133 



names of the ancestors of Noah. But it certainly con- 

 tained much more, and related the most important trans- 

 actions of the antediluvian ages; for St. Peter expressly 

 tells us, Noah preached repentance to the antediluvians, 

 120 years before the Flood ; a circumstance unnoticed by 

 Moses.* 



While science was thus improved, we may conclude 

 language received similar improvements; as we have al- 

 ways seen its progress to perfection to keep pace with 

 that of knowledge: it certainly did so, among the Ro- 

 mans; and still more obviously, in modern times. Among 

 the Greeks, indeed, a singular exception occurred; as the 

 perfection of their language long preceded their improve- 

 ments in science; the reason of which will soon be seen. 

 When, therefore, we consider the length of time the pri- 

 meval language had been spoken, namely, by the lowest 

 computation, 1300 years, and, more probably, 2000; the 

 longevity of those who spoke it, the few generations that 

 succeeded one another, during that periodj not more than 

 four, and the consequent stability it must have acquired; 

 it being impossible to suppose it much altered, during so 

 short a transmission; the undisturbed state in which the 

 more favoured descendants of Adam remained, during the 

 greater part of that interval; we have sufficient reason to 

 conclude, that this language attained a far higher degree 

 of perfection, than any subsequent language, that could 



not 



* 1 Peter, iii. 20. 



