incendium_fw-la hercules_n amphitryonis_n filius_fw-la expeditio_fw-la argonautarum_fw-la bellum_fw-la trojanum_fw-la &_o reditus_fw-la heraclidarum_fw-la jonica_n migratio_fw-la and_o many_o other_o fine_a story_n that_o have_v furnish_v some_o of_o the_o poetical_a historian_n of_o after_o age_n but_o however_o censorinus_n make_v his_o computation_n inachus_n who_o be_v the_o first_o king_n of_o the_o argive_n though_o he_o be_v about_o 375_o year_n after_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o assyrian_a monarchy_n and_o contemporary_a with_o isaac_n yet_o he_o begin_v his_o reign_n about_o 100_o year_n before_o the_o ogygian_a flood_n which_o happen_v in_o the_o latter_a end_n of_o phoroneus_n the_o son_n of_o inachus_n and_o second_o king_n of_o the_o argive_n so_o that_o inachus_n be_v about_o 100_o year_n before_o the_o ogygian_a flood_n and_o about_o 1070_o or_o 1080_o year_n before_o the_o first_o olympiad_n upon_o this_o account_n this_o then_o be_v as_o it_o seem_v the_o state_n of_o these_o period_n there_o seem_v two_o nation_n of_o the_o grecian_n that_o pretend_v to_o great_a antiquity_n namely_o the_o argivi_n and_o the_o attici_n the_o former_a have_v their_o beginning_n with_o inachus_n whether_o before_o or_o after_o the_o ogygian_a flood_n it_o will_v not_o be_v much_o of_o moment_n but_o at_o least_o within_o 1070_o year_n before_o the_o first_o olympiad_n which_o be_v the_o high_a time_n that_o the_o grecian_n pretend_v unto_o touch_v the_o attici_n the_o grecian_a memorial_n give_v we_o no_o high_o account_n than_o of_o ogyges_n in_o who_o time_n it_o be_v suppose_v the_o ogygian_a flood_n happen_v in_o that_o part_n of_o greece_n call_v attica_n and_o take_v its_o name_n from_o he_o namely_o diluvium_fw-la ogygium_n out_o of_o this_o kingdom_n arise_v the_o dynasty_a of_o the_o athenian_n about_o 200_o year_n after_o the_o ogygian_a flood_n wherein_o cecrops_n be_v the_o first_o governor_n contemporary_a with_o moses_n he_o first_o set_v up_o the_o worship_n of_o jupiter_n as_o some_o report_n and_o so_o we_o have_v the_o original_a of_o the_o government_n of_o the_o argive_n in_o inachus_n of_o the_o athenian_n in_o cecrops_n it_o be_v true_a the_o egyptian_a priest_n under_o the_o name_n of_o timaeus_n in_o plato_n tell_v we_o a_o large_a story_n of_o the_o island_n of_o atlantis_n far_o big_a than_o asia_n and_o that_o although_o now_o that_o goodly_a island_n be_v lose_v and_o swallow_v up_o in_o the_o sea_n yet_o the_o athenian_n be_v a_o kind_n of_o colony_n transplant_v from_o that_o island_n into_o greece_n about_o 7000_o year_n before_o solon_n time_n but_o this_o be_v one_o of_o those_o poetical_a fiction_n wherewith_o plato_n play_v mingle_v more_o serious_a thing_n with_o it_o in_o the_o follow_a part_n of_o his_o discourse_n and_o the_o story_n have_v no_o footstep_n of_o any_o evidence_n for_o it_o unless_o we_o shall_v suppose_v that_o atlantis_n to_o be_v a_o island_n that_o be_v before_o the_o universal_a deluge_n and_o destroy_v by_o it_o 4._o concern_v the_o seres_z or_o chineses_n a_o people_n who_o custom_n and_o history_n be_v stranger_n to_o europe_n till_o of_o late_a time_n wherein_o some_o traveller_n have_v late_o give_v we_o some_o account_n of_o those_o great_a period_n both_o of_o their_o history_n and_o government_n vossius_fw-la in_o that_o little_a book_n de_fw-fr aetate_fw-la mundi_fw-la tell_v we_o by_o