the age of 73; of 30, only one lives to the age of 80; while out of 200, only one lives to the age of 90; and in the last place out of 11,996, only one drags on a languid existence to the age of 100 years. The mean term of life, is, according to the same author, 8 years in a new born child. As the child grows older, his existence becomes more secure; and after the first year he may reasonably be expected to live to the age of 33. Life becomes gradually firmer up to the age of 7; when the child, after going through the dangers of dentition, will probably live 42 years and 3 months. After this period the sum of probabilities, which had gradually increased, undergoes a progressive decrease; so that a child of 14 cannot be expected to live beyond 37 years and 5 months: a man of 30, 28 years more; and in the last place, a man of 84, but one year more.

Such

is the result of observation and of calculations on the different degrees of probabilities of human life, by Halley, Kresbroom, Wargentin, Buffon, etc., etc.

As the popular opinion cannot therefore be founded on the above, or on any well founded statements of a similar description, we must look for its basis some where else. And it is likely we shall find it resulting from a misunderstanding of the 10th verse of the 90 Ps.: which says, "The days of our years are three score years and ten, and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Let the reader observe, that rightly to understand an author, we must consider the circumstances under which he wrote, and also, if possible, the general drift of his observations and reasonings. It may therefore, be proper to observe, that this

That he

Psalm is generally admitted to have been written by Moses, and that it has special reference to the sentence passed upon Israel in the wilderness, for their unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion against the Lord. The sentence declared that their carcases should fall in the wilderness-that they should be wasted by a series of miseries for 38 years together, until they were all destroyed; excepting Joshua and Caleb, in whom "was found another spirit, and who followed the Lord fully.' Let us also, carefully observe that Moses is not speaking of the lives of men in general, but merely adverting to an awful fact-which was actually taking place at that time among the rebellious Israelites in the "great and terrible wilderness.' was not speaking of the lives of men generally, may be inferred from the fact, that he, as well as many of his brethren, lived to considerably more than even 90 years. Moreover, as he complains of the people being CUT OFF through the displeasure of God, it is reasonable to suppose that he was not alluding to the period during which men were capable of living, but simply to the fact, that owing to the judgments of the Almighty, which befel the Israelites on account of their sins, but few of them attained a more lengthened existence than 70 or 80 years. "For we are consumed," he says, "by thine anger, and by thy wrath we are troubled."- "it is soon cUT OFF, etc."; language indicating that they died-not a natural death, having reached the END of the natural term of life, but were "consumed,' "cut off."*

What a striking contrast does this case present, to that given of the children of Israel when they left Egypt. Then it is said (Ps. cv. 37) The Lord brought them out with silver and gold; and there was not one feeble person among the tribes.' God's blessing upon their plain food, and hard work, had produced this

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The eminent Dr. Farre, in his evidence before the parliamentary Committee, appointed in 1843, to enquire into the causes, extent, and consequences of drunkenness, gave it as his opinion, that by the last grant of Providence to man, the natural term of his life is 120 years; in confirmation of which he quoted Gen. vi. 3. 'My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." He also further observes "that where disease, arising from other causes, does not shorten it, [human life] the reason why so few attain to that age [120] is to be found in the excessive stimulation to which the mass of the community are continually subject." The history of mankind clearly shows, that the above expressed intention of God was gradually carried into effect; the principle of vitality appearing to become weaker until the close of the era in which the Post deluvian Patriarchs flourished; when, although several centuries had elapsed since the deluge, we find that 120 years was about the average of human existence. Abraham lived to the age of 175 years. His sons Isaac and Ishmael died, the former at the age of 180, and the latter at 137. Sarah, the only female of the ancient world, of the duration of whose life we are accurately informed, lived 127 years. Jacob lived to the age of 147, and his son Joseph, although subject to all the excitement arising from the peculiarly trying circumstances in which he was placed,

--but now he is counteracting the order of nature-reversing nature's laws, in order to punish his rebellious people. There is nothing miraculous in the former case-it is the course of nature -in exact accordance with organic laws, which are God's laws; but there is in the latter, inasmuch as exercise in the open air, and even angels food, sent direct from heaven, did not promote health →because God was consuming them.

"

reached the age of 110. The years of the life of Levi were an hundred, thirty, and seven years." Ex. vi. 16. Kohath, the second son of Levi, according to Archbishop Usher, was 30 years old when Jacob came into Egypt, and lived there 107 he therefore attained to the same age as Levi, as did also his son Amran, the father of Moses. Moses lived to be 120 years old; while the sacred historian relates concerning him that "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.' So far therefore as the vital principle was concerned, he was a young man even at that advanced age, notwithstanding the harassing life he had led. Had he not shared the same fate as his brethren, in consequence of the improper spirit which he manifested at the "Waters of Mariba," he would have lived many years longer. He died, not a natural death, but was cut off. Joshua, who succeeded him in the government of Israel, died at the age of 100 years: and Eli at a much later period reached 98 years; and did not then die of old age, or of disease, but was killed by a fall from his seat, on hearing that the Philistines had triumphed over the Israelites-had slain his sons Hophni, and Phineas-and had taken the ark of God. Elisha, a man of great severity of manners, who despised ease and wealth, lived far above 100 years; and Simeon, a man full of hope and confidence in God, was distinguished by a life of 90 years.

That human life shall be greatly prolonged, beyond its present short limits, is one of the plain declarations of prophecy. The following is Bishop Lowth's translation of that sublime passage recorded in Isaiah, c. 65, v. 20-23.

"No more shall there be an infant short lived, Nor an old man who hath not fulfilled his days;

For he that dieth a hundred years old shall die a boy, And the sinner that shall die at an hundred years shall be deemed accursed.

And they shall build houses and inhabit them;

And they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them; They shall not build and azother inhabit ;

They shall not plant and another eat:

For as the days of a tree, shall be the days of my people. My chosen shall not labor in vain,

Neither shall they generate a short-lived race."

"Every one who has read the sacred original, must allow that this translation is literal;" indeed, it is generally admitted to be one of the best translations of this book: "and without staying in this place to settle the point respecting the number of years that it allots to man, it must be evident that it apportions to the inhabitants of this world a much longer period than threescore years and ten ;"* though even that would be more than double the present average of human life in our country. Thus we think there is no ground, from Scripture, to suppose that mankind are enjoying the full term of human life. And the probability is, that the Scriptures have made known to us no specific or absolute limit to our life on earth, but that God has wisely made it dependent on the observance or non-observance of nature's laws.

* Anti Bacchus. A cheap and first-rate werk. SNOW.

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