I submit this Work to the Public. To them I answer, that the history of the four last books of the Pentateuch forms one subject perfectly distinct from the history of the book of Genesis, except so far as it is connected with the account of the fall of man in

GALE, in his Court of the Gentiles, has traced the original of human literature, both philologic and philosophic, from the Scriptures and the Jewish Church, with a great variety of argument, and a great extent of erudition. Vide his First Part, as to the traduction of the Pagan literature and mythology from the Jews; and his second, as to the original of philosophy. In this work, the zeal for carrying his system to a great extent has perhaps led this learned Author too far, but unquestionably he has collected a body of most important evidence, which establishes the truth of the Scripture History.

BOCHART'S Phaleg, tracing the dispersion of mankind; and BRYANT'S Analysis of Ancient Mythology; confirm this coincidence. But the Works of Bochart and Bryant are perhaps too voluminous and learned for the generality of students. They will find the testimonies of antiquity to the truth of the Scriptures clearly but briefly exhibited, by GROTIUS, in his Truth of the Christain Religion, with Le Clerc's valuable notesby ALLIX, in his Reflections on Genesis xix. and xx., and on the Historical and Prophetical Books, Chap. ii., a work included in Watson's Tracts-by the BISHOP of LINCOLN, in his Elements of Christain Theology, Part I. chap. i.—and especially by the learned Mr FABER, in his Hora Mosaicæ, Book I. Sect. 1. to whose work I refer, as superseding the necessity of my entering any further into this subject.

It may not be inexpedient to observe here, that another topic from which the authority and credibility of the Pentateuch, and indeed of the entire Old Testament, derives great confirmation, is the agreement of the manners and customs of the East, as they incidentally appear in the Sacred Records, with the manners and customs which history proves prevailed in the East at the period when the events related in Scripture took place; and from the great illustration which the Scriptures have received, by comparing them with the observations of modern travellers, on the productions, the manners, and the feelings prevalent in the East at this day; where, from the peculiar stability of established manners and customs, clear vestiges still remain of that state of society which the Scriptures describe. On this subject, I refer to HARMER'S Observations on Scripture which have been judiciously added to, improved and applied, by Mr BURDER, in his Oriental Customs applied to illustrate the Scriptures.

I will conclude this already too long, but I hope not useless note, by referring the Student desirous at once of extending his knowledge, and confirming his faith to the Rev. Mr MAURICE's History of Hindostan, and to the accomplished Sir WILLIAM JONES'S Researches into the History and Antiquities of Asia, and those of his learned Colleagues; where he will find multiplied confirmations of the truth of the Scripture history, derived from the most unsuspected sources, and delivered with the greatest clearness and candour.

To limit his search, I would direct the student particularly to consult Mr Maurice's History, Vol. I. chap. i. where he points out the striking circumstances of similarity between the Hindoo, the Hebraic, the Phoenician, the Egyptian, and the Grecian systems of cosmogony! as in their account of the incumbent wind or spirit agitating the abyss of water, being the primæval element, &c. I would also refer to his second

the grand economy of grace. The evidence of the divine original of the Mosaic Law may therefore be clearly exhibited without including the consideration of the facts recorded in the book of Genesis. I add, that in the natural order of reasoning, the

chapter, which shows that the Indian claims to antiquity are fallacious and cannot be opposed to the Mosaic history and the Hebrew chronology: to his tenth chapter, in which he concludes his learned and laborious investigation into the history of astronomy, and proves that the result of the whole survey, so far from subverting, gives a decided support to the Mosaic records. In the eleventh chapter, we find the Mosaic history of Adam and the fall confirmed by the Indian records and traditions-in the twelfth, the Mosaic account of the antedeluvians receives similar illustration; and in the thirteenth, the history of the deluge receives the most full, and I had almost said, irresistible confirmation. In Vol. II. Book ii. chap. ii. the Student will find many solid arguments to prove that ancient Sanscreet writings corroborate the Mosaic records; and in Book iv. he will find it, I think, irrefutably established, that "immemorial traditions diffused over all the East, and derived from a patriarchal source, concerning the fall of man, the original promise, and a future Mediator, had taught the whole gentile world to expect the appearance of a sacred and illustrious personage about the time of Christ's advent." Here also the opinions I have ventured to advance concerning Zoroaster and the Magi,* are illustrated and confirmed; and the similitude between the life and conduct of the Messiah and of Creeshna, the great Indian preserver, described and accounted for. And in the fifth chapter of the same book will be found ancient predictions traditionally preserved, respecting the day of judgment, and the destruction of the world by fire.