relation_n from_o other_o that_o by_o their_o history_n and_o monument_n their_o empire_n have_v last_v 4505_o year_n in_o the_o year_n of_o christ_n 1658_o which_o reach_v some_o age_n beyond_o the_o flood_n according_a to_o the_o hebrew_n account_n but_o according_a to_o the_o septuagint_a the_o begin_n thereof_o fall_v in_o the_o time_n of_o phaleg_n 531_o year_n after_o the_o flood_n which_o he_o bring_v as_o a_o argument_n for_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o septuagint_n but_o the_o truth_n be_v we_o be_v still_o stranger_n to_o the_o true_a state_n of_o chronology_n of_o the_o seres_z or_o chineses_n what_o we_o have_v touch_v it_o be_v by_o break_a relation_n of_o some_o few_o traveller_n and_o what_o they_o have_v possible_o may_v be_v gather_v up_o from_o the_o vulgar_a tradition_n of_o that_o people_n upon_o which_o little_a of_o sound_a conclusion_n can_v be_v make_v touch_v their_o antiquity_n but_o be_v it_o true_a or_o not_o which_o we_o have_v from_o these_o relation_n yet_o their_o long_a period_n give_v they_o a_o beginning_n and_o reach_v not_o so_o high_a as_o the_o pretend_a epoch_n of_o the_o babylonian_n or_o egyptian_n much_o less_o be_v there_o any_o thing_n in_o they_o that_o give_v any_o colour_n of_o evidence_n of_o a_o eternal_a duration_n and_o thus_o i_o have_v go_v through_o the_o examination_n of_o those_o kingdom_n and_o monarchy_n which_o pretend_v to_o great_a antiquity_n the_o babylonian_a or_o assyrian_a the_o egyptian_a the_o grecian_a and_o the_o seres_z or_o chineses_n upon_o all_o which_o we_o may_v observe_v 1._o that_o though_o many_o of_o they_o pretend_v to_o a_o very_a great_a antiquity_n yet_o there_o be_v none_o that_o give_v we_o any_o sufficient_a evidence_n of_o a_o eternal_a duration_n for_o what_o be_v those_o period_n of_o the_o egyptian_n or_o babylonian_n to_o eternity_n nay_o many_o of_o these_o nation_n that_o pretend_v to_o the_o long_a continuance_n as_o the_o egyptian_n and_o grecian_n yet_o disclaim_v a_o eternal_a succession_n pretend_v themselves_o to_o be_v aborigines_n and_o to_o be_v the_o first_o people_n but_o yet_o not_o to_o be_v eternal_a indeed_o their_o vast_a continuance_n if_o admit_v will_v seem_v to_o contradict_v the_o authenticalness_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o moysaicall_a history_n which_o contain_v a_o relation_n of_o the_o beginning_n of_o mankind_n within_o the_o compass_n of_o about_o 5660_o year_n according_a to_o the_o hebrew_n account_n and_o about_o 7240_o year_n according_a to_o the_o septuagint_n but_o do_v not_o so_o much_o as_o suppose_v a_o eternity_n thereof_o 2._o that_o notwithstanding_o these_o great_a pretension_n of_o antiquity_n yet_o upon_o a_o true_a examination_n their_o great_a pretend_a antiquity_n be_v fabulous_a and_o the_o origination_n of_o their_o monarchy_n begin_v some_o age_n after_o the_o general_a deluge_n and_o so_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o holy_a history_n concern_v the_o inception_n of_o mankind_n and_o the_o inception_n of_o all_o the_o monarchy_n in_o the_o world_n after_o the_o deluge_n that_o happen_v under_o noah_n 1656_o year_n after_o the_o creation_n of_o mankind_n be_v not_o at_o all_o weaken_a by_o those_o fabulous_a antiquity_n of_o the_o babylonian_n egyptian_n or_o grecian_n 3._o that_o this_o inception_n of_o the_o notable_a empire_n and_o kingdom_n of_o the_o world_n even_o of_o