Dr. Hales has shown, with considerable force of argument, that there could be originally no difference between the Hebrew and Greek chronologies; that the computation of Josephus was, in his time, conformable to both; and, consequently, that the chronology either of the original Hebrew, of the Greek version of the Scriptures, or of the writings of Josephus, must have been since adulterated. On the authority of Ephraim Syrus, who died in the fourth century of the Christian æra, he confidently alleges, that a great and designed alteration has taken place in the Hebrew text. A traditional prediction being current, that the Messiah should certainly appear in the sixth millenary of the world, Ephraim affirms, that "the Jews subtracted 600 years from the generations of Adam, Seth, &c. in order that their own books might not convict them upon the point."

According to Dr. Hales, therefore, the patriarchal lives of this period stand thus:

The confirmation which the sacred narrative receives from the traditions and profane writers of antiquity, is principally confined to the testimony of Berosus, a Chaldean historian, who first conveyed the astrology of his country into Greece, and fragments of whose writings are preserved in Josephus, Tatian, and Eusebius; and Sanchoniathon, who is said to have composed a history of the Phoenicians, the first book of which only is extant, in Eusebius. Berosus pretends to give us an account of ten kings who reigned in Chaldea before the deluge, and who evidently correspond with the ten patriarchs of the Mosaic account. The first of them he calls Alorus, and the last Xisuthrus, whom he states to have received a revelation, in a dream, that mankind would be destroyed by a flood. That he was commanded, after this, to build a ship for his own preservation, that of his friends, and of certain fowls and four-footed beasts: which he was to furnish with suitable provisions. That the flood came, and being survived by Xisuthrus and his companions, they sent out some birds on its abating, who at first returned quickly to the vessel; shortly after they were sent out a second time, and came back with mud on their feet; but being let go a third time, they returned no more. Understanding from this, that the earth was appearing above the waters, Xisuthrus is said to have taken some of the planks of his vessel, and to have found that it had grounded on a mountain. Sanchoniathon, extolled as he is by Porphyry, and commented upon at great length by Bishop Cumberland, has nothing equal to the distinctness of this short account. After a rambling cosmogony of the creation, he tells us that all mankind were the descendants of Protogenus and on, the latter

up

of whom discovered the food that may be gathered from trees. Their children were Genus and Genea, who introduced the worship of the sun, calling him Beelsamen, the lord of heaven, on account of a memorable drought. Their offspring were Phos, Phor, and Phlox, or Light, Fire, and Flame, who first discovered the use of fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together, and had sons of vast stature, who gave their names, to Mount Cassius, Libanus, Antilibanus, and Brathys. The children of these giants were, Memrumus, Hypsuranius, and Usous; Hypsuranius, being the inventor of huts made of reeds and rushes, and Usous the first worshipper of fire and wind. In the days of these latter chiefs, women first became licentious in their manners. The inventions of hunting, fishing, forging and working iron, are traced to various of their descendants, until we come to Chrysor, who introduced all descriptions of fishing tackle, and first ventured out in a boat to sea, for which exploit he was deified. He goes on to trace the history of this family until he comes to Misor, the father of Thoth or Taautus, the Mercury of the Egyptians, whom he notices to be eleven generations in descent from Protogenus; Moses makes twelve from Adam to Misraim, whom he places at the head of that nation. Sanchoniathon makes no other mention of the flood than the exploit of Chrysor may be supposed to contain by way of an allusion. We have elsewhere noticed the classical distinction of the Ages of the World, the first of which, the golden age, clearly describes the paradisiacal state of mankind; the peaceful early state of the antediluvians may well be called, in various respects, a silver age; while their gradual declension, and increased depravity, as well, perhaps, as the inventions of different periods, were set forth by the brazen and the iron age. The opening of Ovid's Metamorphoses also is in most striking coincidence with the sacred history.

CHAPTER II.

THE PATRIARCHAL AGE.

B.C. 2347-B.C. 1635.

from the ark.

