With regard to the evidence of the two principal witnesses, it is manifest that the citations from the Old Testament, which are to be found in the New, are, in general, not only in more perfect accordance with the Septuagint version than with the Hebrew text (at least, as we now have it); but they are more consistent with the general tenor of the Sacred Writings. There is, on this account, therefore, an _à priori_ presumption in favour of the accuracy of the numerical statements of the Septuagint. This presumption is strongly confirmed by a reference to several passages not at all connected with chronology, of which the following are striking instances. Thus, the day on which God _ended_, that is, finished, or completed the work of creation, is said to be the 7th in the Hebrew, and the 6th in the Septuagint; but the latter statement is plainly the correct one, being confirmed by the context; see Genesis ii. 2, and i. 31. Again, the number of persons present at the Eisodus of Israel into Egypt, is said to be 70 in the Hebrew, and 75 in the Septuagint; but the latter number is unquestionably the true one, because it is confirmed by the New Testament; see Genesis xlvi. 27, and Acts vii. 14. In general, it may be observed, that the numerical statements of the Hebrew text, in many places differ materially from those of the Septuagint, and even from those of other places of that text, where we are certain, from the nature of the context, that they ought to be precisely the same. The following instances, taken at random, (and their number might be greatly increased,) will confirm this assertion, by a comparison of the different passages, even in our own version:—Exodus xii. 37, and xxxviii. 26, with Numbers i. 46, and ii. 32; Numbers xxxv. 4, with Numbers xxxv. 5; 1 Samuel xviii. 27, with 2 Samuel iii. 14; 2 Samuel xv. 7, with 1 Kings ii. 11; 2 Samuel xxiv. 13, with 1 Chronicles xxi. 12; and 1 Kings ix. 28, with 2 Chronicles viii. 18. 2. Origin and effect of various readings—The immaculate purity and miraculous preservation of the Hebrew text, a figment—Consistency of the word of God.