Epidemics. 205 



the Exodus and the birth of Abraham. Rejecting, therefore, 

 the data supplied by Manetho as being in many points 

 markedly in error, and in others savouring so much of the 

 mythical, the old style of chronology by Usher is the one 

 chiefly followed. This chronology is singularly confirmed 

 by the genealogy of the Son of Man, as given in Matthew, 

 chap, i., verses i to 17. 



Let the passage be quoted, and a few remarks made upon 

 it : " So all the generations from Abraham to David (are) 

 fourteen generations ; and from David until the carrying 

 away into Babylon (are) fourteen generations ; and from the 

 carrying away into Babylon unto, or until, Christ (are) four- 

 teen generations." . 



It is inferred that the generation only reaches to the birth 

 of Christ, and does not extend beyond it. Again, that it 

 starts from Abraham, which includes (as is here supposed) 

 his birth and onwards. One of the great difficulties is, 

 What is meant by a generation ? Secondly, Were the genera- 

 tions over this long period of time the self-same ? 



The period from Abraham to the Egyptian exodus was 

 marked by a gradual decline in the duration of life ; and, in 

 the earlier period, from Arphaxad to Abraham, by a still 

 more rapid decline in the duration of life. But the dura- 

 tion of life reached its lowest ebb from the Egyptian exodus and 

 onwards, and that standard is the current standard of the present 

 day. So important was the fact, and so new to the coming 

 generation, that Moses expostulates and laments over it 

 in a most feeling and painful manner, as recorded in the goth 

 Psalm, the only Psalm of Moses incorporated in the Book 

 of Psalms. Moses there states that " The days of our 

 years are three-score years and ten ; and if, by reason of 

 strength, they be four-score years, yet is their strength 

 labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off, and we fly 

 away." 



