57 



caused by incessant torrents of rain for the above 

 mentioned space of forty days and forty nights. Such 

 is the language of Josephus ; " The Almighty, at the 

 appointed time caused torrents of water to fall upon 

 the earth, in such rapid and ceaseless succession for 

 the space of forty days, &c." 



Let us suppose this to have been the fact, and that 

 it was likewise universal. If this is admitted, which 

 is by no means improbable, it affords but little or no 

 grounds for a belief that a general current could have 

 been a consequence. 



The gradual or rapid increase of the waters must 

 have depended on the quantity which fell into the 

 bosom of the ocean, and that also which fell on the 

 face of the different countries distributed over the 

 globe. This being, we will suppose, equal, or nearly 

 so, could have no tendency to cause a current in the 

 former. 



With respect to the latter, the case must have been, 

 widely different, for a certain space of time ; for in 

 proportion to the height, inequalities, and rapid or 

 gradual descent of any district or country, towards the 

 sea, and to the quantities of water which fell upon the 

 face of such country, so must have been the increase 

 and rapidity of the currents which flowed over its 

 surface, into its rivers, and thence into the sea; and 

 such no doubt they were, on this occasion, that all 

 nature stood appalled at the momentous scene ; while 

 bursting torrents rushed impetuously from the moun- 

 tain's brow, and hurled destruction in their mad career, 



9 



