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aufly contended for. To engage him in purfuits rational and delightful-Give him a prefent pleafure-enfure him a ftill greater reward in futureand a peace and joy which no other Retrospect could ever yield him. Thus, and Thus only, is he thrice bleffed, and progreffively to advance through endlefs Ages of Divine Improvement, Self-approbation, and Happiness.

As yet unprejudiced, the Young may with candour accept an arrangement of Ancient History methodifed for their perufal, and [the attempt (however humble) to point out many Beauties they perhaps may have forgot. 'Tis furely an ample field for Emulation, and it would give me real pleafure to refcue. from obfcurity any one of the Elegancies of Sacred Hiftory yet unnoticed, and invite them to affift me in purfuing the enquiry.'

"FULL many a Gem of pureft ray ferene, "The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear; "FULL many a flower is born to blush unfeen, "And wafte its fweetness in the defert air.

GRAY.

ESSAY I

O N

JUDÆ A.

T

HE ISRAELITES were feparated from amidst an Idolatrous World, to preserve the knowledge of the One fupreme GoD, the Father of All, and the purity of his Worship, while all the Nations around them were Idolaters.

The Jewish Territories altho' of very fmall Extent, and hid in Solitary obfcurity, unnoticed by Authors who defcribe the Kingdoms, and all the powerful States around them, yet claim a patient & diftinguished examination from the multiplicity, Variety, and Extraordinary Tranfactions authentically recorded and highly interesting.

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The Choice allotted them to be God's peculiar People Jehovah was their Judge, Lawgiver, & King-With a high Hand and a ftretched out Arm, Their Deliverer from Egyptian Bondage-A Zigzag journey, and of forty years, when the diftance was fo fhort from Egypt to Canaan-Awful ftrange, and many wonderful Events tending to rectify their errors, diveft them of prejudice, and educate them for the high honours He intended them the astonishing Proof of His Patronage and Power, by laying bare His Arm, making a Paffage for them through the Red Sea, all on foot to the Wilderness of Etham-His feeding in the Defert this immenfe Multitude day by dayThe visible appearance of Glory filling the tent where the Ark of God was depofited, regulating their March, a Cloud by day, a Pillar of fire by night when this Cloud majestically rose and stood over the Tent, Ifrael's ftanding orders were to move forwards under their Divine ProtectorThe awful and tremendous Voice of God, pronouncing the Law from Mount Sinai, All the People trembled, the Mountain fmoaked, the Earth fhook, and the smoak ascended, and a loud Trumpet founded.-His Rules of War-a miraculous conqueft of a Country, populous, warlike, and Arongly fortified by Nature and Art.-A wonderful Revolution, an entire new Government,

its

its Polity, diftinguished advantages, Laws civil and religious, curious, inftructive and interefting.

The Scene of all this Glory was JUDÆA.

THIS Once happy and highly favoured Spot was first peopled by Canaan, Grandfon of Noah, and for more than 400 years called the Land of Promife 'till the promise was performed, & afterwards 'twas called Judah, and Ifrael, as confifting of thefe two Kingdoms.JUDEA, that being the most powerful Tribe.--PALESTINE, from the Philistines its inhabitants.And the Holy Land, from being the Scene of our SAVIOUR'S Paffion, Humiliation, and Sufferings.

It is fituated in Afia Minor, on both fides the River Jordan, bounded on the Weft by the Mediterranean Sea, Syria, and Phoenicia, on the North---Arabia Deserta on the Eaft, Arabia Petrea on the South, and was intended to take in all that Tract of Country from the Ocean to the river Euphrates. The Wilderness was its Limits to the South.-Lebanon North.The River Euphrates Eaft-and the Ocean to the Weft, Between all thefe "Every place whereon the Soles

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