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"very extensive. The military commanders were disposed "to acknowledge him, as their head. But immediately up"on his death several of them declared themselves independ"ent of his son, and held against him the castles, which it "had been found necessary to build on the frontiers. Each castle " became a den of thieves.... Young people, finding no secu"rity at home, and unaware of the evils, incident to that kind of life, resorted to those places, and joined in plundering "such people, as, whether from age or principle, preferred a " quiet life. Disorders continued to increase, till by common consent Jared was elevated to the supreme command. "He was an active and vigorous as well, as just prince. He "enforced the laws, and by his commanders during the elev "enth, twelfth, and part of the thirteenth centuries, he repres "sed the robbers, and supported his authority through "the whole width of the continent quite to the western ocean. "The posterity of Cain preserved their independence only "in the northern and eastern countries. All the settlements, "< they had formed in Danoostan and on the south side of the "inland waters, were obliged to submit to the authority of "the Menu. It was in this happy state of the empire, that "I was born. But when Jared grew old, advantage was ta"ken of his infirmities by the provincial commanders, and "their rapacity committed on the people, whom they ought "to protect, produced disaffection, and this in its turn en<< couraged the northern savages to renew their invasions. "In the fifteenth century the territory was so divided into "small sovereignties, which were continually engaged in war, "that when Jared died only a comparitively small portion of "the empire was left. Even in that state the perpetual ri"valship of the great men prevented things from going on "smoothly. Idolatry gained ground continually, and was openly practised by some of the principal persons. In "C proportion to their superstitious reverence for false gods the "religious and moral duties were forgotten, and violence ev

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ery where prevailed. In this state of things I was called "on to undertake the office of Menu.. At length notwith

standing the miseries, consequent on the neglect of arts, " and after various notices of the divine wrath, disorders en"creased to such a degree, that God authorised me, as his "prophet, to announce the destruction of such a vile race (6 by a flood. Fully convinced of the truth of my mission, " and in spite of the daily insults, offered me by the infidels, "I told them explicitly and confidently what would be the 66 consequence of their misdeeds, and what was my reason "for expecting it. They ridiculed my predictions, and af❝fected to consider me, as a mere visionary, and wonld fre

quently inquire, what forwardness is the flood in ? I "went on however patiently preparing the ark agreeably to "the divine instructions, and preaching repentance and a"mendment of life. As the time grew short, and I was col66 lecting stores, and bestowing them in the ark, and my neigh"bours saw lions, tigers, and other wild beasts come fawn66 ing round my feet, they began to suspect, there was some"thing supernatural in the business; but, accounting for it "from magic, went oh, as usual, with their mirth and riot. "To such a degradation were they reduced, that they frequently were obliged to cover themselves with skins just "flayed. The fields being layed waste, and lying neglected, “berries and wild fruits were the greater part of their veget"able food, including in this description nuts and acorns. "To supply the deficiency they partook of animal food, "though not allowed by the divine law, and ate it raw, which “indicated as well, as inflamed the ferocity of their disposi❝tions. Some tribes were depraved enough to eat the bod"ies, slain in battle; but I do not know, that any killed their

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prisoners merely for food, though they sometimes sacrific"ed them to their idols, and ate the flesh raw; for they nev<< er dressed their food of any sort over the fire. Notwith"" standing the plentiful harvests, which my own fields produc❝ed, and which were the more easily defended, as my neigh"bours had little fondness for a kind of food, that required. "so much time to prepare it, after it had ripened; notwithstanding the spontaneous collection and mild behaviour of

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"the wild beasts, and their resting satisfied with such food, as "I gave them; these people continued obstinate.

