The fourth argument is, that the shorter computation is inconsistent with the credible accounts of profane history, and the existence of so many populous kingdoms and empires in the days of Abraham. The insuperable difficulties in reconciling the chronology of sacred and profane history, which have perpetually puzzled modern historians, are in a great measure removed by the longer computation. The often-cited passage of Raleigh,[18] which contains his cutting remark on the danger of “paring the times too near the quick,” lest thereby “the reputation of the whole story might perchance bleed,” has, in fact, never been fairly answered on the principles of the Hebrew chronology. The history of the battle of the “four kings against five,” in Genesis xiv., implies a very great degree of populousness and civilization in a single region, and more than can be admitted on the shorter computation; nor can Sir Isaac Newton’s answer to this objection be considered as decisive, in which he implies that the numbers of the allied armies must have been small, because they were overcome by Abraham with a very small force; for, the Scriptures inform us that it was “the Most High God that delivered his enemies into his hand,” and that it is His province “to save by many or by few.” The account of Egypt, at the descent of Abraham, in Genesis xii. 10–20, indicates that it was then an ancient, populous, and long-established kingdom; and the profane records of its history, though mingled with much that is fabulous, contain well-attested facts which reach to a period far beyond that assigned by the Hebrew text. In an excellent article, entitled “Annotations Géologiques à la Genèse,” vol. iii. of the “Cours Complet,” it is shewn, by a careful and critical analysis of the historical notices of Egypt, in Manetho, Herodotus, Diodorus, Artapan, Josephus, Eratosthenes, Pliny, the author of the Old Chronicle, and Syncellus, that its various dynasties were not _consecutive_ but _collateral_; and, from the unsuspected agreement of the reigns of different kings, it appears that “the epoch B.C. 2900,” or A.M. 2579, “may, in fact, be considered as that of the foundation of the kingdom of Egypt.” This epoch, according to the Septuagint, corresponds to the patriarchate of the _Junior_ Cainan, about 300 years after the birth of _Mizraim_, and about _fifty_ years after that of Salah;—now, it is universally admitted that Egypt or Mizraim (Genesis x. 6) was one of the first kingdoms founded after the flood. According to the Hebrew, however, the same epoch corresponds to the patriarchate of the _Senior_ Cainan, upwards of 500 years before the flood, and long before Mizraim was in existence! 5. Arguments founded on the deficiency of the numbers of mankind—Epoch of the occupation of Babylon by the Medes—Calculation of the numbers of mankind on the Eulerian ratio—Mr. Clinton refuted.