408 
Israelites who invaded the country of the Moabites— the Rev. J. L. Porter 
has written a very interesting work describing his travels and discoveries 
in that land. The truth of the Scripture narrative is entirely borne out m 
every page of it. I am happy to say that an expedition to the country 
of the Moabites is now being fitted out : it must necessarily be a large one, 
for the country is very dangerous to travel in. There can be no doubt t at 
the results of a careful survey thereof will throw a great deal more light on 
this portion of the history of Israel than we have at present. 
Mr. Moule.— With reference to the remarks of Mr. Row, I may say that 
I do not think he ought to suppose that, because I have not mentioned Dr 
Payne Smith and Professor Rawlinson, I am therefore unacquainted with 
their writings : Mr. Row seems to have taken it for granted, I think, that 
neither Mr. Gosse nor myself have read the Bampton Lectures. . Neither is it 
to be supposed, because one is not much before the public in reference to 
unbelievers, that one has had no such experience. 
Mr. Row.— I alluded to Mr. Gosse. 
Mr. Moule. — From my youth I have felt these difficulties myself ; and 
have had to fight every inch of my way. I am therefore rather an impartial 
witness, and one who would be ready to bear with others, From the time my 
eyes were opened to the infinite importance of this subject I have fought every 
inch of my way through this difficult Book, and now my way is clear as the lig t 
of the sun. I have held discussions with some of the most accomplished unbe- 
lievers, and I never had a quarrel with one of them, nor did any ever hear me say 
a harsh or unkind word towards them. My next objection to Mr. Rows 
mode of dealing with this subject is, that he so strongly insists on submis- 
sion to the published opinions of others. Why should I submit to the 
opinions of the Dean of Canterbury or of Professor Rawlinson, if unsupported 
by argument fairly refuting mine ? And as to the works of Paley and Butler, 
my study of them at Cambridge fifty years ago enables me to affirm with 
confidence that there is not in the works of either of them a single passage 
applying to the argument in my paper. 
Mr. Row. — I selected the passages in reference to Mr. Gosse’s paper. 
Mr. Moule.— Well, let me briefly state the entire drift of my paper, 
that it may be judged how far my argument is affected by Mr. Row’s 
remarks. It is true that the direct object of my attack was Df. Thorntons 
statement respecting the numbers of the Israelites at the Exodffi and m the 
Desert. But at the same time I aimed (and, I think, successfully) at 
exposing the unjustifiable and the dangerous style of interpretation on which 
the so-called exaggeration of numbers, especially in the writmgs of Moses, 
commonly rests. And I wish it to be distinctly understood that my paper 
is intended to be a refutation, not only of certain of the opinions set forth in 
Dr. Thornton’s paper, but of others expressed by some of those who took 
a part in the discussion on that paper. Let me give you the passage m 
Dr. Thornton’s paper, which first arrested my attention. It is as follows . 
“ The words translated ‘ six hundred^thousand ’ might, by a Utile straining , 
be rendered one thousand six hundred. 
