Introduction.

[brigh]ter and original light, thus this man Noah expressed some reflection of the Heavenly Sun The "Heavenly Sun" is a common metaphorical title for Jesus Christ in early modern theology. which had not yet risen; he also demonstrated Gen. 7. God’s righteous judgment over the unrighteousness of men, and the salvation of the believers, who committed themselves into the Ark of God under His merciful protection.

Year 1760. These dates follow the Anno Mundi calendar, which counts years from the biblical creation of the world. After the earth was renewed again by the descendants of Noah, many different courses were taken; the human race for the most part gravitated toward the mists of sins and, departing from the living Fountain-source, they inclined toward the dug-out pools of Idolatries. This imagery likely references Jeremiah 2:13, contrasting God as a fountain of living water with broken cisterns/pools. Audacity and pride began to reign; they seemed to want to climb to Heaven and Gen. 11. present themselves as Gods; and that being unachievable, they exalted themselves on earth as much as they were able, establishing a Monarchy Monarchie: here referring to the rise of the first empires, specifically that of Nimrod in the Eastern lands Year 1790. of Assyria: The mighty ones on earth called one Saturn, another Jupiter, a third Mars, and so forth, to all of whom they ascribed immortal honor. This they did in blindness, yet they thereby testified that there was an all-ruling Divinity, and that one must be subject to a Monarchy, failing only in the name, person, essence, and quality of the Divine attributes—which are His righteousness, holiness, wisdom, unfathomable love, and a benevolent generosity toward all people, just as His creatures and handiworks give a constant testimony of this. These [false gods] were far removed from such attributes, and therefore they were false Gods, and those who served them were led away from the true Divine Being and His noble nature. Meanwhile, the holy wisdom of God, standing firm in His Year 2044. purpose, turned the face of His grace toward Abraham at Ur in Chaldea, the...