PS history, but in some measure the political history of the world. For the Jewish Constitution was not perfectly formed and fully propounded from Mount Sinai. It was a growth rather than a fabric. Its principles are scattered through the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They have sometimes to be deduced from passages which imply rather than directly teach them. But, thus gathered and grouped together, they are seen to contain not only a system of laws admirably adapted to the times and the people, but also those political principles which underlie free institutions for all times and for all peoples.

Religion is the foundation of the state. This truth, which the failures of the Grecian and Roman republics have taught the world, Moses recognized in the very inception of the Jewish nation. "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt,"* is the preamble to their Constitution. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is the first provision of their fundamental law. Their obedience is enforced, too, not by considerations of self-interest or of patriotism, but by religious obligations. "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy," *** for it "is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ye shall not therefore oppress one another, *** for I am the Lord your God."

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"The land shall Such is the con

not be sold forever; for the land is mine."§ stant language of the Mosaic statutes. This was coupled with precepts of religion and morality confessedly of the highest and purest character-such that they have long outlived the tables of stone on which a summary of them was engraven. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself," was declared by Christ to be an epitome of the moral code which Moses prescribed. He not only forbade theft, adultery,** murder,ft assault,

* Exod. xx., 2. Ibid., xx., 3.

Ibid., xx., 8, 10. § Lev. xxv, 17, 23.

| Deut. x., 12; xi., 1, 22; xix., 9; xxx., 6; Mark xii., 30; Luke x., 27.

Exod. xx., 15.

+ Exod. xxi, 14–27.

** Ibid., v. 14.

++ Ibid., v., 13.