Twelve dissertations out of Monsieur Le Clerk's Genesis ... done out of Latin by Mr. Brown ; to which is added, a dissertation concerning the Israelites passage through the Red Sea, by another hand.

Dissertation V. Concerning the Flood. (Book 5)

I. The different Opinions about the Flood. II. Some bold it to be Ʋniversal, and endeavour to prove it from the express words of Moses. III. Others make it particular: The Arguments alledged by them. IV. Their Answers to the Reasons commonly urged by the Maintainers of the first Opinion.

I. ALL Interpreters are agreed, That the De∣luge was so far Universal, as it over∣whelm'd all the then inhabited part of the

World; and that all the Race of Mankind, ex∣cept Noah's Family, were destroy'd by it. But some are of opinion, that the whole Globe of the Earth was cover'd with Water, which others again as positively deny.

II. They that hold the Affirmative, in the first place, ground themselves upon the express words of Moses, who introduces God laying his Com∣mands upon Noah, Chap. 6.19. of every living thing of all flesh, to take two of every sort into the Ark, to preserve the several Species of them, lest they should be lost. Which Command Noah accordingly obey'd, and taking Pairs of every Bird, every Beast, and every creeping thing upon the Earth, according to their several Kinds, placed them in the Ark. Now these Expressions denote, that all living Creatures whatever were to be destroy'd, for otherwise Noah might have re∣cruited himself much easier out of some other Country where the Deluge did not reach, and consequently where they were not destroy'd, than have kept them in the Ark, which was in∣finitely more troublesome. As for the Birds espe∣cially, there was no necessity to gather them, be∣cause as they could have easily flown to the dry places, so after the Country that was overflow'd was dry again, they would have soon returned. Nay, it had been much more commodious for Noah to have gone to that part of the World which was not cover'd with Waters, than to be shut up so long in the Ark.

Secondly, As the Species of all Animals are said to be preserved by Noah's Care, so Moses could not in more express words have told us, that all the rest over the face of the World were destroy'd, than in the following Lines, Chap. 7.21. All the flesh died that moved upon the Earth, both of Fowl and of Cattle, and of Beast, and of every creeping thing, &c. All in whose nostrils was the Breath of Life, of all that was on the dry Land died. And every living Substance was destroyed, which was upon the face of the ground, both Man and Cattle, and the creeping things, and the Fowl of the Heaven. If a Man was never so much minded to tell his Reader, that all sorts of Crea∣tures in all places were destroy'd, 'tis impossible to do it more plainly. How can the Birds of any one Country be supposed to be lost, if they had the next Country to fly to, which was free from the Flood. Could not so much as one wild Beast save himself thither by flight?

Thirdly, We are told in the eighth Chapter, that Noah staid within the Ark till such time as the Earth was dried, when it had been much more easie for him to have gone to some of those Countries which had not been visited by the Deluge; especially, since the Soil of such a place would have been much better for him upon all accounts, than that of a Country cor∣rupted by the Salt Water. Nay, he might, as we observ'd before, have fled thither before the Flood, with his Family and all his Effects, and so have avoided the Fatigue and Trouble of building

an Ark, which employ'd him without question a whole year.

Fourthly, The heighth of the Water shews, that the whole Terrestrial Globe was covered; for since the highest Mountains under Heaven were covered fifteen Cubits, that is, two and twenty Foot high with Water, 'tis certain that no part of the Earth could escape the Flood; and so we find, that when the Waters began to decrease, the first place the Ark lighted upon, was on the highest ridge of the Gordiaean Mountains.

'To these Reasons, which are borrowed from Moses's Narration, we will not add the general Consent of ancient and modern Interpreters, be∣cause all of them purely depend upon it. Now those that are of Opinion that it was no other∣wise Universal, than as it overflow'd so much of the World as was inhabited by Mankind, and destroy'd all Men but those that escaped in the Ark, think they have defended their Hypothesis with invincible Arguments, and in the next place have produced Answers to all the above∣mentioned Reasons, which, to say the Truth, do not equal the Force of Arguments. After the same manner, those that maintain that all the World was covered with the Flood, prove their Opinion out of Scripture, much better than they resolve the Objections of their Adversaries.