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I offered a sacrifice,

"At last the appointed time came. "and among other favors prayed for a prolongation of the "C term, in favor of so much life, as was then to be finished. "The same divine person, who had often communicated with 66 me before, now appeared with a severity in his countenance, that I had never before seen. "No,' says he, 'I will bear "no longer with the perverseness and impiety of this genera"tion. You alone and your family have I found righteous. "It is vain to solicit favor for the rest. Go instantly into "the ark, and close all the avenues, by which any water may "enter, lest thou perish with my enemies. Any delay I "shall consider, as disobedience.' I hasted to obey the divine command, and sent my family before me. As I was mounting the side of the ark, the clouds began to thicken, 66 and the thunder to roll. This was forty seven days after "the autumnal equinox. Scarcely had I shut the window, “ by which I entered, when the rain descended in torrents. "The incessant roar of the thunder expressed the dying groans of the universe, while earthquakes rent the bowels "of the earth. Built originally upon the waters, some of its lower cavities, which had helped to support it, were broken by the earthquakes, and by this mean the equilibrium was destroyed. As the earth began to sink, a great tide of course overflowed the shores; but the rain, which con"tinued for forty days, raised the water quietly at the same "time upon the low ground. By this mean we are able at " present to trace the ancient cities, and to recover many old monuments. Inclosed in the ark, I had no opportunity to see the distress of my fellow men, or the expedients, they ་ adopted to preserve life a little longer. After a voyage of "five months the ark rested on the top of Ararat, where ma"ny of you have had opportunity to view the wreck, and some of you to see its construction. My sons are witnes

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ff ses of the transactions.

"Though no material change appears in the interior country, mountains rise in the same places, and rivers flow in "the same channels; yet the sea has encroached upon the land, and some whole kingdoms are now under water. Of "this you will be convinced by comparing the ancient with "the present geography. But it is not my design to enter "minutely into this subject.*

"for. ❝tion.

"I have now described to you in few words the dread"ful effects of relaxed morals and unbridled appetites. I "have seen those effects. Let words sink deep into your my hearts. They are the result of experience and of long con"tinued observation. Surely with your education and hab"its there is nothing in the old world, that you can wish You have heard their misconduct, and its terminaYou are now in different circumstances. Then ev"ery man's hand was against his neighbour, now all is peace "and friendship. Then there was no inducement to acquire "property, or make improvements, for no man was secure " in his possessions or enjoyments. Now it is the reverse; "every one knows, that he has an equal right with his neigh"bour to acquire wealth by honest industry, and that none "has the power to deprive him of his enjoyments or his "property by fraud or violence. To avoid that distressing

jealousy, which was the basis of Cain's policy, I have taken "pains to establish schools, wherein the divine law might be "taught to children; and have caused it to be publicly read "and explained in our assemblies at the stated festivals. Ev

ery man has by these means been informed of his rights " and his duties, and this has proved of great service in pre"venting the misconduct of public officers. The principle "of policy was this. When the whole community are pos❝sessed of the same principles, they will, generally speaking, “making however some allowance for difference of capaci

* The historical part of this speech is supported by the preceding history. The exhortation, that follows, is justified by Noah's character, as a preacher of righteousness. It is inconceivable, that he should dismiss his sons without a charge.

"ties, circumstances, and tempers of individuals, reason in "the same manner. The government is then supported on "the principles of wisdom.

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"Another circumstance to be mentioned is this. To avoid exciting jealousies none of our towns have been fortified. "It has been assumed, as a principle, that when each person "felt easy in his own situation, he would be friendly to his "neighbours. You all see and feel the happy effects of "these measures. Let me therefore inculcate upon you all to "persevere, wherever any of you shall have the direction in "this liberal policy. Let no man injure another either by "fraud or force, and practise the same system between gov" ernments. It is the great object of internal administration "to protect virtue, industry, and useful arts. This is best done "by suffering trade to remain free between different cities. "Hereafter governments must be multiplied, as it will be im"possible for one set of officers to transact all the business, "brought before them. Then each king ought to consider "the same rules binding on him in his transactions with "neighbouring governments, as define the duties of individ"uals. He has no more right to defraud, or ravage anoth

er state, than a private person has to cheat or pillage his "neighbour. Never let present expediency sway you so, as "to infringe on the known rules of duty; for, though there "may be a present gratification in leaping over our limits, "the end of such enjoyment is misery. Never tolerate any "known evil, because it is small; the reason for restrain"ing any practice is sufficient, that it is "As the causes of error are infinite, you "ful to keep in the direct path of truth.

in any degree bad. cannot be too careThis will be only

"done by consulting constantly the written law of God, "which I received from my ancestors. If any doubt arises, But I do not pretend,

"consult the record of our decisions.

<rule.

" that these decisions are of equal authority with the original When it shall be plain to you, that the decision "contradicts the rule, let the rule direct your judgment, and "disregard the former determination.

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