SECT. VIII. Begins the Proof of the principal Cause from the Evangelical Writings-St. Paul's Sermon at Athens- the curious and occult Part of the Character of Jefus obferved-the Parable of the prodigal Son fhown to be the Hiftory of this principal Caufe, and of the whole of this mysterious Oeconomy-The Preaching of St. Paul at Lyftra-his Argument in the 9th, 10th, and 11th Chapters of his Epiftle to the Romans confidered, and explained by this Inquiry-The Parable of the rich Man and LazarusConclufion, with recapitulating the Whole of this mysterious Oeconomy-every Part of it an invincible Proof of RePage 135-166 velation. SECT. IX. Refumes the Hiftory of the Difperfion-afferts that Mofes himfelf did leave an Abftract of the whole Hiftory, curiously concealed in one fingle Word-proves this from the other Prophets-fhows how beautifully the Circumftances of the Difperfion appear in their Writings-takes Notice of the Appearances which attended the fecond Gift of Languages to the Apoftles-proves them to be a fcenical Reprefentation of the fecreted Hiftory of the first-fhows more of the graphical Defcription in the Theocratic Prophets-they could leave this Hiftory in no other Manner, because of the Concealment of Mofes-fhows that our Lord and his Apoftles were confined in this Cafe by the defignated Blindness of Judah-an Inftance of this from his Preaching. Page 166-183 SECT. X. Proceeds with the Hiftory- obferves the Character of Nimrod and his Affociates-refutes the Opinion of Bochart- confirms Mofes's Account of Nimrod from the Prophets confiders the Defign of Nimrod, and the Intervention of the reprobate Spirits —confutes the absurd Opinion of Abarbanel and Richard Simon, concerning the Interruption which befel the Men in their Buildingproves the Truth of the Gift of Languages. Page 183-199 SECT. SECT. XI. Confiders the Impreffions of Terror at the Difperfion-they had the fame Tendency with thofe at the Contest in Egypt-further Obfervation upon the Exodus-the Pro- priety of a regal Contest at the Erection of the Theo- cracy-the Embarrassment of Interpreters concerning this. Matter-Produces fome Teftimonies of this Hiftory of the Difperfion from the most antient Writers in the Gentile World-all thefe bear Witness to our Hiftory-Concludes with recommending the Study of Mofes's Writings- The whole of this Inquiry confirmed by an Evangelical Pro- phet-this Difcovery must have been made fooner, had it not been for a blind Deference for the Writings of fome earlier Chriftians-the Advantage of the Romish Church from this Deference—the Reformation advanced religious Confiders this Matter more at large-exemplifies the Weak- nefs, Superftition, and Corruption of Antiquity, and The Author's Abfence from the Prefs has occafioned the Page 11, Line 6, for Matter read Manner. Page 53, Line 11, dele they. Page 201, Line 18, for in which in read in w/ it. Page 220, Line 20, for emandavit read emendavit. ****** THE DISPERSION OF THE MEN at BABEL CONSIDERED. T SECT. I. HE Difperfion of the Men at the Building of Babel has been a Mat→ ter much agitated in the Common wealth of Learning: Yet fo it has happened, that the many Questions and Dif putes concerning it have hitherto produced us but little either of Pleasure or of Profit. If we confider this Separation (as it really was) to have been the most important Event of any in the whole Course of History from the Deluge to the Nativity of our Lord, we cannot rest satisfied with an imperfe&t Account B of of it; for we are certain, that fuch an Effect muft of neceffity have proceeded from a Caufe of equal Proportion. The Caufes already affigned of this momentous Tranfaction have been fo little fatisfactory, that the learned and ingenious Mr. Saurin, in his Differtation upon it, was obliged to express himself thus: " Interpreters, fays he, have carefully inquired how the Project of that City and "Tower could be fo displeasing to God; and upon this Subject, as well as upon many others, it is more eafy to guess, than to re"folve." This great Embarraffment of the Interpreters has made us to conclude, that they had by no means fallen upon the right Method of exploring this Obfcurity; and that in order to enlighten it, and procure a more rational Solution of this Difficulty, we must be obliged to depart from their Manner of Inquiry. It is in vain to return to defeated Experiments: This must of courfe bring great Detriment to moral Discovery: For, whilft Men continue in fuch a Circle, instead of adding to the Number of Truths, they fpend their Time in increafing Perplexity. We have made this Use therefore of their Endeavours, to take them as fo many fufficient Witneffes, that all Succefs was to be despaired of in this Way. And indeed we had great Reason for this Determination; for, upon examining, we found them all involved in two very fundamental mental Errors; the one, their not sufficiently attending to the Character of Mofes, who has recorded this Hiftory; the other, their not fuppofing that any thing further of it could be found in the reft of the facred Writers. The first of these Errors (as will largely appear in the Course of this Inquiry) has been the Origin of numberless Disputes in many Inftances in the Writings of Mofes, where the curious Management of this great Prince was more immediately concerned. Learned Men have measured this Hiftorian by the Standard of other Writers; and therefore it can be no matter of Wonder to us, that they have fucceeded according to the Principles which they first set out with. It appears upon the least Reflection, that Mofes ftands alone in every Circumstance: No Prince ever was, or ever can be in his Situation again, confider him either as an Hiftorian, or as a Lawgiver. The Confequence must needs be, that his Management too fhould be fingular and peculiar. The second of these Errors may seem to be of a private Nature in comparison to the firft; fince it may be fuppofed to relate wholly to the Subject of this Inquiry: Yet even this must be faid in a limited Senfe, as only concerning the primary Effect of it; for certainly the Confequences, which attend it, are of a larger Extent. There are many Paffages in the facred Writings, in which, we truft, this B 2 Hiftory |