the condition of the witnesses is higher in the promises of the great God, then it is low in the street of the great city. Their ascension into heaven after three days and a half, is legible long before their death. Athanasius seeth through the storm, and comforteth his fellow-sufferers, that Julian's persecution is but a little cloud, and will quickly be over.* That motto, somewhat altered by them of Geneva, is in this sense as true, and as truly alterable concerning every confessor; After darkness we look for light. Whether it be an astonishment of heart, or the dictate of the Spirit, Luther leaveth the cause of religion howsoever unto Christ; I (saith he) am not much troubled: yea, I hope as concerning the event, above what I hoped. God is able to raise up the dead: God is able to preserve his cause, though falling; to raise it up again, though falne; to promote when standing; if we be not worthy, let it be done by others. Jacob foretelling the predetermined and afflicting vicissitudes concerning the tribes of Israel, comforts himself in a safe issue of all, as to religion, and the sincere professors thereof, thus: I have waited for thy salvation, O God! Salvation is a full remedy and then is opportunity for the salvation of God, when the church's tribulation is such, as, that out of it, none but God can save.

:

The fixing of a beleever's eye aright, hath a vivifical and marvellous influence upon his heart. Christ beholding the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. A Christian runneth cheerfully and undefiledly, over the foulest part of the race set before him, looking unto Jesus. The council looking on Stephen saw his face as it had been the face of an angel: the reason is, Stephen looked stedfastly into heaven, and seeth the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. The best of the servants of God have lived in the worst times. Noah was not so unhappy that he lived in an unrighteous generation, as he was happy in being righteous in that generation. Though the captivity took up so much of Daniel's life, yet when he shall stand in his lot at the end of days, it shall be no griefe of heart unto him, that he was both to spend and end his days in Babylon. It will be as well with those at that day who fulfilled their course upon earth, prophesying in sackcloth, as with those who are reserved to live in the glorious times + Post tenebras lux.

• Nubecula est, citò præteribit.

Stupor ne sit an Spiritus viderit Christus non valdè turbatus sum, &c.-Mel. Adam. in vita Lutheri.

of the gospel. It is not material in what age we live; but that we live as we ought, in that age wherein we live.

Moriar ego morte justorum, et sit finis meus sicut illius.

Collected out of the writings and information of the Reverend Mr. John Davenport, Pastor of the Church at New-Haven; the Reverend Mr. Samuel Whiting, Pastor of the Church at Linne; the pious Widow of the Deceased, and others.

And compiled by his unworthy Successor,

Qui

A longè sequitur vestigia semper adorans.

Boston, Novemb. 6, 1657.

An Essay on the Agriculture of the Israelites.

PART IV.

Their sheep descended from one common pair,-observations on the objection of Mr. Lawrence, and others, to the scriptural testimony on the subject, their flocks-their breed―milk.

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." Prov. xxvii. 23.

IN considering the live-stock of the Israelites, a difficulty, or rather an unpleasant circumstance, for there seems to be no difficulty in the business, meets us at the outset― that of having to controvert the opinions of some of the ablest naturalists as to the origin of the various breeds; but, with the Bible in our hand, we must not be awed even by the names of Buffon, Blumenbach, Lawrence, or Bingley. It is not to be wondered at, indeed, that those who derive the origination of mankind, from a savage race, living in woods, and feeding upon acorns, should have recourse to the argali or mouflon as the progenitor of the sheep, and the bison of the ox. The Heathens, indeed, (the Romans, for instance,) who knew not the real history of man, and had known instances of his existing in such a state, might be excused for such a conclusion; but that a Christian should prefer the authority of Ovid, to the testimony of Moses, derived from the very Creator of man and beast, is a depravation

of judgment almost equal to what is witnessed in the creatures in those respective states.

Mr. Lawrence, in his "Lectures on Physiology, Zoology, and the Natural History of Man," will not allow that the Mosaic account of the creation is of authority to determine whether the varieties of mankind are all derived from one common progenitor; yet, by his examination and reasonings, he comes to the conclusion that they are all of the same species; no bad presumption, indeed, in favour of the Mosaic account, no bad testimony to its truth, as Mr. L. himself seems to admit it, in some measure, to be. (p. 254.)* In respect to animals, he says,

"The state of domestication, or the artificial mode of

*Mr. Lawrence is not the first who has started the idea that there were more than one pair of the human race originally created. This was done, as long ago as the year 1800, by Mr. King, in the second part of his Morsels of Criticism, (section vi.); but with his usual diffidence, humility, piety, and learning. Mr. Lawrence's reasoning, however, is too long to give, even an abstract of it, here. To his objections raised from Scripture itself, it may be proper to devote a few words. He says, (p. 248, note.) "We are told, indeed, that 'ADAM called his wife's name EVE, because she was the mother of all living.' But, in the first chapter of Genesis, we learn that God created male and female; and this seems to have been previously to the formation of Eve, which did not take place until after the Garden of Eden had been prepared." To this it may be replied, that the second chapter of Genesis is not an account of what took place after the sixth day of the creation, (except in what it says of the seventh day); but a more particular detail of some things which took place on the sixth day, the creation of Adam, namely, God's placing Adam in the Garden of Eden, his bringing the animals to him, there being male and female of them, but no help-meet for him, and God's making one for him. Mr. Lawrence says, 66 Again we learn in the fifth chapter of Genesis, that 'In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name ADAM, in the day that they were created."" But the term Adam, or red earth, is not used here, I apprehend, to signify a number of pairs, or a race, created at the same time; but the whole human species descended from him, and at that time virtually contained in his loins. (See Hebrews vii. 5, 10.)

