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And none of these patriarchs, except Shem, attained 

 to five hundred years. In the next century, none 

 reached 240. In the third, none but Terah lived 200: 

 men being then so increased, that they built cities, and 

 divided into different nations. As their number in- 

 creased, the length of their lives diminished, till about 

 the time of Moses it was reduced to 70 or 80 years, 

 where it stands at this day. This is a good medium, 

 so that the earth is neither over-stocked, nor kept 

 too thin of inhabitants. If men were now to live to 

 Methuselah's age, of 969 years, or only to Abraham's 

 of 175, the earth would be over- peopled. If on the 

 contrary, the age of man was limited (like that of 

 divers other animals) to 10, 1 20, or 30 years, it would 

 not be peopled enough. But at the present rate, 

 the balance is nearly even, and life and death keep on 

 an equal pace. 



This is highlyremarkable,that wherever any account 

 has been taken, there is a certain rate and proportion 

 in thepropagation of mankind. Such a number marry, 

 and so many are born, in proportion to the number of 

 persons in every town or nation. And as to births, two 

 things are very observable. One is, the proportion of 

 males and females ; fourteen males to thirteen females^ 

 which is exactly agreeable to all the bills o^ Mortality. 

 And this surplusage of males allows one man to one 

 woman, notwithstanding the casualties to which men 

 are exposed above women. The other is, that a few 

 more are born, than appear to die in anyplace. This 

 is an admirable provision for extraordinary emergen- 

 cies, to supply unhealthy places, to make up the rava- 

 ges of epidemic distempers, and the depredations of 

 war ; and to afford a sufficient number for colonies, in 

 the yet unpeopled parts of the earth. On the other 

 hand, those extraordinary expences, are not only a 

 just punishment of sin, but also a wise means, to 

 keep the balance of mankind even. So one would be 

 ready to conclude, by considering the Asiatic, and 

 more fertile countries, where prodigious multJU 

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