THE ANTEDILUVIAN HISTORY, AND Narrative of the Flood, AS SET FORTH IN THE EARLY PORTIONS OF THE CRITICALLY EXAMINED AND EXPLAINED. BY THE REV. E. D. RENDELL, OF PRESTON. Ὁ ἔχων οὖς, ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. Original State of Man-The Successive Development of his Mental and Spiritual Powers-His Duty and Prerogative as an Image of God- PREFACE. A SATISFACTORY explanation of the early chapters of Genesis has become a desideratum in the Church; for there is no fact better established than that the Mosaic accounts of the Creation and the Deluge are no longer considered to express those sentiments which for many ages they have been supposed to do. What used to be regarded as "orthodox," upon those subjects, has been compelled to recede before the light of rational investigation and scientific discovery. This is admitted by men of eminence-by minds stored with erudition and piety,―persons whose veneration for, and belief in, revelation are far above suspicion ;-professors in our national universities, and other institutions for the dissemination of religion and learning. A decree, therefore, has gone forth against the old notions upon these subjects: the old vessels have been effectually broken; and all, who carefully examine the fragments, are convinced that it is impossible to repair them. It is true that several new systems have been formed on some modified ideas of the literal sense of those ancient writings; but an intelligent inspection of them has shown that they also are marred and full of flaws; so that there has ceased to be any authorized interpretation of those extraordinary documents. In this dilemma, the old opinions continue to be taught to the rising generations; and so their minds are prejudiced in favour of a mistaken judgment. This, doubtless, produces no little uneasiness |