resenting, the faithlessness of her husband;* then did the mother forget a mother's part, and teach her own child treachery and deceit; then did daughters turn the instincts of nature backward, and deliberately work their own and their father's shame ;‡ then did the daughter-in-law veil her face, and court the incestuous bed;§ and to be childless was to be a by-word;|| and to refuse to raise up seed to a brother was to be spit upon; and the prospect of the Promise, like the fulfilment of it, did not send peace into families, but a sword, and three were set against two, and two against three;** and the elder, who would be promoted unto honour, was set against the *Genesis, xvi. 2; xxx. 3; ↑ Ibid. xxv. 23; xxvii. 13. § Ibid. xxxviii. 14. xxx. 9. ‡ Ibid. xix. 31. || Ibid. xvi. 5; xxx. 1. Ibid. xxxviii. 26. Deuteronomy, xxv. 9. ** Genesis, xxvii. 41. younger, whom God would promote,* and national differences were engendered by it, as individuals grew into nations; and even the foulest of idolatries may be traced, perhaps, to this hallowed source; for the corruption of the best is the worst corruption of all. It is upon this principle of interpretation, and I know not upon what other so well, that we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, who have made those parts of the Mosaic History a stumbling-block to many, which, if rightly understood, are the very testimony of the covenant; and a principle, which is thus extensive in its application and successful in its results, which explains so much that is difficult, and answers so much that is objected against, has, from this circumstance * Genesis, iv. 5; xxvii. 41. + Ibid. xix. 37; xxvi. 35. Numbers, xxv. 1, 2, 3. alone, strong presumption in its favour, strong claims upon our sober regard.* Such is the structure that appears to me to unfold itself, if we do but bring together the scattered materials of which it is composed. The place of worship--the priest to minister the sacerdotal dress-the appointed seasons for holy things-preachers -prophets—a code of laws-sacrifices— types-and a Messiah in prospect, as leading a feature of the whole scheme, as he now is in retrospect of a scheme which has succeeded it. Complete the building is not, but still there is symmetry in its component parts, and unity in its whole. Yet Moses was certainly not contemplating any description of a Patriarchal Church. He * See Allix, "Reflections on the Books of Holy Scripture," where this interesting subject is most ingeniously pursued. had other matters in his thoughts: he was the mediator not of this system, but of another, which he was now to set forth in all its details, even of the Levitical. Hints, however, of a former dispensation he does inadvertently let fall, and these we find, on collecting and comparing them, to be, as far as they go, harmonious. Upon this general view of the Book of Genesis, then, do I found my first proof of consistency without design in the writings of Moses, and my first argument for their veracity for such consistency is too uniform to be accidental, and too unobtrusive to have been studied. Such a view is, doubtless, important as far as regards the doctrines of Scripture, I, however, only urge it as far as regards the evidences. I shall now enter more into detail, and bring forward such specific coincidences amongst independent passages of the Mosaic writings, as tend to prove that in them we have the Word of Truth, that in them we may put our trust with faith unfeigned. II. In the 18th chapter of Genesis we find recorded a very singular conversation which Abraham is reported to have held with a superior Being, there called the Lord. It pleased God on this occasion to communicate to the Father of the Faithful his intention to destroy forthwith the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, of which the cry was great, and the sin very grievous. Now the manner in which Abraham is said to have received the sad tidings, is remarkable. He does not bow to the high behest in helpless acquiescence--the Lord do what seemeth good in his sight-but, with feelings at once |