A familiar survey of the Christian religion, and of history as connected with the introduction of Christianity, ... Intended primarily for the use of young persons of either sex, ... By Thomas Gisborne, A.M. 1799
Gisborne, Thomas
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In the meantime, obedience to the Almighty, who had expressly prohibited them from worshiping or making any image as an emblem of himself, induced Aaron, who most ” C * - + mY =" . ME eee r 1 N n. Z N. WP br he PITT TT ES; N. W 5 8. 8 * r 5 — Ad 2 n A 4 8 FFF 8 HEE ee Ee hr EI Res AND ES / g n borne * their opportunities, to, form a 5 1 anne 3 E 3 — ek THE JEWISH RACE and received many additional laws and regulations, which he recited to the Israelites, and then recorded in a book; and the people solemnly renewed their promise of recording to the Divine command, recommended time, the people, weary of his absence,  » — —  046". A ACT q - = a — — a = s  out of the encampment, and declared that an angel instead of himself should now be their conductor; by the menace of future viands on account of this transgression; and by the actual penal inflictions implied in the words of Scripture, "The Lord plagued the Phones because." They made the calf (a). Two fresh tables of stone, in the place of those which had been broken, were then prepared by and taken up unto the Mount. According to the commandment of God, who wrote upon them the words which had been inscribed on the former; and afterwards delivered to Moses, during this his second continuance there of forty days, additional ordinances and directions to be obeyed by the twelve tribes. The remainder of the Jewish code was from time to time imparted to Moses, chiefly from the tabernacle, and by him made known to the people: and the tribe of Levi was set apart for the service of the Gnary. In the fourth month of the year of their departure from Egypt, the Israelites were commanded to resume their march towards the promised land; and in the fourth month of the same year they arrived on its confines. Even the few intervening weeks did not pass without. Exhibiting two scenes of rebellious murmuring again, God (5), together with a edition, in which Aaron himself was a party, directed against Moses. The outrages were but the pre- (b At Taberab, and at Kibroth-hattaavah. Numb. xi. 5 +. g ludes 56 SUMMARY VIEW of ludes to more flagrant acts of indredulity and disobedience. Twelve leading men, elected one from a tribe, were dispatched by Moses, conformably to the desire of the people, to examine into the state and productions of the land of Canaan. All of them, on their return from exploring the land during forty days, concurred in exciting its fertility. But ten of them gave so formidable an account of the personal strength and military power of the inhabitants, that, notwithstanding the utmost efforts of their associates Caleb and Joshua, who strenuously exhorted the Israelites to go up instantly, trusting in the might and the promise of the Lord of Hosts, the people absolutely refused to venture into the country. They even prepared to stone to death Caleb and Joshua, and, as it seems, Moses and Aaron also. At the fervent. Supplication of Moses, the destruction with which the Almighty threatened instantly to overwhelm his rebellious people was delayed. But God, solemnly declared, that not one of the whole congregation who had... 7 N E.. 5 9 3 — F 7 _ * * «0 „ > 1 La 3 4 x # = £ 1 G 1 Fay I 70 2 e — 8 # e 3 Fe N 6 2 it. P N * {Gee ERS. 4 3 a — ON EI on RD NC Fe / ⁊. RY ET OE HEPEE.. Fs BR. : r od ONES ORE 3 Ts N r e / oo ene A Long Ot So SL TIE ß hs Ee IS 09" ie VIA 2 2222 d 7˙³ĩ III 8 # EN SN. 8 n 228 - er r Ce obs DL I TT BR LAT  SOL 2 0, 1 EN PM ts ONES EIS 4 Loy DCIS Dd Eg ö y 5 "37 <<, :. 7 8 7 Fg DES N r £ 8 p. 8,, 5 > < - * * : & 0 3 8 -. 5 2 :. 