and seek his mercy: and the beneficial effects of these. temporary miseries, on all succeeding ages and nations, exceed all calculation; while the whole number, that perished, bears no more proportion to the vast multitudes who have profited by their doom, than the few criminals who suffer under the mildest government, do to the nation, that is thus preserved in peace and good order.

"The earth is the LORD's and the fulness of it." Surely, then, he had a right to bestow that proportion of it on his worshippers, which the Canaanites had forfeited by their crimes! The Israelites did not come by stealth to take possession of it; but had long before avowed their purpose, and the grant of it which they had received from JEHOVAH.

Those of the inhabitants who submitted were treated with clemency: and from these examples we may infer, that others might have been spared, if they had not hardened their hearts in impenitent defiance of God. Had the infants alone been preserved; they must either have been retained in the most rigorous bondage, or lived to perpetuate the bloody contest. The women were in general as criminal as the men: and if there were exceptions, the righteous Judge would discriminate properly in another world; though national judgments, however executed, make not these exact distinctions.

If Israel, by these severities, contracted a ferocious spirit, which they gratified on other occasions; they proportionably disregarded the law given them, which required love to neighbours, strangers, and enemies; and, the case of the devoted Canaanites excepted, pre

scribed rules for war, at least as equitable and mild as those of any heathen nation.* And it should be noted, that the just notions of modern times, and even those of infidels, respecting clemency towards enemies, originated not with the admired Greeks and Romans; but with christians, who learned them from the Scrip. tures: so that when christian princes were known in the world, more humane sentiments on these subjects soon began to be adopted.

The credit given to the Bible is often ascribed to the prejudices of education. But though an obscure individual, I feel impelled to declare, that I once was not much more disposed to believe the Scriptures than Mr. P.: and having got rid of the shackles of education, was much flattered by my emancipation and superior discernment. Yet nearly thirty years, employed in diligently investigating the evidences and contents of the Bible, have produced in me an unshaken assurance that it is the word of God.

The most remote shadow of a proof cannot be produced, that Moses carried on war under pretence of religion. He made no proselytes by the sword: and neither he, nor any other person mentioned with approbation in Scripture, made war on any neighbouring nation because they were idolaters. If any man pretend to draw the conduct of Moses, in the case of Midian, or of Joshua in that of the Canaanites, into precedent; let him work such miracles and produce such credentials as they did; till that be done, Mr. P.

*Numb. xx. 14-21. Deut. xx. 10-14.

has my free consent to pour fourth against him that torrent of indignant reproach, which he hath unjustly bestowed on some of the most excellent characters, that ever appeared in the world.

Mr. P. most virulently reprobates the law, which condemns the stubborn and rebellious son to be stoned:* yet that law contained much wisdom and mercy under its apparent severity. The parents were the only prosecutors; and as both of them must concur, na tural affection would effectually prevent the frequent execution of the penalty denounced: and indeed we do not read a single instance of the kind, in the whole subsequent history. If, however, such an extraordinary event at any time occurred; it could not fail to excite general attention, and to produce immense effects on the minds both of parents and children: so that the solemn execution of one incorrigible criminal would be a salutary warning to tens of thousands. The very existence of such a law would increase the authority of parents, and give energy to their admonitions; as well as fortify the minds of young persons against the enticements of bad company, and other temptations. Thus it would powerfully tend to prevent wickedness; the great end proposed by every wise legislator!

It would likewise be a perpetual monitor to parents, not improperly to indulge their children; to establish their authority by salutary correction in their tender years; to watch over them, and give them good instructions; to check the first buddings of vice, to set

* Deut. xxi. 18-21.

them a good example, and to pray for them without ceasing. These must have been the effects of this law, on all who duly attended to it: and we may learn similar lessons from the spirit of the statute, though it be now obsolete: for the Law-giver is unchangeable.

The prosecution was not allowed merely for stubbornness, but for obstinate persevering rebellion against parental authority, contempt of correction, gluttony, and drunkenness; crimes destructive to families and communities. These offences must be so fully proved, as to induce the elders to condemn and execute the criminal: and their authority would secure every innocent person against the hasty rage, or the deliberate malice, of those few parents, who were capable of such desperate wickedness as the murder of their own children. This law therefore, so harmless and beneficial in its operations, yet so contrary to human policy, rather proves than invalidates the divine original of the book, in which it is contained: though it do not at all coincide with modern notions, which, rushing from one extreme to another, directly tend to dissolve all obligations to submission, either to human or divine authority.

Whether priests are fond of preaching from Deuteronomy or not, we know that our Lord answered all Satan's suggestions by quotations from it; and the tempter may therefore be supposed to have a peculiar dislike to this book. The heart-searching God alone can know, whether the desire of tithes, or the love of souls, excites the minister's diligence; but, after all Mr. P.'s ridicule of "the ox treading out the grain;"

such ministers, as answer the emblem of that most laborious, tractable, and useful animal, will certainly deserve, and need not to fear but they will receive, a suitable provision, while the Lord has work for them; whatever may become of tithes and establishments.

And now, what do all these objections against the books of Moses amount to, when stripped of the wit, ridicule, and declamation, with which they are exhibited? The writer generally speaks of himself in the third person: a very few instances occur, in which a trifling alteration has been made in the text, during a course of above three thousand years: an account of the death and burial of the author is subjoined: events are recorded, which seem to us improbable, because contrary to our general observation: actions were done, by the command of God, which without that command would have been unjust: and laws are given, which do not coincide with modern notions, concerning government and parental authority. These frivolous objections are called demonstrations; and the author supplies his want of argument, by declaiming against Moses, and against impostors and priests, with pecu. liar vehemence and acrimony!

It now remains to state briefly the grounds on which we maintain the divine superintending inspiration of Moses; as well as that he was the writer of the books that bare his name, excepting the very few passages which have been mentioned.-The books in question give plain intimations to that effect. "Moses "wrote all the words of the Lord:-and he took the "book of the covenant, and read in the audience of VOL. III. ས