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compared with the third chapter of St. Luke, verse 36. What is my infer- 
ence from that ? Simply this, that the inspiration of the spirit of God led 
St. Luke to incorporate that extra link into the genealogy of his gospel ; 
therefore I receive it as a fact supplementary to the record in Genesis, and 
so far regard the genealogy in Genesis as defective. One thing or other must 
be true. If the link is rightly inserted in St. Luke, it must be left out in 
Genesis. Well, what is the inference I draw ? Why, this : if there has 
been one link left out from Genesis, may there not have been others left out 
also ? I do not say that that is necessary, but it is a kind of thought which 
gives me comfort. For if I see that in such matters which are utterly indif- 
ferent to the purposes of eternal life there are a variety of statements, one 
more full and another less full ; one appearing a little exaggerated and another 
appearing incomplete, I fall back on the recollection that these things have 
nothing to do with the grand moral and spiritual truths of Revelation. 
Mr. Law.— I should like to ask Mr. Titcomb one question : Is not the 
link which he mentions as found in St. Luke also found in the Septuagint ? 
Then, as to the alteration in the Hebrew text of the post-diluvian chronology. 
The Hebrew text detracts 100 years from every generation ; it appears to be 
a very systematic withdrawal of 100 years from what is stated in the Sep- 
tuagint. Perhaps that might form an interesting question 
The Chairman— You mean ante-diluvian, I suppose ? 
Mr. Law.— No ; it only appears in the post-diluvian chronology. 
Mr. Brooke, V.-P. — Mr. Titcomb has anticipated one remark I was going 
to make, that these disputed numbers are not at all essential. But there is 
another great difficulty obviously in the way of those who hold that the literal 
acceptation of the numerical statements of Scripture is a necessity of the 
inspiration of Scripture. Those who hold that view seem to me to introduce 
much greater difficulties than they obviate ; for it is evident that in some 
cases the numbers cannot be accepted, without at the same time we assume 
miraculous interpositions. It is difficult to conceive that there would be any 
circumstances which would necessitate the immediate destruction of 50,000 
people ; it seems so foreign to the general course of Divine interposition in 
regard to mankind. We must not introduce unnecessary miracles, or we 
shall be landed in a very great difficulty indeed. 
Mr. Reddie.— I should not have risen at this late hour at all, were it not 
for the feeling that many people will be pained by this paper, however care- 
fully it has been put before us ; and it is desirable, if there are any other 
facts which may be offered in explanation or modification, that they should 
now be stated, in order that Dr. Thornton may be able to deal with them in 
his reply, for, though he has now left us, he will be enabled to make a 
written reply. Mr. Edwards pointed out one difficulty or objection to 
Dr. Thornton’s taking one of the lowest birth-rates by which to modify the 
number of the Israelites. But his further argument was open to some 
sort of answer which Dr. Thornton did not notice. Mr. Edwards argued 
that 600 chariots, with a proportionate number of other horsemen and foot- 
soldiers, would not have been sent after so small a number of Israelites. But 
