other causes, to which they attribute the effects generally assigned to that catastrophe. It is a point of great importance in geology, to show clearly, that this earth was once drowned by a flood of wa ters, because if this be not a truth, few facts in the natural history of the earth can be depended upon, since few are better established, than that there was a deluge. This being in relation to our subject, merely a question of science, we at present claim nothing for the truth of the Mosaic history, as an argument in its favor. The fact of a universal cataclysm is not only shown by the appearance of the earth, but by civil history, by tradition, and by the condition and number of its inhabitants. The paucity of mankind, and the vast tracts of uninhabited land which are mentioned in the history of the primitive ages, show that the human race at present on the earth, are but of recent origin, and that they sprung from a small stock; and to this may be added that the great number of petty kingdoms and states in the first ages, concur to the same purpose.-Horne's Introduction, vol. i. p. 170. man. The existing population in North America, is in itself sufficient to show the recent origin of the present race of Had the millions of people which existed before the deluge, continued to increase in the same ratio that the Americans have, during the last two hundred years, and this without reference to immigration, is it probable that any part of this earth would now remain uninhabited? Were we to make an estimate of the number of inhabitants which North America will contain two thousand years hence, taking the last two hundred as data, where should we find a vacant spot, during the existence of such countless millions; and yet the present race have continued to increase, we suppose, for more than four thousand years. If there was no catastrophe which destroyed the great body of mankind, and had they continued to increase from the creation, is there not every reason to believe, nay, is it not quite certain that their numbers would have been vastly more numerous than they actually are? Pretended Antiquity of some Nations. It has been said, that several nations could trace their antiquity to periods before the historical date of the deluge. These pretensions, when carefully examined, have been found, in every instance, to be entirely groundless. It is well known that the Hindoos claim the highest antiquity for their nation and their learning. Sir William Jones, who examined the authorities on which these high claims were founded, became convinced, that such pretensions were without the least foundation in truth. "We find," says that eminent scholar, "no certain monuments, or even probable tradition, (among these people,) of nations planted; empires and states raised; laws enacted; cities built; navigation improved; commerce encouraged; arts invented; or letters contrived, above twelve, or at most, fifteen or sixteen centuries before the birth of Christ." Indeed, it is known from the researches of those who have made the literature and antiquities of that nation a subject of study, that they possess no authentic history which dates anterior to the third or fourth century of our era. There is a popular opinion that the Chinese are able to trace the history of their nation to a very remote antiquity; and yet, on examination, they do not pretend to possess any knowledge of their own nation, anterior to the eleventh century before the Christian era, and even this is probably, almost, if not entirely fabulous. We shall notice further on this point, that the pretensions which the Egyptians have made to the great antiquity of their nation, appear to have been founded on their mode of reckoning time, by which a year consisted of a lunar month, or thirty days, instead of 365 days; and that the claims of the Chaldeans to profound science and remote antiquity, are equally unfounded. According to Berosus they knew so little of Astronomy, the oldest of the sciences, as to consider the moon a luminous body, which sheds its own light instead of borrowing it from the sun. In fine, so far as examination has been made, the history, the arts, the antiquities, and the languages of all nations concur to prove the comparatively recent origin of the present races of men. Tradition proves the Mosaic account of the Deluge. A tradition of the deluge, in many instances very nearly coinciding with the account given of that catastrophe by Moses, has been almost universally preserved among the ancient nations. It is indeed a very remarkable fact concerning that event, that the memory, or traditions of most nations ends with some traces of its history, however imperfect. This is even the case with several of the nations recently discovered, and before unknown to the civilized world, and which therefore could not have derived this tradition from the history of Moses, or from the communications of travellers. Without reciting in detail the abundant proof which authors contain on this subject, we must content ourselves by adverting to a few of these traditions. Josephus affirms that Berosus, the Chaldean historian, has related the circumstances of a great deluge in which all mankind perished except a few, and that Noachus, the preserver of the human race, was carried in an ark to the summit of an Armenian mountain. Josephus also testifies that Hieronimus, the Egyptian historian, who wrote the antiquities of the Phoenicians, and