241 



In a word, we have seen all the Eastern versions, unani- 

 mously concurring in the reading of the Vulgate, the Septu- 

 agint differing in some editions, but only to diminish the con- 

 tested interval ; the Chronicon Paschale reckoning the years 

 of the first servitude, inclusively in the period of the first 

 jurisdiction, " according to the tradition of the Jews;" Eu- 

 sebius asserting that he acted upon the same principles, and 

 the same authority, and the testimony of each, equally inde- 

 pendent and unimpeachable. Josephus, himself, according 

 (where alone he is consistent) with the computation of the 

 text — the series of the priests, of the generations, and of the 

 judges, agreeing to support it; the various collateral circum- 

 stances which tend to establish and confirm its authenticity; 

 the inconsistencies and absurdities of the contrary hypO' 

 theses ; the antiquity of the reading, long before the Jews 

 could have ever thought of abridging the times, in order to 

 elude the chronologic proofs of the Messiah,* (as is evident 

 from the concordance of the Septuagint) the weakness of 

 the only argument produced against it, in supposing " that 

 the servitudes were intentionally excluded," when we have 

 the direct testimony of Eusebius and the Chronicon Paschale 



2 I 2 that 



* They appear to have began this in the time Rabbi Akiba (contemporary with 

 Adrian) when it was Ibrbidden by the aanhedrjm, to calculate the period of the 

 Meisiah. 