III. That only the inhabited part of the World suffer'd by the Flood, they think is manifest from hence, That since God Almighty only proposed to destroy Mankind, there was no necessity for

the Flood to reach farther than Men had planted themselves. It is likewise past Dispute, that he design'd to punish Men alone, because Men alone are capable of Sin, in whose Destruction, if any Beasts are involved, they perished for no other reason, but because they happened to be in the same place where Men lived. Now before the Flood Mankind could not extend it self far, and perhaps had not exceeded those Countries which lie about the Tigris and Euphrates. 'Tis a foolish thing, says Isaac Vossius, in his Disserta∣tion de Aetat. Mund. p. 283. to imagine, that Man∣kind was so much multiplied before the Flood, as to inhabit all the corners of the Earth. How slow Humane Nature was in producing Men at that time, we may easily gather from this, That Noah was but the ninth from Adam. Whoever computes the Matter fairly will see, that from those eight Persons who escaped the Flood, till the time of the Dispersion of the Nations, more Men might be born, than from Adam alone in the space of two thousand years. Nevertheless 'tis certain, that before the Confusion of Babel, Mankind possessed but a small part of Asia. Therefore those Persons are very much mistaken, who suppose, that in Noah's time the whole World was inhabited, when perhaps only Syria and Mesopotamia were planted. Now no reason obliges us to extend the Inundation beyond the Bounds of the inhabited World: Nay, on the other hand 'tis absurd to say, That the Effects of the Punishment which was inflicted upon Man∣kind,

should be exerted where no Men were to be found.

Secondly, If we consider how prodigious the heighth of the Waters must be, to cover all the highest Mountains in the World, there is not Water enough either in the Sea, or Clouds, to rise so high: If there are no Mountains whose tops are above three Miles high, for which con∣sult Isaac Vosstus in Pomp. Melam. l. 5. c. 2. and Va∣renius's Geogr. Gen. l. 1. c. 10. yet the Water must have risen so high. But 'tis evident, that neither the Sea-water, nor that in Fountains and Rivers, nor Showers, were sufficient to effect it. The Water which is contain'd within the Earth, could never be carried so high, unless the Earth sunk in, and the Mountains were levell'd; which contradicts the Mosaical History, and though the Water of the Clouds were joyn'd to it, yet 'tis impossible it should ascend so high, since we see 'tis made up of Vapors exhaled from the Waters below; for the collected Water of the Clouds, must have made a much greater Mass, than the Globe of the Earth, if it could so far overflow it, as to exceed the highest Mountains twenty Foot at least, which may be proved, by consi∣dering the greatness of the watry Circles which must encompass the Earth; and the farther they are removed from the Center of it, must needs be so much the greater. Some Persons, to clear themselves from these Difficulties, in the first place pretend, that the Air was condens'd in its lowest parts, and in the Caverns of the Earth,

or at least something else served instead of Wa∣ter: And lastly, That even the Air condensed into Water, fell down with the Rain. But all these are mere Conjectures, of which Moses mentions not the least Syllable; besides they must needs confess, that they add Miracle to Miracle, merely to overflow those Countries where there is no reason why a Deluge should be sent. If we should suppose the whole cir∣cumambient Air, saith the above-mentioned Vossius, in Epist. ad And. Col. p. 385. to be turned into Water, yet we shall never make the Mass of Waters rise one and thirty Foot and a half higher than the Superficies of the Earth. My reason is, Because Water will never be made to rise higher, either by Pumps, or any other at∣tractive Power: For the Air that presses with∣out, and forces the Water into the Tub or Pump, makes an exact aequilibrium with the Water which is included in the Tub. Therefore ac∣cording to the weight of the Water inclosed in the Tub, is the weight of that Cylinder of Air which presses the Water without; so that if the whole body of Air were condensed, and turned into Water, yet the Superficies of the Waters would not be above thirty two Foot high. To this we may add, That to turn this Air into Water, it must be so much condensed, that a certain quantity of it must equal the like quan∣tity of Water in weight. But to effect this, the Air must be at least eight hundred times thicker than it is; for it appears by undoubted Experi∣ments,

that the exact weight of this lower Air which we breath, and which without question is the heaviest, is eight hundred times heavier at least than that of Water. See Edm. Halley's second Dissertation in the Transactions of the Royal Society. T. XVI. p. 104.

Others that cannot digest this Condensation of the Air, are of opinion that the Rain and Sea∣water was rarefied. However if we should admit so great a Rarefaction of Water, they are Vossius's own words, yet to make the quantity of it no more than fifteen times greater than usual, which is the least we can suppose, it ought properly to be called a Mist and not Water, wherein as nei∣ther Men nor the other Terrestrial Creatures could have been destroyed, so the Fishes could not have lived in it. Besides, had Noah's Ark been made of the lightest Cork imaginable, yet so light and thin a body could never have sup∣ported it.

