forsook the human bosom. For this action, the Almighty cursed the serpent above all beasts; condemned the woman to be subject to her husband, and to bring forth children in sorrow; and doomed Adam to till the earth, and to procure from it his sustenance by daily and painful exertion, and to return to the dust from whence he was originally taken. He then compelled them to quit the confines of Paradise, and placed at the entrance a cherubim, with a flaming sword that turned every way, to guard the passage to the tree of life.

(B. C. 4004.) Cain, the eldest son of Adam, was born. in the first year of the world; and Abel, his brother, the year following. The former was gloomy and avaricious; the latter virtuous and ingenuous. Cain undertook the labours of husbandry, and Abel preferred the care of the flocks. God having accepted the sacrifice of Abel, and disregarded that of Cain, the latter, transported with rage and envy, killed his brother.

(B. C. 3875.) On account of the perpetration of this horrid deed, the Almighty condemned Cain to become a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth; and he imprinted on his person a particular mark, as a token that no one should molest him, under pain of incurring a sevenfold punishment.

Soon after the tragical effect of Cain's resentment, his afflicted parents were consoled by the birth of Seth, whose descendants were for a long time distinguished by their piety and wisdom, and were honoured with the appellation of the sons of God. At length, however, they contracted alliances with the daughters of Cain, whose vices and profligacy of manners they gradually adopted. At last, the wickedness of mankind became so great, that the earth was literally filled with violence, and God determined to destroy the whole world.

But, notwithstanding the general corruption, one man was found perfect in his generation, and walking humbly with his God. This was Noah, a descendant from Seth, who, with his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet, and their wives," found grace in the eyes of the Lord." The venerable patriarch received instructions from God to build an ark, or vessel, which might contain his own family and such a quantity of animals, of every species, as might replenish the earth after the deluge. (B. C. 2348.) In the year of the world 1656, Noah and his family, with

all kinds of birds, beasts, and reptiles, by pairs and by sevens, entered the ark; and God opened the windows of heaven, and poured the inundating torrents on the earth for forty days and forty nights without intermission. The waters increased gradually during five months, and overwhelmed all mankind, except those who were in the ark, and who, after being inclosed in this vessel, during the space of three hundred and sixty-five days of our present computation, came forth in pursuance of the divine command.

(B. C. 2347.) Impressed with the most lively gratitude to the author and preserver of his existence, Noah, immediately upon his landing, erected an altar upon mount Ararat, where the ark rested, and offered a burnt sacrifice of every clean beast and of every clean fowl. This act of piety was highly pleasing to God, who graciously affirmed, that he would no more curse the earth for man's sake; but that, on the contrary, it should retain all its privileges, and enjoy an uninterrupted succession of seasons, till the period of its final destruction. As a token of his inviolable decree, the Almighty promised to set his bow in the clouds when it rained, that the posterity of Adam might look upon it, and contemplate the effects of his sovereign mercy.

The Creator of the universe bestowed the warmest blessings and the most inestimable marks of affection on Noah, who descended from the mountain, applied himself to husbandry, and planted a vineyard. Having drunk too freely of the juice of the grape, he became intoxicated, and lay carelessly uncovered within his tent. In this situation he was discovered by Ham, the father of Canaan, who made him the subject of derision; but Shem and Japhet being modest, and tender of the patriarch's honour, covered him with a garment. In return for this, they were remunerated with an ample blessing, whilst the posterity of Ham were loaded with the most dreadful

curses.

(B. C. 1998.) Japhet, who was the eldest son of Noah, was pathetically blessed by that patriarch, for his pious behaviour, in the following terms: "God shall enlarge Japhet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant." This prophecy has been fully accomplished in the great possessions which fell to the posterity of Japhet in different parts of the

world; in the overthrow of the Assyrian empire by the Medes, in conjunction with the Babylonians; and, finally, in the subjugation of the Canaanites, the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and other descendants of Ham, to the children of his elder brother.

Ashur, the second son of Shem, was the founder of the Assyrian monarchy. It is probable that Elam, his eldest son, was the first king of the Persians, whom historians denominate Caumarras. Arphaxad, the third son of Shem, is said to have been the prince of the Arphaxadeans, now called Chaldeans.

Noah pronounced a heavy curse against a branch of the posterity of Ham: "Cursed," says the patriarch, "be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." The curse which foretold the humiliation of Canaan, in becoming a servant of servants to his brethren, seems to have been wholly accomplished in him, without extending to the rest of his brethren. With respect to Shem, the prophecy was fulfilled in the memorable victories of the Israelites, and in the subsequent achievements of the Assyrians and Persians: and with regard to Japhet, it was completed in the successive conquests of the Canaanites by the Greeks and Romans, in Palestine and Phoenicia, and especially by the total subjugation of the once haughty and flourishing sons of Carthage.