those_o that_o pretend_v great_a antiquity_n and_o the_o termination_n of_o the_o uttermost_a extent_n of_o the_o history_n of_o the_o babylonian_n egyptian_n and_o grecian_n within_o the_o compass_n of_o the_o extent_n of_o their_o pretend_a monarchy_n be_v a_o evidence_n against_o the_o eternity_n of_o mankind_n for_o have_v mankind_n be_v eternal_a they_o have_v infinite_a age_n since_o arrive_v to_o all_o the_o perfection_n of_o political_a government_n and_o to_o all_o those_o mean_n and_o art_n for_o the_o preserve_v the_o memorial_n of_o thing_n past_a as_o they_o have_v now_o attain_v unto_o there_o will_v have_v be_v no_o tempus_fw-la 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o obscurum_fw-la among_o the_o grecian_n but_o there_o will_v have_v be_v as_o fair_a monument_n and_o historical_a narrative_n of_o thing_n past_a before_o the_o olympiad_n or_o the_o ogygian_a flood_n which_o be_v not_o universal_a as_o after_o i_o shall_v conclude_v therefore_o with_o lucretius_n lib._n 5._o preterea_fw-la si_fw-la nulla_fw-la fuit_fw-la genitalis_fw-la origo_fw-la terrai_fw-la &_o coeli_fw-la semperque_fw-la aeterna_fw-la fuerunt_fw-la curio_n supra_fw-la bellum_fw-la thebanum_fw-la &_o funera_fw-la trojae_fw-la non_fw-la alius_fw-la alii_fw-la quoque_fw-la res_fw-la cecinere_fw-la poetae_fw-la qui_fw-la tot_fw-la facta_fw-la virum_fw-la toties_fw-la cecidere_fw-la neque_fw-la usquam_fw-la aeternis_fw-la famae_fw-la monumentis_fw-la insita_fw-la florent_fw-la verùm_fw-la ut_fw-la opinor_fw-la habet_fw-la novitatem_fw-la summa_fw-la recensque_fw-la natura_fw-la est_fw-la mundi_fw-la neque_fw-la pridem_fw-la exordia_fw-la cepit_fw-la quare_fw-la etiam_fw-la quaedam_fw-la nunc_fw-la art_n expoliuntur_fw-la nunc_fw-la etiam_fw-la augescunt_fw-la etc._n etc._n but_o yet_o this_o consideration_n touch_v the_o antiquity_n of_o monarchy_n their_o inception_n and_o the_o narrative_n and_o historical_a monument_n of_o thing_n happen_v within_o the_o period_n of_o their_o commencement_n and_o continuance_n be_v not_o of_o that_o weight_n that_o we_o can_v lay_v the_o stress_n of_o this_o hypothesis_n of_o the_o inception_n of_o mankind_n upon_o and_o therefore_o this_o consideration_n must_v be_v take_v with_o its_o allay_n i_o shall_v therefore_o full_o set_v down_o those_o instance_n that_o do_v give_v this_o consideration_n its_o due_a abatement_n 1._o it_o be_v no_o consequence_n that_o
be_v to_o but_o the_o propriety_n that_o any_o man_n can_v have_v in_o what_o he_o make_v be_v still_o limit_v and_o qualify_v first_o because_o he_o be_v not_o himself_o his_o own_o he_o owe_v his_o be_v to_o god_n and_o therefore_o without_o the_o help_n of_o divine_a indulgence_n his_o acquest_n be_v like_o the_o acquest_n of_o a_o servant_n acquirit_fw-la domino_fw-la and_o beside_o the_o matter_n be_v not_o his_o own_o whatsoever_o he_o make_v he_o make_v out_o of_o that_o matter_n that_o be_v not_o his_o own_o but_o the_o propriety_n that_o almighty_a god_n acquire_v in_o his_o creature_n be_v absolute_a because_o he_o himself_o be_v a_o supreme_a and_o sovereign_a efficient_a none_o be_v above_o he_o and_o because_o the_o matter_n out_o of_o which_o he_o effect_v man_n and_o all_o corporeal_a existence_n be_v perfect_o his_o own_o it_o be_v matter_n of_o his_o own_o make_n 2._o a_o right_a of_o absolute_a dominion_n and_o sovereignty_n over_o his_o creature_n where_o the_o property_n