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BOOK IV.

SECT. VI.

ROVES that Mofes was skilled in all the learning of Egypt, and the Ifraelites violently inclined to all their fuperftitions. That the ritual Law was inftituted partly in oppofition to thofe fuperftitions, and partly in compliance to the People's prejudices.That neither that Ritual nor Mofes's learning is any objection to the divinity of his Miffion-But a high confirmation of it. In which Herman Witfius arguments to the contrary are examined and confuted; and the famous Prophecy in the xx chap. of Ezekiel explained and vindicated against the abfurd interpretation of the Rabbins and Dr. Shuckford, p. 1—131.

BOOK V.

The nature of the Jewish Theocracy explained: And the Doctrine of a future State proved not to be in, nor to make part of the Mofaic Difpenfation.

SECT. I.

Little light to be got from the fyftems of Chriftian writers,-or the objections of Deifts,-or from the Rabbins, or from the Cabalifts, concerning the true

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nature

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nature of the Jewish Republic. ple feparated from the rest of mankind not as favourites, but to preferve the knowledge of the true God amidst an idolatrous world, -Vindicated from the calumnious falfhoods of the Poet Voltaire, p. 13-153.

SECT. II.

Proves the Jewish Government to be a Theocracy. -This form fhewn to be necessary: There being no other, by which opinions could be justly punished by civil Laws: And without fuch Laws against idolatry, the Mofaic Religion could not be fupported.-The equity of punishing opinions under a Theocracy, explained. Bayle cenfured.Foster confuted.-The Theocracy eafily introduced, as founded on a prevailing notion of tutelary Deities. -An objection of Mr. Collins to the truth of Revelation examined and confuted. The eafy introduction of the Theocracy, it is fhewn, occafioned as eafy a defection from the Laws of it.-The inquiry into the reafon of this leads to an explanation of the nature of the Jewish idolatry.-Lord Bolingbroke's accufation of the Law of Mofes examined and expofed, P. 153-224.

SECT. III.

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Treats of the Duration of the Theocracy.-Shewn to have continued till the coming of CHRIST.-The arguments of Spencer and Le Clerc to the contrary examined. The Prophecy of Shiloh explained: the Bishop of London's difcourfe upon it examined and confuted, p. 224-266.

SECT. IV.

The Confequences of a Theocracy confidered. Shewn that it must be administered by an extraordinary

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Providence, equally difpenfing temporal Rewards and Punishments, both to the Community and to Particulars.

That Scripture gives this representation of GOD's government. And that there are many favourable circumftances in the character of the Jewish People, to induce an impartial Examiner to believe that reprefentation to be true, p. 266-316.

SECT. V.

Shews, that as temporal Rewards and Punishments were the proper fanction of the Jewish Law, fo, there were no other; Mofes entirely omitting the Doctrine of a future State. - That this omiffion was not accidental, but defigned; and of a thing well known by him to be of high importance to Society. - Proved from feveral circumstances in the book of Genefis, and from the Law of punishing the crimes of Parents on their Pofterity, which was to fupply the want of the Doctrine of a future State. The nature and equity of this Law explained, and defended against Unbelievers. It is then shown that as Mofes taught not the Doctrine of a future State of Rewards and Punishments, fo neither bad the ancient Jews any knowledge of it. Proved from the books of the Old Teftament, p. 316–362.

SECT. VI.

Proves the fame point from the books of the New Teftament. -What notion the early Jews had concerning the Soul, explained, p. 362-to the end.

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BOOK IV.

SECT. VI.

COME, at length, to my fecond propofition: which if, by this time, the Reader should have forgotten, he may be easily excufed. It is this, That the Jewish people were extremely fond of Egyptian manners, and did frequently fall into Egyptian fuperftitions: and that many of the laws given to them by the miniftry of Mofes, were inftituted, partly in compliance to their prejudices, and partly in oppofition to thofe fuperftitions.

The first part of this propofition,-the people's fondness for, and frequent lapfe into, Egyptian fuperftitions, -needs not many words to evince. The thing, as we fhall fee hereafter, being fo natural VOL. IV.

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