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of the globe was overspread with water, still the Deluge would be universal, 
because the extirpation took effect upon all the part of the world which was 
inhabited. If we take this ground, the difficulties which some have raised 
about the Deluge fall away as inapplicable, and mere cavils, and irreligious 
persons have no reason left them for doubting of the truth of the Holy 
Scriptures.” 
Conclusions like these, reached by men like Stillingfleet 
and Poole, are peculiarly important, since it cannot be alleged 
that they were driven to them by what some would regard as 
the imperious demands of modern science. The learned 
prelate, and the equally learned Nonconformist whom I 
have quoted, were both ignorant of the state of opinion in 
this nineteenth century, under pressure of which we are 
supposed to be surrendering important outposts, essential to 
the successful defence of the Bible. Yet they reached the 
very conclusions regarding the extent of the Deluge, which 
we, in the light of modern science, feel ourselves shut up to. 
Still, the opinion of learned theologians two centuries ago 
will not settle this question, though they may impart con- 
fidence to us, when we are obliged to tread in their steps. 
Scripture itself must speak, and therefore to the Biblical 
narrative we return. 
In all languages, the use of universal terms in a limited 
sense is not uncommon, but those who have studied carefully 
the usus loquendi of the Old Testament Hebrew and the New 
Testament Greek, must have been struck with the frequency 
of the phenomenon. Perhaps the hyperbolical phraseology 
characteristic of Orientals has something to do with it ; but 
whatever the explanation may be, the fact is undoubted. Nor 
is there any safer principle by which to determine the true 
meaning of one of the sacred writers, than to compare his 
writings with those which proceeded from men similarly cir- 
cumstanced, living in the same country, writing on the same 
grand themes, surrounded substantially with the same associa- 
tions, and guided by the same inspiring Spirit. The usus 
loquendi of nineteenth century English would be a most in- 
correct standard by which to test the meaning of Hebrew 
lawgivers and prophets who lived centuries before Homer, or 
of men of Hebrew parentage, who wrote biographies and 
letters in Greek, about the time of Virgil. We must, as far as 
possible, denude ourselves of modern associations and modes 
of thought. We must endeavour to carry ourselves back to 
times when the earth was universally believed to be an 
extended plain, and when almost all that was known of it was 
the region extending from the Mediterranean to the plains of 