5 ; 3 THE JEWISH AGE: 57 had arrived at the age of twenty years, his faithful servants Caleb and Joshua excepted, should ever set their foot on the promised land. All the rest were gradually to perish during the forty years, to be numbered from the time of their leaving Egypt, which he now doomed them to pass in wanderings in the desert. The sacred historian, though he gives a catalogue of the subsequent journeys and places of encampment of the Israelites during this period, has recorded little concerning the further transactions, which took place antecedently to the concluding year. In the brief account, however, which he has delivered, we meet with one of the customary rebelions of the people, commenced by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who with their families were swallowed up by the earth, which opened beneath them; and drawing after it the destruction of nearly fifteen thousand of the congregation by fire from Heaven, or by a pecuniary gift. In the beginning of the fortieth year, when they were encamped near Kadeſeh on the confines of Egypt, they Again, again rebelled for want of water; and by their violence enjoined Moses and Aaron into a degree of presumption and distrust, which drew from the Almighty this awful sentence: Because you believed me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel; therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. About four months afterwards Aaron was commanded to ascend Mount Hor, with his son Eleazar and Moses, in the sight of all the congregation; where Moses took off the priestly garments from Aaron, and put them on his son; and Aaron died before God on the top of the mountain. At the close of the fortieth year, yet not until they had again broken forth into rebellion, and had been punished by fiery serpents. Numb. xx. 12. Numb. xx. 23, Numb. xx. 38. Numb. xxi. 4-9. From the bite of these serpents they were not to be cured except by looking on a brazen serpent, which God commanded Moses to make, and to raise on a pole in the midst of the people. The camp. Our Saviour alludes to this transaction, John, iii. 14, as emblematical of that faith in him, by which alone mankind can be delivered from the deadly consequences of guilt. they —— 5 n OR e WERE WY YN TY 77... REI MN Re ADUEAD . R 2 a 88 g 8 N / RE OCH FO 2 . . 5 Wee F f ; ; G RN h * 8 - TR rn EY Ys GE = Tb Frog lt te EEE SS CO ELLA 5 Er Orr — — 1 _ _ on. p rr IR b DOI Cee? IRS TP FI e108 FF Ia Ed TP) . 9 4 ELD GEL 3 5 8 Rey 2 . LE F „„ . #7 WED 2 71 Foy ks ERS, oe; Ae. 3 GY he N F <4 C . E cy LE Rr a LMS TR IE n Co i 8 „„ 5 5 . EDS ID FZ ² Ä > . . 2 > 8 . FF 8 . 1 8 4555 EEE SR nr BEE EE IIS oe ES ES re EE et Er ne rt ng Of 3 3 JJ ĩͤ Dp AE ee © Ye Ws 8 2 2 5 1 ROE ORE TR n ß EIT Fer nom 3 3 5 8 — - N 8 23 * Ac n 5 r I N oe , 421 4 : Xo fo) Hee ere I ug i ae ARES. 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A more numerous and more honorable set of ambassadors arrived from the king of Moab. Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, inflamed with the desire of peace, and inflamed with the desire of peace, again laid the matter before God; although he had before received an. which precluded all further application: : & Thou ſhalt not go with them : thou ſhalt 40515 Feber ü. r.. — nat : [4 : p LR } {4 *% 7 4 i * 1 : : {3 * * is 14 x /. | * #3 1 1 7 14 10 74 ta 34 4 * 2 ? 1 E : , * Ll 60 SUMMARY. view or © not curſe the people ; for they are bleſs 6 ed (H).“ The Supreme Being, to whom the covetouſneſs of Balaam's heart was manifeſt, gave him permiſſion to accom- pany the princes of Moab, on condition of his ſpeaking concerning Iſrael that only which God ſhould put into his mouth: yet ſhewed him on the journey by ſeveral miraculous intimations that his avaricious deſire to undertake it was highly offenſive in the eyes of his Maker. Three ſucceſſive times did Balaam difappoint Balak by pro- nouncing bleſſings inſtead of curſes on the children of Ifrael. But the corrupt mind of the ſoothſayer deviſed another method of gratifying his employer. He inſtructed Balak to endeavour to enſnare the Iſraelites into idolatry and its attendant vices; and thus to withdraw them from the Divine : protection (7). The ſcheme was attended with conſiderable ſucceſs. | Iſrael worſhipped the Gods of Moab: the anger of the Lord vas kindled ; and twenty-four thouſand of _ thecongregation were immediately deſtroyed % Numb. ul. 12. (i) Numb. xxxi. 16. by * 3 _— WT. 7. EY n 5 OO ES HG ne b6 ren wh" * 8 — c 3 wr ej © 5 : : WEARS. 2 1 3 a EEE Pa i OT ar og Tr LL OTIS TILL Ton,. 