IV. one wretch might prefume to corrupt the CHAP. word of God, it is not very probable, that he could perfuade all those, who had copies of the Law in their poffeffion, to favour his impious fraud. Such interpolations moreover are rendered nearly impoffible, when we confider the extreme, and even fuperftitious veneration of the Jews for their Law. The painful and minute criticisms of the Maforites, however puerile they might be, were at least ufeful in this refpect. They, whofe labours extended to number the words, fyllables, and even letters of their Law, were not very likely either to corrupt it themfelves, or to admit the corruptions of others k. On these grounds we may venture to conclude, that neither the ordinances nor the miracles of Mofes can poffibly be the The Maforites, I own, flourished after the period now under confideration: but it is not probable, that those, who lived nearer to the awful events related in the Pentateuch, fhould be lefs careful to preferve it from corruption, than their remote pofterity. If this laft argument however should be deemed inconclufive, it may be omitted, without in the leaft diminishing the weight of thofe which preceded it. in SECT. invention of a later age; and that the reII. ligion of the Jews poffeffes the third requifite of a Revelation from heaven, a volume of authentic documents. CHAP. CHAP. V. APPLICATION OF THE FOURTH RULE. IV. IV. IT now only remains to be fhewn, that the moral precepts contained in the Mofaical difpenfation are worthy of the goodness and purity of God; tending to promote virtue, and to difcountenance vice. When the Ifraelites invaded the land of Canaan, the various nations then in poffeffion of it were plunged in the groffeft impurities, which their diabolical religion not only permitted, but even fanctioned and enjoined. In addition to this violation. of morality, they were alfo polluted with the guilt of human facrifices. It might therefore be naturally apprehended, that VOL. I. Y the II. SECT. the children of Ifrael would be but too prone to adopt and practife their vices; more especially as Egypt, the parent of idolatry and fuperftition, was the cradle of the Jewish race. In order to prevent this, the Pentateuch abounds with the most severe denunciations against any degree of apostasy from the fervice of a pure and holy God, to the abominations of the people of the land. All forts of crimes are fpecially forbidden, and the various duties of man both towards God and his neighbour are fet forth and enjoined. To multiply citations for the purpose of demonftrating fo evident a matter would be fuperfluous and impertinent: but as objections have been made to certain parts of the Pentateuch, they fhall be briefly confidered, before the fubject be entirely difmiffed. a See Levit. xviii. and xx, &c. &c. See Exod. xx, &c. The fubfequent arguments are not brought forward as claiming any degree of novelty; they are merely introduced, in order that the whole queftion refpecting the authenticity of the Pentateuch may be placed in one point of view. Perhaps alfo this work may fall into the hands of fome, who have heard the objections, but have never met with the anfwers to them. I. 323 made from the command to ex tirpate the Canaanites; fwered. 1. It has not unfrequently been urged CHAP. against the probability of the divine le- V. gation of Mofes, that it is inconceivable, how a merciful and benevolent being like objection the Almighty should enjoin an act of fuch cruelty, as the extirpation of a whole people. This procedure has more the appear- and anance of resulting from the horrid barbarity, with which wars were anciently carried on, than from the commands of a good and gracious God. Some lives must unavoidably be loft in battle; but human nature revolts from the wanton unneceffary cruelty of butchering unrefifting women and children, together with the wretched remains of a conquered army. Conduct like this would defervedly stamp with in-famy any modern nation, which proved victorious over its enemy; and can we fuppofe that the Almighty views with pleasure the deftruction of his creatures? Would it not have been more worthy of the divine attribute of mercy, to foften the ferocity of the victors, rather than to exafperate it; to mitigate the horrors of war, rather than to aggravate them? A Moloch may delight in blood and defolation; but a beneficent Creator never can : hence, this fingle circumstance is fufficient |