many circumstances concur to render it probable that there was the first residence of mankind. Both ancient tradition and modern geographical researches favour this opinion. For a considerable length of time after the Deluge, we may suppose that the plains and valleys would be untenantable. High ground would be chosen for its dryness; and the clefts and caves of rocks would afford temporary accommodation, until more convenient habitations could be constructed. The mountains alluded to are in the highest degree fertile, and abound with every production necessary to the support of human life. As the marshes and lakes disappeared, and the face of the plains became dry and habitable, we may suppose the increased population spreading around, and descending from the mountains in search of pasture for their flocks, or more com modious habitations for themselves: thus they would gradually extend over the whole earth.

It appears to have been the ancient custom to send forth younger sons, with their families, to settle at a distance from the paternal station, which was retained for the first-born. Shem, as the progenitor of Abraham, and of the Messiah, although perhaps the youngest of Noah's sons, is always placed first, and seems to have had the privilege of heirship assigned to him; it would therefore seem probable that his family would retain the original settlement, or not diverge from it as far as those of the other sons of Noah.

Accordingly, we find the sons of Shem to have settled almost in a circle round Mount Caucasus, or the head of the Indus: this circumstance strengthens the probability of the opinion advanced, that such was the original residence of mankind; however, as it is confessedly uncertain, not only that spot will be marked on our map of Asia, but such as have obtained the preference from other geographers than those whose suppositions we have adopted.

The early pursuits of mankind were those of husbandry. "Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard." In process of time he reaped the fruits of his labour; and, probably not aware of the properties of wine, suffered himself to fall into intoxication. The humiliating and disgraceful circumstances in which the venerable patriarch was then placed, gave occasion to the different dispositions of his sons to manifest themselves. We shudder at the filial impiety of Ham, that could malignantly sport with a parent's disgrace; and venerate the delicate and respectful tenderness manifested by Shem and Japheth. The conduct of children towards their parents is remarkably noticed by the God of the families of the earth; and a signal blessing, or signal retribution, has often been seen to visit them accordingly, and to descend even to their posterity. It was so in the present instance. By the mouth of that father whom Ham had despised, Jehovah sent him a message of displeasure, predicting the servitude and disgrace of his offspring; and by the

same lips were uttered, to Shem and Japheth, predictions of enlargement and superiority: all of which are to the present day fulfilling among their respective descendants.

We must by no means consider Noah's language as prompted by either wine or personal resentment; for neither the one nor the other could infuse a knowledge of futurity, or inspire him with the prescience of events which happened hundreds, nay, thousands of years afterwards, but as a prophet; he was enlightened to perceive, and, as the head of a family and of the human race, he was empowered to declare, the future destinies of the people and nations that should descend from his sons. It is probable that these predictions were uttered by Noah, not immediately on recovering from his intoxication, which happened soon after the flood, but near the close of his life, and perhaps in view of its termination. This then was the prediction: "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant."

The following remarks on the import and fulfilment of this extraordinary prediction, are chiefly gathered from Bishop Newton on the Prophecies.

The curse must be understood to relate to all the posterity of Ham, though the Canaanites are particularly mentioned, because most closely connected

with the Jews, to whom this prediction of Noah was related by Moses, for their encouragement in taking possession of the land of Canaan.

Neither the curse nor the blessing are to be confined to the individuals to whom it was addressed, but as extending to their own race: the curse, therefore, upon Canaan, was properly a curse upon the Canaanites. God, foreseeing the wickedness of this people, (which began in their father Ham, and greatly increased in this branch of his family,) commissioned Noah to pronounce a curse upon them, and to devote them to the servitude and misery which their more common vices and iniquities would deserve.

The prophecy was eminently fulfilled when the Israelites, (who were the descendants of Shem,) under the command of Joshua, invaded Canaan, smote above thirty kings, took possession of the land, slew several of the inhabitants, made the Gibeonites and others, servants and tributaries; and Solomon afterwards subdued the rest, 2 Chron. viii. 7-9. The Greeks and Romans, too, who were the descendants of Japheth, not only subdued Syria and Palestine, but also pursued and conquered such of the Canaanites as were any where remaining, as, for example, the Tyrians and Carthaginians; the former of whom were ruined by Alexander and the Grecians, and the latter by Scipio and the Romans. "This fate," says Mr. Mede, was it that made Hannibal, a child of Canaan,

cry out with the amazement of his soul, Agnosco fortunam Carthaginis, I acknowledge the fortune of Carthage." And ever since, the miserable remainder of this people have been slaves to a foreign yoke; first to the Saracens, who descended from Shem; and afterwards to the Turks, who descended from Japheth; and they groan under their dominion at this day.

As to the other descendants of Ham, who were not of the tribe of Canaan, Ham at first subdued some of the posterity of Shem, as Canaan sometimes conquered Japheth; but in time they were to be subdued, and to become servants to Shem and Japheth, and the change would render the effects of the curse still more visible. Egypt was the land of Ham, as it is often called in scripture, and for many years it was a great and flourishing kingdom; but it was subdued by the Persians, who descended from Shem, and afterwards by the Grecians, who descended from Japheth; and from that time it has been constantly in subjection to the posterity of the one or the other.

The whole continent of Africa was peopled principally by the children of Ham: and for how many ages have the better parts of that country lain, in succession, under the dominion of the Romans, the Saracens, and the Turks! In what wickedness, ignorance, barbarity, slavery, and misery, live most of the inhabitants! and of the poor negroes, how many hundreds are every year sold and bought, like