flock. The offerers, being dissimilar in character, and their offerings having a dissimilar significancy, were not alike accepted of Jehovah. Cain and his offering were rejected. This circumstance excited the indignation of Cain, who, taking his opportunity when they were alone in the field, rose up against his brother and slew him.

On account of his crime, Cain was forthwith punished by Jehovah. He was called to a solemn reckoning, and, hear ing with anguish his doom pronounced, "a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth," he went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

He, however, built a city, at length, and his family and descendants became famous as inventors of useful and ingenious arts, though it does not appear that any of them were pious, and enjoyed the divine favour.

§ The murder of Abel occurred, it is generally supposed, but a short time before the birth of Seth, or about 130 years after the creation. As Adam and Eve, in the mean time, must have had other children, the human family was no doubt considerably multiplied during 130 years. Hence the events that are recorded by Moses, in connexion with the murder of Abel, are easily accounted for, without supposing more than one numan pair, from whom all the inha bitants then on the earth were descended.

After the death of Abel, Adam and Eve had many other children, the eldest of the sons was named Seth, and his descendants, from their piety, were styled "the children of God," in opposition to the descendants of Cain, who were styled "the children of men." These at length mingled together, and thus prepared the way for the universal wickedness that afterwards prevailed.

6. After a short account of Cain and his family, the sacred historian informs us respecting "the generations of Adam;" and recording the births of Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, and Jared, he presents us with a brief but interesting history of Enoch. Being eminently pious, he is said to have walked with God, for the space of 300 years, and at the expiration of that time, to have been taken up to heaven, without passing through the scene of death.

The sacred genealogy is carried on to the time of Noah and his sons, and the date of the life of each one of the patriarchs is minutely given.

§ As Adam lived 930 years, he must have beheld a numerous pos terity, and been conversant with many who survived till near the time of the deluge. Doubtless he must have been greatly affected,

in view of the wickedness which so soon began to spread over the earth, and which he had been the instrument of introducing.

The place of his sepulchre is not mentioned in scripture; yet various conjectures (and they are mere conjectures) have been formed on the subject. St. Jerome stations his remains in the cave of Machpelah; and the generality of the primitive fathers suppose him to have been buried on Mount Calvary, in the very spot whereon Christ, the second Adam, shed his blood for mankind.

The descendants of Seth, at first continuing pure and uncorrupted, at length, by intermarriages with the family of Cain, became, with the rest of mankind, exceedingly degenerate. From these intermarriages sprang the giants of those times, men of extraordinary strength and stature, and, perhaps, of more extraordinary wickedness. These became "men of renown," heroes, conquerors, and Chieftains.

7. The Deity, justly provoked by the enormous degeneracy of his creatures, determined to destroy, by a universal deluge, the race of man, together with the whole animal creation, except a very small remnant who were to restock the earth after that catastrophe.

One hundred and twenty years, however, did he merci fully afford to the children of men, as a space for repentance, during which time, Noah, "a preacher of righteousness," endeavoured to reclaim them from their wickedness, and warn ed them of their doom. His zeal and labours seem to have produced no effect. The earth became at length filled with violence.

From the tremendous sentence which God had pronounced Noah and his family were excepted, he having "found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Connected with the intimation which Noah had received concerning the approaching deluge, ivere several particular instructions, relative to his deliver

ance.

This was to be accomplished by means of a large vessel called the ark, which he built during the intervening period, agreeably to the divine directions.

§ The ark was built of gopher wood, which some suppose to be the cypress tree. Its form was that of an oblong square, with a flat bottom and a sloping roof, elevated one cubit in the middle. It consisted of three stories, each of which, excluding the thickcess of the floors, might be eighteen feet high, and was divided into separate apartments. It was pitched within and without, to keep it tight, and lighted from the upper part. It was, probably, ‚well supplied with air; and, though it had neither sails nor rudder it was well contrived for lying steadily on the surface of the water

With this means of safety, Noah awaited the destruction which was fast coming upon the world.

Distinguished characters in Period I.

1. Adam, the first of the human race.

2. Eve, the first woman.

3. Cain, the earliest born of mankind, and first murderer. 4. Jubal, the first musician.

5. Tubal-cain, the earliest instructer in the mechanic arts 6. Enoch, translated to heaven on account of his piety. 7. Methuselah, the oldest man that has ever lived, being years old when he died.

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§ 1. Adam was created by the Almighty from the dust of the earth, on the 6th day of the creation. His Maker, it is said in Scripture, "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." He was thus endued with an immortal principle, and being placed in a probationary state, not only his own character, but the character of his posterity, was to be affected by his conduct.

As he came from the hands of his Maker, he was pure, holy, and happy; and he had every motive to persuade him to continued rectitude of conduct. His outward circumstances also were favourable for this end. He was placed in a delightful garden, the easy tillage of which constituted his employment. God imposed upon him but one test of obedience, and that was abstinence in regard to eating the fruit of a certain tree in the garden.

