The scriptural history of the earth and of mankind, compared with the cosmogonies, chronologies, and original traditions of ancient nations; an abstract and review of several modern systems; with an attempt to explain philosophically, the Mosaical account of the creation and deluge and to deduce from this last event the causes of the actual structure of the earth, in a series of letters / With notes and illustrations. By Philip Howard.

  • Howard, Philip, -1810.
Date:
1797
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The scriptural history of the earth and of mankind, compared with the cosmogonies, chronologies, and original traditions of ancient nations; an abstract and review of several modern systems; with an attempt to explain philosophically, the Mosaical account of the creation and deluge and to deduce from this last event the causes of the actual structure of the earth, in a series of letters / With notes and illustrations. By Philip Howard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pier ftate of mankind. The termination of thefe golden ages, nearly coinciding, as if by confent, in the annals of thofe nations, with the probable date of the deluge, bears teftimony to the recency of that great event comrhemorated in the traditions of almoft all ages and countries. That its date is really not far removed in an- tiquity, I think a critical though curfory inveftigation of hiftory will evidently confinm From a general but rapid review of the traditions, of the chrono- logy, and of the early ftate of antient nations, I fhall endeavour to feleft fuch fa£ts as by their univerfality bid faireft to be authentic. Thefe few confentaneous paints, forming the moft ftriking features of almoft every national record, we fhall find concurring to eftabiifh the truth of a general deluge, and of the fubfequent renovation of the human race Et no wery diftant period. To what diftance its date may reafonably be removed fhall be fairly difcufled. That, from the par- tial TiftorieS'Of fome -nations, others have inferred a much higher antiquity than I am willing to allow, will not be difguifed. The pretenfions 'of certain people to very remote origins, I flatter my- felf, I fhall be sible clearly to fhew deftitute of every motive of cre- dibility. Founded on national vanity, and on the fuppofed fuccef- fion‘of princes who were either allegorical perfonages miftaken for real, or, if real mortals, were by the gratitude of pofterlty adorned / with the longevity and other attributes as well as with the names of their deities (d)^ they fcarcely claim a place in hiftory. The ex- travagant