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ANACALYPSIS.
BOOK I.
CHAPTER I.
AGE OF THE WORLD.—FLOOD.—PLANETS AND DAYS OF THE WEEK.—THE MOON.
1. On looking back into antiquity, the circle of vision terminates in a thick and impenetrable mist. No end can be distinguished. There seems reason to believe that this is an effect of that cause, whatever it may be, which first produced and gave law to the revolving motions of the planets, or other phenomena of nature, and therefore cannot be impugned, perhaps ought not to regretted. At all events, if this obscurity be regretted, it is pretty evident that there is little hope of its being removed. But in endeavouring to stretch our eye to the imaginary end of the prospect, to the supposed termination of the hitherto to us unbounded space, it is unavoidably arrested on its way by a variety of objects, of a very surprising appearance; and it is into their nature that I propose to inquire. When I look around me, on whatever side I cast my eyes, I see the ruins of a former world—proofs innumerable of a long-extended period of time. Perhaps among all the philosophers no one has demonstrated this so clearly as Mons. Cuvier. I apprehend these assertions are so well known and established that it is unnecessary to dwell upon them.
The great age of the world must be admitted; but the great age of man is a different thing. The latter may admit of doubt, and it is man with whom, in the following treatise, I propose to concern myself, and not his habitation. On man, his folly, his weakness, and, I am sorry I must add, his wickedness, I propose to treat: his habitation I leave to the geologists.
In the most early history of mankind I find all nations endeavouring to indulge a contemptible vanity, by tracing their origin to the most remote periods; and, for the gratification of this vanity, inventing fables of every description. Of this weakness they have all, in reality, been guilty; but the inhabitants of the oriental countries occupy rather a more prominent place than those of the western world; and I believe it will not be denied that, in the investigation of subjects connected with the first race of men, they are entitled on every account to claim a precedence. If, since the creation of man, a general deluge have taken place, their country was certainly the situation where he was preserved: therefore to the eastern climes I apply myself for his early history, and this naturally leads me into an inquiry into their ancient records and traditions.
2. All nations have a tradition of the destruction of the world by a flood,[1] and of the preservation of man from its effects. Here are two questions. Of the affirmative of the former no person
- ↑ The nature of this flood I shall discuss in a future chapter.—June, 1830.
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