Page 356
§. 6. Owen Theolog. lib. 2. cap. 3. pag. 150. Speaks ex∣pressely thus:
That many things concerning the Floud were extracted out of the sacred text, every one sees: Iosephus, Antiq. lib. 1. cap. 4. Relates like things out of Hieronymus Aegyp∣tius, Berosus, Mnaseus, Nicholas, Damascenus. The same Eusebius in his Chronicon, out of Abydenus, and Alexander Po∣lyhistor. But many of the first Mythographers confound the Vni∣versal Deluge, with that particular Floud of Deucalion, or with that of Ogyges (which long preceded) so that Posteritie could un∣derstand neither one nor 'tother. Iohan. de Laet de origin. Gent American: lib. 1. pag. 115) acquaints us that there is a con∣stant Tradition of the Floud amongst the Indians, both in New France, Peru &c.But none speaks more fully on this Ar∣gument than Preston, on the Attributes of God, Serm. 3. pag. 9. 53. Edit. 2d.
The 2d. Argument (saies he) by which we confirme the Truth of the Scriptures, is taken from the Testimonies, that are given to them by our enemies, the Gentiles themselves being Judges. As to instance in the Floud; there are many that have made mention of it. Those Flouds, that are related by the ancient Greek Historians, come so near it, that they must needs haue the relation of it from the Iews. They have mingled it with many falshoods: we have not the writings of them, but fragments in the writings of o∣thers: as of Alexander Polyhistor in Iosephus, and Cyril: They say that there was a great floud, and that there was one Nisurus to whom Saturne reveled it; and bad him make an Ark; and he did so, and gathered some of all beasts into it; and that the Ark was in Armenia; and that the fragments of it are in Heliopolisand thus Preston.