be_v circumscribe_v limit_v or_o qualify_v the_o dominion_n be_v so_o too_o but_o a_o absolute_a sovereign_a property_n carry_v with_o it_o a_o absolute_a sovereign_a dominion_n in_o the_o proprietor_n 3._o a_o infinite_a irresistible_a power_n to_o exert_v the_o right_n of_o his_o dominion_n according_a to_o his_o will_n the_o two_o former_a consideration_n give_v he_o a_o sovereign_a authority_n over_o his_o creature_n a_o right_a jus_o disponendi_fw-la but_o authority_n or_o right_n be_v divide_v from_o power_n to_o execute_v that_o authority_n and_o exact_a obedience_n to_o it_o be_v lame_a but_o the_o glorious_a god_n have_v not_o only_o a_o absolute_a right_n of_o propriety_n and_o dominion_n over_o his_o creature_n but_o a_o infinite_a irresistible_a power_n to_o rule_v order_n and_o dispose_v it_o according_a to_o his_o will_n almighty_a god_n tell_v we_o jerem._n 18._o that_o as_o the_o clay_n be_v in_o the_o potter_n hand_n so_o be_v mankind_n in_o his_o hand_n yea_o and_o in_o a_o far_o great_a subordination_n and_o subjection_n to_o his_o power_n the_o power_n of_o the_o potter_n over_o his_o clay_n be_v a_o finite_a limit_a power_n we_o see_v in_o the_o same_o place_n it_o resist_v and_o disappoint_v his_o intention_n by_o its_o untractableness_n but_o the_o power_n of_o god_n over_o his_o creature_n be_v a_o infinite_a power_n he_o that_o by_o his_o power_n make_v he_o in_o a_o instant_n can_v in_o a_o instant_n dissolve_v or_o annihilate_v he_o and_o yet_o this_o infinite_a power_n of_o god_n be_v under_o the_o management_n of_o a_o most_o wise_a and_o holy_a and_o pure_a and_o gracious_a will_n and_o therefore_o though_o his_o propriety_n be_v absolute_a his_o dominion_n boundless_a his_o power_n infinite_a yet_o the_o exercise_n of_o his_o dominion_n and_o power_n be_v full_a of_o goodness_n suitable_a to_o the_o most_o perfect_a nature_n of_o god_n i_o be_o god_n and_o not_o man_n therefore_o you_o son_n of_o jacob_n be_v not_o consume_v here_o therefore_o we_o have_v that_o great_a question_n among_o some_o of_o the_o ancient_n satisfactory_o answer_v namely_o what_o be_v the_o root_n of_o all_o obligation_n in_o mankind_n whence_o come_v the_o obligation_n in_o the_o conscience_n of_o man_n what_o be_v it_o that_o bind_v man_n to_o keep_v their_o faith_n their_o promise_n it_o be_v the_o law_n and_o command_n of_o he_o that_o have_v sovereign_a authority_n to_o command_v and_o infinite_a power_n to_o exact_a obedience_n and_o to_o punish_v the_o want_n of_o it_o all_o other_o foundation_n of_o obligation_n be_v but_o weak_a and_o deficient_a without_o this_o or_o in_o comparison_n to_o it_o 10._o in_o this_o history_n of_o the_o primitive_a state_n of_o man_n and_o his_o defection_n we_o have_v the_o solution_n of_o that_o great_a quaesitum_fw-la that_o trouble_a the_o ancient_a philosopher_n especial_o the_o stoic_n namely_o whence_o or_o how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o not_o only_o that_o great_a disorder_n happen_v in_o thing_n of_o this_o world_n especial_o in_o the_o nature_n and_o practice_n and_o custom_n of_o mankind_n some_o will_v have_v it_o from_o matter_n some_o from_o one_o thing_n some_o from_o another_o we_o see_v here_o a_o plain_a solution_n of_o the_o quaere_fw-la that_o it_o come_v not_o from_o god_n no_o nor_o from_o matter_n but_o by_o the_o defection_n and_o disobedience_n of_o the_o first_o man_n which_o bring_v