Families of Nations. 4S7 



cedent reafoning, and by evidence in part highly probable, and in part cer- 

 tain ; but the connexion of the Mofaick hiftory with that of ihe Gofpel by 

 a chain of fublime predictions unquestionably ancient, and apparently ful- 

 filled, mufl induce us to think the Hebrew narrative more than human in its 

 origin, and confequently true in every fubflantial part of it, though poffibly 

 exprefTed in figurative language ; as many learned and pious men have be- 

 lieved, and as the moll pious may believe without injury, and perhaps with 

 advantage, to the caufe of revealed religion. If Moses then was endued 

 with fupernatural knowledge, it is no longer probable only, but abfolutely 

 certain, that the whole race of man proceeded from Iran, as from a centre, 

 whence they migrated at firft in three great colonies ; and that thofe three 

 branches grew from a common flock, which had been miraculoufly preferv- 

 ed in a general convuliion and inundation of this globe. 



Having arrived by a different path at the fame conclufion with 

 Mr. Bryant as to one of thofe families, the moft ingenious and enterpriz^ 

 ing of the three, but arrogant* cruel,' and idolatrous, which we both con- 

 clude to be various moots from the Hamian or Amonian branch, I fhall add 

 but little to my former obfervations on his profound and agreeable work, 

 which I have thrice perufed with increafed attention and pleafure, though 

 not with per feci acqaiefcehce in the other lefs important parts of his- plau- 

 fible fyftem. The fum of his argument feems reducible to three heads* 

 Firft; " if the deluge really happened at the time recorded by Moses, 

 •' thofe nations, whofe monuments are preferved or whofe writings are 

 •• accemble, muft have retained memorials of an event fo ftupendous and 

 " comparatively fo recent ; but in fact they have retained fuch memorials:" 

 this reafoning feems juft. and the facl is true beyond controverfy; Secondly ] 

 •• thofe memorials were exprefled by the race of Ham, before the uft 



