282 Os the Dissolution

also (I mean the first ) of the FostMlw 10 j.For immediately after the Flood the Age 0Man did gradually decrease every Genera* 1 'on in great proportions ? so that had it c° a ‘tinned so to do at that rate, the Lite olhad soon came to nothing. Why it fh° u 'at last settle at Threelcore and ten Years, aSa mean Term ; and there continue so m* 111 /Ages, without any further Change andminution, is, I confess, a Mystery too hs*for me to reveal: However, there musta great and extraordinary Change at ** ietime of the Flood, either in the Temp cra *ture of the Air, or Quality of the Food, ° (in the Temper and Constitution of thedy of Man, which induced this decreifl el1of Age. That the Temper and Constitut* 0 ^of the Bodies of the Antediluvians wastn 01 .firm and durable than that of their Postersafter the- Flood: and that this ChangeTerm of Lile was not wholly to be att* 1buted to Miracle, may both be demonstra-ted from the gradual decrease of the Age ^the Postdiluvians For had it been mir^

lous, why ihould not the Age of the ve*;first Generation after the Flood have be cl jreduced to that Term? And what a cco^ 1can we give of their holding out for se lT hGenerations against the Inconveniencics 0the Air, or deteriority of Diet, but d 1 ,