The Preface.
means of propagating the Senſe of God and of Religion, which Mankind brought into the World with them, and how it came to be corrupted.
There have been thoſe who have taken the liberty to ſay, That is is impoſſible to give any tolerable Account of the Creation of the World, in Six Days; of the Situation of Paradiſe; the Fall of our firſt Parents, by the ſeduction of a Serpent, &c. But, I hope, I have made it appear, there is no ground for ſuch preſumptuous Words: But very good reaſon to believe in every thing that Moſes hath related, without forſaking the literal Sence, and betaking our ſelves to, I do not know what, Allegorical Interpretations, Particularly, I find the Truth of what I have noted concerning Paradiſe, very much confirmed by a Learned and Judicious Diſcourſe of Monſ. Huetius; which I did not meet withal, till I had made an end of theſe Commentaries: But then took a review of what I had written, and found cauſe to correct what I had noted out of Mr. Carver, concerning the Spring of Tigris and Euphrates. I might alſo have given a clearer Account of the Deluge, if I had obſerved ſome things, which are come to my notice ſince theſe Papers went to the Preſs: But, I hope, I