From the ASIATIC RESEARCHES I will point out some testimonies to the truths of the Sacred History, most directly connected with the subject of this work. In the first volume, p. 229, we find a dissertation on the Gods of Greece, Italy, and India, in which Sir William gives his reasons for believing that "the fable of the life of Saturn "was raised on the true history of Noah, and translated from the Bhagavat. The "history of Menu or Satyavrata, an Indian king of divine birth, eminent for his piety “and beneficence, whose story seems evidently to be that of Noah disguised by "Asiatic fiction, and of whom we may safely offer a conjecture that he was the same as "Saturn."

On this epitome of the first Indian history which is now extant, Sir William Jones remarks: "it appears to me very curious and important; for the story, though whimsi"cally dressed up in the form of an allegory, seems to prove a primæval tradition in "this country, of the deluge described by Moses, and consequently fixes the time when "the genuine Hindoo chronology actually begins.

In page 244, Sir William tells us, "that water was the primitive element and first "work of the creative power, is the uniform opinion of the Indian philosophers: but as 66 they gave so particular an account of the general deluge, and of the creation, it can never be admitted that their whole system arose from traditions concerning the flood "alone; and it must appear indubitable that their doctrine is in part borrowed from

66

* Vide Infra.

divine mission of Moses should be proved by its peculiar evidence, before the truth of the antecedent facts can be decidedly admitted, because the credibility of the facts recorded in this history must always chiefly rest on the authority of their

"the opening of Beresith or Genesis, than which a more sublime passage from the first "word to the last never flowed or will flow from any human pen—‘In the beginning "God created the earth, and the earth was void and waste, and darkness was upon the "face of the deep, and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters; and God "said, Let light be, and light was.'-The sublimity of this passage is considerably "diminished by the Indian paraphrase with which Menu, the son of Brama, begins his "address to the sages who consulted him on the formation of the universe:

"This world (says he) was all darkness undescribable, undistinguishable, altogether 66 as in profound sleep, till the self-existent irresistible God, making it manifest with "five elements and other glorious forms, perfectly dispelled the gloom: he desiring to "raise up various creatures by an emanation from his own glory, first created the "waters and impressed them with a power of motion-by that power was produced a "golden egg, blazing like a thousand suns, in which was born BRAHMA, self-existing, "the great parent of all rational beings. The waters are called Nara, since they are "the offspring of Nera or Iwara, and thence was Narayana named, because his first 66 ayana or moving was upon them. That which is the invisible cause eternal, self"existing but unperceived, becoming masculine from neuter, is celebrated among all "creatures by the name of Brahma; that God having dwelled in the egg through "revolving years, himself meditating on himself, divided it into two equal parts, and "from these halves formed the heavens and the earth, placing in the midst the subtle "ether, the eight points of the world, and the permanent receptacle of waters."

"To this curious description with which the Manaya Sastra begins, I cannot refrain "(says Sir William) from subjoining the four first verses of the Bhagavat, and which "are believed to have been pronounced by the Supreme Being to Brahma. The fol"lowing version is most scrupulously literal:

Even I was at first, not any other thing, that which exists unperceived, supreme; ' afterwards I am that which is, and he who must remain am I.

'Except the first cause, whatever may appear and may not appear in the mind, 'know that to be to the mind, máyá, (or delusion) as light to darkness.

'As the great elements are in various beings, entering yet not entering, (that is, 'pervading, not destroying) thus am I in them, yet not in them.

Even thus far may enquiry be made by him who seeks to know the principle of 'mind in union and separation, which must be every where, always.'

"Wild and obscure (says Sir William) as these ancient verses must appear in a "naked verbal translation, it will perhaps be thought by many, that the poetry or my"thology of Greece and Italy afford no conceptions more awfully magnificent; yet the "beauty and simplicity of the Mosaic diction are unequalled."

I may be permitted to add, that these verses seem to have been composed by some one acquainted with the character in which Jehovah describes himself to the Jewish Lawgiver, I am that I am—I am hath sent you.

At the close of this most interesting dissertation, Sir William Jones remarks: "I am

persuaded that a connexion subsisted between the old idolatrous nations of Egypt,

inspired Historian, which I have here endeavoured to establish. I trust, therefore, this Work will be found one distinct and unmutilated system, embracing the full extent of the subject it professes to discuss.

I will, however, candidly confess, the great cause why I have not attempted to comply with the suggestions of my very respectable but certainly partial friends, is my inability to do so. The work they prescribe is on a subject of great importance and extent, and on which the daily increasing knowledge of Oriental literature and history, and the extension of physical and geological* discoveries are perpetually throwing new light. To

“India, Greece, and Italy, long before they emigrated to their respective settlements, "and consequently before the birth of Moses;—but the truth of this proposition will in 'no degree affect the truth and sanctity of the Mosaic history; which if confirmation 66 were wanted, it would rather serve to confirm.