Mr. Lawrence continues, "We find also that CAIN, after slaying his brother, was married, although no daughters of EVE are mentioned before this time. CAIN went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And CAIN knew his wife, and she conceived, and bare ENOCH.' Indeed it is said, (ch. v. 4.) that the days of ADAM, after he had begotten SETH, were eight hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters.' This, it should seem, took place after the birth of SETH, and consequently long after CAIN had his wife; for SETH was not born till after the death of ABEL. If CAIN had sisters prior to that period, from amongst whom he might have taken a wife, MOSES has not noticed them."

life, which they lead under the influence of man, is the most powerful cause of varieties in the animal kingdom. Wild animals, using always the same kind of food, being exposed to the action of the climate without artificial protection, choose, each of them, according to its nature, their

This is very true; but it seems to me more reasonable to suppose, by implication, that Adam and Eve had other children, of whose birth no particular mention is made, than that there were more pairs created at first, and of whom Eve therefore was not the mother, though it is particularly said of her, that "she was the mother of all living."

Mr.Lawrence again says, "The representations of all animals being brought before ADAM in the first instance," (Gen. ii. 19, 20.) " and subsequently of their being all collected in the ark," (Gen. vi. 19, 20.) "if we are to understand them as applied to the living inhabitants of the whole world, are zoologically impossible. The collection of living beings in one central point, and their gradual diffusion over the whole globe, may not be greatly inconsistent with what we know of our own species, and of the few more common quadrupeds, which accompany us in our various migrations, and are able to sustain with us great varieties of climate, food, situation, and all external influences. But when we extend our survey to the rest of the mammalia, we find at all points abundant proofs of animals being confined to particular situations, and being so completely adapted by their structure and functions, by their whole organization, economy, and habits, to the local peculiarities of temperature, soil, food, &c. that they cannot subsist where these are no longer found. In the proportion as our knowledge of species becomes more exact, the proofs of this locality are rendered stronger, and the examples of admirable conformity, between the organic capabilities of animals and the circumstances of the regions which they inhabit, are multiplied and strengthened, &c." (p. 249, 250.) If all the difficulties connected with the facts just recited, and with the numerous analagous ones which every department of natural history could furnish, were removed, insurmountable obstacles would still be found to this hypothesis of the whole globe having received its supply of animals from one quarter. How could all living beings have been assembled in one climate, when many, as the white fox (isatis), the polar bear, the walons, the manati, can exist only in the cold of the polar regions, while to others the warmth of the tropics is essential? How could all have been supplied with food in one spot, since many live entirely on vegetables produced only in certain districts? How could many have passed from the point of assemblage to their actual abode, over mountains, through deserts, and even across the seas? How could the polar bear, to whom the ice of the frozen regions is necessary, have traversed the torrid zone? If we are to believe that the original creation comprehended only a male and female of each species, or that one pair only was rescued from an universal deluge, the contradictions are again increased. The carnivorous animals must have soon perished with hunger, or have annihilated most of the other species." (p. 253, 254.)

Here are some facts and questions, which certainly contain some difficulties, but none which are greater than that of not admitting the

zone and country. Instead of migrating and extending, like man, they continue in those places which are the most friendly to their constitutions. Hence, their nature undergoes no change; their figure, colour, size, proportions, and properties, are unaltered; and, consequently, there is no

truth of the Mosaic account, and the authenticity of the sacred scriptures, after considering the testimony in favour of them. If the Scriptures be not authentic, they deserve no notice. I must, therefore, first examine into their claims; and, having once established them, they are deserving of all regard, and whatever difficulties may arise, I may see and acknowledge them to be such, but I cannot allow them to invalidate the divine testimony. Moses, by the inspiration of God, says that God, at the first formed one man and one woman, from whom all the rest of mankind are descended. No difference, therefore, of form, or colour, or intellect, among the different varieties at present existing, will lead me to believe the contrary. Moses says, that all the animals were brought by the Creator to Adam. The circumstance, that many of these are not now to be found, and would not exist in the climate in which he was placed, certainly forms a difficulty, but not a sufficient one to make me doubt the testimony of one inspired by God. The creation of the world, when all was miracle, was a period of which we can form no competent notion now. The climates might be different, the nature of the animals different too. So, likewise, at the flood, all again was miracle. He who created man and beast could collect the animals from the remotest place, and lead them to Noah, as he had before done to Adam. He could suspend their savage and carnivorous natures, as he did afterwards by the ravens, in the case of Elijah, and by the lions, in the case of Daniel. We are expressly told, that there shall come a time, when " the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah xi. 6-9.) He who has created all things, and has them at his command, can effect this at any time, and can conduct them over desarts and over mountains, and even over seas, by miraculous or by second causes, as he sees fit. Some further solutions of these difficulties may be seen in Stackhouse's History of the Bible, in Catcott's Treatise on the Deluge, and Wood's Mosaic Account of the Creation.

Though this note is already extended to a very great length, yet I cannot forbear adding to it an extract from the 15th of Mr. Newton's Letters, published under the signatures of Omicron and Vigil, which is most admirable, and pertinent to this subject. The title of the Letter is, A Plan of a compendious Christian Library, which is to consist of only four, but those very comprehensive volumes. The first is the Bible, the second the Book of Creation; upon this he says, "The lines of this book, though very beautiful and expressive in themselves, are not immediately legible by fallen man.

The