If any one should still insist, that the Waters were created out of nothing, and annihilated again after all Living Creatures were destroyed, it may be said in the first place, That there is nothing to countenance this Conjecture to be found in Moses, who on the other hand expresly tells us, That the Waters of the Abyss and the Heavens were sent upon the Earth: And in the next place it ought to be consider'd, Whether 'tis suitable for the Divine Wisdom to create a mighty Mass of Waters, to overflow those places where there were nothing but Beasts, and after∣wards

to annihilate them. Lastly, It appears from the eighth Chapter, That the Waters were diminish'd by the Wind, and not by any extra∣ordinary Effect of the Divine Omnipotence.

From hence a third Argument is deduced, whereby they endeavour to prove, that the De∣luge was only particular. God, says, Moses, Ch. 8.1. sent a Wind, and the Waters abated. The only thing the Wind could do was, That a few more Vapours should be exhaled, or that the Water should more swiftly be carried into some cer∣tain place, into which of its own accord it would not run soon enough; but it could never ex∣haust the Ocean. Who can therefore believe, that the whole Earth, cover'd with Waters to so pro∣digious a heighth, could be dried up by the Wind? 'Tis certain this could no more be effected by the Wind, than in the Beginning of all things, the Sea could be compell'd into its Alveus by it; especially if we consider, that the Sun perpetually draws up Vapours from the Earth, even without the Wind; which Vapours being in too great Plenty in the Air, fall down back again upon the Earth in Showers. Besides, if the Wind could draw up so vast a quantity of Water in Vapours, it would follow, That there would be always much more Water in the Clouds than in the Ocean, since if they were all pour'd down, they could cover the whole Earth, not the highest Mountains excepted. But we have already shown that this cannot be done.

Fourthly, If the Sea-waters were spread all over the Face of the Earth, the Trees and smaller Plants could scarce have been preserv'd from Destruction; and if all Trees in all Coun∣tries had been spoil'd by the Saltness of the Wa∣ter, how came they to be propagated again, since God is no where said to have created them a-new. Now no one will be so Obstinate as to deny, that in the compass of a year, or somewhat less, both Plants and Seeds will be corrupted in Salt-water: And those that are skill'd in Natu∣ral Philosophy will scarce affirm, that they would grow again, out of putrified Mud fermented by the Sun, as was formerly believed. 'Tis true, the force of this Argument is somewhat abated, if the Patrons of the Universal Deluge answer as they use to do, that the Saltness of the Sea was very much taken off by so great a quantity of fresh Water mingled with it. However 'tis hard to imagine, how several Plants could continue so long a space even under fresh Water, with∣out being kill'd.

Fifthly, If all the Animals of all Countries in the World came to Noah in general, as 'tis plain they must needs come, suppose both Hemispheres were covered with Water, It may be enquired into, how so many Animals, which are peculiar to America, could come from that Continent to Mesopotamia? If America is any where joyn'd to our part of the World, it must be far North∣wards under a cold Climate, which Beasts, that are proper to the Torrid Zone, cannot endure.

Nay, if we suppose it to be joyn'd to our Cli∣mate under a more favourable Latitude, how could the American Beasts, but the Serpents more especially, possibly get over so many Rivers, and Lakes, and Mountains, and find their way through so many Woods in so long a Journey? By what means, says Isaac Vossius, p. 398. could that Ani∣mal, for instance, which from the slowness of its Motion, is called the Lazy, arrive to Noah's Ark, and travel so many Miles, which after its own natural Pace, it could not perform in the space of Twenty thousand years.

Let the Patrons of an Universal Deluge like∣wise inform us, after what manner (Id. p. 186.) these Animals, leaving Noah's Ark and the ancient World, found their way into America, and Lands that are disjoyned by a vast Ocean. Another Absurdity too would follow, which is this, that such innumerable sorts of Creatures, which were unknown to our World both formerly and now, should pass through such mighty Tracts of Ground, and not leave any remainders of their several Kinds in their former Habitations.

