21. were to be the Ark. second story was sufficient to contain all that was CHAP. II. requisite for one whole year's subsisting the rest of the creatures, that did not live on flesh, but hay, fruits, &c. To this end it is to be observed, that The proall the creatures that live upon hay, upon a fair portion of estimation, are supposed in the table to be equi- live upon beasts, that valent to ninety-two beeves, But to take away all pretence for cavils, we shall suppose them equihay, and valent to an hundred beeves, besides the one thou- taken into sand eight hundred and twenty-five sheep, designed for the subsisting of the carnivorous (or flesheating) animals. Now it was above supposed, that all the carnivorous animals were equivalent to thirty wolves; and that a whole sheep was eaten every day by every six, that is, five sheep every day by all the thirty wolves, or all the carnivorous, animals. Hence, five sheep being to be spent every day, provision need be made only for the subsisting of half the number of those sheep, that were to be given to the carnivorous animals, that is, only for nine hun dred and twelve sheep; or (which comes to the over. 2) 1825 (912 Το 5) 912 (1822 180 Add 100 Sum 280 same, supposing five sheep equivalent to one beef) For it has been observed by the curious in these 22. matters, that thirty, or at most forty pounds weight The quanof hay is sufficient to keep one beef one day, allow- tity of bay ing but twelve ounces to the pound. However, we for the said shall allow to each beef forty pound weight of hay. beasts dur sufficient ing their stay in the Ark. PARTI. It has also been observed by the curious, that a solid cubit (i. e. a foot and half in length, breadth, and depth) of hay well settled together, as it is used to be when it has been put up in rick for some time, will weigh forty pound, of twelve ounces to the pound. So that for the three hundred beeves there were to be laid up, for the whole year, one hun dred nine thousand five hundred solid cubits of hay. 23. Days of a year 365 300 109,500 But now the second story of the Ark, being ten The second cubits high, three hundred long, and fifty broad, story of the will contain one hundred and fifty thousand solid Ark capa ble to hold cubits, that is, forty thousand and five hundred a sufficient above what were sufficient to hold the hay to be laid quantity of up, when well pressed food for such beasts as live not on flesh. 24. or apper Wherefore Height 300 Cubits. 50 15,000 Sq. Cubits. 10 150,000 Sol. Cubits. From 150,000 Take 109,500 together. wise for such passages as were requisite, and for lower story. Upon the whole therefore it appears, that the middle story of the Ark was likewise large enough to hold all that was requisite to be put therein. There remains now only the upper or third story The third of the Ark to be considered. And it is very clear, story of the that half of that was sufficient to hold all the Ark, capa- species or kinds of birds, (though they were twice ble to hold as many more species as are reckoned up of beasts Noah and in the foregoing table,) together with what they were to live upon. For the far greatest part of CHAP. II. birds are but of a small bulk; and might commodiously enough be kept in rows of boxes, set one his family, above another. And it is certain, that the remain- with all ing room of the upper story was abundantly suf- birds, and ficient to hold Noah, and those that were with him, necessaries and all the materials they had need of. kinds of for them. 25. Upon the whole therefore it appears, that the Ark was capacious enough to hold all that God Upon the ordered to be contained therein; and also what whole, the Ark capawas requisite for their subsistence during their stay ble of conin the Ark. For though it be very likely, that taining all there may be, in countries unknown to us, some that it was other kinds both of four-footed creatures and to contain. birds, besides those mentioned in the table; yet it appears there is room enough left for them, over and above what is allotted to those set down in the table; and that, supposing we allow (otherwise than Bishop Wilkins does in the table) the hound, and greyhound, and some few other sorts of dogs, to be different species originally. For the room remaining vacant is, as has been before observed, two hundred feet, wanting but six, in length, and eighteen feet in breadth; which together make a space of three thousand six hundred square feet. To conclude: Bishop Wilkins, rightly observes, that had the most skilful mathematicians and philosophers been set to consult, what proportions a cred Scripvessel, designed for such an use as the Ark was, ture hereby should have in the several parts of it, they could confirmed. not have pitched upon any other, more suitable to the purpose, than those mentioned by Moses. Insomuch that the proportion of the Ark, from which some weak and atheistical persons (for all atheism, or, which comes to the same in the case before us, deism is at the bottom founded on weakness of understanding) have made some poor efforts to overthrow the authority of the sacred Scriptures, does very much tend to confirm and establish the truth and divine authority of them: especially if it be duly considered, that in those early times men were less versed in arts and sciences; at least that the 26. The truth of the sa PART I. Ark was in all probability the first vessel, of any bulk, that was made to go upon the water. Whence the justness of the proportion observed in its several parts, and the exactness of its capacity to the use it was designed for, is reasonably to be ascribed, not to bare human invention or contrivance, but to the divine direction, expressly given to Noah by God himself, as the sacred historian acquaints us. The method ob served in this chap ter. CHAPTER III. Of the first Plantations or Settlements after the WE are, according to the method observed by the sacred historian, to proceed next to the first plantations of mankind after the Flood. And because what is said in reference hereunto will extend itself to a considerable length, I have therefore judged it convenient, to distinguish it into four several Sections: whereof the first shall contain what relates to the said plantations in general. The second shall contain an account of the plantations of Noah's posterity by Japhet. The third, an account of the plantations of the descendants of Shem, the second son of Noah. And the fourth and last, an account of the plantations of the descendants of Ham, the younger son of Noah. CHAP. III. SECTION I. Containing what relates to the first Plantations or pos 1. nal planta tions after were made THE sacred historian, having informed us how the world was dispeopled by the Flood, proceeds to The origiinform us next, how it was re-peopled by the terity of Noah; which he does, by acquainting us, the Flood after what method the three branches of Noah's posterity did distinctly plant or settle themselves at not by the first, in three distinct tracts of the earth. For chance, or confusedly, that the first plantations were made, not by mere but after a chance, or confusedly, but after a regular method, regular is evident from the sacred history: wherein we are manner and told, first, as to the sons of Japhet, the eldest orderly. branch of Noah's posterity, that by these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations, Gen. x. 5. In like manner Moses concludes the account he gives us of the sons of Ham, the youngest branch of Noah's posterity, with these words: These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations, ver. 20. And in the same manner, the account given us of the descendants of Shem is concluded by Moses thus: These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations, ver. 31. From the fore-mentioned texts may be well inferred, as the learned Mede* has observed, that this great division of the earth we are speaking of was performed orderly, and was not a confused and irregular dispersion, wherein every one went whither he listed, and seated himself where he liked best. An orderly sorting is plainly denoted by those expressions used in each of the fore-cited *See Mede's Works, B. i. Disc. 49 and 50. |