cry, If it is fo valuable, why have we no more of it preferved? I muft tell them, we have as much as we want: And it is vaftly for the Authority and Certainty of the Hebrew Scriptures, that they are to be conftrued by themselves, and that there were no human Writings in that Tongue preserved, nor Writings in any other Language of that Antiquity: For if there had been fuch, as there must have been Errors in them, especially about Mens Notions in Philofophy, Divinity, &c. either they would have writ Relations of fome Facts which were not true, or they would have ufed fome Letters in Words, or fome Words or Names improperly; any of which would have given an Occasion to the Adversary to have difputed the Facts, or Significations of the Words or Facts writ by the infpired Authors, which by fpecial Providence is prevented. If there had been any Writings which had but had the leaft Appearance of being of that Language, or of that Age, thofe who know not a Diamond from a Pebble, much lefs he Difference of their Value, would have been continually setting up their Authority gainft that of the Hebrew Scriptures; that dmits of no Difpute; becaufe, when 'tis C 4 certain

there are none fuch, they are continually ftriving to make a Parcel of Scraps of vaftly later Date (by their own Confeffion, tranflated out of the Language they were writ in, and is evident, about Things they know nothing of) Hiftories of Men and Times, and labour Night and Day with them, to invalidate the Authority of the Hebrew.

They alfo make an Objection against the Hebrew from the Paucity of its Roots or Words, which is the greatest Perfection which can be in a Tongue. I mean not to harangue with, but to record Things, and convey the Ideas infallibly; as one Word takes in all the Things, Actions, &c. which can be comprehended under one Idea; as every diftinct Thing taken in helps to clear the Idea; the more it takes in, the more the Meaning of the Word is afcertained; and the Word which takes in the moft, is leaft liable to be miftaken, and gives the cleareft Idea. As there were many Things and Actions which there was no Occafion to mention in the facred Writings, fo doubtless, if the Words for them had been ufed in the Bible, they would have made the Language more copious, but would not have made that

which is writ more certain. If the Book of Job contain Words for Things not elfewhere mentioned in the Bible, that is no Proof thofe Words were not in the Hebrew; fo when we find those unused Words, with fuch Changes as have befallen them, not only in Spelling, but in Signification in human Writings, in neighbouring Tongues, we prefently conclude them each of the Tongue they are found in, without any Proof that they were not in the firft, or Hebrew Tongue: Nay, perhaps they might have more compound Words, or with other Sorts of Additions to the first pure Language which are not used.

And what renders this Method the more valuable, tho' the Methods used before might have been renewed; and they have fet a few of the principal Things right: Yet as the Heathens had fallen upon worshipping the natural Agents, or Second Caufes, it was neceffary, or at least for the Benefit of Man, to fet their Creation, Formations, Powers, and Actions, and every Particular concerning them, in a clear Light. And as worshipping thofe Caufes had made them break through all other Rules; fo as God was pleafed to renew an

Account

Account of the Creation, Formation, and Ufes of this Machine, and lay down Rules between him and Man, between Husband and Wife, Parents and Children, Relation and Relation, Neighbour and Neighbour, Native and Stranger; and above all, the Conditions of the Covenant, and Genealogy of Christ, and many other Things contained in these Writings; and lastly, the Manifestation of Christ and the Gospel, neither Emblems, nor the Method of Wri ting, with Representations for Words fuggefted, but not proved to be then in Ufe or being, though fomething a-kin to that, be fince used by the Chinese, &c. could ever have afcertained the Knowledge, and preferved the Memory of fo many Things as were proposed and effected by the Method of writing by Letters,

But to purfue this Difcovery, and the various Effects upon the feveral Countries privy to it. As God's Miracles in Ægypt, his Appearance and continued Miracles in the Wilderness had terrified the then World to a vast Distance, if not quite as far as any had difperfed: So this Discovery would furprize them extremely. But first of all, the People who followed the Ifraelites, called, Exod. xii. 38.

mixed Multitude, a vaft Mumber of feveral

Tribes or Nations, all Heathens, and confequently of many Sects, who encamp'd in, or on the Outskirts of the Tents of Ifrael, and were the Promoters of feveral Murmurings or Mutinies; as Numb. xi. 4. And the mix'd Multitude that was among them fell a lufting; and the Punishment fell most severely upon them, as Ibid. V. 1. And the Fire of the Lord burned among them which were in the outermeft Parts of the Camp.

What induced these People to follow the Ifraelites, whether they were partly converted by the Miracles, and if they had met with no Difficulties, intended to have joined with the Ifraelites in Worship; or the Nations from whence they came were overstock'd with People, or oppreffed by Tyranny, and they took that Opportunity to get off with the Ifraelites, in Hopes of finding more Room, or better Ufage in new Settlements; or they hoped to have come in for a Share of Plunder in Canaan ; or how far, or how long they followed, is not certain. But as they met with no Severities before they came to the Mount; and as we have no Account that they followed into Canaan, except they be comprehended at fof. viii. 35. or, &c. under the Stranger; we may fuppofe that

they