3 2 P. ; SG, 7 : s 1 "6164 £5 — W S Þ 4. SEAL e tant dh; 3 WF =. bee ite eg a Bot 2 NY F Rag” 3. ERAS? =, T0000 va « 1 8 / IE Er 3 1 JJ JJ... ˙ ²⁰ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ� nation, which had reduced them into transgression. The Midianites were utterly destroyed by the word of Israel: and Baal perished with them. But why, it is said, did the all-knowing Searcher of hearts vouchsafe to hold conversation with such a worthless character? Whence comes it that inspiration, and prophetic knowledge, and other special favors of Heaven, bestowed on so few individuals of the whole human race, are not uniformly conferred upon the righteous? On the righteous they have been bestowed almost exclusively: yet to this rule there have unquestionably been exceptions. Balaam was an exception: Judas Hecariot was an exception: and perhaps one or two more may be discovered in the Scriptures. We may be satisfied, that He who can bestow by his creatures the gifts of inspiration and prophecy, and miraculous powers, will not in any instance distribute them without sufficient reasons, whether his reasons be perceptible to us or not. Can we then discover no one advantage likely to result from the occasional selection of an unworthy object for the reception of these peculiar favors? One benefit seems obvious. vioully to present itself to our consideration. — "We learn the momentous lesson, that it is neither in inspiration, nor prophetic knowledge." .. ⁵ A nn ett ee EE one 4 A reagent arm " — ——— - * — 6 - kB SS — 2 = — l - * — — 2 — 2 4 * 8 1 2 6 * 3 6 — * — — . » - — a ” th ty < — 2 . 2 4 * 4.  Y Ba, Wy 1 o i . 5 F FF 8 2 4 . — —_— - $ — — LA nnr « TY, þ 1 2 +] * i 8 1 11 11 0 $1 1 Me 15 — — 1 oe can lead to ſalvation; but a life ex- 1 * e erciſed in the fear and the love of God. ll It is to be obſerved, that the Divine juſtice b has uſually diſplayed itſelf in the ſignal puniſhment, in this world, of the guilty 2 wretch, whom not even the poſſeſſion or N | 1178 | the peculiar favours of God had ſubdued ; 1 ll | . unto holineſs. Balaam died by the hand Wy | ol thoſe whom he had beguiled 3 into idola- 10 try: - Juggs, Iſcariot by bis OWN. During the two concluding months of the year, Moſes, knowing that his death was at hand, delivered to the then existing generation of the Israelites, most of whom either were not born when the law was originally given, or were too young to enter fully into its meaning, a recapitulation of the Divine commands, with such flight additions or variations as he had been instructed to make. That he might inspire them with the deepest conviction of their own unworthiness, and of the long-suffering and kindness of their heavenly Benefactor; he recalled to their remembrance all the wonderful works which God had wrought in their behalf, and their own frequent acts of obstinate incredulity and rebellion. And to persuade them by every motive to continue steadfast for the future in obedient service to that Power, who, notwithstanding so many provocations, was about to give them possession of the land of Canaan. That recapitulation, and the other subjects mentioned in this paragraph, form the contents of the book of Deuteronomy. 93 11 1 - 4 o & = 4 & 1 11 - = 7% ! : * 9 hes 1 4 2 i £1 £1 : Ti. - FP 2 1 11 1 8 T5 a - $315 7 & +, 2 171 it v3: = * ITT 175 HE by : : +57 131. * 1 \. TOW, - T8: 127 : 3 * * i b #&* b : x: 432 { It [4 „ N. I 4 * 1 14 4 ' 1 1 4. e 4 EN. N "= 417 Fre ES. e 133 $ RF * 1 3 EA 5 wo SS + 54 191 7 1 * > 17 1 9 is 1 4 1 8 n Ng $34] * 1 $3 N . * $1 © 11 3 En 1 ay $i » N 1 1 1 þ 1 n : 133: ©5% 7 - 4 5 N 3 * 1 x 4 * 7 5 — 8. F - 64 SU MM ARY VIEW OF ' Canaan; he lid bakers. ch in detail 4 moſt encouraging catalogue of the bleſings which would accompany them as long as they should remain faithful to Jehovah; and prophetically denounced, in terms equally circumstantial, the miseries with which Divine justice would pursue the disobedience of themselves and their posterity. Having performed this concluding office of duty and affection to his countrymen; and having appointed, as the Lord directed him, Joſhua to be their leader 1n his place; having committed the Book of the Law, - which. he had written, to the care of the Levites, that it might be preſerved by the ſide of the Ark; he aſcended to the top of Mount Nebo: and having from that ſtation ſurveyed the promiſed land, which he was not to enter, died before the Lord. His body was buried by the Lord in a valley in the country c of the Moabites, in a ſpot not diſ- cloſed to the children of Iſrael ; leſt, as it ſhould ſeem, their reverence for the me- mory of their departed; lawgiver, concur- ring with their inherent proneneſs to idol- r UDP 2 DEER.» A 9 * 6 * 4 uh.49 8 „ e n A . f. 7 G4) Yon Sd 3.» $4548 Ta on og! T Ih e * enn "Ne + "7x Ba 0s 8 5-55 . F 5 3 785 * e Gf «Ae: Ps ie nts, o % e * 85 . . 