The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
As for holy Scripture and divine revelation, there may also seem therein
but slender information, there being only left a brief narration hereof
by _Moses_, and such as affords no positive determination. For the Text
delivereth but two genealogies, that is, of _Cain_ and _Seth_; in the
line of _Seth_ there are only ten descents, in that of _Cain_ but seven,
and those in a right line with mention of father and son; excepting that
of _Lamech_, where is also mention of wives, sons, and a daughter.
Notwithstanding if we seriously consider what is delivered therein, and
what is also deducible, it will be probably declared what is by us
intended, that is, the populous and ample habitation of the earth before
the flood. Which we shall labour to induce not from postulates and
entreated Maxims, but undeniable Principles declared in holy Scripture;
that is, the length of mens lives before the flood, and the large extent
of time from Creation thereunto.
We shall only first crave notice, that although in the relation of
_Moses_ there be very few persons mentioned, yet are there many more to
be presumed; nor when the Scripture in the line of _Seth_ nominates but
ten persons, are they to be conceived all that were of this generation:
The Scripture singly delivering the holy line, wherein the world was to
be preserved, first in _Noah_, and afterward in our Saviour. For in this
line it is manifest there were many more born than are named, for it is
said of them all, that they begat sons and daughters. And whereas it is
very late before it is said they begat those persons which are named in
the Scripture, the soonest at 65, it must not be understood that they
had none before; but not any in whom it pleased God the holy line should
be continued. And although the expression that they begat sons and
daughters be not determined to be before or after the mention of these,
yet must it be before in some; for before it is said that _Adam_ begat
_Seth_ at the 130 year, it is plainly affirmed that _Cain_ knew his
wife, and had a son; which must be one of the daughters of _Adam_, one
of those whereof it is after said, he begat sons and daughters. And so
for ought can be disproved there might be more persons upon earth then
are commonly supposed, when _Cain_ slew _Abel_; nor the fact so
hainously to be aggravated in the circumstance of the fourth person
living. And whereas it is said upon the nativity of _Seth_, God hath
appointed me another seed instead of _Abel_, it doth not imply he had no
other all this while; but not any of that expectation, or appointed (as
his name applies) to make a progression in the holy line; in whom the
world was to be saved, and from whom he should be born, that was
mystically slain in _Abel_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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