In another point of view, the History will ftrike you with fresh Wonder, on' a furvey of the Wisdom of God, and the Ways of Providence conducting the Ifraelite to Conqueft and Empire. Tracing the finger of the Almighty selecting out his Inftrument, protecting the Innocent and exalting the Humble, executing his Vengeance on the Guilty, though encircled in the highest Dignities, bringing about his wife Designs, by fecret influence on the Mind, or by open and awful tokens of Displeasure, ftriking the Affaffin dead, diftracting him with Terror, or cafting him. out a loathfome Leper. At one Time, fending Famine or Peftilence upon a People, whom no kindness could reclaim, or raining down fire and brimftone on a City and its Inhabitants. At another Time, mercifully fparing the Multitude, but fingling out the Ring-leader and most obslinate Revolters, caufing them to hear his

VOL. I.

b

voice

voice in the Thunder, or opening the How great

Earth to swallow them up.

our furprize, when He laid bare His Arm, and conducted the Ifraelites, all on foot, through the the Red Sea, to the Wilderness of Etham, and drowned an Egyptian Prince, and his Mighty Hoft pursuing them. More then once, deftroying by Tempeft a Philiftine Army in full view of the Armies of Ifrael. With perfect ease effecting his designs, throwing a Multitude into a panick, making them their own deftroyers. Thus allotting Victory to Ifrael, even when fhe had not drawn a Sword. His People, he fent, to gather up the Spoil, and three whole days they gathered it.

So illuftriously do these Annals display the irrefiftible Power and the Majefty of

God, his never ceafing Providence and just Severity.

Throughout

Throughout the Jewish Hiftory, Virtue is in this Life diftinguishingly rewarded, and Vice is almost always punished. The Jew was therefore depreffed under fufferings, he could only forrow in Adversity, it is the Privilege of the Chriftian and his Glory to rejoice.

Though I can never speak too highly of the Religious advantages of the Ifraelite, nor enough venerate the glorious manifestation and extraordinary Providence with which he was bleffed, yet the Religion prescribed him was ceremonious, and Jewish Ceremonies, in their Pomp and Splendour, refembled Pagan. A part of it was called the Ceremonial Law, and intended, by degrees, to usher in the Chriftian Era.

It was a figure only, exprefsly called a Shadow of good things to come. St. Paul resembles the Jewish Worship to a State of Infancy, Rites and Ceremonies adapted to b 2 the

the Capacities of Children. The true Light, here kindled and preferved, was to blaze out at a distant Period, be gradually diffused over the World, and advance more and more to the Majefty and full luftre of meridian Day. The Jew had no clear Idea of pure and fpiritual Devotion, he had witneffed the Pageantry of Pagan Ceremonies, visible objects of his worship, and Ceremony with the Jew was a rivited prejudice, as congenial with his Ideas, as Fluidity with his Rivers, or Light with Day. He could never raise his thoughts to the contemplation of a pure Spirit, unfeen and incomprehenfible. One Supreme Father of all, ever present in Power and yet no where in appearance was far above his conception. Something of fhape and figure, was a God more familiar to him, easier known, one that aided his fancy, and (as he thought) excited Devotion; fuch he had every day witneffed in Egypt. Hence, throughout

their

their whole History, you will notice a wonderful prone-ness to Idolatry, and the high Offence it gave; they found it a Religion easy to practise, what the vicious and most abandoned could follow, Pagan worship requiring no Morality, favoured all their paffions, was friendly and alluring to their vices, to their darling and most criminal indulgencies.

An oftenfible part of the Jewish worfhip was Sacrifice. As Farmers and

Herdsmen much of the riches of the People confifted in their Cattle, and by offering up a part of their food and property to God, they acknowledged his Gifts and Superintendency. But Sacrifices were also Fines and Punishments, Sin was hereby made chargeable and coftly to the Tranfgreffor. The placability of God was pleafingly exhibited in his acceptance of the offering, and thus allaying the fears, and quieting the confcience of the penitent offender. Some Sacrifices were called

Thankf