8 25 72 He * 3 Km 2 ee a ASE Gr RE he 5 CY BE pt a Ra re OS £ Fc CNS OE SOT bd Rn IS A ee A a 1 7 8 „ 's Ea . 3 r WE WIRES 8 Dr THE JEWISU RACE. 65 atry, mould afterwards lead them to pay — honours to his remains. Such was, as to this world and its labours, the end of Moses, the servant of God. In every instance, except in that which was punished, for an awful proof of the impartial dealings of the Supreme Being with men, by his being forbidden to enter the land of promise; he appears to have discharged with unabated zeal the commission, with which he was entruzted. The law which through his instrumentality was communicated to the Israelites, consisted partly of instructions and precepts in themselves of a moral and religious nature; partly of ceremonial ordinances, and directions, respecting points originally indifferent. The former branch contained a clear revelation of the eternity, the Power, the wisdom, the goodness, and the other infinite perfections, of the only God, the Maker, the Preacher, the Governor, and the Judge of the universe. In the ten commandments, the sum of moral may truly be said to be wide. A. eee —, = : _ _— , 4, - ogg. 66 SUMMARY VIEW OF comprehended; since the prohibition of the chief crime in each class of offenses evidently includes, by parity of reasoning, the prohibition of all inferior crimes of that class, as partaking of the sinful nature, and tending ultimately to produce the guilt, of the greatest. The subordinate duties thus implied in the commandments were afterwards in a great variety of cases detailed and exemplified at large in other parts of the books of Moses. This branch of the law is manifestly of universal and perpetual obligation; and is repeatedly mentioned as such by our Saviour. The other branch was designed to be obligatory on the Jews only; and on them no longer than until the coming of the Messiah, whose sufferings and atonement many of its rites and ceremonies prefigured. If in this part of the law we should meet with some directions, the object and utility of which should not at first sight be apparent to us; let us beware of setting up the conclusions of our ignorance against the unbounded wisdom of the Deity. A closer consideration of the The Jewish Race, a subject will teach us to understand, that all these institutions answered the purposes of exercising the Israelites in faith and obedience; of preserving them a distinct and separate people; and of training them by a peculiar mode of discipline, wisely according to their habits, prepossessions and circumstances, for the reception of the new dispensation to be revealed under the Messiah. It will teach us also that many of those directions, which rashness and presumption are sometimes heard to censure as trifling, and unworthy of the Divine attention, were specifically calculated to guard the people of Israel from being betrayed into certain particular modes of idolatry and wickedness prevalent in the nations among whom they were to dwell. CARBS at hee” Its 4 TS * — 23, . 4,24 Co —Y | : FR. 3 1 — 3 * oy ; j ) 2 a *. F 0 y 8. *. ** A J 1 n 1 * 4. l 5 * 1 ＋ * 8 „ rr. 141 in . N — wu * i P, - 4 i. 7 *. . A N 2, % SUMMARY, VIEW of THE HISTORY or THE, AS FROM "THE DEATH. or REGULAR 18 THE PRESENT TIME. 395 11910 2 Jos nu, g received From. the Al- 313 LIN 4 might a promiſe of u nfailing ſupport (a), and | a grant, in behalf of the Iſraelites, of. 2 * ** W. — a , ** ä = | 1 1. fon jo — - 1 8 — — 23 8 1 7 9 4 Was,. * — - l =o — — - — 5 — — - — — 5 2 — — oY 3 — a er rene — ——ʃ— 5 = OR, | " N "4 — — ö — 2 ” wh. © — — — - Le — ”* — 2 —. i — — REN — 2 CE * — 2 p N N 5 X —— — s 4 —. 2 1 * 89 a, "Ye ay.  —— 2 2 N A A 2 mm TIE OS — mg — 23 =_ a — — — 8 * — 3 2 4 —— * — OV, Pape: — Sr 48"; \ — * "ox — — — - — - - — 5 — 2  * mem —— — — 2:  — — — cnc. — = p LORE «I++ &xX. >” 7 We _—_ 4 W — nnd nn ag er rr, F: — g — * * 2 32 — — A 4 7 N —— ag ern - 2 — - * 7 [ 31 the Whole rẽ ion extending from the Eu- N ir TOWING Doh + FILES K | ph hrates tc to t diterranean, and from the 5111 6 Me Vi niouptains, of ebanon , on the north to the 9 Wild! ernels 512 in on the ſouth (3); Prepared 1 1 Candi} iy | to put t ie twelve tribes into poſſeſſion of ; - ay og JB7310 2 * | = their in heritance. 