of Sermons, I take the liberty of stating the following particulars. Some years have now elapfed, fince my plan was first sketched out; and, as the work was commenced without the leaft reference to the Bampton Lectureship, the natural confequence of fuch a circumftance is, that it bears very little refemblance to fermons, either in point of matter or manner. Owing to the copiousness of the fubject, it was found impracticable to deliver more from the pulpit, than that portion of it, in which the connection between the Mofaical hiftory and profane tradition is confidered: the remaining part therefore having never been read before the Univerfity could not with propriety be published in the shape of fermons; and the perfpicuity and arrangement of the whole would have been confiderably injured, by breaking it into detached fragments, which muft neceffarily have been nearly of the fame length. On thefe accounts, neither the form of fermons has been adopted, nor is it wifhed that the following difquifitions fhould be called called by the name, or confidered in the light of fermons; fince they are totally diffimilar to that fpecies of compofition. May 18, 1801. CON CONTENTS Its external Credibility, arifing from the Coincidence Statement of the Subject, p. 3.-A View of the Ancient p. 55. Ix. Opinions of the Ancient Philofophers; 1. Orpheus, p. 56. 2. Pythagoras, p. 62. 3. Thales and Anaxagoras, p. 64. 4. Hefiod, p. 65. 5. Aristophanes, p. 66. x. Jehovah's Name known to the Pagans, p. 66. Pagan Accounts of the Period between the Creation and the Deluge, p. 73. 1. Paradife, p. 73. 11. The Fall, p. 84. III. The Serpent, p. 94. IV. Traditions of the promised Meffiah, p. 105. v. Cain and Abel, p. 114. va Longe- vity of the Patriarchs, p. 118. VII. Giants, P. 121. Pagan Accounts of the Deluge, p. 130. 1. Chaldee Account, p. 132. 11. Greek Account confirmed by the Syrians, p. 133. 111. Perfian Account, p. 137. IV. Hindoo Ac- count, p. 139. v. Chinese Account, p. 142. vi. Gothic Account, p. 153. VII. Egyptian Account; Coincidence of the Germans, p. 154. VIII. American Accounts; 1. Mechoacan, p. 159. 2. Peruvian, p. 160. 3. Brazilian, p. 161. 4. Nicaraguan, p. 162. 1x. Authors who speak of the Deluge; 1. Those mentioned by Jofephus, p. 163. 2. Melo, p. 164. 3. Plato, p. 164. 4. Diodorus Siculus, p. 165. 5. Epiphanius, p. 165. 6. Abydenus, p. 165, 7. Kircher, p. 166. 8. Cartwright, p. 168. x. Tradi- tions refpecting the Dove and the Rainbow, p. 169. |