death_n into_o the_o world_n and_o sin_n and_o corruption_n and_o depravation_n and_o disorder_n into_o the_o humane_a nature_n and_o bring_v disorder_n and_o discomposure_n upon_o the_o great_a part_n of_o this_o low_a world_n which_o as_o it_o be_v principal_o make_v for_o the_o service_n of_o man_n so_o it_o suffer_v a_o great_a concussion_n and_o breach_n by_o the_o disobedience_n and_o apostasy_n of_o man_n and_o from_o this_o unhappy_a root_n arise_v all_o the_o disorder_n and_o confusion_n in_o the_o humane_a world_n for_o although_o the_o fall_v of_o man_n do_v neither_o alter_v the_o essential_a constituent_n of_o mankind_n nor_o whole_o raze_v out_o the_o engraving_n of_o those_o common_a notion_n sentiment_n and_o rational_a instinct_n that_o be_v in_o they_o yet_o it_o do_v in_o a_o great_a measure_n impair_v and_o weaken_v they_o and_o bring_v in_o a_o very_a great_a deordination_n and_o discomposure_n set_v up_o the_o low_a faculty_n in_o rebellion_n against_o the_o superior_a so_o that_o the_o wise_a and_o more_o morate_a part_n of_o mankind_n be_v force_v to_o set_v up_o law_n and_o punishment_n to_o keep_v the_o generality_n of_o mankind_n in_o some_o tolerable_a order_n 11._o this_o reasonableness_n congruity_n and_o consonancy_n to_o common_a light_n and_o reason_n in_o the_o hypothesis_n of_o the_o formation_n of_o the_o world_n and_o mankind_n and_o the_o great_a preference_n that_o it_o have_v above_o those_o invention_n of_o the_o ancient_a philosopher_n touch_v the_o same_o the_o admirable_a solution_n of_o many_o of_o those_o difficulty_n which_o be_v hereby_o solve_v do_v give_v a_o very_a great_a valuation_n and_o esteem_n to_o the_o truth_n and_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n it_o be_v true_a their_o authority_n be_v above_o the_o contribution_n of_o humane_a reason_n or_o any_o supply_v it_o can_v bring_v either_o to_o its_o truth_n or_o authority_n but_o yet_o when_o a_o man_n shall_v see_v so_o great_a a_o clearness_n and_o plainness_n and_o reasonableness_n in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n touch_v this_o great_a truth_n so_o many_o difficulty_n and_o absurdity_n thereby_o avoid_v so_o great_a a_o suffrage_n and_o attestation_n of_o reason_n and_o common_a evidence_n bear_v witness_n to_o this_o truth_n and_o to_o such_o a_o truth_n as_o can_v never_o be_v at_o first_o particular_o discover_v without_o divine_a revelation_n yet_o be_v discover_v carry_v in_o it_o nothing_o of_o absurdity_n but_o a_o singular_a congruity_n both_o to_o itself_o in_o the_o several_a part_n of_o it_o and_o to_o the_o common_a reason_n it_o be_v true_a a_o great_a though_o a_o ministerial_a and_o humane_a suffrage_n to_o the_o truth_n and_o excellency_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n strengthen_v our_o faith_n which_o god_n know_v stand_v in_o need_n of_o all_o the_o contribution_n that_o may_v be_v to_o bear_v up_o our_o soul_n against_o that_o root_n of_o infidelity_n that_o be_v in_o we_o and_o may_v be_v instrumental_a and_o preparative_n to_o bring_v those_o to_o the_o belief_n and_o veneration_n of_o the_o scripture_n who_o be_v without_o and_o hardly_o perswadible_a but_o by_o those_o media_fw-la that_o bear_v a_o congruity_n to_o their_o natural_a light_n and_o reason_n 12._o and_o therefore_o we_o have_v infinite_a reason_n to_o bless_v and_o magnify_v the_o gracious_a god_n that_o have_v lend_v we_o