*

and contracted as are its records (comprised solely in the first six chapters of the book of Genesis) it affords ample field for the most important reflections and inferences, principally of a spiritual nature, (which see, Prophecy, 1st Period, A.) We may further remark, the great length of the antediluvian life, affording scope for the utmost stretch of improvement from practice and experience. Arts and sciences were certainly invented during this period (Gen iv. 20-22) though we have no means of judging of the extent of the progress made in them. We hear of "mighty men, men of renown," (Gen. vi. 4.) And Josephus pretends (see Antiq. b. i. ch. 3.) that Seth and his descendants employed themselves in astronomy and other useful researches, of which they left memorials inscribed on two pillars. But however uncertain we may be as to their acquirements, of this we may be sure, viz. that they did not suffice for the attainment of VIRTUE (for "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,") (Gen. vi. 5.) or HAPPINESS; (for "the earth was filled with violence through them," Gen. vi. 13.) and the reason is obvious-man could not, without BELIEF and OBEDIENCE, preserve the perfection of integrity which God had given him, much less

Table of the births, deaths, and ages of the Antediluvian Patriarchs.

therefore, could he (or can he) recover it, by any effort of his own reason and experience in his fallen state. He only who made can repair the heart of man.

The primitive sacred year consisted of 12 months, of 30 days each, or 360 days, as may be proved by the account of the Deluge, Gen. vii. and viii. Noah reckoned five months, or 150 days; from the seventeenth day of the second month, to the seventeenth day of the seventh month; as expressing the time of the rising of the waters; and seven months and ten days more, till the waters were dried up, and Noah and his family left the ark after a residence therein of 370 days, or a year and ten days, till the seven-and-twentieth day of the second month of the ensuing year. Dr. Hales.

TABLE II.

We find from Gen. vii. 24. that "the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days;" after which they began to decrease: and in the seventeenth day of the seventh month, (or fifth of the deluge which began in the second month of the year) the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. Upwards of two months more elapsed before the tops of the highest mountains were seen; forty days after which, Noah began his experiments to discover the state of the earth by sending out a raven and a dove, the latter, three different times, leaving an interval of seven days between each, and at length, having received the command of God to that effect, he B. C. and his family left the ark (') after having been (1) confined in it a year and ten days; for it was "in 2347 the second month, the seventeenth day of the month," that he entered it, and he left it " in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month," in the second year. Gen. viii. 1-14.

Dr. Hales, in his Analysis of Chronology, vol. i. p. 120, remarks, that, there is not a more prolific source of confu

sion and embarrassment in ancient Chronology, than the substitution of the cardinal numbers one, two, three,. for the ordinals first, second, third, &c. which frequently occurs in the sacred and profane historians. Thus Noah was six hundred years old when the deluge began, Gen vii. 6. and presently after, in his six hundredth year, confounding complete and current years. An attention to this observation may prove a useful medium of reconciling apparent disagreements in the accounts of different author's upon the same subjects, and of different parts of the Scriptures with each other.

Noah, upon leaving the ark, immediately built an altar and offered sacrifices upon it, which God graciously accepted, renewed the covenant relative to the Messiah, Gen. viii. 21. ix. 9-17) gave him many precepts* for his future observance, remitted the curse that had been laid upon the earth in consequence of the disobedience of our first parents (thus fulfilling the prophecy of Lamech at the birth of Noah, Gen. v. 29.) established the seasons in regular succession, permitted the use of animal food,† and pro

"There is great reason to believe, that the substance, at least of the Decalogue, given at Sinai, was of primitive institution." Hales' Anal. vol. ii. p. 109.

"The Israelites were strictly obliged by their law to eat no flesh until they had poured out the blood, or offered it upon the altar, because God had appointed the blood to be an atonement for their sins; but the alien and stranger, who knew no such orders for setting it. apart for that use, might as freely eat it as any part of the creature. And I think this account of the prohibition of blood will fully answer all the scruples which some Christians have about it. The use of it upon the altar is now over, and therefore, the reason for abstaining from it has ceased. And though the Apostles, at the council of Jerusalem, that offence might not be given to the Jews, advised the Gentiles at that season to abstain from it; yet, the eating it, or not eating it, is no part of our religion, but we are at perfect liberty in this matter." Shuckford Con. vol. i. p. 86. Compare Gen. ix. 4.

Lev. xvii. Deut. xiv. 21.

mised that the earth should no more be destroyed by the waters of a flood. (See Prophecy, 1st and 2d Period, B.)

B. C.

The year following (2) was born Arphaxad, the (2) son of Shem (in whose family the blessings of the 2346 covenant descended, and his name signifies" he that heals or releases," probably in allusion to the deliverance of Noah's family from the deluge. Hales.·

Six years after the flood (3) (according to Blair) (3) Noah pronounced upon his youngest son Ham, that 2341 prophetic curse which was afterwards so amply fulfilled in the fate of his posterity, as were also the blessings predicted at the same time to the descendants of Shem and Japhet, Gen. ix. 24-27. (See Prophecy, 2d Period, C, D, E.).

(4)

To Arphaxad was born Salah, (4) to Salah, 2311 Eber, (or Heber) (5) from whom the Israelites (5) derive their name of Hebrews),* to Eber, Pe- 2281 leg, (6) whose name signifies division, "for in his (6) days was the earth divided," Gen. x. 25,) and in 2247 the same year, (according to Blair) happened the memorable event of the confusion of tongues at the building of Babel by a miraculous interposition of God to frustrate the vain and impious attempt of men "to make themselves a name," (see Prophecy, 2d Period, the article in the margin.) "So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence, upon the face of all the earth, and they left off to build the city, therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” Gen. xi. 8-9. At this time the earth was portioned out amongst the sons and grandsons of

"Hence Abram was called "the Hebrew," Gen. xiv. 13; and his descendants, by way of distinction from the rest of the children of Heber, called themselves by the double title "Hebrew of the Hebrews."

Hales.

Noah, mentioned Gen. x; the families of Japhet had Europe and the Northern parts of Asia. Shem retained the Eastern part of Asia, and Ham had Africa. For a particular account of the dispersion, and first settlements of the three sons of Noah and their families, see Prophecy, 2d Period, C, D, E.

Between the general dispersion of mankind, and the call of Abram (a space of 326 years) nothing but the births B. C. and deaths of the Patriarchs is recorded, viz. to (7) Peleg Reu (7) to Reu Serug (8), to Serug Nahor, 2217 (9). In the time of this Patriarch, Dr. Hales (8) places the age of Job. Poole and Shuckford also 2185 assign to him nearly the same date, though our (9) Bible makes him cotemporary with Moses. The 2155 Book of Job furnishes a valuable illustration of the

state of religion in his time. (See Prophecy, 2d Period, the article in the margin.)

In the 157th year of Nahor died Noah, aged (1) 950 (1) years, 600 of which had passed before the 1998 flood, and 350 after it.

(2) To Terah, was born Abram, (3) in whose time 1996 idolatry had made great progress in the world, and

particularly in Chaldea; in consequence of which, (3) Terah 70 years after the birth of Abram, (3) by the 1926 command of God, removed with his family into Mesopotamia, where he soon afterwards died, and Abram received from God the memorable com(4) mand recorded Gen. xii. 1., &c. (4) Full of faith 1921 he obeyed the call, and leaving Haran, arrived with Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, in Ca

naan.

During this period happened the first reduction in the life of man, as will be shewn by the following table of the births, deaths, and ages of the postdiluvian patriarchs, to the time of Abram: