Thus, it appears that there is a difference of _thirteen centuries and a-quarter_ between the Hebrew-Usher and the Septuagint chronologies, at the epoch of the Call of Abraham,—a difference which is increased by another _century and a-half_, in the remaining ages of the world up to the birth of Christ,—making in all, a difference of _fourteen and three-quarters_ exactly, or nearly _fifteen centuries_! To account for this difference, the advocates of the longer computation not only impugn, as we have seen, the accuracy of the Hebrew text, but adduce various important and conclusive arguments against the shorter computation, in order to show the inconsistency of its statements. Mr. Clinton, in citing these arguments, chiefly from Jackson and Hales, endeavours to rebut them, and to defend the Hebrew chronology, especially in the first two ages of the world; although he is forced to yield to the mass of evidence against it, in the period of the Judges. 1. Argument against the shorter computation, founded on the proportion between the Antepaidogonian Ages and Whole Lives of the Patriarchs—Reasons for the enlargement of this ratio, and the diminution of the length of human life. The first argument, which is, that “the shorter generations are repugnant to the course of nature,” is neither placed in a clear light, nor fairly answered by Mr. Clinton; Fast. Hell. vol. i. p. 292. Although the extraordinary longevity of man both before and after the flood, has no parallel in the subsequent history of the world, and we are therefore deprived of a satisfactory means of comparison; yet we perceive a suitable proportion in the Greek numbers, between the Antepaidogonian ages and whole lives of the Patriarchs in the first two periods, which entirely fails in the Hebrew numbers. Thus, taking the averages of the _six Antepaidogonian_ ages which occasion the great discrepancy in the Antediluvian period, and the corresponding _whole lives_, we find that the former is about _one-fifth_ part of the latter in the Septuagint, and about _one-ninth_ part in the Hebrew. If these ratios be applied to the present average duration of human life, we find that men, according to the former text, would beget children at the age of _fourteen_ years; but, according to the latter, at the age of _eight_ years! Again, taking the averages of the _six Antepaidogonian_ ages which occasion the chief discrepancy in the Postdiluvian period, and the corresponding _whole lives_, we find that the former is about _one-third_ part of the latter in the Septuagint, and about _one-eleventh_ part in the Hebrew. Applying these ratios as before, we find that men, according to the former text, would beget children at the age of _twenty-three_ years; but according to the latter, at the age of _seven_ years! On the supposition, therefore, which we think not unreasonable, that in these periods, the development of the powers of the human frame was proportional to the