his_o holy_a scripture_n to_o inform_v we_o in_o thing_n to_o be_v believe_v and_o to_o be_v do_v and_o to_o contain_v and_o preserve_v we_o infra_fw-la cancellos_fw-la certitudinis_fw-la the_o lord_n know_v and_o we_o can_v choose_v but_o daily_o observe_v in_o ourselves_o a_o strange_a mobility_n and_o instability_n in_o our_o imaginative_a and_o intellective_a faculty_n rove_a after_o every_o thing_n and_o in_o many_o thing_n that_o we_o know_v and_o much_o more_o in_o thing_n we_o know_v not_o frame_v strange_a chimaera_n find_v out_o many_o invention_n be_v the_o first_o effect_n of_o the_o departure_n of_o mankind_n from_o a_o reveal_v truth_n and_o search_v after_o unknown_a and_o forbid_a knowledge_n and_o this_o have_v be_v the_o course_n and_o walk_v and_o disease_n of_o our_o restless_a movable_a unstable_a mercurial_a brain_n ever_o since_o in_o matter_n of_o philosophy_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n the_o merciful_a and_o wise_a god_n therefore_o to_o keep_v in_o and_o regulate_v the_o extravagant_a and_o witless_a spirit_n of_o man_n and_o to_o give_v we_o the_o clear_a knowledge_n of_o thing_n necessary_a and_o useful_a and_o to_o prescribe_v and_o
beginning_n of_o the_o assyrian_a kingdom_n under_o ninus_n be_v 631_o year_n after_o the_o flood_n and_o one_o age_n after_o the_o confusion_n of_o language_n in_o the_o time_n of_o phaleg_n but_o which_o way_n soever_o we_o take_v yet_o we_o find_v a_o beginning_n of_o the_o assyrian_a empire_n though_o they_o that_o suppose_v it_o 440_o year_n before_o belus_n thrust_v the_o deluge_n and_o the_o creation_n far_o back_o than_o the_o jewish_a account_n 2._o the_o authority_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n by_o the_o pen_n of_o moses_n give_v we_o the_o original_a of_o the_o babylonian_a or_o assyrian_a monarchy_n in_o nimrod_n which_o possible_o may_v be_v the_o name_n in_o hebrew_n of_o belus_n the_o first_o founder_n of_o it_o and_o here_o i_o do_v not_o take_v advantage_n of_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o sacred_a scripture_n but_o make_v use_n of_o it_o only_o as_o a_o history_n and_o single_o upon_o that_o account_n have_v great_a evidence_n of_o its_o truth_n than_o any_o heathen_a historian_n whatsoever_o 1._o the_o writer_n thereof_o be_v most_o certain_o near_o the_o time_n of_o the_o first_o foundation_n of_o that_o monarchy_n by_o above_o 800_o year_n than_o any_o other_o historian_n that_o give_v we_o the_o account_n of_o the_o assyrian_a and_o babylonian_a monarchy_n which_o be_v a_o great_a advantage_n in_o point_n of_o evidence_n touch_v the_o truth_n of_o any_o historical_a relation_n again_o 2._o he_o be_v not_o very_o far_o distant_a from_o the_o place_n or_o seat_n of_o that_o monarchy_n the_o wilderness_n and_o palestine_n be_v not_o far_o distant_a from_o assyria_n 3_o he_o be_v descend_v from_o he_o that_o be_v the_o native_a of_o that_o country_n namely_o abraham_n who_o be_v bear_v and_o live_v many_o year_n in_o the_o caldean_a country_n and_o doubtless_o do_v bring_v along_o with_o he_o and_o transmit_v to_o his_o posterity_n a_o fair_a tradition_n of_o that_o empire_n be_v contemporary_a with_o peleg_n in_o who_o time_n the_o famous_a dissipation_n of_o mankind_n and_o distinction_n of_o language_n happen_v 4._o he_o be_v educate_v in_o egypt_n the_o people_n whereof_o be_v great_o learn_v especial_o in_o chronological_a