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SECTION VI.

The Flood.

WHEN men had multiplied, and had begun to spread over the earth, they became extremely vicious, so that all flesh was corrupt, and the earth was filled with violence.

This extreme and universal wickedness of the antediluvian world is most satisfactorily accounted for from the great length of their lives, and from the vast strength of their bodily constitutions. Men became giants in crime, as well as in stature, when they could look forward to centuries of indulgence, and when the fears of another life were placed at such an immense dis

tance.

But, to whatever height their wickedness arose, there is not the smallest authority in Scripture for imputing it to any other source, than their own wilful misconduct. Every rational, and probably many extraordinary methods had been used for

their reformation as we may gather from that expression.-"My spirit shall not always strive with man." Gen. vi. 3.

And strong as the Scriptural expressions are respecting their general wickedness, I know not whether we are authorized in concluding, that all men without exception, were equally depraved. If so, it should be remembered, that the descendants of Seth must have very suddenly changed their moral characters. Is it probable, for instance, that the children of Enoch derived no benefit from the piety of their parent?

Certain it is, such was the reigning corruption, that it was for the good of all such a state of things should be made to terminate. But, we must not construe general expressions too strictly; still less are we to conclude, that all who perished in the Flood, perished eternally, for this would include infants, and children; a monstrous and incredible supposition, and one, if admitted, which would let in Calvinism with all its horrors.

It is clear from Scripture, that the ante

diluvians had ample means afforded for repentance. They must have been well acquainted with the history of the Creation and the Fall; they had witnessed the translation of Enoch, Noah had been a preacher of righteousness amongst them for several hundred years,-if then they neglected such monitions, it does not affect the argument for their salvability, but it merely shews, they were obstinately bent on their own destruction. To confirm this reasoning, we need only call to mind the single expression, "It repented the Lord, and it grieved him at his heart." This expression clearly intimates, that "God hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that he should be converted and live."

Summary of the Argument.

IT has been the tendency of the preceding observations to shew that the treatment of the antediluvian world, so far as we can judge of it from Scripture, was conducted on the principles of impartial justice, that none were excluded from the mercy of God but by a wilful and obstinate perseverance in known and unrepented sin, and that consequently every inference which can be deduced from this history, is in favour of our general argument for the salvability of all nations.

But, as it is not to be disguised that our information respecting the antediluvian race is very scanty, so it is important to remember, that it stands distinct from any necessary connection with the subsequent history of mankind. After the Flood, the human race may be said to have started anew, and such a wide and important alteration arose from the contraction of human life, that it may, perhaps, be better

to commence our argument from the latter period.

Should any one, then, be dissatisfied with the effect of the foregoing reasoning as it relates to our general subject, let him here pause, and recommence his enquiries, as if Noah stood in the place of Adam, and as if the history of man had begun from this second era.

Note. On the subject of the antediluvian period, see Harris on the Messias, Serm. 1, 2. Bishop Conybeare's Sermons, vol. ii. p. 191-241. Bishop Newton's Dissertation on the Creation, &c. p. 159— 163. Shuckford, vol. i. book 1.; and Bishop Sherlock's Second Dissertation, with the Appendix, in his Discourses on Prophecy.

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