PART I. the forego ing table. In the foregoing table there is not inferted the mule, because it is not a diftinct fpecies, but a mungrel breed. 13. And although it be very likely, that the urus, bisons, bonaWhy fome animals are fus, and bubalus are not distinct fpecies from the common omitted in bos or beef, but differ chiefly in this, that the latter is tame, whereas the others are all wild; as alfo that the feveral differences reckoned up under the sheep and goat, (as the firepiceros, and broad-tailed Sheep under the former; the ibex, rupicapra, gazellus, and alcis under the latter, are not distinct species from the sheep and goat,) yet they are set down in the table, as if they were distinct fpecies, the better to take away all pretence for cavilling; and whereas they are clean, there are feven of each fort fuppofed to be received into the Ark. As to the phoca, (fea-calf or feal,) the morfus, the crocodile, the fenembi, and fea-tortoife, thefe, according to the teftimony of most approved authors, can live a long while in waters, and therefore are not mentioned in the foregoing table, as taken into the Ark: not but that there will remain abundantly room enough for them, as will appear by and by, was it requifite to fuppofe them taken into the Ark. As to the ferpentine kind, the fnake, the viper, the cæcilia, or floe-worm, the lizard, the frog, the toad, and what they live upon, there will be room enough left in the lower part of all the Ark; namely, between the floor on which were the four-footed animals, and the bottom-boards or planks, of which the very bottom of the Ark was made; fince betwixt these it is likely there was the distance of three or four feet at leaft. As for the fmaller creatures, (as the mouse, rat, mole, and infects,) they might be in feveral places of the Ark; nor is there need to affign any. peculiar places for them to abide in, when they might eafily find places for themfelves. 14. From what has been faid, it appears that no reasonable What objection can be made against the foregoing table, as if it quantity of flesh might were defective in its catalogue of animals or animalcules, keep the contained in the Ark. In the next place fhall, be confidered the provifion requifite to fubfift the forementioned. beafts, that live on creatures, flesh, dur ing their Ark. creatures, contained in the Ark. And though it be pro- CHAP. II. bable from comparing Gen i. 29, 30. with Gen. ix. 3. that before the Flood brutes as well as men lived on the fruits of the earth; yet, to take away all grounds of cavilling, ftay in the it shall be supposed, that those creatures, which are ravenous now, were fo from the beginning; and therefore it fhall be confidered, what kind of meat was fuitable for them, and how much would fuffice them for the time they were in the Ark. Now it is well known, that fuch beasts as chew the cud do not eat fo much as fuch as are ravenous, and do not chew the cud. And out of the foregoing table it appears, that it may be rationally supposed, that there were but twenty pair of ravenous creatures, that live upon flesh, taken into the Ark; which upon a fair, eftimation may be reckoned equal to twenty-feven wolves, as to the proportion both of their bodies and also their ftomachs. However, for greater certainty, they shall be supposed equal to thirty wolves, It shall also be supposed that fix wolves every day devour a whole fheep; and furely it will be easily granted, that this is no fhort, but a plentiful allowance. According to this calculation it will follow, that thirty wolves devour five fheep every day;. and fo, that the quantity of five fheep was to be given every day, for a whole year, to the ravenous creatures in the Ark, fuppofed to be equal in stomach to thirty wolves: whence, the quantity, of flesh,, given, to the faid animals in the faid time, Days in a year 365 5 In a year. 1825 will amount to the quantity of one thoufand eight hun. dred and twenty-five sheep. 15. The lower ble of hold This being laid down and granted, there will be abun dantly-room enough in the lower story of the Ark, for to ftory of the receive all the four-footed beafts, that, were to be kept in Ark capathe Ark, for the preservation of their kind; and alfo for ing all the one thoufand eight hundred and twenty-five fheep, to be beafts that given to the ravenous beafts for to eat, at the above-men- were to be four-footed there. PART I. tioned rate of five sheep a day. And though nothing could be well objected, fhould the room allowed to the fourfooted beafts be but ftrait, (as is ufual in fhips that go long voyages;) yet there is no need for it, and therefore we fhall allow room abundantly enough for them in any posture; namely, to ftand or lie, or turn round in, and alfo for to hold their dung a whole year round. 16. This illuf trated by hereunto partitions at the ends might be contained That the lower story of the Ark was fufficient for all these uses, will plainly appear from the diagram or draught the diagram hereunto belonging: wherein at the two ends of the Ark belonging: there is a partition, marked AA, which is fifteen feet whereby is broad. And, whereas the Ark was seventy-five feet broad, fhewn, that in eight each of the partitions of the ends may be divided into five leffer partitions, each fifteen feet square; and consequently of the Ark each capable of holding thirty-fix sheep. For a place five feet fquare is fufficient to hold very well four sheep: forafmuch as the fame will contain twenty-five fquare feet; and fo each of the four fheep will have fomewhat above fix fquare feet to itfelf. But now the fame portion, that twenty-five fquare feet bear to four 288 sheep. Feet. Length 5 Breadth 5 Square 25 Sheep fqu. f. f. fqu... pro 4) 25 (64 Feet. Length 15 15 Square 225 sheep, does a place of fifteen feet square bear to thirty-fix Sh. Sq. f. Sh. end |