NOAH descended from the ark in the 601st year of his age, on A.м. 1657. the 27th day of the second month; and in the year of the world, B.C. 2347. 1657. He raised an altar upon the face of the desolate scene, and The descent offered sacrifice the way of expiation revealed from the beginning. A covenant was made with him, as the parent of the new world; and the rainbow was its seal. Whether it before existed, or not, is of no moment: if there were rain before, it must have been-the same causes in nature, uniformly producing the same effects: if the earth were watered, as Eden was, by a mist, the phenomenon in question might be new after the flood, as rain would then appear for the first time: either way, "I do set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth," gives it a new import. The pledge implied in it was, that the waters should no more go over the earth to destroy it. Three laws were now solemnly dispensed, and seem particularly suited to the occasion. -1. The permission to eat flesh: man's diet being originally restricted to vegetables. 2. The punishment of murder with death: perhaps the only crime that ought to be so visited. 3. The original law, which is indeed that of nature, "be ye fruitful, and multiply," and replenish "the earth."

vineyard

Soon after this descent, Noah planted a vineyard, and being The ignorant of the effects that would be produced by the fermentation vndfat of its fruit, drank of the pressed grape, and became intoxicated. No prediction. longer sensible, he lay denuded in his tent. One of his sons, Ham, the father of Canaan, finding him in this situation, cruelly mocked and exposed him; his other children decently and piously covered him. The patriarch, although overcome unexpectedly with wine, was not insensible of that which had passed. He blessed Shem and Japheth, and cursed Ham. That this was the result of a divine influence, and not of any burst of passion, appears in this-that he cursed Ham, not in himself, but in Canaan, upon whose descendants, called after his name, the penalty more directly and immediately fell; and that no ebullition of human wrath could possibly be imagined to foretell events, much less to effect their accomplishment to the very letter: whereas this prediction of Noah, not only produced

A M. 1657. early results, according with the sentence, but has acted in all ages, B.C. 2347. and continues to do so to the present hour; the whole continent of

Africa being peopled by the descendants of Ham. This prediction was remarkably fulfilled in former events; of the historical truth of which, no doubt can be entertained. The Canaanites were reduced Descendants by the Israelites, the posterity of Shem. The Egyptians, the des

of Shem,

Ham, and
Japheth.

Nimrod.

cendants of Ham, were subjugated by the Persians, who were of Shem, and the Grecians, who were of Japheth. Tyre, built by the children of Ham, fell successively under the posterity of his brethren. The great struggle between Carthage and Rome, which terminated in the ruin of the former, confirmed this prediction: Carthage being peopled by the posterity of Ham, and the Romans descending from Japheth. In the meanwhile, other points were no less accomplished. Shem was to be distinguished for spiritual privileges, and Japheth for increase. Accordingly, the light of revelation shone upon the descendants of Shem, for many centuries exclusively; and afterwards emanated thence to distant nations: while Japheth's posterity inherit all Europe, the Lesser Asia, Media, a part of Armenia, Iberia, Albania, the territories once belonging to the Scythians, now to the Tátárs-India, China, and probably the continent of America. And it is remarkable, that the four grand empires of the world, the Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman, descended, the two former from Shem, the two latter from Japheth.

Amidst a barren list of genealogical names, Nimrod appears. His name signifies a rebel; his description is "a mighty hunter before A.M.1745. the Lord." In this (if his name be excepted) nothing criminal B.C. 2259. appears: he might be a great benefactor to mankind, in following the labours of the chase, and extirpating wild beasts. It is generally understood, that he grasped at empire, and obtained it. The lead which he took in his amusement, accompanied as he probably was, would give him the habit of command, which he turned to more important purposes. Some have ascribed to him the project of building Babel: and although this cannot be decided, such a conclusion appears to agree with the character of his short and stormy history.

Babel.

At this time a singular project was undertaken. It was determined to build a city ample enough to contain the immense population contiguous to each other, (which had not hitherto been so compact as might conduce to mutual convenience) and an exceedingly lofty tower, for so we understand the hebraism, "whose top may reach unto heaven.” The land of Shinar was the place fixed upon, which A.M. 1757. we believe to be Chaldea: and not improbably the site upon which B.C. 2247. Babylon was afterwards built. Various motives have been assigned

for this project. Some have imagined that the fears of another deluge suggested it. In this case, the higher grounds would have been preferred to a plain; when it was known that the loftiest mountains had been covered. Others imagine it was intended as an