"

"The Divine Legate, educated by the daughter of a king, and in all respects highly "accomplished, could not but know the mythological system of Egypt; but he might "have condemned the superstitions of that people, and despised the speculative absur"dities of their priests, though some of their traditions concerning the creation and the "flood were grounded on truth. Who was better acquainted with the mythology of "Athens than Socrates? who more accurately versed in the Rabbinical doctrines than "Paul? who possessed clearer ideas of all ancient astronomic systems than Newton? "in whom could the Romish Church have had a more formidable opponent than Chil"lingworth, whose deep knowledge of its tenets rendered him so competent to dispute "them? in a word, who more exactly knew the abominable rites and shocking idola"tries of Canaan, than Moses himself? yet the learning of these great men only in"cited them to seek other sources of truth, piety, and virtue, than those in which they "had long been immersed. There is no shadow then of foundation for an opinion that "Moses borrowed the first nine or ten chapters of Genesis from the literature of Egypt. "Still less can the adamantine pillars of our Christian faith be moved by the result of "any debates on the comparative antiquity of the Hindoos and Egyptians, or of any inquiries into the Indian theology." For the remainder of this interesting article, I refer to the Work itself.

* On this subject, my countryman and friend, the celebrated Mr KIRWAN, has distinguished himself; vide his Essay on the primitive State of the Globe and its subsequent catastrophe, in the 6th volume of the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, p. 233; and his three Essays in support of it, in the beginning of the 8th vol.-Vide also the Rev. Mr Graydon's curious memoir on the fish inclosed in stone in Mount Bolca, vol. 5. p. 281.

As to the universality of the deluge. I believe there is now no material difference of opinion among naturalists; it is supported by phenomena which carry with them decisive conviction. I will not presume to say that the formation of the earth from the

treat such a subject superficially, would be neither creditable nor useful. To examine and discuss it with any moderate degree of accuracy, would demand much research, much labour, and much time; and I have no prospect of leisure for such a Work, were I even in other respects competent to it.

In truth, these Lectures which I now venture to submit to the public, have been composed with so many interruptions, and amidst so many avocations, as have, I am sensible, produced many inaccuracies of style which a careful revision might have enabled me to avoid; and too often, I fear, have prevented me from supporting my conclusions with as full an induction of facts,

primitive chaos to the habitable state, has been yet so clearly explained by geologists, that we can appeal to any one theory as decidedly proved and clearly coincident with the Mosaic account; but sure I am, there is no theory decidedly proved and clearly contradictory to that account. The study of mineralogy (I do not think it is hitherto entitled to the name of science) is scarcely yet more than fifty years standing; that of geology is still more modern. Let us not then rashly decide that either the Neptunian or the Volcanic theory is clearly proved, or that the credit of Scripture depends upon the admission of either. We certainly are not yet competent to decide the exact mode and order of the divine operations, in which Almighty Power must have proceeded in creating and preparing this world for the use of man. Possibly we may never be competent to ascertain it. A power must then have been exerted very different, at least, in the mode and degree of its operation, from that by which the ordinary course of nature is now conducted, and this last alone is the subject of our present observations. This I am sure of, that the progress of natural history, and the discovery of any laws of nature to which it may lead, will never be found ultimately subversive of the truth of Revelation. But prejudice, presumption, and rashness, may give plausibility and currency to conclusions apparently inconsistent with the truth of Scripture, and shake the faith of those in whom such dispositions prevail. Against such causes of error, I would earnestly warn my readers. Time was, when papal authority declared the theory of the earth's motion was so subversive of revealed religion, that the Jesuits, who commented on the Principia of Newton, prefixed to the 3d Volume the following declaration:

Newtonus in hoc libro, Telluris motæ Hypothesin assumit, Autoris propositiones aliter explicari non poterant nisi eadem quoque facta Hypothesi. Hinc alienam coacti sumus gerere personam; cæterum latis a summis Pontificibus contra Telluris motum decretis nos obsequi profitemur

Let this declaration stand as a monument of the rashness of supposing Scripture at war with a philosophic theory. The decrees of the Popes did not stop the motion of the earth, nor has this overturned the Christain faith, though it may have shaken Papal infallibility.Such, I am persuaded, will always be the final event. "Opinionum commenta delet dies, naturæ (et Revelationis) judicia confirmat.”