Nicholas of Damascus, together with other writers, in common with Berosus, speak of this same deluge. Likewise there is a fragment preserved of Abydemus, an ancient Assyrian historian, in which it is said, not only that there was a deluge, but that it was foretold before it happened, and that birds were sent forth from the ark three different times to see whether the waters had abated. This fragment also states that the ark was driven to Armenia. It is hardly necessary to observe how nearly these accounts agree with that of Moses, and yet it is by no means supposed, that they were derived from the sacred writings, but from the traditions of the nations among whom these historians resided. Among the Greeks, Plato mentions the great deluge, in which cities were destroyed and the useful arts lost. And Diodorus affirms that there was a tradition among the Egyptians, that almost all animals perished by a general deluge, which happened in Deucalion's time. Now commentators and scholars inform us, that Deucalion's flood, and that of Noah's are the same. Plutarch in his account of the sagacity of animals says, that a dove was sent out by Deucalion, which coming back to the ark again, was a sign that the flood continued, but afterwards flying away, proved that there was dry land. Lucian mentions Deucalion's flood, and states that only a remnant of the human family was saved from its effects. He also says that the present race of man was not the first, but that all were destroyed, except Deucalion and his family, and that this destruction was caused by the wickedness of man. Many more examples of a similar kind are noted by authors, but we shall only mention that traditions of the flood, more or less mixed with fable, are retained by the Hindoos, Burmans and Chinese. The tradition of the latter refers not only directly to the deluge itself, but also to the cause of it, viz. the wickedness of man. Similar traditions are also traced among the ancient Goths and Druids, as well as among the recent Mexicans, Brazilians, and Nicaraguans; to which may be added the newly discovered people of Western Caledonia, the Otaheitans, before their conversion to Christianity, and the Sandwich Islanders. See Bishop Newton's works and Horne's Introduction, vol. i. From these various facts it is manifest that the heathen were not only acquainted by tradition with the fact of a universal deluge, but also with many of its circumstances, and that these traditions often bear a striking analogy to the account given by Moses. In closing this part of our subject, we may remark, that few facts stated in history, can bring to its support so much concurrent testimony, as that of a universal deluge. The face of the earth almost every where records its effects, and often in the most eloquent and striking manner, so that the rocks themselves are everlasting witnesses against the folly of unbelievers. Profane history is not silent on this subject, but brings forward her testimony in quantity more than sufficient to establish an ordinary fact. Tradition though blunted by fable clearly testifies to the same truth. And lastly the Sacred Scrip tures, written by the express command of Divine Authority, have not only described in the most simple and lucid terms this awful catastrophe, but have explained the reason why such a calamity was brought upon our race. The Ark of Noah. It has been objected against the Mosaic history, with confidence, and undoubtedly often with considerable effect, that it is very improbable, Noah, at that period of the arts, could have constructed an ark of sufficient capacity to contain specimens of all the animals on the earth, together with his own family, and such a quantity of provisions as to sustain the whole for the term of 150 days. But this objection will instantly vanish when the dimensions of this vessel are considered. The dimensions of Noah's ark were three hundred cubits in length, fifty in breadth, and thirty in height, and consisted of three decks, stories or floors. Reckoning the cubit at a foot and a half, or eighteen inches, Dr. Hales has proved that the ark was of the burthen of 42,413 tons, as we compute the tonnage of ships at the present day. A first rate man of war is between 2,200 and 2,300 tons, and consequently the ark had a capacity of stowage equal to eighteen such ships, the largest now in use. It might therefore have carried 20,000 men with provisions for six months, besides the weight of 1,800 cannon, and other necessary equipments and military stores for such an armament. Can it be doubtful therefore whether this vessel had sufficient capacity to contain eight persons, and about 200 or 250 pairs of four footed beasts, a number, to which according to Buffon, all the various distinct species may be reduced, together with pairs of such fowls, reptiles, and creeping things, as cannot live under water, and provisions for the whole, even for a year.* Was the Deluge Universal? We have stated at the *Dr. Hale's Analysis of Chronology, vol. i, p. 328. The reader who desires to pursue this subject, will find a good summary in Horne's Introduction to the Critical study of the Scriptures, vol. i. But the books which treat the subject more at large and in connection with Geology, are Howard's History of the Earth and Man, 4to.___ Buckland's Reliquiæ Diluvianæ. Cuvier's Theory of the Earth. Ure's New System of Geology, and Penn's Comparative Estimate of the Mineral and Mosaical Geologies. |