THE NOWROOSE. 
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from Adam. And after his descent from the ark, which took 
place at the same vernal season of the year ; when the world 
seemed created afresh, from the destruction of the deluge ; and 
mankind were to spring again, as well as the earth ; it does not 
appear unlikely, that in re-establishing the ancient usage, he 
would cause it to be considered in a double view, that of 
commemorating two such similar events, as the creation of the 
world, and its restoration. Indeed, some writers call the 
Nowroose the feast of the waters-, which bears well upon the idea 
of its having been a memorial of the Deluge. Similar traces, 
of commemorating the same event; some signal calamity having 
befallen the world, and its as extraordinary recovery to newness 
of life; may be very generally found, in the customs of all nations. 
In pagan countries, the Saturnalia was one instance, out of many, 
which evidently pointed to this circumstance ; the birth of the 
world, and the equality of mankind, in the golden age. And, at 
almost the same period of the year, we find the feast of the Pass- 
over amongst the Jews ; which commemorates to them, a mighty 
deliverance of that people, from a state of civil death in Egypt, to 
a happy existence, in the possession of Canaan. And we have 
Easter in the Christian world, as an everlasting remembrance of 
the awful event at Calvary, and the consequent regeneration of all 
mankind. Hence, as all these several great festivals, of every 
age, and every people, were celebrated at the same season of the 
year ; and all evidencing, by record or implication, some grand 
renewal of benefits to man, I cannot but consider the precedent 
of them all, as having primarily descended from Adam to Noah ; 
and thence dispersed abroad, by use, and tradition, throughout 
every nation of the earth; to be followed, by the succession of 
blessings before enumerated. 
