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alledge, before his victory ? But, Sdl}'. this is not the only 

 argument deducible from the authority of St. Paul, against 

 the principles we combat. It is decisive against the opinion 

 of those who would suppose an anarchy to succeed every ju- 

 risdiction ; and this aftbrds all the requisite evidence in favour 

 of our arguments, that Samuel succeeded Eli, without an in- 

 terregnum intervening ; since, as he evidently computes less, 

 than the numbei's in the Book of Judges*, (which acknow- 

 ledges no suspension of the government,) would authorize, 

 he cannot be produced as authority, for admitting any inter- 

 vening anarchies, to prolong the interval. These arguments 

 are decisive against the more daring innovators wdio would 

 boldly reject the text, and arrange the periods according to 

 their systems and caprice. But the more cautious supporters 

 of chronologic heresy, who, would acknowledge the authen- 

 ticity of the 1st Kings, 6. 1. while they dexterously evade its 

 authority, by forced glosses and strained interpretations, are 

 equally convicted of inconsistency and error by the calculus 

 of the Apostle. Petavius, who adduces his authority for 

 computing 520 years from the exod to the foundation of the 

 temple, alledging, as we have before remarked, that the term, 

 " exod," is to be taken in the latitude of 40 years, so that 

 the 480 years are to be computed from the entrance into 

 VOL. XI. 2 I Canaan 



• This also is the opinion of the Rabbjns. Vide Abrabanel ad 13 Saml. v. J.apud 

 Usher Chron. Sacra, p. GS. 



