H CHA P. X. AVING, firft, fet forth and explained the neceffity there was of preventing univerfal idolatry, and that this could not fo well be done, as by feparating a particular people from the rest of mankind, which was the fecond branch in the Providential fyftem; we then proceeded to confider and vindicate the several steps, it pleased GOD to take, (from the calling of Abraham to the going out of Egypt,) for thus bringing one people to himself, and keeping them from being idolatrous, like the other nations. We have now alfo review'd all the fubfequent measures and precautions, it pleas'd him to use to the fame end, and have fhewn, in like manner, the perfect wisdom, goodness, and neceffity of his various conduct herein, to the time of the extirpation of the Canaanites, Canaanites, and the fettling of Ifrael in that country. Let us, therefore, briefly, examine what remains these methods, and this conduct, had a due and proper effect, however not fuch, as render'd further interpofitions of the divine power needlefs; the danger of idolatry was not yet over, nor were the Jews yet brought to that thorough and unalter'd faith and dependency on GOD, which was requifite to keep the knowledge of him from being loft: no fooner was the promise to Abraham fulfilled, than they start afide ; poffefs'd of the land of milk and honey, they forget him, that brought them to it: in a word, they cease not to provok? GOD to jealousy, adminiftring, continually, fresh occafions to his wrath, while they thence become fresh objects of his love and pity: they rebel, and are punished; repent, and are forgiven; again rebelling, are again af flicted; again repenting, are reftor'd anew to favour; their city and temple are laid in ruins; the fame city and temple are rebuilt; the voice of gladness and triumph now, and now complaining and lamentation, are heard in their streets; one age fees them in captivity; H 3. vity; in another, they worship on the Holy Hill and this was the train and process of heaven's dealings with them for divers generations, and till, at length, time and affliction, their own and their father's fad experience, repeated calamities, repeated deliverances, had wrought them to fuch a fenfe of their paft folly and perverseness, and fo throughly convinced them of God's fupreme power, as well as of his truth and faithfulnefs, that they were now in no future likelihood of departing from him, and of going after other gods. But here another evil enfued: tho' they remained faithful to GoD, they yet perverted his wife and holy intentions in his law, being most diligent and punctual in, and laying all ftrefs on the bowy and lefs momentous parts of it, while they neglected the weighty and fubftantial: in vain were the admonitions of David, and the prophets. And this, I fear, will be more or lefs the misfortune of mankind, as long as the world lafts; for by what genius and bent in nature, I know not, or by what cast in its original mold, yet fo it is, that men are always glad, if they can, to fub ftitute ftitute fomething for virtue, which is not virtue, to call that religion, which is not of its kindred, and to fink the regards to real goodness, in the purfuit of its fhadows and mimics: excufe them the exercise of humble, meek, and beneficent duties, disturb them not in the gratification of their pride and avarice, and they will be as full of zeal, as you defire, about forms, or about foolish, or uselefs questions and opinions, whatever cofts them nothing, and does not jar with their worldly and hypocritical views and difpofi tions. This was too much the temper of the Jews, after they were wean'd from idolatry: but this evil, in itself to be lamented, did not yet interfere with the main system of Providence, or lead to the defeating of it; it was enough, in respect of that, that they continued ftedfast in the worship of the true God, without danger of warping from it and in fuch a fpirit they were, and this was the aspect of things among them, for fome ages before Christianity, every year and day giving them jufter notions of GOD and his attributes, and strengthning them in their devotion and adherence to him, In the mean time, the Pagan nations had made great openings in wisdom and virtue; thofe arts, that began in Greece, were travelled into other lands: learning had got footing among the illiterate, and humanity and focial affections among the barbarous; and many good and useful books were written in Ethics, and for the conduct of life; the light of nature was carried high, or rather the darkness of it was much enlighten'd: fuch was, at length, the state of the Gentiles, GOD having ftill been pleas'd, from time to time, to fend among them perfons, uncommonly endowed, for their inftruction, and to fit them for the day, when he should more explicitely reveal himself and his facred will to them. In a word, what with time, and the tranfmigrating of knowledge from region to region, and the labours of Poets and Philofophers, men, at or about the Claffic ara, were come, in general, to have tolerably just ideas of virtue and moral truth, and fo were in a condition to apprehend and embrace the higher and more important truths of God, and his Providence, and a future ftate, Befides |