Smite any more every thing living, as I have done*.

Some have thought, that they faw here' a final end of the curfe on the ground; which having fubfifted in its full rigour, during the continuance of the old world, had its period with it, and was finished with the flood. But I cannot find any warrant for fuch an interpretation, which is contrary likewife to fact and experience; from which we may be fufficiently convinced, that the curfe hath not entirely ceafed, as yet.

What feems to be the meaning of the words, is, that God would on no account revive or renew the curfe in its former feverity, be the provocations of men ever fo great, as he forefaw they would be; notwithstanding the warning they had from the late dreadful judgment, which he had inflicted upon a world of finners: But

Gen. viii. 21.

Bp. Sherlock on Prophecy, Difc. iv.

that

that he would from hence forward fuffer the curfe to wear away by degrees: Much lefs would he deftroy every thing living again, in the manner he had now done *.

As a yet farther mark of his gracious and favourable intentions, he adds-While the earth remaineth, feed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and fummer and winter, and day and night shall not cease†.

As the inclination, which had been given to the earth, from its former pofition, at the flood, if not then felt, would not fail, in its future confequences, to be obferved by Noah; and probably would be apprehended by him to be productive of fome yet farther bad effects: To remove his fears, God affures him, that this alteration would be no ways detrimental; fo far otherwife, that it would indeed be greatly advantageous-That from henceforward, the year would be divided into

* See Effay on Redemption, ch, iv. p. 68. + Gen. viii. 22,

For

more diftinct, and certain periods; which would be marked with fo many different feafons; of which there would be a regular fucceffion, attended with a grateful viciffitude: A provifion and procefs wifely adapted to all the different purpofes of human life: And quite of another nature from that which men in the old world had been accustomed to. if they had never been under any other conftitution of nature than the prefent; if there had been no alteration in this refpect, but all things had continued as they were from the beginning of the creation; what occafion had there been for taking any notice of what had nothing uncommon, or remarkable in it? Hence therefore, I think, it may be fairly inferred, that this regular alternation of seasons was a new grant, which they had not enjoyed before the flood; and that it was made for the encouragement of industry, in the cultivation of the earth, now that it was

reftored

reftored to a proper condition for that pur

pose.

Accordingly we read, that immediately upon this, Noah began to be an husbandman; and that be planted a vineyard*.

The commentators indeed interpret the promife of regular seasons, as referring only to the flood, which had interrupted and confounded them; and to their being now restored to their ufual course. But a promise had been made just before of security to mens lives from any the like deftructive calamity: This concerned only the mode and condition of life, which had but little relation to the flood. A promise which had been made of an alleviation of the curfe; to which nothing perhaps hath contributed more, than a diftribution of the year into regular feafons; as will appear more fully hereafter. The affurance of a perpetuity of this grant, to continue without ceafing or interruption by a deJuge, or otherwise, as long as the earth re

3

* Gen. ix. 20.

mained

1

mained― This certainly referred to the flood; and likewife to the ftate before it; as it implied, that a final end had been put to that state, or conftitution of the world, by the flood.

In this view of the matter, therefore, we perceive a fingular propriety in the promife of regular feafons, beyond what appears in any other. It is well known, that if the earth always maintained the fame pofition towards the fun, and constantly kept the fame track throughout the year, always moving in the line of the equator, there would be no variety of seasons; no feed time, or harvest, peculiar to one part of the year more than another; no cold, or heat; fummer, or winter, more in one period than in another; nor any difference in the length of days and nights: But one perpetual tenour, and temperature of air and weather throughout the whole year; the days and nights likewife would be equally divided, always confifting of twelve hours each; there would be a perpetual

equinox.