147 



To explaiu, move particularly, how this transmission was 

 effected, we must recur to the information conveyed to us 

 in the Sacred. History; and to. a few facts, which occur, 

 also, in the profane. 



Moses relates, that Noali had three sons, who survived 

 the Deluge, Sem, Cham, and Japhet^ Though Ja-phet is 

 the last named, yet it appears that he was the eldest of 

 the three, in tlie judgment of the most judicious commen- 

 tators; of whom I need name no other, than Bishop Usher, 

 and Le Clerc. 



53] years after the Deluge, a multiplicity of languages- 

 was supernaturally introduced. During the period, that in- 

 tervened betwixt the Flood and this event, the posterity 

 of Noah became very nvmierous. Japhet had seven sons, 

 Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, (or Jon,) Thubal, Mosoch, 

 and Thiras. Javan, in whose line the Greek tongue de- 

 scended, had four sons, Elisah, Tharsis, Chittim, and Do- 



T 2 danim. 



" extraordinary superiority of form and polish, which their speech attained,- 

 " in an age beyond tradition, and in circumstances apparently most unfa- 

 " vourable. For it was amid continual migrations, expulsions, mixtures of 

 " various hordes, and revolutions of every kind, the most unquestionable- 

 " circumstances of early Grecian history, that was formed that language, so 

 " simple in its analogy; of such complex art, in its composition and in- 

 " flection; of sucli clearness, force, and elegance, in its contexture; and of 

 ". such singular sweetness, variety, harmony, and majestjr, in its sounds. Al- 

 " ready, in the time of Homer and Hesiod, who lived long before writing- 

 " was common, we find it in full possession- of these perfections," &c. 

 Vol. I. p. 83- and 34. 



