be King over all the earth. In that day there fhall be ONE LORD, and his name ONE; fays the prophet Zechariah, fpeaking of the prodigious revolution in the Gentile world, whence in procefs of time, by the Gospel of Jefus Chrifl, the worship of One true God ihall prevail all over the earth, as univerfally as Polytheifm had done before. This I dare not observe to my father, as he is an admirer of Mr. Hutchinfon, and will not bear any contradiction: but my private judgment is, that Mr. Hutchinson on the Cherubim and Elohim or Eloim, is a mad commentator, as I may show you, if we ever happen to meet again.

At prefent, all I can do more on the Hebrew fubject, is to obferve that, in refpect of the prefervation of the Hebrew tongue, I imagine the one prevailing language before the miracle at Babel, (which one language was afterwards called Hebrew) tho' divided and fwallowed as it were at the Tower, was kept without change in the line of Shem, and continued their tongue. This cannot be difputed, I believe. I likewife imagine, it must be allowed, that this Hebrew continued the vernacular tongue of the old Canaanites. It is otherwife unaccountable how the Hebrew was found to be the language of the Canaanites, when the family of Abraham came among them again, after an abfence of more than 200 years. If they had

had

had another tongue at the confufion, was it poffible for Abraham, during his temporary fojournments among them, and in the neceffities of his peregrination, to perfuade fo many tribes to quit their dialect, and learn his language; or, if his influence had been fo amazing, can it be fuppofed, they would not return again to their old language, after he had left them, and his family was away from them more than 200 years? No, Sir. We cannot justly fuppofe fuch a thing. The language of the old Canaanites could not be a different one from the Hebrew. If you will look into Bochart (7), you will find this was his opinion. That great man says the Ante-Babel language efcaped the confufion two ways, viz. by the Canaanites, through God's providence preferving it in their colonies for the future ufe of the Hebrews, who

(7) The great Samuel Bochart was born at Rouen in 1599, and died fuddenly in the academy at Caen, Monday the 16th of May 1667, aged 68. He was the minifter of the reformed church in that town. - His principal works are his Phaleg and Canaan; works that Thew an amazing erudition, and ought to be well read by every gentleman; you should likewife have his Hierozoicon, or hiftory of animals mentioned in the facred books. It is a good fupplement to his fcripture geography. His fermons and differtations are alfo very va luable. Brieux writ the following fine epitaph on him:

Scilicet hæc cuique eft data fors æquiffima, talis
Ut fit mors, qualis vita peracta fuit.
Mufarum in gremio teneris qui vixit ab annis.
Mufarum in gremio debuit ille mori.

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were

were to poffefs the land; and by the patriarch Heber, as a facred depofitum for the ufe of his pofterity and of Abraham in particular.

This being the cafe: the Phenician or Canaanitish tongue, being the fame language that the line of Heber fpoke, with this only difference, that by the latter it was retained in greater purity, being in the mouths of a few, and transmitted by inftruction; it follows, that Abraham and his fons could talk with all thefe tribes and communities; and as to the other nations he had communication with, he might easily converse with them, as he was a Syrian by birth, and to be fure could talk the Aramitifh dialect as well as Laban his brother. The Aramitifh was the customary language of the line of Shem. It was their vulgar tongue. language of the old world, that was spoken immediately before the confufion, and was called Hebrew from Heber, they reserved for facred ufes.

The

Here Mifs Noel ended, and my amazement was fo great, and my paffion had risen fo high for fuch uncommon female intelligence, that I could not help fnatching this beauty to my arms, and without thinking of what I did, impreffed on her balmy mouth half a dozen kiffes. This was wrong, and gave very great offence: but he was too

good to be implacable, and on my begging her pardon, and protefting it was not a wilful rudeness, but the magic of her glorious eyes, and the bright powers of her mind, that had tranfported me befide my self, she was reconciled, and asked me, if I would play a game of cards? With delight I replyed, and immediately a pack was brought in. We fat down to cribbage, and had played a few games, when by accident Mifs Noel faw the head of my german flute, which I always brought out with me in my walks, and carried in a long pocket within fide my coat. You play, Sir, I fuppofe, on that inftrument, this lady faid, and as of all forts of mufick this pleafes me most, I requeft you will oblige me with any thing you please. In a moment I answered, and taking from my pocket book the following lines, I reached them to her, and told her I had the day before fet them to one of Lulli's airs, and inftantly began to breathe the fofteft harmony I could make

A SON G.

I.

ALmighty love's refiftless rage,

No force can quell, no art affwage:
While wit and beauty both confpire,
To kindle in my breaft the fire:

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The

The matchless shape, the charming grace,
The eafy air, and blooming face,
Each charm that does in Flavia fhine,
To keep my captive heart combine.

II.

I feel, I feel the raging fire!
And my foul burns with fierce defire!
Thy freedom, Reafon, I difown,
And beauty's pleafing chains put on;
No art can set the captive free,
Who fcorns his offer'd liberty;
Nor is confinement any pain,

To him who hugs his pleasing chain.

III.

Bright Venus! Offspring of the fea!
Thy fovereign dictates I obey;
I own fubmifs thy mighty reign,
And feel thy power in every vein:
I feel thy influence all-confeft,
I feel thee triumph in my breast!
"Tis there is fix'd thy facred court,
'Tis there thy Cupids gaily fport.

IV.

Come, my Boy, the altar place,
Add the blooming garland's grace;
Gently pour the facred wine,
Hear me, Venus! Power divine!

Grant