Sixthly, The very building of the Ark pre∣sents us with no less Difficulties, if it were true, what the generality of Mankind believes, viz. That it was a common Receptacle of all Beasts, and that we cannot name one Animal, whose Posterity did not come out of this Mansion. If we only compute those Creatures which are fre∣quently found in the old World, yet the room which the Scriptures allow for this Ark, could

not contain so many different Species, and the Food that was necessary to maintain them so long. But if we take in the Beasts of the New World, and the Southern Hemisphere, there will not be room enough for the Animals themselves, much less for the vast Provisions to keep them alive there. Besides, a Man cannot easily compre∣hend, how these Animals, after what manner so∣ever they were distributed into their Cells, and their several Apartments kept clean, could live so long in this close Confinement. The Question too may be put, whether they generated in the Ark, which, if any one denies, 'tis very strange, that these Brutes, which if you except a few of them, are hot for Copulation once a year at least, should abstain from it; and if 'tis affirm'd then, as their Off-spring increased, there must be of course a greater Consumption of their Pro∣visions. Several Persons here have recourse to Miracles, which as they might happen, so we need not suppose them without urgent necessity. But what necessity is there, that Countries de∣stitute of Men, and the Animals of those Coun∣tries, should be overflown?

Seventhly. To lessen this Difficulty, perhaps it may be objected, That no more Creatures were created in every Species than in that of Man. But the above-mention'd Learned Man thus confutes them. God, says he, from the Creation, fill'd the whole World, according to the respe∣ctive Faculty of every Country and Sea, with all sorts of Beasts, Fishes and Trees. But Man

alone is said to be created by himself. Now it would be monstrously absurd to imagine, That only two Animals of every Species, and that only in one place, were formed by God Al∣mighty. For if we are of that Opinion, what will become of those Plants and Animals which only breed in peculiar Continents, and which, for the above-mention'd reason, could not be transferr'd, and propagated from our World to theirs?

IV. These are the Arguments which have been urged to prove, That only the inhabited part of the Earth, and its Animals, suffer'd in the Deluge. But because the Maintainers of the con∣trary Opinion object. That when God speaks, all Humane Reasoning ought to cease: True it is, say the Patrons of a Particular Flood, and so it ought, if the Divine Words would only admit of an Interpretation. And thus the most Reve∣rend Bishop of Worcester, Dr. Stillingfleet, in the third Book and fourth Chapter of his Origines Sacrae, where he treats of this Subject with that Learning and Judgment which is so peculiar to him, owns, that it cannot be proved by any ne∣cessary Arguments drawn from the Scriptures, that the whole Superficies of the Earth was over∣flow'd. We are at leisure now to examine the Answers they bring to the above-cited Reasons.

First, Though All Creatures are said to be admitted into the Ark, yet they observe that the word All is of doubtful Signification, and is very seldom taken absolutely, but in most places is re∣strained to the Subject then in hand. Even in

the Writings of Moses himself, where he tell us, That a Famine prevail'd in All the Earth; our Divines own, that 'tis to be understood only of a particular part of the World. Thus Vossius, nay, other Writers, when they speak of a consi∣derable number of Animals, express themselves after the same manner. Livy, speaking of the Circensian Spectacles as they were exhibited in his Age, has the following words, Lib. 44. c. 9. It was the Fashion then, even before our Modern Va∣nity was introduced, of filling the Circus with the Beasts of ALL NATIONS, to divert the People with several sorts of Spectacles. Here a few Nations, that were either Neighbours, or Subjects of the Roman People, are called Omnes Gentes. In like manner several Birds and Beasts in the Prophet Ezekiel, Ch. 31.6. where the King of Egypt is described under the Representation of a Tree, are called All. In the Leaves of it All the Birds of the Air built their Nests, under its Boughs All the Beasts of the Field did Copulate, and un∣der its Shade did dwell All Nations. See Daniel 4.18. so likewise Hosea 4.3. where the great Devastation of Judaea is described: Therefore, says the Prophet, the Earth shall Mourn, and All dwelling therein, among the Beasts of the Field, and the Birds of the Air, they shall fall Sick, yea, the Fishes of the Sea shall be destroy'd. There∣fore All Animals, Clean and Unclean, that were let into the Ark, are to be understood only of those which that Country produc'd, where the first Seat of Mankind was, viz. That Fruitful

Territory about the Tigris and Euphrates: And perhaps the All here does not comprehend those of All Kinds, but only All those which are useful to Man. Of which Nature are the Cattel they feed upon, as Oxen, Sheep, &c. Horses, Asses, Ca∣mels, which were there imploy'd in carrying of Burdens, but therefore call'd Ʋnclean, because they were not used for Food. Of Birds there might be Cocks, Geese, Ducks, Pigeons, Ravens, &c. Nor is it strange that Noah was commanded to preserve these Animals, which could not be had out of the neighbouring Countries, nor tamed without a long and tedious Trouble.

