voice in the Thunder, or opening the How great Earth to swallow them up. our furprize, when He laid bare His Arm, and conducted the Ifraelites, all on foot, through the the Red Sea, to the Wilderness of Etham, and drowned an Egyptian Prince, and his Mighty Hoft pursuing them. More then once, deftroying by Tempest a Philiftine Army in full view of the Armies of Ifrael. With perfect ease effecting his defigns, throwing a Multitude into a panick, making them their own deftroyers. Thus allotting Victory to Ifrael, even when he had not drawn a Sword. His People, he fent, to gather up the Spoil, and three whole days they gathered it. So illuftriously do thefe Annals difplay the irrefiftible Power and the Majesty of God, his never ceafing Providence and just Severity. Throughout Throughout the Jewish Hiftory, Virtue is in this Life distinguishingly rewarded, and Vice is almost always punished. The Jew was therefore depreffed under sufferings, he could only forrow in Adversity, it is the Privilege of the Chriftian and his Glory to rejoice. Though I can never speak too highly of the Religious advantages of the Ifraelite, nor enough venerate the glorious manifestation and extraordinary Providence with which he was blessed, yet the Religion prescribed him was ceremonious, and Jewish Ceremonies, in 'their Pomp and Splendour, refembled Pagan. A part of it was called the Ceremonial Law, and intended, by degrees, to usher in the Chriftian Era. It was a figure only, exprefsly called a Shadow of good things to come. St. Paul resembles the Jewish Worship to a State of Infancy, Rites and Ceremonies adapted to b z the as the Capacities of Children. The true Light, here kindled and preferved, was to blaze out at a distant Period, be gradually diffufed over the World, and advance more and more to the Majefty and full luftre of meridian Day. The Jew had no clear Idea of pure and fpiritual Devotion, he had witneffed the Pageantry of Pagan Ceremonies, visible objects of his worship, and Ceremony with the Jew was a rivited prejudice, congenial with his Ideas, as Fluidity with his Rivers, or Light with Day. He could never raise his thoughts to the contemplation of a pure Spirit, unseen and incomprehenfible. One Supreme Father of all, ever present in Power and yet no where in appearance was far above his conception. Something of fhape and figure, was a God more familiar to him, eafier known, one that aided his fancy, and (as he thought) excited Devotion; fuch he had every day witnessed in Egypt. Hence, throughout their their whole History, you will notice a wonderful prone-nefs to Idolatry, and the high Offence it gave; they found it a Religion easy to practise, what the vicious and most abandoned could follow, Pagan worfhip requiring no Morality, favoured all their passions, was friendly and alluring to their vices, to their darling and most criminal indulgencies. An oftenfible part of the Jewish worfhip was Sacrifice. As Farmers and Herdsmen much of the riches of the People confifted in their Cattle, and by offering up a part of their food and property to God, they acknowledged his Gifts and Superintendency. But Sacrifices were also Fines and Punishments, Sin was hereby made chargeable and coftly to the Transgreffor. The placability of God was pleafingly exhibited in his acceptance of the offering, and thus allaying the fears, and quieting the confcience of the penitent offender. Some Sacrifices were called Thankf Thanksgivings, and then the offender collected his Friends and made a feast; a part of the fat was burnt on the Altar, one joint was a fee belonging to the Prieft, 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. Without the Death of Chrift, how unmeaning the Pomp and Splendour of Jewish Cercmonies ? Another part of their Religion was com memorative Feafts and Solemn Fafts. The Tabernacle Feast 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 Feast of Trumpets perpetuated the awful manner of giving the Law from Mount Sinai, and Pentecoft was an acknowledg ment/ |