one; and appears, I think evidently, to have been the invention of this body of people.

7. While they were employed in these works, God confounded their language, so that they could not understand one another's speech. In consequence of this fact, the name of the city was called Babel, and afterwards Babylon; both signifying confu

sion.

8. While they were in the disorder, and difficulty, occasioned by this event, the Ashurites, (if I may be permitted to call them by this name,) shook off their yoke; and, after ridding themselves of their immediate masters, attacked the Cushites in the country of Shinar; and, defeating them entirely, scattered them in different directions. A part of them fled eastward; and settled themselves, some in Persia, and some in Hindoostan. Another part fled to the west; and plant ed themselves in Canaan, and afterwards in Arabia and Egypt, on both sides of the Red Sea.

9. The children of Shem followed them into Canaan, under Chedorlaomer; and attacked different bodies of them, in different places. The Rephaim they routed, and defeated, in Ashtarothkarnaim; a city of Bashan, afterwards the residence of its king. The Zuzims they vanquished in Ham; and the Emins, in the plain of Kiriathaim; one of the cities, belonging to Sihon. Encouraged by their success against these people, their ancient enemies, they undertook several enterprises against the original inhabitants of the country; most, if not all, of whom were descendants of Ham.

A

They first attacked the Horites in Mount Seir. Then marching round the end of the Dead Sea, they fell upon the Amalekites; and in both enterprises met with complete success. On their return they fell upon the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, on the east of the Dead Sea; and, after having completely routed the inhabitants, plundered them of every thing which was valuable. mong the captives was Lot. As soon as Abraham heard it; he armed his own servants; and, engaging his three friends, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, in the enterprise, pursued the victorious army, fell upon it in the night, and completely routed it. This, however, he did not think sufficient; but followed them quite to Hobah, on the northwest of Damascus; recovering both the captives and the goods, and dispersing the invaders. This disaster seems finally to have discouraged the children of Shem from invading the west: for we hear no more of them until 1142 years afterwards; when Pul, the Assyrian monarch, invaded the kingdom of Israel. On these parts of the scriptural history, I make the following observations.

Lord Kaimes, in his attempts to persuade us, that mankind are descended from different pairs, observes, that the only event, which can reconcile Sacred and Profane History, is the Confusion of Languages. On this I remark,

First; That this is the only event, which can reconcile Profane History with itself.

Secondly; It is sufficient, that

this event does reconcile Sacred and Profane History.

There have been many debates concerning the manner, and the degree, in which the one language of mankind was confounded at this time; and,some of them, certainly merely fanciful. As we are informed only of the general fact, that the language of man was confounded; nothing further can be determined with certainty. To do any thing like justice to this subject, in a philosophical view, or even to my own thoughts concerning it, would demand an extensive discussion; a thing neither proper, nor possible, on the present occasion. Yet I will make a few remarks concerning it.

1. This confusion extended, so far as appears, only to the people, who were employed in building the city, and tower, of Babel; or, at the utmost, to the whole company of Nimrod. There is not a reason to believe, that it reached any farther.

2. There is no reason to con clude, that it extended any farther in the degree of confusion, than was necessary to accomplish the end. These people had already become formidable to their peaceable neighbors; had invaded, and subjugated, then; and were now vigorously engaged in pursuing the objects of a guilty ambition. At the same time they were resolved, in opposition to the will of God, requiring them to spread over the earth, and people its desolate regions, to continue united in one great and powerful body, to gratify their love of conquest, and their desire of military renown. To accomplish this purpose, they certainly chose VOL. IX.

the most promising means. Great and splendid cities have ever been strong bonds of union to the people, connected with them; and, in early ages, assem bled almost all the power, pos. sessed by the princes, who ruled them. To dissolve their union, and to prevent the purposes, for which they wished to preserve it, God confounded their lan guage: that is, he confounded it so far, as was necessary for this design. I think we are not warranted to suppose, that the confusion extended any farther.

