And therefore when it is said in holy Scripture [SN: _Isa._ 11. 15, 16.], The Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the _Egyptian_ sea, and with his mighty wind he shall shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod. If this expression concerneth the river _Nilus_, it must only respect the seven principal streams. But the place is very obscure, and whether thereby be not meant the river _Euphrates_, is not without some controversie; as is collectible from the subsequent words; And there shall be an high way for the remnant of his people, that shall be left from _Assyria_; and also from the bare name _River_, emphatically signifying _Euphrates_, and thereby the division of the _Assyrian_ Empire into many fractions, which might facilitate their return: as _Grotius_ hath observed [SN: Gr. Not in Isaiam.]; and is more plainly made out, if the _Apocrypha_ of _Esdras_ [SN: _Esdr._ 2. 13, 43, 47.], and that of the _Apocalyps_[SN: _Apoc._ 16. 12.] have any relation hereto. Lastly, Whatever was or is their number, the contrivers of Cards and Maps afford us no assurance or constant description therein. For whereas _Ptolemy_ hath set forth nine, _Hondius_ in his Map of _Africa_ makes but eight, and in that of _Europe_ ten. _Ortelius_ in the Map of the _Turkish_ Empire, setteth down eight, in that of _Egypt_ eleven; and _Maginus_ in his Map of that Country hath observed the same number. And if we enquire farther, we shall find the same diversity and discord in divers others. Thus may we perceive that this account was differently related by the Ancients, that it is undeniably rejected by the Moderns, and must be warily received by any. For if we receive them all into account, they were more then seven, if only the natural sluces, they were fewer; and however we receive them, there is no agreeable and constant description thereof. And therefore how reasonable it is to draw continual and durable deductions from alterable and uncertain foundations; let them consider who make the gates of _Thebes_, and the mouths of this River a constant and continued periphrasis for this number, and in their Poetical expressions do give the River that Epithite unto this day. The same River is also accounted the greatest of the earth, called therefore _Fluviorum pater_, and _totius Orbis maximus_, by _Ortelius_: If this be true, many Maps must be corrected, or the relations of divers good Authors renounced.