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plicable. 6th. Whilst, on examining the miracles in particular detail, and applying to them the four marks which constitute Leslie's well-known and acknowledged test of truth, they are found completely to correspond to them all.

Hence the Mosaic miracles (forming the foundation of the entire frame of Hebrew polity and religion) were undoubtedly real; and, therefore, his mission undoubtedly divine.

BOOK II.

ON THE THEOLOGICAL, MORAL, AND POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MOSAIC LAW.

CHAPTER I.

THEOLOGY OF THE JEWISH LAW.

The Doctrines and Precepts of the Mosaic Law, when contrasted with the various gross corruptions of idolatry, and considered in reference to the period and circumstances when it was given, afford a strong presumptive argument of a Divine Revelation.

In order to estimate justly the importance and value of the Jewish Code, it is necessary to consider the nature, extent, and effects of that gross Idolatry which had overspread the world, at the time of its promulgation; and against which to guard God's chosen people, was one of its chief objects.

The worship of the one true God was undoubtedly the religion of Noah and his posterity before the Dispersion; consisting simply, in the observance of the sabbath; in sacrifice, as typical of Christ; the inculcation of the great principles of morality; and the prohibition of blood. The higher we can trace Eastern tradition, the plainer do evidences of this simple worship appear; in which each father of a family acted as the priest thereof, whilst the members of it assembled round the rustic altar of earth, to offer up prayer and sacrifice.

But the corrupt imaginations of men did not rest satisfied with so pure and simple a ritual. From beholding the sun in his splendour (Job xxxi. 26, 27), and the moon and stars in their brightness, and feeling their beneficial influences, they gradually began to forget the Creator, and give glory to the creature. Considering these glorious luminaries as the chief ministers of Heaven, they began to reverence them, and to erect similitudes of them on the tops of pillars and mountains. And thus, what they had probably at first set up only as symbolic representations of the Deity, became at last the objects of their actual adoration. For them were appointed a series of rites and sacrifices, and a regularly appointed priesthood; and degraded man bowed down to the dumb idol. In a similar way,

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Light, Air, Wind, Fire, were personified as beneficent Spirits, and eventually worshipped as deities.

Human weakness further prompted men, from feelings of terror, to propitiate what they imagined to be the Spirits of Evil; as Darkness, Storm, Pestilence. Whilst gratitude and affection led to the deification of warriors, and patriots, and public benefactors. Men having thus departed from their God,-whilst even

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professing themselves wise, became fools." Egypt, the chief seat of ancient wisdom, proceeded to a still more debasing idolatry. Animals became objects of adoration, at first for their utility, and subsequently for various other causes; till it extended even to reptiles, plants, herbs, stocks, and stones! Nothing was too base for a grovelling superstition to adore: the heavens, earth, air, sea; each hill, river and wood ;were peopled with imaginary deities; and the Supreme God was either forgotten, or basely associated with senseless idols.

Connected with this, was the belief in magic, astrology, oracles, soothsayings, auguries, dreams, and all the senseless and absurd devices used by fanatics or impostors, to cheat and delude their followers. And the impious system was so deeply rooted, as to be incapable of being reformed by any ordinary means.

When the mission of Moses took place, idolatry had

infected every part of the then known world. Kings and legislators upheld it, either from credulity or from policy, as an engine of government: Priests relied on it for their subsistence: and the great mass of the people were bound to it by various partialities and prejudices; and, above all, because of its recommending itself to their corrupt nature, by the free indulgence it allowed to every licentious and vicious propensity of the human heart. Men, whose characters and actions had been impure, revengeful, and cruel, being exalted into gods, formed an example to justify, and a patron to protect, the foulest passions and vices; theft, bloodshed, cruelty, incest, adultery, unnatural crimes, were not only sanctioned, but even made a part of public worship; human victims were sacrificed; and their very "sons and daughters did they burn in the fire to their gods." (Deut. xii. 31.)

To provide an antidote to this foul, odious, and wide-spread system, God determined to select one nation, amongst whom the principles of true religion and virtue might be cultivated. He chose Abraham, a man of distinguished virtue and piety; and called him to separate himself from his country and kindred, to dwell in a strange land, which He promised to give unto his seed: He entered into covenant with him, that he and his posterity should serve only the one true God; and promised him, " that through his seed,

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