was the great Affiftant in Procreation, and
that the Heathens had Temples to it for
both Sexes But they also knew, that God
had not given Power to these his Goyer-
nours, Angels, Agents, to open the
Wombs of Barren Women. I think they
included in this Attribute, the Opening
of the Womb in bringing forth, which is
a more general Attribute, and which, as
it is vifible, seems almost as surprising as
the other. And this Part of the Attribute
ought to be placed lower down.
Cafe is set forth Hof. ix. 10, But they
went to Baal-Peor, and feparated them-
felves unto that Shame, Ver. 11, As
for Ephraim, their Glory fhall fly away
like a Bird; from the Birth, and from
the Womb, and from the Conception.
Ver. 12, Though they bring up their Chil-
dren, I will bereave them.

The

Ver. 13,

Ephraim fhall bring forth his Children to
the Murderers. Ver. 14, Give them a
mifcarrying Womb, and dry Breafts.
Ver. 16, Tea, though they bring forth,
vet will I flay even the beloved Fruit of
their Womb. Ezek. xx. 26, They caused
to pass through Fire all that openeth the
Womb. The Claims in each are many;
in the firft, Gen. xx. 17, 18, And God
healed Abimelech, and his Wife, and his

Maid Servants, and they bare Children; for Jehovah had fast clofed up all the Wombs of the House of Abimelech. 1 Sam. i. 5, 6, But Jehovah had shut up her (Hannah's) Womb. Gen. xxix. 31, And when Jehovah faw that Leah was hated, he opened her Womb: but Rachael was barren. Ib. xxx. 22, And the Aleim remembred Rachael, and the Aleim hearkened to her, and opened her Womb. Sam. i. 19, And Elkanah knew Hannah his Wife, and Jehovah remembred her. -after Hannah had conceived that he bare a Son. 1 Sam. ii. 5, So that the barren hath born feven. Pfal. cxiii. 9, Maketh the barren Woman - a joyful Mother of children. Gen. xlix. 25, Blef fings of the Breaft, and of the Womb. Exod. xxiii. 26, There fhall nothing caft their Young, nor be barren in the Land.

I

In the later Senfe under the Word 705 Exod. xiii. 12. xxxiv. 19. Numb. xviii. 15. Thou shalt fet apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the Matrix, and every Firstling that cometh of a Beast which thou hast, the Males fhall be the Lord's. And every Firstling of an Afs thoufhalt redeem with a Lamb; and all the First-born of Man among ft thy Children, thou shalt redeem. Numb. iii. 12, viii. 16. The Levites were VOL. IV. taken

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taken in Exchange for the First-born. Numb. xviii. 17. Deut. xv. 19. Firstlings of clean Beafts to be facrificed. Levit. xii. each Woman after Delivery to acknowledge this by Sacrifice, &c. Ifai. xlvi. 3. Which are born by me from the Belly which are carried from the Womb. This fhews why the First-born in Egypt, rather than others, were cut off.

בית הרן

ME

Entioned Numb. xxxii. 36. from to conceive, Conception; fo the Agent with Powers, which gives Conception, and the Power of giving Life to the Fetus, which the Air does not only to that of Man, but of Beast, Fowl, Infect, Fifh, &c. To fome call'd Viviparous in the Womb, and gives them Food by the Breafts of the Parents; to fome call'd Oviparous or in the Egg, whether where the Parents attend the Egg, and give the Young Food by their Mouths, or at Peril of their Lives carry them to proper Places and cover them, where the Air will hatch them, and where there will be Food for the Young, or leave them cover'd or naked for the Air to hatch without Defence or Pro

Provifion, as Job xxxix. 14. This Power is reclaim'd, and this Bleffing granted to fuperannuated, and to those which were barren, Gen. xi. 30, But Sarai was barren, she had no Child. Gen. xxi. 1, And Jehovah vifited Sarah as he had faid, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken, and Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a Son in his old Age, at the fet Time of which the Aleim had spoken unto him. Jud. xiii. 12, And his Wife was barren and bare not; And the Angel of the Lord appear'd unto the Woman, and faid 1 unto her, behold now thou art barren and

beareft not, but thou shalt conceive and bear a Son. Ver. 24. And the Woman bare a Son. Ruth iv. 13, Jehovah gave her Conception, and he bare a Son. But moft eminently Ifai. vii. 14, Behold a Virgin fhall conceive. And by many other Words. The Heathens under feveral Attributes af cribed Generation, Conception, Production, Nourishment, &c. to this Machine, and the Powers in it, which operate to these and other Ends, and call'd them Father, Mother, &c. Fer. ii. 27, Saying to a Stock (the Reprefentation of the Power) thou art my Father, and to a Stone, thou haft brought me forth. The Jews were directed to make no fuch AcGg 2 knowledge.

!

knowledgements, those were due to the Jehovah Aleim, and all fecondary Honour upon those Accounts he transfer'd to each of their respective Fathers and Mothers, and the Children were to pay it to them, and upon Neglect or Refufal, he gave their Parents Power to difinherit, &c. and paying it to the others, was a Breach of the Purification, and a Forfeiture of the Land. Hence the fifth Command, Exod. xx. 12, Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy Days may be long in the Land, which Jehovah thy Aleim giveth thee.

As many have afferted that the Antients meant by ny at p. 46, and by at p. 48. What the later Heathens did by their terreftrial Venus, thofe who are of that Opinion may infert them here.

כיון

Mention'd Amos v. 26, and Acts

vii. 43, render'd peppar from

to prepare the Parts, fuit them to their proper Places, fix them which are to be fix'd, and have such as are to be moveable, ready where they are to act or fhall be wanted. This is one of the moft com

prehenfive