Thanksgivings, and then the offender collected his Friends and made a feaît; a part of the fat was burnt on the Altar, one joint was a fee belonging to the Priest, and all the reft eat up with his Party. Emblematically they exhibited the odious nature of fin, fo deferving of death, and by an apt figure they held up, in perpetual view, the Lamb of God, the Sacrifice for the Sins of the World, hereafter to be made. out the Death of Chrift, how unmeaning the Pomp and Splendour of Jewish Ceremonies ?

With

Another part of their Religion was com memorative Feasts and Solemn Fafts.

The

Tabernacle Feaft reminded them of their long Journey through the Wilderness, the Pass-over, of their merciful Escape, when God fmote the first born of Egypt. The Feaft of Trumpets perpetuated the awful manner of giving the Law from Mount Sinai, and Pentecoft was an acknowledg

ment

ment of the All-bounteous Giver, by offering him, the first fruits, of the year, of

the Land of CANAAN.

Having ventured to mention the Extraordinary Providence exercised over the Jew, and also his Religion, I am descending to Manners, Drefs, Cuftoms, Ufages, and Modes of Life to familiarize his Character to the Young, before they examine his History, his Laws and Government.

The Splendour of his City, Magnificence of his Palaces, and the Temple of his God are repeatedly displayed by the Sacred Hiftorians.

Among the very poor, the Jewish garments were Hides, and dreffes made of Sheep-fkins and Goat-fkins, Hair-cloth, coarse Hemp, whereof Sack-cloth was made, the deep and ufual mourning of the Jew. But the richer were clad in fine linen, in filks, wollen clothes and rich

embroid

embroideries; by exprefs orders all of them wore fringes, a memorial of the Law of Jehovah which they were commanded to do. The Women were covered over with a Veil, and it was esteemed always immodeft to appear abroad without one.

Of all colours, white was what they prized moft, next to that blew, or sky colour, but on the change of Government and Reign of the Kings, Princes and Officers of the Household and Army began to wear more fhowy Colours, and Saul cloathed the, Daughters of Ifrael in fcarlet, others were dreffed in crimson, and the richest of all was purple.

The Grecian, and the Roman dress, is handed down to us in bufts and pictures, but no figure or refemblance of a Jew was ever made. The Woman of fashion was clad in needle work, or rich stuffs from Tyre, they wore Jewels, and among other

orna

ornaments, a tinkling bell on each leg,

which a mufical cadence to their steps, gave

The Mens drefs confifted of a tunic and drawers of linen, and an upper garment like a loose cloak, occafionally wrapt round, and confined by a girdle, and on that girdle, hung his money bag. The upper garment, the Jew could never pawn for longer than the day, at night the pledge was always restored, for it was his blanket and night covering.

The Gallantry of the Jew did not confift in the fashion of his dress, but his number of changes, bright colours, rich fringes and embroideries. A fond Father decked his favourite boy in a coat of many colours, rainbow like, and at his wedding arrayed him in all his gaieft ornaments, encircled him with flambeaus, and led him through the streets of Jerufalem. Thus, at midnight, was the Bridegroom, and his gla

VOL. I,

C

ring

ring lights, like a rifing Sun, ushered out from his chamber with his friends.

After Marriage the Jew had one year allowed him to live at home, he was ever afterwards liable to be fummoned to the field, to repair to the place of general rendezvous, and bring a month's Provifion with him; every Tribe was a little Common-wealth within itfelf, and the whole People of Ifrael, may be looked upon, as a body of Militia, trained up in War, and in time of Peace, employed in Agriculture.

After it became a Monarchy, the King afually was his own General, headed his Army, and his firft Officer was filed, his Commander in Chief, then the Princes or Chiefs of the Tribes, Captains of thoufands, Captains of hundreds, of fifties, of tens and of threes, and the Mufter-mafters were called Scribes.

Mofes had trained up his People to Arms, but it was intended only to put them