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L E T T E R 111.

proved. But we fee it taken, very properly to befure, in favor of facred and infallible writings,when they are compared with others.

In order to perceive with the utmoft evidence,that the fcope and defign of the author or authorsof the Pentateuch , and of the other books of theOld teftament, anfwer as little the purpofe ofantiquaries, in hiftory, as in chronology, it will befufficient briefly to call to mind the fura of whatthey relate, from the creation of the world to theeftablilhment of the Perfian empire. If the antedi-luvian world continued one thoufand fix hundredand fifty-fix years, and if the vocation of Abraham is to be placed four hundred and twenty-fix yearsbelow the deluge, thefe twenty centuries makealmoft two thirds of the period mentioned: andthe whole hiftory of them is comprized in elevenfhort chapters of Genefis; which is certainly thenaoft compendious extract that ever was made. Ifwe examine the contents of thefe chapters, do wefind any thing like an univerfal hiftory, or fo muchas an abridgment of it? Adam and Eve werecreated, they broke the commandment of God ,they were driven out of the garden of Eden, oneof their fons killed his brother, but their race foonmultiplied and peopled the earth. What geographynow have we, what hiftory of this antediluvianworld? Why, none. The fons of God , itisfaid,lay with the daughters of men, and begot giants,and Got) drowned all the inhabitants of the earth,except one family. After this we read that theearth was repeopled; but thefe children of one