Of Enoch, one of the descendants of Adam before the flood, it is recorded, Gen. v. 24, that he walked with God, i. e. was one highly approved by him; and was not; for God took him. The phrase, was not, in itself implies, that he died, ceased to exist: but as explained by what follows, for God took him, it here denotes, that he was removed out of the world without dying. For so the word is rendered, Gen. v. 24, by the Greek translators: where also in the original Hebrew, the same term is used, which is afterwards in 2 Kings ii. 3, in speaking of Elijah being taken up alive into heaven. And this sense is confirmed by

the apostle, Hebrews xi. v. By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him : for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God.

This striking event was an absolute assurance to the antediluvians of a life after this, which could not fail of making the deepest impressions upon them; and its taking place at this early period would be of infinite service in teaching them, that the virtuous and good, living and dying, were the peculiar care of heaven.

Very little is preserved to us concerning the generations of mankind before the flood. But we may presume from the circumstances of trial and difficulty in which human creatures are all placed, and their general behaviour under them, that there would always be a mixture of characters, good and bad, more or less at different times. For a while, the good

would

would prevail, till by degrees they fell away, and others less virtuous and regular succeeded, and at length wickedness and violence, we learn, rose to such a height, that the almighty and merciful Being judged it expedient to destroy the whole race of men from off the earth, all, except one righteous man and his family.

This most awful judicial act, however, of his moral government was not executed without giving them warning of his design, and trying to reclaim and amend them. For we are informed in our sacred books, that for very many years Noah had a divine commission to warn that evil generation of the just judgments impending over them, and to labour to bring them off from their pernicious courses. Some, we may not doubt, would be wrought upon so as to have their evil dispositions changed and turned : to God and goodness, whether by the pious remnonstrances of Noah alone, or of others joined with him ; although it was not possible to stem the torrent of wickedness, which by the decrees of heaven brought on the destruction of that incorrigible race. Yet we cannot refrain from remarking, how in the midst of judgment the Almighty remembered mercy, in sweeping them away at once by a death the most casy of all others.

Thus did they suffer for their extreme wickedness, and violation of the divine commands; and became the means of exalting the virtue of those, who affcetionately and earnestly strove, though.in vain, to

bring them to virtue and an obedience to the divine will.

It has not pleased the Divine Wisdom to gratify us with many things that we might have wished to know concerning Noah, the second father of our race: he that had seen the whole species cut off for their sins, and his family alone spared. How powerful and affecting so long as he lived must have been his testimony of the one true God and Maker of all things; of his goodness in bringing creatures into life to make them happy by an obedience to his laws; his just abhorrence of all sin and wickedness! This knowledge he would be careful to inculcate on his children and his children's children in a long succession. And that there was such important knowledge derived from this source, and circulated through all nations, is manifest from the accounts of the state of the world which are preserved to us.

After the flood, the re-peopling of the earth would be promoted by different families originating from Noah and his sons, which carried with them in their dispersions these great truths.

It is a noble attestation to the truth of the Mosaic history, which is given by sir Isaac Newton, in his

Chronology of antient Kingdoms amended," by shewing its agreement with the actual state of the world and condition of its inhabitants, as exhibited in the imperfect accounts of them handed down to us. He thence observes, p. 188, " that the worship of the true God continued to the time of Abraham and

Melchi

Melchizedech, and that it was not till their days that men fell away to the worship of false gods, which were probably the heavenly host, the sun, moon, and stars; and that it was to avoid this, which then began in Chaldea, and spread from thence, but had not yet reached the land of Canaan, that Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans, to go by Haran into the land of Canaan, being called out by Divine Providence from among his kindred, who were beginning to be infected with it; and this great author concludes the first chapter of his diligent and exact search into the Scriptures and antiquity, with this general deduction, p. 190. "So then, the believing that the world was framed by one supreme God, and is governed by him ; and the loving and worshipping him, and honouring our parents, and loving our neighbours as ourselves, and being merciful even to brute beasts, is the oldest of all religions. He had just before called this the primitive religion of Jews and Christians; which, adds he, ought to be the standing religion of all nations, it being for the honour of God and the good of mankind."

Hardly throughout all antiquity shall we find a more dignified and accomplished person than Abraham; of great wisdom and integrity; of a generous independent spirit, and true fortitude; famed over ail the East for his virtues, and distinguished as a worshipper of the one true God, in which he carefully instructed his family and dependents; and in those days his known and avowed 'principles and example

must have been of service in discountenancing and restraining men from the worship of false gods, Avhich was then beginning to be set up; and the more, as his travelling into different countries would. cause him to be much inquired after and known.

Much to be noted is the account given by the sacred historian of Abraham's intercession with the Divine Being in behalf of the sinful inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha. This most probably passed in vision, whilst he was praying; (the like to which is recorded, in later times, of the devout Roman eenturion, and of the apostle Peter, Acts x.) for just before it happened, Gen. xviii. 22, it is said, Abraham stood before God, i. e. was praying to him, as the phrase is understood by the best interpreters.

How edifying this first representation that is handed down to us, in the annals of the world, of a creature admitted to converse by prayer with his Creator! and what a pattern of devotion to us even in these enlightened times! Abraham requests nothing for himself; but with profound humility, moved by a benevolent concern for the most horrible crimes of his fellow creatures, he, by various arguments in their behalf, pleads for their being saved from impending destruction, that they might have space to repent. Whilst on the other hand, with infinite condescension and kindness, the Almighty listens and replies to his pleas, convincing him, that had not their dispositions been turned to evil beyond a possibility of being changed by any ordinary means, his prayer would