378 APPENDIX. NOTES. 



is not a. figurative one, in which the object is to represent 

 one thing by another, but a statement of epochs, and 

 naked facts ; of causes and effects ; in which all that is 

 requisite is to ascertain the meaning of the terms employed 

 to describe them. 



The cause of the universal deluge, every one is aware, 

 was, with the exception of one family, the universal cor- 

 ruption of the human race. All flesh had corrupted his 

 way upon the earth.^ In consequence of which God de- 

 termined to Bring a flood of waters upon the earth to 

 destroy all flesh, wherein was the breath of life from under 

 heaven ; and every living substance from off the face of 

 the earth. 2 To accomplish this purpose, it was evidently 

 necessary that the whole globe should be submerged, and 

 the tops of all the mountains covered to such a depth as 

 to prevent any thing in which was the breath of life from 

 making its escape. 



Having mentioned the cause and object of the deluge, 

 we must next consider the means by which this universal 

 destruction is stated to have been effected. Three only 

 are mentioned. All the fountains of the great deep were 

 broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened, and 

 the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 5 



1. All the fountains of the great deep were broken up. 

 The radical idea of the word here rendered broken up is 

 that of division or disruption, therefore the meaning is 

 that those fountains by which the waters of the great 

 abyss issued ordinarily upon the earth to water it by 

 numerous streams and rivers, were so cleft, disruptured, 

 and broken up, as to form vast chasms vomiting up the 

 fluid contents of the womb of the earth, and sending 



1 Genes, vi. 12. Ibid. 17, and vii. 4. 



3 Ibid. vii. 11. 



