The history of the world

§. VII. A conclusion of this dispute, noting the Authors on both sides: with an admonition that they which shorten the times, make all ancient stories the more vnprobable. [unspec 30]

IT therefore agreeth with the Scriptures, with Nature, Time, and Reason, that Haran was the eldest sonne of Terah, and not Abraham: and that Abraham was borne in the 130. yeere of Terahs life, and not in the 70. yeere. For Abraham departing Charran after Terah died, ac∣cording to S. Stephen, and that iourney by Abraham performed when* 1.1 [unspec 40] hee was 75. yeeres old, these two numbers added make 205. yeeres, the full age of Terah: seeing that when Terah died, then Abraham entred Canaan. For my selfe, I* 1.2 haue no other end herein then to manifest the truth of the Worlds Story: I reue∣rence the iudgements of the Fathers: but I know they were mistaken in particu∣lars. Saint Augustine was doubtfull, and could not determine this controuer∣sie. For whatsoeuer is borrowed from him out of his 16. Booke de Ciuit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dei, ca. 15. the same may bee answered out of himselfe in his fine and twentieth question vpon Gen. But S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 herein followed Iosephus, and Isidor: and Beda followed S. Augustine. And it was out of a foolish pride and vanitie, that the Hebrews and Iose∣phus fought to make Abraham the first borne: as if God had had respect to the eldest [unspec 50] in nature. So did Iosephus together with Nicholas Damascenus (thinking thereby to glorifie the Iewish Nation) make Abraham a king, entitling Sarah by the name of Queene Sarah: and said that Abraham was followed with 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Captaines, of which euery one had an infinite multitude vnder him; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & octodccem praefectos

〈◊〉〈◊〉: quorum singulis infinita multitudo parebat. And that Pharao inuading him with a great armie, tooke from him his wife Sarah: Such fables argue that Iosephus is not to be beleeued, but with discreet reseruations.

This account of times, allowing no more than 292. yeeres from the Floud to Abra∣ham, is vpheld by many of the Hebrews. But how should wee value the opinion of such Chronologers, as take Amraphel for Nimrod? Surely, if their iudgement in such matters were worthy to be regarded, it would haue appeared in setting downe the succession of the Persian Kings, vnder whom they liued, whose Historie was not so farre remote in time, as these antiquities, nor wanting the light of many good wri∣ters. Yet grossely haue they erred therein, and so familiar are their mistakings in [unspec 10] all things of like nature, that we seldome finde their opinion rehearsed without the confutation treading on the heeles of it. They of the Romane religion are also ge∣nerally on the same side: it being a thing vsuall among them, to maintaine whatsoe∣uer they haue beene formerly knowne to holde and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Contrariwise, of the more ancient, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and some following him: of later times 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Codoman, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Caluin, Innius, Beza, Broughton, Doct. Gibbons, and Moore, with diuers of the Protestants, hold Abraham to haue been borne in the 130. yeere of his Father Terah. From these, (as in a case not concerning any point in Religion) diuers of the same Religion, and those neuerthelesse good Authours, as Bucholcerus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aeus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and others, are very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 herein, especially Iosephus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with his Sethus Calui∣sius, [unspec 20] proclaiming Beroaldus an Arch-heretike in Chronologie, and condemning this opinion of his as poysonous. Contrariwise, Augustinus Torniellus a Priest of the Con∣gregation of S. Paul, a iudicious, diligent and free writer, whose Annales are newly set forth, very earnestly defends the opinion, which I haue already deliuered; not al∣leadging Beroalàus, nor any Protestant writer, as beeing perhaps vnwilling to owe thankes to heretikes. For my selfe I doe neither mislike the contrary opinion, be∣cause commonly those of the Romish Religion labour to vphold it, Nor fauour this larger account of times, because many notable men of the Protestant writers haue approued it; but for the trueth it selfe. To strengthen which, after all these former reasons, and testimonies of Scripture, I will adde thus much more to the rest. First, [unspec 30] it is apparant to all men of iudgement, that the best approoued 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Diuine and prophane, labour to inuestigate the trueth of times, thereby to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sto∣ries, and forepast actions of the world: and not the trueth of histories to approue the times by. Let vs then make iudgement to our selues, which of these two accounts giue the best reputation to the storie of the Scriptures; teaching the Worlds new plantation, and the continuancie of Gods Church: either that of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and those which follow him; who makes but 292. yeeres, or thereabouts, betweene the floud and birth of Abraham: or this other account, which makes 352. yeeres be∣tweene the one and the other: the one taking Abraham to be the first borne of Thare, in the 70. yeere of his life: the other a yonger sonne of Thare, and borne when hee [unspec 40] had liued 130 yeeres. And if we looke ouer all, and doe not hastily satisfie our vnderstanding with the first things 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and thereby being satiated doe sloth∣fully and drowsily sit downe; wee shall finde it more agreeable rather to allow the reckoning of the Septuagint, who, according to some editions make it aboue 1072. yeeres betweene the Floud and Abrahams birth: then to take away any part of those 352. yeeres giuen. For if we aduisedly consider the state and countenance of the world, such as it was in Abrahams time, yea, before Abraham was borne, wee shall finde that it were very ill done of vs by following opinion without the guide of reason, to pare the times ouer-deepely betweene Abraham and the Floud: because in cutting them too neere the quicke, the reputation of the whole storie might per∣chance [unspec 50] bleede thereby, were not the testimonie of the Scriptures supreme, so as no obiection can approch it: and that wee did not follow withall this precept of S. Augustine, That wheresoeuer any one place in the Sctiptures may bee conceiued disagreeing to the whole, the same is by ignorance of interpretation misunderstood.

For in Abrahams time all the then knowne parts of the World were peopled: all Regionsand Countries had their Kings. Aegypt had many magnificent Cities: and so had Palaestina, and all the bordering Countries: yea, all that part of the World besides, as far as India: and those not built with stickes, but of hewne stones, and defended with walles and rampiers: which magnificence needed a parent of more antiquitie, then those other men haue supposed. And therefore, where the Scrip∣tures are plainest, and best agreeing with reason and nature, to what end should we labour to beget doubts and scruples, or drawe all things into wonders and 〈◊〉〈◊〉? giuing also strength thereby to common cauellers, and to those mens apish braines, who onely bend their wits to finde impossibilities, and monsters in the storie [unspec 10] of the World and Mankinde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. 4.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12. 4.