58 



But even these could not have had any influence il 

 producing a general current in the ocean ; for in pro- 

 portion to its rise, the rivers, over the face of all 

 countries, falling into the sea in every possible direc- 

 tion, and mingling in the parent mass, would be 

 checked in their course, and ultimately subdued, as the 

 waters of the sea inundated the land, in the same 

 manner as a flood tide of the ocean, checks the cur- 

 rent of a river or rivers. 



But admitting that the rain fell in torrents for forty 

 days and forty nights " in ceaseless succession," it is 

 not only, very much a matter of doubt whether it 

 could have had any influence in causing a general 

 current, but whether, in fact, the general deluge could 

 have been caused from this circumstance alone ; for it 

 is said that after the forty days the flood was upon the 

 earthy " that the waters increased and bare up the 

 Ark.* 



This being the case, it is necessary to look to some 

 other source for the cause of this dreadful event 



* Genesis, chap* 7, 17th & 18th verses. 