3. It was sufficient for this pur. pose, that the language of these people should be rendered unin telligible to each other. This might be easily accomplished, either by rendering their pronunciation of a number of words, comparatively moderate, materially different; or by communicating a moderate number of new words, and exterminating from the mind the old ones, for which these were substituted. A single word may in any sentence be pitched upon as being indispensable to its meaning. If, therefore, we suppose the language sufficiently altered in either of these modes to prevent the knowledge of one word in a sentence; their conversation . would become unintelligible. This, or little more than this, may have been all which was done.

The communication of language, at first, was a miracle. Equally miraculous, was the communication, at this time. Yet I think we are not warranted to suppose, that the miracle, in either case, was extended any farther than the exigence of the case demanded.

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4. The number of languages, if they may be called such, which were formed at this time, was probably less, than some writers have supposed. It has been thought, and said, but, as I apprehend, without any foundation, that seventy-two languages were communicated at this time. It is not improbable, that there may not have been so many, as two languages, radically distinct, at this time. If the scheme, which I have proposed, should be admitted as probable; the result would rather be one language, confounded, and perplexed, by the substitution of a certain number of new words for the same number of old ones; or, what is the same thing, a new for an old pronunciation of a certain number of words; rather than the establishment of one more languages, radically new. 1 ought, however, to observe, that, as we are not informed concerning the exact state of the fact, nothing can be certainly concluded concerning it. I ought also to observe, that there are some circumstances in the history of mankind, not destitute of weight, which might conduct us to conclusions somewhat dif ferent.

or

If I am asked, Whence are derived the very numerous,and very diverse, languages of mankind? I answer, that we are not prepared to form very correcuopin ions concerning this subject, from our ignorance of the languages themselves. Until these languages are better known, it will be impossible to form just opinions concerning them, and, therefore, concerning this subject at large.

I suspect, however, the lan

guages of men, which are radically distinct, are fewer, by far, than has been generally supposed. A few years since, it was thought, that many Aboriginal languages were spoken even within the limits of New England. It is now well understood, that, exclusively of that of the Iroquois, a single language, having, however, different dialects, was spoken from the Potowmac to the St. Lawrence, and from the Missisippi to the Atlantic. The same language, also, is spoken by some tribes, north of the St. Lawrence; and by some, west of the Missisippi, as far as to within 400 miles of the Pacific. Most probably, it will be discovered hereafter on the shores of that ocean. Travellers, whose reports concerning this subject have furnished our principal information, are certainly very incompetent witnesses of the facts. The effects of time, and its changes, are such upon language, as to account in a great measure for all its known diversities; although we should admit that the changes, produced at the building of Babel, were comparatively few. But this is a subject, on which I cannot now enter. On another occasion I may, perhaps, examine it

to some extent.

Should the different languages of mankind become hereafter more perfectly known; and a general vocabulary be formed; a much more satisfactory account of this subject could be given, than the world has hitherto seen. Until something like this shall be done, it will be impossible to discuss many parts of the subject with precision, or success. That the restit, in such a case.

will contribute to the support of divine revelation, I cannot doubt. The progress of all physical inquiries has regularly been favorable to the truth, and celestial origin, of the word of God. At first indeed, and in the infancy of our knowledge concerning the subjects of them, particular facts have seemed to lean the contrary way: but, as the investigation has proceeded, they have universally assumed an aspect, favorable to Revelation. The same has been the result with respect to historical researches.. In the ancient accounts of Egypt, Chaldea, Hindoostan, and China, infidels have found facts, and claims, which seemed bostile to the sacred history. But the whole appearance has been reversed by succeeding inquiries. Such, I have not a doubt, will be the result of the inquiries in question, should they ever be made.

I will now proceed to cite several testimonies from antiquity concerning the subjects, which have been discussed.

