Note 24 — Chapter V · EXTENT OF THE FOURTH AGE OF THE WORLD.

Mr. Cuninghame’s remarks on Usher’s system, in his “Synopsis of Chronology,” pp. 18–20, are very appropriate. We are forced to abridge them as follows:—“I have in my former works, shown that the learned prelate’s Chronology of this period is manufactured; and in this conclusion I have the support of the most eminent writers, including the names of Hales, Kennicott, Dr. Russell, Mr. Clinton, added to the whole of the ancient chronographers. The latest attempt made to prop up or patch his system as a whole, is that of the author of the Chapter on Chronology, in the last edition of Mr. Bickersteth’s Guide to the Prophecies. But while this learned chronographer thus sets his seal to the almost exact truth of Usher’s sum total of years, he no less sets his seal to the fact that Usher has filled up the period by a false chronology. According to this learned writer, it is therefore undeniable that Usher’s chronology of the period from the Exodus to the first of Solomon is, as to its particulars, manufactured and erroneous. Now it is quite a fair question to Mr. Bickersteth and his friend, to ask them by what arithmetical process they have found out that the scheme which they thus bear testimony to be false as to its particulars, is yet true as to its sum total. Is it a newly discovered principle that many falsehoods make one truth? As to the scheme of particulars substituted for that of Usher in these tables, it is like that of the learned prelate himself, utterly opposed to the narrative and testimony of the book of Judges. There is one part of the scheme, however, which merits even more severe animadversion. The author of the Table makes the period in Acts xiii. 20, expire at the return of the ark from Kirjathjearim. Are we then to conclude that he has clipped down St. Paul’s 450 to 350? I can see no other mode of explaining his calculation.”