7S 



§3. 

 Of the Condition of Mankind during the 'Patriarchal State. 



THE patriarchal state is that in which nien hved under the 

 government of a common parent ; that this was the slate of 

 mankind during the life of Adam their universal parent, ap- 

 pears by the testimouy of Moses, the most ancient and res- 

 pectable of all historians. His sons Cain and Abel lived 

 Avith him, and were subject to him for many years. Cain, 

 even after his banishment, we cannot suppose emancipated 

 from the dominion of his father. 



While Adam lived, that is, during 930 years, men must 

 have been very numerous, and in great measure civilized ; 

 for agriculture was practised, the metallurgic arts invented, 

 the sciences cultivated, and cities built, the lives of men 

 being then extended to an extraordinary length ;after the 

 death of Adam the same authority subsisted for many ages 

 in the common fathers of numerous families, nor do we read, 

 of any disorders until a few ages before the deluge. In the 

 preceding period it is probable that the descendants of Seth, 

 at least, enjoyed as much happiness as is now found in ci- 

 vilized states ; but as no meniorials of the condition of man- 



TOL. XI. 1 , kind 



