The French Revolution The Star in the East Origin of African Slavery Battle of Erie Surrender of Quebec Bonaparte's Campaign in Russia Burning of Moscow The Kremlin of Moscow Battle of New-Orleans The Miseries of War The Historian's Reflections The Common Lot Address to the Deity THE HISTORICAL READER. THE CREATION. 1. THE creation of the world is the first transaction, with which we are presented by history, and is the most truly sublime and glorious, that imagination can conceive. But of this stupendous event, no particulars are recorded calculated only to gratify an idle curiosity-it seems to have been the great, if not the only object of the inspired penman, to make known the important truth, that the heavens and the earth were created by the immediate power of God. 2. The earth, subsequent to its creation, was a fluid, dark, and shapeless mass of matter; The vast immeasurable abyss Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, Heav'n's height, and with the centre mix the pole. But at the sovereign command of the Almighty, the cheerful light appeared; the firmament expanded, to divide the upper from the lower waters; the congregated floods retired to their destined beds, and the dry land was crowned with a rich profusion of herbage, fruits, and flowers. 3. These great occurrences, having occupied the three first days, the succeeding one was devoted to an illumination of the newly created globe-on the fourth day, the face of heaven was decorated with myriads of stars, and the greater luminaries were so disposed, as to distinguish between day and night, and to divide the seasons of the year. What is the first event with which history presents us? Have we any particular account of the creation of the world?-What object had the inspired penman chiefly in view, when writing the history of the creation? God saw the light was good; And light from darkness by the hemisphere By the celestial quires, when orient light Birth-day of heav'n and earth; with joy and shout And touch'd their golden harps, and hymning prais'd 4. The waters were then replenished with an abundant variety of fish; the odoriferous air was fanned by the pinions of innumerable birds; the verdant meads were stocked with cattle; and every part of the earth was inhabited by its appropriate tribes. To complete, and truly to excel the whole, on the sixth day, God created man of the dust of the ground; and breathing into his body the breath of life, or immortality, caused him to become a living soul. Shortly subsequent to his own creation, Adam was thrown into a deep sleep, during which the Almighty took from his side a rib, formed it into the body of a woman, and endued her also with life and immortality. 5. Now heav'n in all her glory shone, and roll'd By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walk'd And worship God supreme, who made him chief 6. When Adam first beheld the fair partner of his life, finding her of his own likeness and complexion, he was struck with a secret sympathy, and exclaimed with rapture, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. He easily foresaw that the love and union which were now to take place between them, were to be lasting. The divine hand which conducted the woman to Adam, did it in the light of a matrimonial father; and having joined them together, he pronounced upon them a benediction, intimating, that they might live to see the earth replenished with a numerous progeny. 7. Thrice happy man, And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanced, Holy and just; thrice happy if they know 8. Thus, by the creative influence of the Eternal Spirit, were the heavens and the earth finished in the space of six days-so admirably finished-an unformed chaos changed into a system of perfect order and beauty-that the adorable Architect himself pronounced it very good, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. 9. The Creator from his work Desisting, though unwearied, up return'd, The heav'ns and all the constellations rung, 10. According to the Bible, or Hebrew chronology, the creation of the world is placed in the year 4004 before the What is the chronology of the creation of the world? |