Page:Unlawfulmarriage00jane.djvu/146

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142
LEVITICAL LAW

approaching judgment and coming wrath, by which they would be most justly punished for their sins, did he not state distinctly what were the sins of which they were guilty, and what were the commandments which they had violated? And was not the law of marriage then known, so far as to prohibit the union of brothers and sisters?

Noah, we are informed by Peter, (2 Pet. 2:5,) was "a preacher of righteousness;" and, during the one hundred and thirty years of God's forbearance, when He afforded space for repentance to that wicked generation of men who were destroyed by the flood, this godly man did not cease to warn them of their imminent danger, and urge them to flee from their sins. Was not this inspired man acquainted with the law of incest? Had not God as yet revealed His will on this interesting subject?

The Jews had a tradition about the seven precepts of Noah; among them was one relating to incest. It is highly probable that his descendants were instructed on the law of marriage, and the limits set to this intimate connexion. The religious information imparted by Noah,