under every imaginary one, and amongst others that of their religion: from thence they might feek occafion to enquire into the foundation and fitness of it's ceremonies, it's ftatutes and it's judgments.

They might ask, What meant so many commands in matters which to them appeared indifferent in their own natures? what policy in ordaining them? and, what obligation could there ly upon reasonable creatures, to comply with a multitude of fuch unaccountable injunc tions, fo unworthy the wisdom of God?

Hereafter, poffibly, they might go farther lengths; and though their natural bent was generally towards fuperftition, yet some adventurers, as is ever the cafe, might steer for the oppofite coaft, and as they advanced might dif. cover that all religions, of what denominations or complexions foever, were alike: that the religion of their own country in particular, was a contrivance of the Priefts and Levites,-a phantom dreffed out in a terrifying garb of their own making, to keep weak minds in fear: -that it's rites and ceremonies, and num

berlefs injunctions, were fo many different wheels in the fame political engine, put in, no doubt, to amuse the ignorant, and keep them in such a state of darkness, as clerical juggling requires.

That as for the moral part of it, though it was unexceptional in itself yet it was a piece of intelligence they did not ftand in want of; men had natural reason always to have found it out, and wisdom to have practifed it,

without Mofes's affiftance.

Nay, poffibly, in process of time, they might arrive at greater improvements in religious controversy:—when they had given their system of infidelity all the ftrength it could admit of from reafon. they might begin to embellish it with fome more sprightly conceits and turns of ridicule.

Some wanton Ifraelite, when he had eaten and was full, might give free fcope and indulgence to this talent: as arguments and fober reafoning failed, he might turn the edge of wit against types and fymbols, and treat all the myfteries of his religion, and every thing that could be faid upon fo ferious a fubject with raillery and mirth: he might give vent to a

world of pleafantry upon many facred paffages of his law: he might banter the golden calf, or the brazen ferpent with great courage, and confound himself in the diftinctions of clean and unclean beafts, by the defperate fallies of his wit against them.

He could but poffibly take one step further; when the land, which flowed with milk and honey, had quite worn out the impreffions of his yoke, and blessings began to multiply upon his hands, he might draw this curious conclufion, that there was no Being who was the author and bestower of them,- but that it was their own arm, and the mightinefs of Ifraelitish ftrength which had put them, and kept them in poffeffion of fo much happiness.

Q Mofes! How would thy meek and patient fpirit have been put to the torture by such a return! If a propensity towards fuperftition in the Ifraelites, did once betray thee into an excefs of anger, that thou threwest the two tables out of thy hands, which God had wrote, and carelessly hazarded'ft the whole treasure of the world, with what indignation and ho neft anguish wouldst thou have heard the fcof

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fings of those who denied the hand which brought them forth, and faid, Who is God, that we should obey his voice? With what force and vivacity wouldst thou have reproached them with the history of their own nation: ---that if too free an enjoyment of God's bleffings had made them forget to look back. wards, it was neceffary to remind them, that their forefathers were Pharaoh's bondsmen in Egypt, without profpect of deliverance; that the chains of their captivity had been fixed and rivetted by a fucceffion of four hundred and thirty years, without the interruption of one ftruggle for their liberty: that after the expiration of that hopeless period, when no natural means favoured the event, they were snatched almost against their own wills, out of the hands of their oppreffors, and led through an ocean of dangers, to the poffefion of a land of plenty:

-that this change of their affairs was not the produce of chance or fortune,—or was it projected or executed by any atchievement or plan of human device, which might foon again be defeated by fuperior ftrength or policy from without, or from force of accidents from within,

:

from change of circumstances, humours and paffions of men, all which generally had a sway in the rife and fall of kingdoms;-but that all was brought about by the power and goodness of God, who faw and pitied the afflictions of a diftreffed people, and by a chain of great and mighty deliverances, fet them free from the yoke of oppreffion.

That fince that miraculous efcape, a feries of fucceffes not to be accounted for by fecond causes, and the natural course of events, had demonftrated not only God's providence in general, but his particular providence and attachment to them---that nations greater and mightier than they were driven out before them, and their lands given to them for an everlasting poffeflion

This was what they should teach their children, and their children's children after then, Happy generations, for whom fo joyful a had ye at

leffon was prepared! happy indeed!

all times known to have made the

which Mofes continually exhorted,

use of it,

of draw

ing nigh unto God with all our hearts, who had been fo nigh unto you.