Though sullied and dishonour'd, still divine! An heir of glory, a frail child of dust! How instructive, how pregnant with important teaching, must the history of a race of such beings be, when composed of the most authentic materials which have come down to our time, arranged and illustrated in the clearer light which the holy scriptures afford! This is the task we have undertaken; and we shall endeavour to prosecute it in the following pages. CHAPTER III. THE HISTORY OF MANKIND FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. Introductory Remarks-Genealogical Table-Adam-His intellectual Endowments, Employments, and Clothing-SECOND GENERATION— Division of Labour-Rights of Property-Phenician and Hindu Accounts-Cultivated State of Society-THIRD GENERATION— FOURTH DITTO-General Dissoluteness of Manners-"Sons of God"-Profaneness-FIFTH GENERATION-Phenician TraditionsSIXTH GENERATION-SEVENTH DITTO-Polygamy-Speech of Lamech-Infidelity-Enoch-Antediluvian Kings-Fable of Oannes -EIGHTH GENERATION-Nomadic Life adopted-Poetry and Music-Working of Metals-Identity of Tubal-Cain with VulcanNINTH GENERATION-TENTH DITTO-Noah-Probable Population of the Antediluvian World - Longevity of the Antediluvian Patriarchs-Giants-History of the Period. IN applying the term "history" to the account which we may be enabled to furnish of the generations from Adam to Noah, we are aware that we are using language in an accommodated sense. No sufficient materials remain for the composition of that which, in the strict acceptation of terms, would be called a history. Our purpose, however, is to supply, from various sources of information, as consecutive, intelligible, and accurate an account of these early times as possible. It may also be remarked, that, although we place in juxtaposition the various records of profane authors with that of holy scripture, we have no intention of breaking down, or in any degree weakening, the distinction which exists between the relative truth and authority of these several means of information. We are deeply convinced, and fully prepared to avow our conviction, that the Bible alone can be regarded as furnishing an account which, so far as it extends, is perfectly true. If, then, we are asked why we place by its side, and incor porate with its teaching, the imperfect and doubtful fragments which have been handed down to us by profane authors, our reply is two-fold: First, as much perverted ingenuity has been employed for the purpose of producing an impression that the Mosaic records are opposed to the historical remains of the most celebrated nations of antiquity, it is important to expose this fallacy, and to show that all which is worthy of being regarded as authentic in these remains tends rather to confirm and to illustrate, than to contravene, the scriptural narrative. And, further, although we do most implicitly rely on the authority of Moses, and do not fully confide in any other, we nevertheless regard it as interesting and useful to gather up the historical and traditional notices of the early ages, which, floating downward on the stream of time, have been arrested and preserved for our meditation and instruction, and thus to obtain the best and fullest collateral knowledge of the infancy of the world. In entering upon this part of the subject, we beg to call particular attention to the Comparative Table which is annexed. It will be found to contain an outline of the information which is supplied respecting the several generations from Adam to Noah, by Moses, Sanchoniatho, the Hindu Puranas, and the Chaldean chronicles of Berosus ; accompanied by notices of the most striking circumstances and events. In our remarks on this subject, we shall observe the order here pointed out, availing ourselves of other means of information as they may arise. The reader will perceive that we have followed the Septuagint chronology. This is done for reasons which have been stated at length in the Preliminary Dissertation; and it only remains to remark respecting it, that although a thorough investigation of the several dates might lead us to see the propriety of suggesting some corrections; yet as these would not be so extensive as to affect the general scope of the subject, we shall avoid the necessity of tedious and minute inquiries, which would be more curious than profitable; and, adhering to the chronological numbers of the LXXII., endeavour to |