among the refined and learned. Like those noisy, impudent, and disagreeable animals, this evil spirit is loquacious, bold, and offensive, and often as troublesome as the plague of frogs in Egypt. This is that seed of the serpent that lives through all generations; it is the root of the carnal mind which is enmity against God. It is an evil influence, which, every where, except in heaven, "Lives through all life, extends through all extent, To check the growth of this noxious weed-to repulse this common enemy, these lectures were first written, then read, and are now published. Of their merits the reader must judge. LECTURE I. ON THE PENTATEUCH.* "I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth."-Dan. x. 21. THE Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, whether inspired or not, is certainly a most wonderful production. No other writings with which we are acquainted, claim so high an antiquity as these. No other books contain so great a variety within so small a compass. Here we have history the most ancient, narrative the most interesting, biography the most entertaining, poetry the most sublime, prophecies the most veritable, precepts the most just, events the most astonishing, circumstances related and characters described, the most remarkable in the world. Who can peruse the records of the world before the flood-of the patriarchal age-of the life and times of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-of Joseph and his brethren of the sojourning of the children of *The word Pentateuch is a name derived from two Greek words, Hevre (Pente) five; and Truxos (Teukos,) books, and signifies "five books." This is the reason these books are called the Pentateuch. - Israel in Egypt, and of the travels of Israel in the wilderness of the miracles of Moses--of the giving of the law, and of the whole history of the Jews until the death of their great lawgiver, without becoming wiser, if not better? Some account of these books may now be interesting and profitable to us; for, on the supposition. that God has spoken to us in these venerable writings, we cannot but feel interested to know on what subjects he has been pleased to reveal his mind. The book of Genesis gives an account of the creation of all things,—the institution of the Sabbath-the history of Adam and Eve, and of their shameful fall-the history of the antediluvians, and of Noah's flood, and of the moral state of the world at that period-God's covenant with Noah, the second representative of all mankind-Noah's prophecies-the confusion of tongues-the dispersion of mankind, and founding of empires-the histories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and his brethren Jacob's prophecies concerning the twelve patriarchs-the death of Jacob, and of Joseph, and of that generation. This book is called GENESIS, because, as that word imports, it contains an account of the production or generation of all things. It embraces the history of a period of about 2,369 years. It contains, also, some direct prophecies concerning Christ, and other predictions which have since been fulfilled, and are still fulfilling. It is the oldest record in the world, and contains a clear, though short history of those remote ages which profane authors have vainly endeavored to rescue from oblivion. This book was received by the Jews with the full conviction of its truth, on the authority of that inspiration under which Moses was known to act. But when the book was first delivered, many persons then living, must have been competent to decide on the fidelity with which he relates those events which were subsequent to the creation; for the longevity of man, in the earlier ages of the world, rendered tradition the criterion of truth; and the tradition was conveyed from Adam to Moses, through only seven intermediate persons. The Israelites, therefore, must have been well able to judge how far these records were consistent with truth. If the memory of man reached beyond the period. assigned to the creation, they must have rejected the Mosaic history; but if, through so small a number of immediate predecessors, they could trace up the origin of man to Adam, we need not wonder at the implicit veneration which ratified the records of Moses. The sacred authority of this book is established also by the internal evidence of its inspiration, and by the suffrages of our Saviour and his apostles, who have cited largely from it; by the practices of living Jews; by the testimony of heathen authors, and by the impossibility of a forgery at any period subsequent to the time of Moses. The book of EXODUS contains a history of the Israelites, from the death of Joseph to the erection of the tabernacle in the wilderness, including a period of about 145 years. It records the cruel persecution and oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, under the Pharaohs; the birth, exposure, and preser vation of Moses; his flight into Midian; his call and mission to Pharaoh; the miracles performed by him and Aaron; the ten plagues, in which the supreme power of Jehovah was shown, in striking contrast, with the absolute weakness and contemptible meanness of the gods of Egypt. The name of this book signifies "going out ;" and the manner in which the Israelites "went out," is particularly described; as also their passage through the Red sea; the destruction of the Egyptian army; Israel's triumph, travels, idolatry, and punishment; the giving of the law on Sinai, and the institution of that form of worship which prevailed among the Jews until the time of Christ. The circumstances attending the plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians, which are recorded in this book, are fully treated upon by Mr. Bryant, in his learned treatise upon this subject, from which the following particulars are extracted by Mr. Horne : "As many of the Israelites were followers of the idolatry that surrounded them, these miracles were admirably adapted to display the vanity of the idols and false gods adored by their oppressors, the proud and learned Egyptians. 1. By the plague of water turned into blood, was demonstrated the superiority of Jehovah over their imaginary gods. The Nile was religiously honored by the Egyptians; they valued it much upon the excellence of its waters, and esteemed all the natives of the river as in some degree sacred. When, therefore, the Nile was turned into blood, how must these idolaters have abhorred that which had so long been the object of their reverence. |