computation_n 5._o the_o coherence_n and_o synchronism_n of_o all_o the_o part_n of_o the_o moysaicall_a chronology_n especial_o after_o the_o flood_n bear_v a_o most_o singular_a testimony_n to_o the_o truth_n of_o his_o history_n and_o computation_n for_o although_o he_o draw_v not_o down_o the_o lineal_a descendants_n of_o ham_n and_o japhet_n down_o to_o his_o time_n but_o only_a mention_n their_o child_n and_o grandchild_n for_o two_o or_o three_o generation_n at_o most_o yet_o he_o draw_v down_o the_o lineal_a pedigree_n from_o sem_fw-mi in_o the_o sacred_a line_n down_o to_o his_o very_a age_n together_o with_o their_o birth_n and_o age_n which_o be_v a_o great_a evidence_n of_o the_o probability_n of_o the_o rest_n of_o his_o account_n so_o that_o if_o we_o take_v the_o history_n of_o moses_n upon_o a_o bare_a moral_a account_n abstract_v from_o the_o authority_n of_o divine_a revelation_n he_o have_v great_a evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o he_o relate_v than_o any_o historian_n whatsoever_o that_o take_v upon_o he_o the_o narrative_a of_o the_o antiquity_n of_o kingdom_n or_o empire_n the_o ancient_a of_o which_o historian_n be_v above_o 1000_o year_n late_a than_o moses_n but_o this_o i_o shall_v have_v occasion_n far_o to_o improve_v hereafter_o the_o objection_n against_o this_o late_a original_a of_o the_o assyrian_a or_o babylonian_a monarchy_n for_o it_o have_v its_o successive_a translation_n into_o these_o denomination_n be_v principal_o these_o 1._o that_o it_o appear_v by_o the_o account_n of_o ancient_a historian_n that_o the_o chaldaean_n in_o who_o the_o assyrian_a monarchy_n begin_v and_o end_v at_o the_o take_v of_o babylon_n by_o alexander_n have_v preserve_v astronomical_a calculation_n for_o about_o 400000_o year_n thus_o diodorus_n siculus_n lib._n 3._o cap._n 8._o quadringenta_fw-la tria_fw-la annorum_fw-la millia_fw-la usque_fw-la ad_fw-la ascensum_fw-la alexandri_fw-la numerant_fw-la and_o tully_n in_o his_o second_o book_n de_fw-fr divinatione_fw-la mention_n the_o number_n to_o be_v great_a quadringenta_fw-la &_o septuaginta_fw-la millia_fw-la annorum_fw-la in_fw-la periclitandis_fw-la experiendisque_fw-la pveris_fw-la quicunque_fw-la essent_fw-la nati_fw-la babylonios_n posuisse_fw-la 2._o that_o it_o seem_v impossible_a that_o if_o their_o monarchy_n begin_v but_o in_o nimrod_n or_o so_o short_a a_o time_n after_o the_o universal_a deluge_n that_o in_o the_o time_n of_o ninus_n by_o some_o suppose_v the_o first_o by_o some_o the_o second_o king_n of_o the_o assyrian_n or_o babylonian_n the_o empire_n can_v have_v grow_v so_o populous_a as_o to_o build_v that_o vast_a city_n of_o babylon_n and_o that_o of_o nineveh_n who_o state_n and_o magnificence_n and_o amplitude_n be_v of_o incredible_a greatness_n or_o that_o his_o widow_n semiramis_n can_v at_o once_o bring_v into_o the_o field_n against_o zoroastres_n a_o army_n of_o 1700000_o footman_n 500000_o horseman_n 100000_o chariot_n 2000_o ship_n as_o diodorus_n siculus_n out_o of_o ctesias_n l._n 3._o cap._n 5._o and_o therefore_o as_o well_o mankind_n as_o the_o empire_n of_o assyria_n must_v have_v have_v a_o long_a continuance_n to_o have_v set_v out_o such_o a_o army_n than_o the_o succession_n of_o a_o empire_n for_o two_o or_o three_o governor_n at_o most_o or_o the_o succession_n or_o propagation_n of_o mankind_n within_o so_o short_a a_o time_n as_o this_o be_v suppose_v