the fountains of the great deep were again broken up at the deluge, that diluvium would be disturbed, overturned, and mixed, so as to enclose the remains of antediluvian organization in the same masses with those of the latest period of the immediately preceding formation.*

* Professor Hitchcock, in his Geology of Massachusetts (p. 148), well describes what appears to me to be the real state of the question as to the deposits connected with the Mosaic flood, and with those floods, or permanent seas, which had previously, and at different periods, submerged various portions of the earth. He says, "That a transient deluge, like that described in the Scriptures, could have produced, and brought into its present situation, all the diluvium which is now spread over the surface of this Continent (America), will not, it seems to me, be admitted for a moment by any impartial observer. It has obviously been the result of different agencies, and of different epochs; the result of causes sometimes operating feebly and slowly, and at other times violently and powerfully. But the conclusion to which I have been irresistibly forced by the examination of this stratum in Massachusetts, is, that all the diluvium, which had been previously accumulated by different agencies, has been modified by a powerful deluge, sweeping from the north and north-west, over every part of the state, not excepting its highest mountains; and, since that deluge, none but alluvial agencies have been operating to change the surface.'

What is true of Massachusetts, there is reason to believe, is true also of every part of the globe, where traces of the flood of Noah more or less distinct may be discovered. I am aware that this has been denied; and pains have been taken to prove that the deluge of Scripture was not universal, but, on the contrary, confined to that portion of the earth where Man and other living creatures of the Mosaic creation were congregated; but this opinion, to say the least of it, is certainly not founded on evidence capable of convincing an impartial inquirer; while facts of an opposite tendency, some of which have been mentioned in the text, are almost universally palpable wherever sufficiently minute and intelligent observation has taken place. Should the progress of the science, however, establish that the Mosaic flood was not universal, which is quite possible, this would not affect the question as to the inspiration of the sacred volume. But this is an argument into which it is by no means necessary at present to enter. If any one wishes to satisfy himself on the point, he may consult the recent publication of Dr. Pye Smith, 'On the Relation between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science,' who plausibly and forcibly maintains, along with various late writers of note, the doctrine of a partial flood.-Note to the edition of 1840.

In considering the whole subject of the deluge, including not only its physical appearances, unfolded by geological research, but its moral cause, as declared by the inspired volume, we cannot too much admire the Divine wisdom and goodness which has caused such a tremendous judgment to end in an arrangement so beneficial. The beautiful scenery of the earth, with its valleys and hills, covered with a green carpet of grass, and adorned with flowers, or waving with lofty forests, or gracefully interspersed with the smooth expanse of lakes, reflecting surrounding nature on their peaceful bosom, or with streams rolling their ever-flowing tide to the ocean; while the distant horizon melts away into blue mountains, whose tops reach the clouds,-all this is the result of that dreadful convulsion which offended justice inflicted as a deserved punishment on accumulated and increasing guilt; but which a paternal hand controlled, and an all-wise Providence converted, to purposes of mercy and love.

There is something unspeakably gracious in the promise made to Noah, when he and his family issued from the ark, and set their foot for the first time on a submerged, but renovated world. 'I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember my covenant which is between Me and you, and every living creature of all flesh‍; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.'—'While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.'

With what a fine vein of poetic feeling has our most celebrated living poet alluded to this sublime and paternal declaration, in his address to the Rainbow:

'When o'er the green undeluged earth,
Heaven's covenant thou didst shine,
How came the world's grey fathers forth
To watch thy sacred sign!

'And, while its yellow lustre smiled

O'er mountains yet untrod
Each mother held aloft her child,

To bless the bow of God.

'How glorious is thy girdle cast
O'er mountain, tower, and town,

Or mirror'd in the ocean vast,
A thousand fathoms down.

'As fresh, in yon horizon dark,
As young thy beauties seem,
As when the eagle from the ark
First sported in thy beam.

'For, faithful to its sacred page,

Heaven still rebuilds thy span,

Nor lets the type grow pale with age,
That first spoke peace to man!'