The most distinguished of the descendants of Ham was Nimrod, who is mentioned in the book of Genesis as a mighty one in the earth, and a mighty hunter before the Lord, and of whom the Scripture farther says, that "the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinaar." From these words it appears, that he was a person of uncommon strength and courage. (B. C. 1998.) He is supposed to have been the first man that obtained the regal dignity after the flood; and the four cities which Moses mentions, constituted an extensive kingdom in those early times.

The immediate descendants of Noah, after the death of their parent, determined to quit the vicinage of Ararat, and to establish themselves and their families on some other part of the earth. With this design they journeyed from the east till they arrived at a plain in the land of Shinaar, which they destined for their future abode. On this spot, they adopted the resolution of erecting a city, and a tower whose top might reach to heaven, for the

express purpose of avoiding the dispersion of their families. Accordingly, they commenced their work with ardour, and used bricks instead of stone, and slime or bitumen in the room of mortar. When they had carried the edifice to the height of one league, or, according to others, of two, they perceived that they no longer understood each other; and God, whose infinite wisdom had decreed the welfare of his creatures by the very circumstance which the builders attempted to elude, compelled them to relinquish their vain project, by confounding their language, and rendering them unintelligible to each other. The city now assumed the name of Babel, or Confusion, and the dispersion of mankind immediately ensued.

and

(B. C. 2247.) Prior to this important event, which took place in the year of the flood 101, all mankind spoke the same language, and lived together in one body. It now, however, became indispensably necessary, that they should divide themselves according to their respective tongues families, in order to people the earth. This dispersion, and the subsequent planting of nations, were performed in the most regular manner; and thus were formed those societies or nations, which gradually overspread the surface of

the earth.

With respect to the religious rites of the primeval race of men, we can affirm, only that they offered sacrifices of animals, as well as of the fruits of the earth. Some, indeed, have attempted to prove, that all the patriarchs, from Adam, had certain times and places set apart for the celebration of divine worship*, and that they devoted a portion of their property to the maintenance of the priests.

With respect to their arts and sciences little can be said; as they appear to have devoted more of their time to luxury and dissipation, than to useful discoveries or mental improvement. The last generation of Cain's line found out the art of working metals; and it seems probable, that music was invented about the same time. By some it has been supposed, that the science of astro

* Without doubt, the sabbath was instituted immediately after the creation; and it is not likely that the observance of it was ever wholly discontinued.

world; in the overthrow of the Assyrian empire by the Medes, in conjunction with the Babylonians; and, finally, in the subjugation of the Canaanites, the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and other descendants of Ham, to the children of his elder brother.

Ashur, the second son of Shem, was the founder of the Assyrian monarchy. It is probable that Elam, his eldest son, was the first king of the Persians, whom historians denominate Caumarras. Arphaxad, the third son of Shem, is said to have been the prince of the Arphaxadeans, now called Chaldeans.

Noah pronounced a heavy curse against a branch of the posterity of Ham: "Cursed," says the patriarch, "be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." The curse which foretold the humiliation of Canaan, in becoming a servant of servants to his brethren, seems to have been wholly accomplished in him, without extending to the rest of his brethren. With respect to Shem, the prophecy was fulfilled in the memorable victories of the Israelites, and in the subsequent achievements of the Assyrians and Persians: and with regard to Japhet, it was completed in the successive conquests of the Canaanites by the Greeks and Romans, in Palestine and Phoenicia, and especially by the total subjugation of the once haughty and flourishing sons of Carthage.

The most distinguished of the descendants of Ham was Nimrod, who is mentioned in the book of Genesis as a mighty one in the earth, and a mighty hunter before the Lord, and of whom the Scripture farther says, that "the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinaar." From these words it appears, that he was a person of uncommon strength and courage. (B. C. 1998.) He is supposed to have been the first man that obtained the regal dignity after the flood; and the four cities which Moses mentions, constituted an extensive kingdom in those early times.

The immediate descendants of Noah, after the death of their parent, determined to quit the vicinage of Ararat, and to establish themselves and their families on some other part of the earth. With this design they journeyed from the east till they arrived at a plain in the land of Shinaar, which they destined for their future abode. On this spot, they adopted the resolution of erecting a city, and a tower whose top might reach to heaven, for the