Persuaded by Eve, who, having been tempted by Satan, had previously transgressed, he partook of the forbidden food, and thus death entered into the world, and "all our wo." His conduct involved the greatest impiety, and the consequences have been dreadful in time, and will be so throughout eternity, in regard to multitudes of his offspring, who have imitated him in his disobedience, and repented not.

It is highly probable that he, together with the woman, embraced an offered Saviour, immediately made known, both having repented of their sin. He lived many years afterwards, having begot sons and daughters, and died at the advanced age of 930 years. For further particulars, see Genesis, 2d, 3d, and 4th chapters.

2. Eve was created "an help meet" for Adam, having been formed, by the Creator, from one of the ribs of Adam, which was taken from him in a deep sleep. Thus she became bone of his

bones, and flesh of his flesh," and was given to him as his wife.

She proved to be first "in the transgression." Satan, a fallen spirit, assuming the form of a serpent, and, through the organs of that animal, exerting the powers of speech, accosted her when alone, and interrogated her respecting the forbidden tree. Taking her by surprise, and securing her attention and good will, he at length persuaded her to disobey the express command of God.

She partook of the fruit; "and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat." This event, in regard to the first human pair, is supposed to have taken place very soon, if not immediately after they were placed in the garden. Eve, as a particular punishment to be inflicted upon her, was doomed in sorrow to bring forth children, and to be subject to her husband.

3. Cain rendered himself famous by his wickedness. In an unprovoked manner he murdered his brother Abel, and thus was the first who committed a crime which has ever been considered as the most atrocious that man commits.

God directly punished him by an awful malediction; and by causing him to become a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth. Going out "from the presence of the Lord," he dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. He at length built a city, and called it Enoch, after the name of his son.

Nothing is recorded of the time and manner of his death. He was most probably a person of great energy and enterprise, as has often been the fact with the wicked ones of the earth.

4. Jubal is spoken of in Scripture as "the father of all such as handle the harp and organ," as his brother Jabal is mentioned as 'the father of such as dwell in tents." From all accounts, both sa cred and profane, music must have been early known among man kind, and its performers must have been among the earliest civilizers of the world.

5. Tubal-Cain is called "an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron." Probably he was so called from his having discovered the art of working in these metals; the most useful of the mechanic arts, and lying at the foundation of all of them.

6. Enoch lived 65 years before he begat Methuselah. He "walk ed with God after he begat Methuselah 300 years, and begat sons and daughters. And all the days of Enoch were 365 years. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." Such is the simple and sublime record of scripture respecting a good man. is an infinitely more precious memorial than the splendid marble monument, or the ever-during pyramid.

It

7. Methuselah is not known to have been remarkable for any thing except his age. He must have lived to the very year of the flood. The circumstance of the longevity of the antediluvians, was extremely favourable to the communication of knowledge, by tradition.

PERIOD II.

The Period of the Confusion of Languages, extending from the Deluge, 2348 years B. C. to the calling of Abraham, 1921 years B. C.

§ IT may be observed here, that this period, in profane history, and even two or three others succeeding it, are what is termed fabulous. The events recorded are to be admitted with a great degree of cau

tion, except so far as Scripture incidentally throws its light upon them. And it is well known, also, that there is a portion of the early history of almost every nation, which is but little entitled to credit. We shall adduce the common accounts, and when neces sary, shall endeavour to distinguish between the probable and improbable events.

SECTION 1. At the appointed time, God brought the waters of the flood upon all the earth. For this purpose, he broke up the fountains of the great deep, and opened the windows of heaven. During forty days and forty nights, without intermission, the waters were thus poured upon the surface of the globe.

As the ark was completed, Noah, being 600 years old, went into it, together with his wife, his three sons, and their wives, taking with him all kinds of beasts, birds, and reptiles, by pairs, and by sevens, agreeably to the divine direction.

According to the antediluvian computation, Noah remained in the ark one year and ten days; and on coming out, he built an altar, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord, who blessed Noah and his sons. They settled in the vicinity of mount Ararat, in Armenia.

§ The waters increased gradually during the space of five months, when they rose to the elevation of 27 feet above the summits of the highest mountains. Men, beasts, birds, and reptiles, thus being deprived of the means of safety, all perished.

The purpose of God being effected, he caused a wind to pass over the earth, in consequence of which the waters began to subside. The ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, on the 17th day of the 7th month, or the 6th of May.

The waters continuing several months afterwards, it was not until the 27th of the 2d month, or the 18th of December, that the inmates of the ark came forth in pursuance of the divine com mand.

2. The truth of the Bible respecting the deluge, is strikingly confirmed by the general voice of mankind, and by the physical structure and appearance of the earth's surface.

§ The Chaldeans, Egyptians, Syrians, Indians, Chinese, Greeks, and other nations, all had some traditions respecting the deluge. Not to mention any that have been yet published, the author of this outline would state a fact once delivered to him by an intelligent adventurer, his countryman.

Residing some time among the natives of the North West Coast of America, he fell into conversation with one of them around the fire of his wigwam, on various topics. Among other things, the Indian inquired of him, whether his people knew any thing concerning a great flood that had once taken place.