CAMPBELL.

FOURTEENTH WEEK-SUNDAY.

THE DELUGE A DIVINE JUDGMENT.

THE account which the Bible gives us of the history of the antediluvian world, and of the causes which led to that awful interference of the great Creator, which brought it to a sudden and violent end, may be stated in few words. After man had proved himself unworthy of the world of happiness in which he was placed, it pleased the Eternal to continue his existence, under a new condition, both of his own mental and physical powers, and of the constitution of external nature. What that condition was, we have already partly seen. It was a state of things in which sin, misery, and death, were to prevail, as a preparation for another and more glorious form of existence, to be obtained by believers through the mediation of the Redeemer; and it was also part of this new condition, that men should still be so far morally free, as to

have it in their power to reject the offered salvation, and remain under the dominion of the prince of darkness. Thus mankind came to be divided into two great parties, as seen by the Omniscient eye,-those who, accepting of the promised Saviour, were maturing for the mansions of heaven; and those who, preferring the things of time to the hopes of eternity, were doomed to everlasting destruction. The external condition of men was, in the antediluvian world, early marked with a broad line of distinction, corresponding in some degree with their future destiny. There were two distinct races of the human family,-the one, descended from the first murderer, acute, ingenious, and worldly, gave themselves entirely to the cultivation of those pursuits and pleasures, which begin and end on this side the grave; the other, taking their origin from a more high-minded parent, and, like him, full of views and expectations which looked beyond the present earthly scene, were animated by that Hope, of which it has been beautifully said, that she 'lights her torch at Nature's funeral pile;' and made it the noblest aim of their lives, to walk worthy of their immortal destiny, and to prepare for the exalted employments and enlarged happiness of celestial natures.

In the slight glimpse afforded us of these two races, we find a striking example of a peculiarity in the human character, which our Saviour has noticed, and which has characterized man in every age, that the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. Among the descendants of Cain, who are designated by Moses as the children of men,' we see much worldly wisdom. We find their peculiar character indicated in these short incidental notices,-they built cities; they possessed flocks and herds; they invented musical instruments; they dug into the bowels of the earth, and became artificers in brass and iron-in short, they founded the arts of civilized life, and made large advances in its comforts and luxuries. Among the pious race of Seth, who were distinguished from the irreligious family by the honourable title of 'Sons of

God,' we hear little of worldly accomplishments, though they doubtless studied the works of creation, that in them they might discern and adore the Creator's perfections, and were not neglectful of whatever might contribute to the comfort of social and domestic life, or enlarge the understanding, or improve the heart; but, what is of much greater importance, and indicates a far nobler character, in the descendants of that family, we find Enoch, who walked with God, and was not, for God took him, and Noah, who was just and perfect in his generations.

But the contagion of iniquity is fearful. In all ages, there is a predisposition towards it in the heart of every man, and probably its influence was greatly aggravated in the primeval epoch, by a life extending to many centuries, and by the peculiar vigour of the bodily powers. Whatever force there may be in this latter observation, it is certain, that as soon as the pious race, merging their horror of irreligion in their admiration of human talent, began to cultivate a familiar intercourse with the infidel race, their characters from that instant began to decline; and, frequent intermarriages having taken place among them, which hastened the disease, corruption became universal and inveterate, and the earth was filled with violence. At length the measure of their iniquity became full. The world, as it then was, had fulfilled its purpose, and the family of Adam'had proved themselves incapable, under the circumstances in which they were then placed, of honourably fulfilling the relations of life, or of preparing for the enjoyments of a better world. A new constitution of things was to succeed, in which human life was to be curtailed, the world was to be rendered less exuberant in its vegetable productions, some of the largest animals, probably, were to be exterminated, and other corresponding changes were to be made in further development of the Divine decrees. A new step, in short, was to be taken towards the accomplishment of the primeval promise, that 'the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent.'

The antediluvian world was therefore to be destroyed, and