24. —and Gen. xv. 18. walls. = ok = 4 8 e LF + wh * I x £ bn * 2 ry - Þ% Þ 3 * N he 3 1 2 3 BRAT: 8 Vt + 5 * « 8 TI. * * 3 r wy * E 1 r N 3 „ ICS. 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The extirpation of the Canaanites was gra- dual; that the beaſts of the field might not have time to multiply and overſpread the land (e). the country, though a conſiderable portion remained to be ſubdued, was divided by lot, according to the command of God, among the tribes; with the exception 1 Is that of Levi, and of thoſe which had already received at their own requeſt their inherit- But before the death of Joſhua, ance in the conquered kingdoms of the Amorites, on the other {ide of the Jordan. The Levites were provided with cities for the residence of their families; and with an ample subsistence from the sacrifices and tithes of other tribes, on whose behalf, as well as on their own, they were to minister at the altar. The command, which God had given to Israel respecting the Canaanites, was, The cities of these people, which the Lord hath given thee for thine inheritance, thou shalt save nothing alive that breatheth. The reason of this injunction is immediately subjoined: thou shalt utterly destroy them, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that they teach you not to do after all their abominations. Persons, who seem to have conceived that to cavil at the Bible is a mark of discernment, have eagerly seized upon this passage; and have represented it as containing a singular, unworthy of a merciful Governor of the universe; and as affording in fact a conclusive proof that the Bible is not the Word of God. Our faith however in the truth of Scripture is founded on too many irrefutable arguments to be staggered by such an objection as this, even if an answer in every point satisfactory could not be returned it. In every work of God around us there is much that we cannot perfectly understand. Why then should we be surprised, if he should so that, for the exercise of our understanding and the trial. Of our faith, some difficulties should exist. In his word, all our thoughts should exist. But the difficulty in question is of no formidable nature. The command is fully justified even to human apprehension by the reason which God himself assigned for it. We know that the Canaanites, in their gross and bloody idol-worship, a worship celebrated with the sacrifice of their own children, and in the universal and unbridled profligacy of their manners, had abandoned themselves to such shameful and detestable wickedness; that in the emphatical language of holy writ, the land itself abhorred and vomited out her inhabitants. We know the obstinate propensity of the Israelites to forsake their supreme Benefactor; and to pollute them selves with idolatry and all its attendant abominations. We know too, that when they disobeyed the injunction to extirpate all the nations which dwelt in Canaan, and contented themselves with, subjecting some of their tribute; those Canaanites, who ES: were þ = — " * ane a ets 3 NL n — — — 1 1 2 — — — - * = S "II A — ũ——4—ũẽ r —U—F —äẽ — —Ô— AID. o et * 4 28 1 — — bs ** — 2 — — FX; — —, Fr —. e = ny OE en 8 — rs > Sv — N J * .... — > - ——— — aw. — oooh 8 — — 4 A > * "Ou "_ 3 — 7 —_— +... - p 2 Y ; * 22. — ot; = 2} Na PL OO "jp nom" are. r _z 4 : k a ——_— | Z « Aa. al % — 7 — — — 2 = i —_ \ r © ogg — —— —. It was thus permitted to remain, proved thorns and guerrillas to the people of Israel. The destruction of the Canaanites therefore was fully deserved by their crimes; and was required to preserve their crimes. Iſrael from being enſnared by them or by their posterity into the same crimes. The latter circumstance explains the reason why even the young children of the people of Canaan were included in the sentence of extirpation: and justifies the ways of God to man in an instance which has been alleged as contrary to all ideas of the Divine rectitude by objectors, who seem to have forgotten that in earthquakes also, and in famines, and in famines, the Deity sees fit to let unoffending infancy be involved in the common dejection; and that a future life affords ample scope for. 