PHIL. IUD. DE ABRAHAMO. §. 8.

...there were extraordinary winds; crashes of thunder and flashes of lightning, and discharges of thunderbolts, with incessant rains breaking forth, such that one might think the parts of the whole were hastening to be re-formed into a single nature of water. Until, with the water rushing down from above and rising up from below, the streams were raised to a great height; by which not only was the plain and whatever was low-lying flooded and vanished, but also the peaks of the highest mountains. For all parts of the earth sank under the water, so that it seemed as though the whole had been snatched away, and the world, having been mutilated of great parts, seemed to be maimed in a way that is not permissible to speak or to conceive of as whole and complete. But even the air, 356 except for a small part near the moon, was all consumed, P. defeated by the force and rush of the water, which took possession of its realm with power. Then, immediately, all that was sown and the trees were destroyed; for as much as need destroys, so does excessive abundance. And the myriads of herds of animals, both tame and wild, died. For it was likely, with the most excellent race of men being destroyed, that nothing of the inferior creatures would be left; since they were created to be slaves to his needs, and in a way, were intended to serve under masterly commands. Thus, such and so great evils rushed in, which that time rained down; for all the parts of the world, except for those in the heavens, were moved contrary to nature, as if they had fallen into a heavy and deadly disease. But one single house alone, that of the aforementioned righteous and God-beloved man, is saved, having received two of the highest gifts: one, which I have mentioned, not to be destroyed along with all these things, and the other, to be the founder of a new sowing of men once again. For God deemed him worthy to be both the end of our race and the beginning; the end of those before the flood, and the beginning of those after the flood.