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in the earliest chapters of Genesis, while Cain and Abel were, 
the one a “ tiller of the ground,” and the other a “ keeper of 
sheep,” that Enoch, Cain's first-born, built a city * and we 
afterwards read, not only of those who dwelt in tents, and of 
others who were breeders of cattle, but also of the invention of 
harps and organs, and of artificers in brass and iron. Again, 
immediately after the Flood, we have the account of the 
building of Nineveh and other great cities, and of the pro- 
jected building of the tower of Babel; and then, afterwards, 
of the dispersion of mankind, and their separation into diverse 
nations and communities. After this general indication of the 
primitive history of the world, the Scriptures almost exclusively 
narrate the history of the descendants of Abraham, or of other 
peoples only when their history comes in contact with that of 
the Jews. 
We therefore naturally turn to profane records, and to the 
monuments of antiquity, to discover what they tell of the past 
history of mankind. But we have no other such systematic 
written history of the world at large as we find in the sacred 
Scriptures. If we turn to Herodotus, “ the father of profane 
history,” we find he deals with particular nations merely, 
and with peoples comparatively modern; and only repeats 
vague traditions as to their origin and first migrations. But 
still let us observe the character of the facts as well as of the 
traditions he narrates. Invariably he introduces us to peoples 
more or less civilized, having the arts and ornaments and other 
appliances of civilized life, though a civilization differing from 
onrs. And we find that all the traditions of their past relate 
to preceding civilizations, and those frequently superior to 
that of their then present condition. In no instance is there a 
record, and apparently not any knowledge, of the existence of 
mere savages without civilization, its arts and appliances. 
Barbarous and horrid customs- are no doubt alluded to as 
practised by some of those ancient peoples, but yet there are 
none of them (not even those least known, about whom the 
traditions recorded are most vague,) without some adjuncts of 
civilization. 
It is much the same if we turn to Homer or Hesiod as poets. 
They also introduce us to men who had noble sentiments, 
though heathens ; to men who knew something of astronomy, 
understood agriculture, erected fortifications, wore armour, 
and wielded well-made weapons of war ; whose women also 
worked embroidery, and taught their children in their tents or 
houses to emulate the noble deeds and speak the dignified 
language of their fathers. 
I may venture to say that ancient history knew nothing of 