As for what relates to Noah, the Reasons why he was not ordered to fly to the adjoyning Country where the Deluge did not reach, were, because other People should not follow him thi∣ther. Besides, it was convenient, that the Ark wherein he was to be preserved from the Deluge, should be built before those very Persons to whom he foretold it, that so they might be con∣vinc'd he spoke to them in earnest. God Al∣mighty, as Vossius conjectures, thought that his Justice was not to be exerted but in a conve∣nient place. Now what more convenient place can be imagin'd than this, where the Guilty were to be punish'd in Noah's sight, and he that was Innocent, should be saved in the midst of Sinners?

• Secondly, Where it is said, That all living Crea∣tures were destroy'd, the place must be under∣stood only of those Animals that were within the Limits of the overflow'd Countries: Which

• is not only the answer of Vossius, but of Dr. Stillingfleet. Nay, from what has already been said, concerning the word All, we may gather, That 'tis not inconsistent with the Mosaical Narration, to suppose, that not all, but many Animals, and especially such as were in a more particular manner serviceable to Mankind, were destroy'd.
• Thirdly, Noah tarried in the Ark till the Wa∣ters were dried up, because it would be more convenient for him to set footing in a Country which he was formerly acquainted with, and which was free from Wild Beasts, than in an unknown place, full of Savage Creatures. No doubt on't, but the Soil was sufficiently damag'd by the Stagnation of the Water; but Mesopota∣mia, and the adjoyning Countries, being watered by vast noble Rivers, received less Detriment from the Salt Water, than others that were de∣stitute of fresh Streams; so that 'tis reasonable to believe, they recover'd their former Fertility in a short space.
• Fourthly, The highest Mountains that were covered to so vast a heighth by the Flood, were those which were scituate in these Countries, be∣yond which Mankind was not at that time pro∣pagated. Nor does that Addition, Ʋnder Hea∣vens, oblige us to believe the contrary, since it is sometimes used of a few neighbouring Coun∣tries, as Deut. 2.25. On that day will I begin to send the Fear and Terror of thee, through the People under all the Heavens, Sub omni Coelo.

Having thus consider'd what might be said in behalf of this Opinion against the former, it now remains to be enquir'd how far, according to this Hypothesis, the Deluge might extend. But since we do not know what Countries were then inhabited, What Man dares presume to define the Bounds of the Flood? Perhaps that Tract of Ground which lies between the four Seas, the Persian, the Caspian, the Euxine, and the Syrian; in which compass we find the Tigris, the Euphra∣tes, and several other vast Rivers, were by the Eruption of all Waters, and by the Clouds, ga∣thered from all parts of the World by the Di∣vine Power, and there condens'd into Moisture, buried and overflow'd. 'Tis true, this could not be effected without a Miracle; but then there is no way to solve the Difficulties of so great a Ca∣taclysm without a Miracle. However the less and fewer of this Kind we suppose, provided the rest may be conveniently explain'd, that Expo∣sition uses to be accounted the most agreeable to Truth by all Interpreters, because God is never so prodigal of Miracles, as to have recourse to them where Natural Causes are sufficient; much less does he violate and overturn all the esta∣blish'd Laws of Nature without good reason. In this very History we find, that God was pleased to give Noah notice when it was time for him to go into the Ark, because he could scarce know it of himself, but he does not tell him the time when he was to go out of it, but left the Matter wholly to his own Discretion,

because he might very well know it without the Divine Assistance. He might, if it had so pleased h••••, have preserved all the Animals in the Ark alive without any Aliment, which had made the Ark considerably lighter, and had saved Noah a great deal of trouble; and yet we see he did not do it, because these Creatures might be supplied with Food by Humane Diligence. Where the Industry of Man ceases, there the Divine Help begins; and Vice versâ.

Thus the Favourers of a Particular Deluge support their Opinion, but it has been objected against them, That if this Supposition were true, the Superficies of the Water could not have been perfectly Spherical, and consequently that the Ark in this great Declivity, must ne∣cessarily incline to the lower places. But as Vossius has very well answered, that which hap∣pens in lesser Inundations, the same might fall out in this great, and more than Natural Deluge. For the same Power which drove the Seas and Clouds to that Tract of Earth which was to be destroy'd, did likewise sustain the Ark, and the Declivity of the Water, as long as there was occasion for it.