Of _Methuselah_.
What hath been every where opinioned by all men, and in all times, is
more then paradoxical to dispute; and so that _Methuselah_ was the
longest liver of all the posterity of _Adam_, we quietly believe: but
that he must needs be so, is perhaps below paralogy to deny. For hereof
there is no determination from the Text; wherein it is only particulared
he was the longest Liver of all the Patriarchs whose age is there
expressed; but that he out-lived all others, we cannot well conclude.
For of those nine whose death is mentioned before the flood, the Text
expresseth that _Enoch_ was the shortest Liver; who saw but three
hundred sixty-five years. But to affirm from hence, none of the rest,
whose age is not expressed, did die before that time, is surely an
illation whereto we cannot assent.
Again, Many persons there were in those days of longevity, of whose age
notwithstanding there is no account in Scripture; as of the race of
_Cain_, the wives of the nine Patriarchs, with all the sons and
daughters that every one begat: whereof perhaps some persons might
out-live _Methuselah_; the Text intending only the masculine line of
_Seth_, conduceable unto the Genealogy of our Saviour, and the
antediluvian Chronology. And therefore we must not contract the lives of
those which are left in silence by _Moses_; for neither is the age of
_Abel_ expressed in the Scripture, yet is he conceived far elder then
commonly opinioned; and if we allow the conclusion of his Epitaph as
made by _Adam_, and so set down by _Salian, Posuit moerens pater, cui
à filio justius positum foret, Anno ab ortu rerum 130. Ab Abele nato
129_, we shall not need to doubt. Which notwithstanding _Cajetan_ and
others confirm, nor is it improbable, if we conceive that _Abel_ was
born in the second year of _Adam_, and _Seth_ a year after the death of
_Abel_: for so it being said, that _Adam_ was an hundred and thirty
years old when he begat _Seth_, _Abel_ must perish the year before,
which was one hundred twenty nine.
And if the account of _Cain_ extend unto the Deluge, it may not be
improbable that some thereof exceeded any of _Seth_. Nor is it unlikely
in life, riches, power and temporal blessings, they might surpass them
in this world, whose lives related unto the next. For so when the seed
of _Jacob_ was under affliction and captivity, that of _Ismael_ and
_Esau_ flourished and grew mighty, there proceeding from the one twelve
Princes, from the other no less then fourteen Dukes and eight Kings. And
whereas the age of _Cain_ and his posterity is not delivered in the
Text, some do salve it from the secret method of Scripture, which
sometimes wholly omits, but seldom or never delivers the entire duration
of wicked and faithless persons, as is observable in the history of
_Esau_, and the Kings of _Israel_ and _Judah_. And therefore when
mention is made that _Ismael_ lived 137 years, some conceive he adhered
unto the faith of _Abraham_; for so did others who were not descended
from _Jacob_; for _Job_ is thought to be an _Idumean_, and of the seed
of _Esau_. [SN: _Job thought by some to be of the race of_ Esau.]
Lastly (although we rely not thereon) we will not omit that conceit
urged by learned men, that _Adam_ was elder then _Methuselah_; inasmuch
as he was created in the perfect age of man, which was in those days 50
or 60 years, for about that time we read that they begat children; so
that if unto 930 we add 60 years, he will exceed _Methuselah_. And
therefore if not in length of days, at least in old age he surpassed
others; he was older then all, who was never so young as any. For though
he knew old age, he was never acquainted with puberty, youth or
Infancy; and so in a strict account he begat children at one year old.
And if the usual compute will hold, that men are of the same age which
are born within compass of the same year, _Eve_ was as old as her
husband and parent _Adam_, and _Cain_ their son coetaneous unto both.
Now that conception, that no man did ever attain unto a thousand years,
because none should ever be one day old in the sight of the Lord, unto
whom according to that of _David_, A thousand years are but one day,
doth not advantage _Methuselah_. And being deduced from a popular
expression, which will not stand a _Metaphysical_ and strict
examination, is not of force to divert a serious enquirer. For unto God
a thousand years are no more then one moment, and in his sight
_Methuselah_ lived no nearer one day then _Abel_, for all parts of time
are alike unto him, unto whom none are referrible; and all things
present, unto whom nothing is past or to come. And therefore, although
we be measured by the Zone of time, and the flowing and continued
instants thereof, do weave at last a line and circle about the eldest:
yet can we not thus commensurate the sphere of _Trismegistus_; or sum up
the unsuccessive and stable duration of God.