in compiling a work, perhaps equally agreeable to both.

But now, a strong objection occurs, viz. fuppofing Mofes capable of writing part of the book of Genefis, yet how could he write the hiftory of the Creation, before there was a man to fee this work, and tranfmit an account of it to posterity? Does not the Almighty in the very text challenge the whole of the human race to tell the time when, of the manner how, this ftupenduous work was executed, when he fays, Where waft thou. when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare if thou haft understanding. I readily allow, that no man could ever have attained to the knowledge of this, but by a particular revelation from Heaven. But, that fuch a revelation was made to Adam will appear probable from the following confiderations.

We muft affirm, that man at firft was either created with intuitive knowledge, like the angels of God, (tho' this is incompatible with humanity) or that his Maker taught him what was neceffary for his welfare and fubfiftence. He had as yet no experience of the nature and qualities of herbs or fruit of any kind, nor how any of these fuited his conftitution, fo that it was impoffible for him to diftinguish betwixt falutary food and deadly poifon.. But, that man the image of his Maker, and fuperior of this lower world, should be left

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by his Creator in fuch a destitute condition, as to have his existence indangered every moment of his life, is not only unworthy of, but repugnant to the character of that Being, who is good unto all, and whofe tender mercies are over all his works. But Mofes confirms the fuggeftions of reafon, and withal, gives a convincing proof of his veracity, when he defcribes in fuch a natural manner, how the Almighty treated our first parents, upon his fending them into life. He tells us, that when God made them a grant of every tree in paradife for food, he prohibited them under the most awful fanction, from tafting the fruit of the tree of knowledge, because it would not only be prejudicial to their health, but even fatal to their lives. When we find then, that the gracious parent of all, fhewed fuch tender concern for the bodies of his frail offspring, can we fuppofe that he would withhold from them, the knowledge of fuch truths, as might improve their minds in piety and virtue, and conduce to their present and future happiness? But nothing could fo effectually contribute to this end, and give them fuch deep and lafting impreffions of the wisdom, power, and unity of the true God, as making them acquainted with the way and

manner in which they and every other creature were brought into life and being. None, I prefume, will deny, that God could reveal fuch facts to man, and there is the highest probability that he did reveal them. Taking it then for granted, that fuch a revelation was made to the first of the human race, I fhall endeavour to prove, that the hiftory of it, might have been handed down from Adam to Mofes, free from fabulous and legendary additions, with which every difpenfation of religion has hitherto been corrupted.

The all-wife Creator hath implanted in human nature certain principles, which excite in all men a curiofity to be informed concerning the affairs of others, and a propensity to communicate the knowledge of their own. Were we not fo conftituted, we should know nothing, but what falls. within the reach of our fenfes, and in this refpect differ but little from the groveling creation: but ded by this univerfal instinct, men have invented various methods, of communicating to their co temporaries, and tranfmitting to pofterity, the knowledge of fuch facts as was likely to contribute to their pleasure and profit. The first, and for a confiderable time the only mode of conveyance, was oral tradition; which, between the creation and deluge must have been more certain, and less liable to be corrupted than afterwards

wards, on account of the longevity, or great length of life at which men arrived during that period. One man, viz. Methulefah converfed with Adam and with Noah, and this included a space of time, not lefs than fixteen hundred and fifty-fix years. After the flood, the life of man was curtailed, but not to fuch a degree, as to prevent tradition paffing thro' very few hands from Noah to Mofes. Shem, the fon of that patriarch, lived a confiderable time after the birth of Abraham; who was, during fifteen years, cotemporary with his grandfon Jacob. Jacob's fon Levi, was grandfather to Amram the father of Mofes; and thefe three might have converfed together. Thus it appears, that no more than feven perfons were neceffary, to deliver the history of the creation and fall from Adam to Mofes.

In every country, where there is little intercourfe among men, and where the objects of their knowledge and attention are but few, tradition is better preferved than elsewhere. And this was the cafe with the inhabitants of the early world. For a confiderable time after the creation, they had little to think of, or talk about, but the tranfactions of their father Adam, and those extraordinary communications of light and knowledge which his Maker imparted to him. Every fabbath when they met together for folemn and focial

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focial worship; every facrifice which they offered; and every act of religion which they performed, would bring to their remembrance, the grounds and reasons of these folemnities; in fo much that tradition and religion would be intimately connected together, and mutually fupport each other. We may likewife obferve, that if their mental powers, bore any proportion to the fize and ftrength of their bodies, their memories would be clear and ftrong, and what they had once learned they would not eafily forget.

Tradition must have been preserved with the greateft fidelity, during the life of Adam, which was nine hundred and thirty years; because his chil dren, whenever they were at a lofs for information, might always have recourfe to him, as a venerable and authentic record. And if it be true (as many learned men believe) that the antient patriarchs and heads of families defcended from Seth, were endowed with a prophetic fpirit, their piety and natural affection would prompt them to diffeminate among the tribes over which they prefided, the religion and hiftory of their forefathers; and they would cautiously guard against every innovation, by which their wicked and profligate neighbours, might endeavour to pervert or deprave either the one or the other.

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