certain, (for it has been proved by experiments,) that evaporation is promoted by electrifying the fluid to be evaporated." The theory, therefore, deduced from these plain and undeniable facts, "that the electric fluid contained in the air is the agent by which it is enabled to suspend the water which rises in vapour," will not be rejected as a groundless chimera, nor pronounced an impossibility, by men of reflection and science.

"Again, (says the same author,) we are assured from the most undeniable observations, that electricity is able to swell up water on the surface of the earth. This we can make it do even in our trifling experiments; and much more must the whole force of the fluid be supposed capable of doing it, if applied to the ocean, or any other large bodies of water. The agitation of the sea in earthquakes is sufficient proof of this. It is certain, that at these times there is a discharge of a vast quantity of electric matter from the earth into the air; and as soon as this happens, all becomes quiet on the surface of the earth."

From the facts which have now been stated, it must clearly follow, that whenever the atmosphere is deprived of a due proportion of the electric fluid, rain will, of course, fall in prodigious quantities.

A multitude of observations have long since rendered it apparent, that there is a constant passage ef electric matter from the air into the earth, and from the earth into the air. We will now apply this theory to the Mosaic history of the flood in the language of the ingenious author before quoted.

There is therefore no absurdity in supposing the Deity to have influenced the action of the natural powers in such a manner that for forty days and nights the electric matter contained in the atmosphere should descend into the bowels of the earth. But by whatever cause the descent was occasioned, the consequence would be, the breaking up of the fountains of the deep, and the opening of the windows of heaven. The water contained in the atmosphere being left

without support, would descend in impetuous rains: while the waters of the ocean, those from which fountains originate, and those contained in the solid earth itself, would rise from the very centre, and meet the waters that descended from above. Thus the breaking up of the fountains of the deep, and the opening the windows of heaven, would accompany each other, as Moses tells us they did; for according to him, both happened on the same day."

And

By the cause which is here assigned, it is easy to see, that the flood would come on and advance gradually, without that violence to the globe which the admission of other theories must involve. it is equally easy to discover, that an abatement of the waters would be the natural consequence of a return of the electric fluid to the atmosphere, which would enable it again to absorb its original quantity of water.

And the discharge of the electric fluid from the deep recesses of the globe, would again give place for the return of its original waters, and the flood would be stayed and removed from the face of the earth, and nature would resume its pristine appearance.

I have now attended to the principal, and indeed, to the only objection, of any force, that has ever been urged against the fact of a general deluge; and shown that the only important reason which skeptics urge to justify their unbelief, is totally destitute of any foundation in truth: For the quantity of water has been shown to be abundantly more than sufficient to deluge the globe to a much greater depth than the history of Moses has described. Having before proved by the united and universal voice of history and tradition, besides the undeniable indications of such an event, scattered throughout the globe, the validity of the sacred history; I must again appeal to your reason, and demand-What evidence have unbelievers produced to disprove this faithful record of the flood? Can they ap peal to the voice of history-to the voice of tradi

tion, or to the undeniable evidences of nature? No: they will never make the attempt, for they know it would be hopeless. They may indeed, scoff at religion; deny the truth of holy writ, and dispose of the whole in gross; curse its authors, and anathematize the ministers of religion-nay, even exhaust upon them the ebullitions of unmanly invective: But they will never offer you an equivalent for the sacrifice which they demand-a surrender of your religious hopes.

In closing, I must beg your indulgence, while I pay a passing tribute of attention to a popular acknowledgment of modern skeptics, which admits that the earth has been partially inundated at different periods. To this acknowledgment they are driven by the undeniable evidence of marine substances, deposited throughout every continent of the globe.

But we deny the fact of such partial inundations; they are altogether inadmissible; because it is impossible that any considerable body of water should remain upon a single continent, since from its specific gravity, it must be immediately discharged into the ocean. The advocates of such a theory, must therefore resort to a greater miracle than revelation records, respecting the general deluge: for they must raise the oceans which enclose such a continent, several miles above their common level, to prevent the water from retiring on a sudden from the land! Nor is this the only difficulty attending a partial deluge; for the oceans, when thus raised, must equally overflow the whole globe! The very fact which they deny and ridicule. Thus, my hearers, you see, that the theory of partial inundations, becomes at once impossible, ridiculous, and absurd.

Unbelievers have offered other objections to the deluge, but they are too unimportant to justify me in detaining you with their recital, or their refutation. The main arguments upon this subject are before you; weigh them in the even balance of reason, and judge for yourselves.

LECTURE VII.

II. PETER ii. 6.

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto tho. that after should live ungodly."

In this chapter, the apostle very justly concludes, that as there were "false prophets among the people," in ancient times, so there would, of course, arise among them, false teachers; bringing in heresies of the most dangerous tendency; even "denying the Lord that bought them :" and assures us that they would bring swift destruction upon themselves. Nay, more, that by their seductions, many would be led to abandon the paths of true wisdom, and that through their influence "the way of truth would be evil spoken of," or be treated with that contempt which is the just desert of imposture.And my brethren, if we carefully survey the records of all ages since the first promulgation of the gospel of Christ, we shall see that the prediction of the apostle has been verified, even to the letter. Nor need we appeal to the history of former ages for the fulfilment of his prophecy; for examples daily present themselves, of a character too plain and forcible to leave any doubts of its truth upon the mind.

From the language of our text, the evidence is undeniable, that at a period as late as the apostolic age, the story of the fearful and astonishing overthrow of Sodom and the cities of the plain, was currently believed and appealed to with confidence by the writers of the New-Testament, as a fact of undisputed authority. Nor are we informed that the fact referred to by our text, was called in question by any of the profane writers, so late as the period in which the New-Testament was written

By the Mosaic history, we are informed that it became necessary for Abraham and his nephew, Lot, to separate, as their flocks and herdsmen became numerous, and troublesome to each other. And the latter, it appears, chose to take up his residence in the vale of Siddim, and therefore located himself among the Sodomites. From the history of these people, it is obvious that they exceeded, in the practices of obscenity and wickedness, the inhabitants of all the neighboring countries. But whether the practices to which we allude, were introduced before his residence among them, or were afterwards adopted, we are furnished with no intelligence, either sacred or profane.

The writers of the Old and New-Testaments, however, unite in representing the overthrow of Sodom, and the cities of the plain, as one of the most signal displays of divine judgment, for the wickedness of man, that has ever been recorded of any portion of the globe. And they hold up this fearful catastrophe as a warning to all such as venture to abuse the forbearance of Heaven, to riot amidst the scenes of dissipation, or to violate and abuse the obvious dictates of nature, reason and the law of God.

This view of their destruction, is the probable reason why unbelievers have sought to cavil at the historian, in some instances, and in others, to reject the whole narrative, as the invention of imposture and craft. For it is apparent that they are unwilling to admit that the Deity takes cognizance of human affairs in such a way as to become the direct dispenser of reward and punishment to mankind, since such an acknowledgment would lead to the unavoidable conclusion, that all the judgments of God, recorded in the scriptures, are worthy of confidence and serious regard.

That such cities as Sodom and Gomorrah, once existed on the borders of the country of Palestine, no historian, either ancient or modern, has ever presumed to deny. Nor is this fact denied by any man