to_o succeed_v the_o universal_a deluge_n can_v afford_v to_o the_o first_o i_o answer_v 1._o that_o some_o will_v have_v these_o year_n to_o be_v but_o month_n which_o they_o suppose_v to_o be_v account_v year_n by_o the_o ancient_a babylonian_n and_o egyptian_n but_o as_o we_o have_v no_o certain_a evidence_n that_o they_o use_v to_o account_v a_o month_n a_o year_n but_o if_o we_o have_v yet_o that_o reduction_n will_v not_o serve_v for_o that_o number_n of_o lunar_a month_n reduce_v to_o solar_a year_n will_v arise_v to_o above_o 40000_o year_n which_o will_v overreach_v the_o creation_n of_o mankind_n 2._o therefore_o we_o may_v with_o the_o same_o tully_n and_o diodorus_n siculus_n pronounce_v it_o to_o be_v a_o incredible_a and_o fabulous_a account_n warrant_v by_o no_o credible_a evidence_n but_o mere_o their_o own_o fancy_n or_o imposture_n that_o because_o they_o hold_v the_o world_n eternal_a will_v gratify_v their_o people_n with_o a_o succession_n of_o a_o incredible_a antiquity_n and_o it_o appear_v to_o be_v fabulous_a 1._o for_o that_o in_o all_o this_o time_n they_o will_v probable_o have_v get_v the_o perfect_a theory_n of_o the_o planetary_a motion_n and_o position_n which_o it_o be_v plain_a they_o do_v not_o if_o we_o believe_v the_o same_o author_n for_o they_o be_v at_o a_o loss_n touch_v the_o true_a discovery_n and_o period_n of_o the_o eclipse_n especial_o of_o the_o sun_n 2._o for_o that_o calisthenes_n who_o be_v very_o curious_a in_o search_v the_o famous_a period_n of_o the_o babylonian_a or_o caldean_a celestial_a observation_n at_o the_o very_a time_n when_o they_o pretend_v so_o great_a a_o antiquity_n namely_o at_o the_o take_v of_o babylon_n by_o alexander_n upon_o a_o strict_a enquiry_n find_v their_o astronomical_a observation_n not_o to_o be_v above_o 1903_o year_n old_a which_o he_o according_o report_v to_o aristotle_n that_o employ_v he_o special_o in_o that_o enquiry_n as_o simplicius_n report_v in_o his_o commentary_n upon_o the_o book_n of_o aristotle_n de_fw-fr caelum_fw-la the_o prodigious_a account_n therefore_o of_o the_o chaldaean_n of_o the_o time_n pass_v deserve_v as_o little_a credit_n as_o their_o prediction_n of_o thing_n to_o come_v who_o as_o the_o same_o tully_n there_o observe_v flatter_v both_o caesar_n and_o pompey_n with_o long_a life_n and_o happy_a and_o peaceable_a death_n both_o which_o fall_v out_o in_o the_o success_n to_o both_o extreme_o contrary_a 2._o i_o come_v to_o the_o second_o objection_n namely_o that_o it_o seem_v altogether_o impossible_a that_o the_o general_n flood_n shall_v put_v a_o period_n to_o all_o former_a government_n and_o indeed_o to_o the_o whole_a race_n of_o mankind_n except_o eight_o person_n and_o yet_o that_o from_o these_o in_o so_o short_a a_o time_n such_o vast_a and_o powerful_a monarchy_n especial_o as_o that_o of_o the_o babylonian_a or_o syrian_a shall_v arise_v to_o which_o i_o answer_v 1._o that_o if_o we_o shall_v admit_v the_o computation_n of_o the_o seventy_o now_o much_o magnify_v by_o vossius_fw-la and_o other_o it_o will_v easy_o deliver_v we_o from_o that_o difficulty_n for_o whereas_o the_o hebrew_n computation_n give_v the_o universal_a flood_n to_o be_v but_o 1656_o year_n after_o the_o creation_n of_o mankind_n the_o septuagint_n give_v it_o to_o be_v 2262_o year_n and_o whereas_o the_o hebrew_n account_n give_v we_o about_o 300_o year_n from_o the_o flood_n to_o