SEPARATION OF THE ISRAELITES AS Continued from p. 269. AMONGST Ourselves, the most conspicuous departures from these express precepts of the law, are the eating of the flesh of the hare and the swine. Now although we were altogether ignorant of the import of the prohibition, it is impossible to overlook the fact that their rejection is placed on physiological grounds. They differ from each other, and both differ from the clean animals: "The hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you; and the swine, though he divideth the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you." Lev. xi. 6—8. The hare is rejected for the same reason as the camel and the coney; although they chew the cud, they do not divide the hoof; while the union of these two peculiarities seem to be essential to the production of a flesh healthful when used as human food. It is affirmed by the author to whom we have last referred, that such animals as the hare and the coney, having so much down, are very subject to vermin, and that, in order to expel them, they eat poisonous plants; and that if used as food when they are under such influence, very dangerous consequences ensue. Many indeed are familiar with the fact that the do mesticated rabbit, (of the hare species, and subject in like manner to the attacks of vermin,) is peculiarly fond, especially at certain seasons of the year, of the dandelion, one of the milk-like juiced plants which are of a poisonous nature. It is taken in defence against the attacks of its enemy, but cannot fail to injure its flesh for food. It may surely be regarded as confirmatory of the wisdom of the prohibition of the hare as an article of food, that those by whom it is most generally eaten, would regard its flesh as poor and valueless unless eaten with the blood. In order, therefore, to its flesh being enjoyed by them, there must be the violation of another express precept, "Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh." For this prohibition also, a distinct reason is assigned, "for the blood is the life of all flesh :" (Lev, xvii. 14,) a prohibition given to Noah before the commencement of the Mosaic economy, and repeated in the Acts of the Apostles; while the fact is also admitted, that, besides its evil qualities, from the blood of animals can be procured, "but a coarse and indifferent nourishment."-Forsyth's Dictionary of Diet, Art. "Blood." The swine, though he divideth the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean unto you." The peculiar formation of the swine is thus different from that of the hare, but the disqualifying circumstance is the same. It also wants the double means of purifying the system, ne, cessary to the formation and preservation of a healthful flesh. The violation of this precept concerning the swine is much more general amongst ourselves than that regarding the hare, and is also so much the more reprehensible, since there is against it more concurrent human testimony. The natural instincts and habits of this animal are filthy in the extreme; and the wisdom of the prohibition has been fully established by the known effects which have resulted from disregard of the divine precept. It is, obviously, one of the foulest feeding animals: and it bears very often in its leprous and bloated skin the outward evidence of disease. In ancient times, and among different nations, the evils resulting from the eating of swine's flesh were well known; and the recorded opinion of the observant then, is fully confirmed by the observation of subsequent ages. The Egyptians and the Arabs equally disliked and forbade the use of swine's flesh; and among the Romans in the time of Pliny, persons subject to tumours and eruptions abstained from it under medical advice. We have similar testimony in modern times. Michaelis observes on this subject, "Whoever is affected with any cutaneous disease, were it but the common itch, if he wishes to be cured, must carefully abstain from swine's flesh. It has likewise been long ago observed, that the use of this food produces a peculiar susceptibility of itchy disorders." Again, "Every physician will interdict a person labouring under any cutaneous disease from eating pork; and it has been remarked of our Germany,-a country otherwise in general pretty clear of them,-that such diseases are in a peculiar manner to be met with in those places where a great deal of pork is eaten."Commentaries on the Laws of Moses, vol. iii. p. 230. "Dr. James observes, that the hog is the only animal subject to the leprosy, and also to something very like what we call the king's evil; for scrofula is evi affected with scrofula, and are certain to communicate the disorder to those who eat them."—Whitlaw's Code of Health, p. 61. This author having ascertained, by the use of a lens, that the leprous condition of the swine is produced by an insect engendered in their skin, and considering all leprosy to be of the same nature, he thus accounts for the obligation under the law, (Lev. xiii. 52: xiv. 45,) to destroy the clothes and the houses in which the disease, after inspection, continued to manifest itself. From his own observation in the West Indies and Southern States of North America, he declares that the clothes and houses were sometimes thus contaminated by this disease; and that during hot weather, when leprous swine go into a pond to cool themselves, a lead-coloured scum floats upon the water, beneath which these insects may, by the aid of a magnifying glass, be seen in myriads.-Code of Health, p. 62. From the ease with which swine may be fed and fattened on every sort of offal, it is an animal peculiarly fitted to test the obedience of men. The apparent advantage resulting from the violation of the divine law, forms, especially to the poor, a great temptation. But where Christian principle has no place, a regard to the health of our population might fully justify stricter measures in regard to swine, than are generally taken by those whose duty it is to enact and enforce sanatory regulations. It is not merely the pestilential atmosphere that is formed around the styes in which they are kept, but the still more injurious effects produced, where less suspected, that should lead to their rejection. Another of the prohibitions to which I refer is that which relates to fish. "These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters; whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales, in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination to you." Lev. xi. 9, 10. This is a very simple and obvious classification; and considering these to be the righteous statutes and judgments which were to form the wisdom and understanding of Israel, I would, my dear friends, still desire that you should avail yourselves of that wisdom. In this country, the most frequent violation of the rule here stated occurs, I believe, in the use of fish of the eel and flounder tribes, and the various kinds of shell-fish. These appear to be absolutely prohibited by the divine law; and, here it is proper again to remark, that there is a real and obvious difference between the substance of the allowed and prohibited fish. "The muscles of most fishes are disposed in flakes and layers; and, when in perfection, there is when cooked, a layer of white curdy matter between them, resembling coagulated albumen. Some other fishes, principally those of the flat kind, and eel shaped, or without scales, have a fibrous flesh, not divisible into flakes." "Soft and mucilaginous fish, like the eel, are partly composed of an oily slime, partly of tough fibres, and therefore not easily digested." In Egypt," the people were forbidden to use any fish not covered with scales," from the belief that "it caused the leprosy ;" and "Numa Pompilius made a law for the Romans to the same effect." Forsyth's Dictionary of Diet, Art. "Fish." Now although we should not be able to determine what, in the formations referred to, makes the one |