SECT. fequently, for that reafon, as well as from I.. a variety of correfponding circumstances, which fhall hereafter be noticed, must be the fame person as the patriarch Noah'. The antediluvian history of the Hindoos, as it has been well obferved, appears to be divided into feveral detached portions unconnected with each other, owing to the different points of view in which they confidered that early period. Yet, in the midst of this confufion, the number ten again makes its appearance. Ten children of Brahmah are faid to have been contemporaries previous to the era of the deluge". This contradiction to the Scripture account, however, is more apparent than * Εν τη δεύτερα (φασκει ὁ Πολυΐσως Αλεξανδρος) τις δεκα βασιλεις των Χαλδαίων-έως τε κατακλυσμό, λέγει γαρ 8 αυτος Αλεξανδρος, ως απο της γραφης των Χαλδαίων αύθις παρακατιών απο ενα νατε βασιλεως Αρδατε επι τον δέκατον λεγομενον παρ' αυτοις Ξίσουθρον οὕτως. κ. τ. λ. SYNCELLI Chronog. p. 30. Βασιλευσαι δε της χώρας πρωτον λεγες (Αβυδηνο;) Αλωραν και Σισούθρος επι τουτοις· ὡς τους παντας είναι βασιλεις δέκα. Ibid. P. 38. Ταυτα μεν ὁ Βηρωσσος ίςώρησε πρώτον γενεσθαι βασιλεων Αλωρόν - Είσεθρον βασιλευσαν σαρους οκτωκαιδεκα επι τουτου τον μεγαν κατακλυσμον φησι γεγεννήσθαι, ὡς γινεσθαι ὁμου παντας βασιλεις δικά. Ibid. p. 39· "Wilford on the Chronology of the Hindoos, in Asiat. Ref. vol. v. real, III. real, and may be reconciled to it, without CHAP. any very great difficulty. Let any perfon 111. examine the Mofaical chronology, and he will find, that the longevity of the Patriarchs was fuch as to cause nearly the whole of the ten antediluvian generations to be contemporary with each other, during at leaft fome portion of their lives. The fuppofition will appear in a yet more striking light, if the computation of the Samaritan Pentateuch be confulted. According to the chronology of that venerable relic of antiquity, the whole of the ten generations were contemporary; Adam having lived a confiderable space of time after the birth of Noah. This circumstance having been stated, the Hindoos refume, the subject, and view the ten defcents fucceffively inftead of contemporaneously. We are then informed, that God gave two fons to Adima, the first of men, by whom the whole earth was peopled. From this Patriarch, if we count downwards ten descents, we fhall find, in that place of the genealogy, a perfonage denominated Prithu. He is faid * Wilford on the Chronology of the Hindoos, in Afiat. Ref. vol. v. to I. SECT. to have been a pious prince, and skilled in agriculture; a character, which precifely agrees with that of Noah. It is probable, that Prithu is only a different appellative of the person who is otherwife called Satyavrata, and in whofe days the deluge happenedy. Thefe are the principal coincidences, which occur between the facred and profane accounts of the antediluvian period. Some are certainly of a nature fo remarkable, that it is impoffible to avoid being ftruck with them; and if others appear lefs obvious, they may be omitted without weakening the teftimony of the remainder. There will still be a fufficient degree of evidence to prove, that all ancient history, whether it be facred, or whether it be profane, uniformly relates the very famé facts. The fole difference is, that the one, because infpired, is plain, fimple, and unadorned; while the other has mingled traditional abfurdities with real events, and has thus weakened its own credibility. Wilford on the Chronology of the Hindoos, in Afiat. Ref. vol. v. Scrip III. Scripture ferves to explain profane History, CHAP. and profane Hiftory confirms and demonftrates the authenticity of Scripture; thus even Pagan traditions may be made fubfervient to the cause of truth, religion, and happiness. VOL. I. K CHAP. Pagan accounts of CHAP. IV. PAGAN ACCOUNTS OF THE DELUGE. I. CHAL- IT is perfectly agreeable to those notions the deluge. of retributive justice, which we have early been in the habits of forming, that, while mercy is extended to the humble and the faithful, a continued series of refolute wickedness, and an habitual contempt of God's commandments, fhould terminate in a fig nal |