1. The following things are asserted by Bochart, as the declarations of many interpreters. That Nimrod is called a giant in the Scriptures:

That he was a warrior against, and not before, the Lord; and for this he gives the opinion of Rabbi Solomon:

That the builders are said to have been scattered through the four winds of heaven; or that, in other words, they were scattered by the winds of heaven:

That the word, translated scattered, is used to denote crushed, or dashed in pieces; and, by Isaiah, to denote the effects of thunder and lightning: and

That the Grecian fable of the Giants, who piled mountain upon mountain in order to climb up. to heaven, while they were warring against Jupiter, and were destroyed by his thunder, is a mere transcript of the story of Nimrod.

Abydenus says, "The first men erected a tower, where Babylon now is." Eupole mus mentions the same thing: and both testify to the confusion of tongues, and the subsequent dispersion of the builders.

2. Eupolemus says, "The city, Babel, was first founded, and afterwards the celebrated tower;' both which were built by some of those, who escaped the Deluge. These were giants. The tower was ruined by the hand of the Almighty: and these giants were scattered over the face of the whole earth."

3. Bryant asserts, that the Poets declare,

That there was a time, when mankind lived in simplicity, and virtue;

That then they had no laws, but were in a state of nature; That penalties were then unknown;

That they were wonderfully blessed with health, strength, and longevity;

That they at last fell off from their simplicity, and were distinguished by their pride, jealousy, and lust of domineering;

That war followed the indulgence of these passions;

That Nebrod began these innovations;

That he was gigantic, daring, and a contemner of every thing divine; and

That he was attended by associates, of a similar character.

4. Abydenus says, That the first men of the earth were remarkable for their strength, and stature;

That they despised the gods; That they built a tower, which is now Babylon, in order that it might approach near heaven;

That the gods ruined it by storms, and whirlwinds; frustrated the purpose, for which it was designed; and overthrew it upon the heads of the builders; That, before this, there was but one language among men; That now they had a manifold voice, or utterance;

That from this confusion of tongues, or dialects, the place was called Babylon, "for such confusion," he says, "is in the Hebrew language called Babel;"

and

That soon after there was war between Chronos and Titan.

5. Epiphanius says,

That Babylon was the first city built after the flood; and that from the very foundation of this city commenced a scene of conspiracy, sedition, and tyranny, which was carried on by Nebroth, the king, the son of Chus the Ethiop.

6. The Pascal Chronicle says, that Nimrod was called by the Gentile writers Orion. Itself styles him "Nebrod the giant, the hunter, the son of Chush the Ethiop, who taught the Assyrians, (that is, the Babylonians) to worship fire."

7. Syncellus says, "Nimrod would still obstinately stay, together with numbers of his followers; and was crushed in the falling of the tower, which was overthrown by furious winds.

8. Histiaeus, the Milesian, referring to this history, says,

That the priests, who survived the destruction of Babel, saved the implements of their idolatry, and brought them to the city Sennaar, or Shinar, in Babylonia; but they were again driven thence by a second dispersion.

The Seventy translate the passage, "They smote the Rephaims in Ashtaroth-karnaim," "they smote the giants in Ashtaroth:" and they also render "the valley of Rephaim," 2 Sam. v, 18, "the valley of the Titans."

Procopius says, "Those, who were by the Hebrews called Rephaim, were by others called giants, or Titans.'

The Zuzims, or Zamzummims, and the Emims, are by Moses declared to be of a gigantic stature, and character.

9. Theophilus, mentioning this attack of the families of Shem on the descendants of Ham, says, "It was the first war upon earth;' and calls it "the war of the giants."

10. Cedrenus says, that in the days of Abraham, the sons of Calus, or heaven, flourished: and, having spoken of the patriarch's retiring to Egypt on áccount of a famine, adds, that about this time was the war between Jupiter, and the Titans.

He also says, that there were records in Egypt, which also confirmed the account, given by Moses of these events, and these people of extraordinary stature; and adds, That they were the people whom the Grecians called giants.

11. The Sybilline Verses say, "When the tower rose heaven upon the plain of Assyria, and all men were of one language; the whirlwinds beat upon the tower, and shook it to its