ensoever you will suppose that these books MOSES were first forged? For example; pose I should now forge some romantic stoof strange things, done a thousand years ago, I in confirmation of this should endeavour to suade the Christian world, that they had all ng, from that day to this, kept the first day the week in memory of such a hero, as ollonius, Barcosbas, or Mahomet; and had all en baptized in his name; and sworn by his ne, and upon that very book (which I had en forged, and which they never saw before) their public judicatures; that this book was eir gospel and law, which they had ever ce that time, these thousand years past, unirsally received and owned, and none other. vould ask any Deist, whether he think it ssible, that such a cheat could pass, or such egend be received, as the gospel of Chrisns; and that they could be made to believe at they never had any other gospel? The me reason is applicable to the books of Mo, and to every matter of fact, which has all e four marks before mentioned; and these arks secure any such matter of fact as much -m being invented and imposed in any after es, as at the time when such facts were said be done.

Let me

in this cas is known the reas there, o Now row, and by Her memory for farti this bool such acti selves, c had bee thors o since. known liament

1

did tea taught I ask ar pass uf insist

lieved No henge, up at ter of

Let me give one very familiar example more in this case. The Stonehenge in Salisbury plain is known by every body; and yet none knows the reason, why those great stones were set there, or by whom, or in memory of what.

Now suppose I should write a book tomorrow, and affirm that these stones were set up by Hercules, Polyphemus, or Garagantua, in memory of such and such of their actions; and for farther confirmation of this should say in this book that it was written at the time, when such actions were done, and by the actors themselves, or by eye witnesses; and that this book had been received as truth, and quoted by authors of the greatest reputation in all ages since. Moreover that this book was well known in England, and enjoined by act of parliament to be taught our children, and that we did teach it to our children, and had been taught it ourselves, when we were children. I ask any Deist, whether he thinks this could pass upon England? And whether, if I should insist upon it, I should not, instead of being believed, be sent to Bedlam?

Now let us compare this with the Stonehenge, as I may call it, or twelve great stones set up at Gilgal, which is told in the fourth chapter of Joshua. There it is said, that the rea

18

ever you will suppose that these books ES were first forged? For example ; e I should now forge some romantic storange things, done a thousand years ago, confirmation of this should endeavour to de the Christian world, that they had all from that day to this, kept the first day - week in memory of such a hero, as mius, Barcosbas, or Mahomet; and had all baptized in his name; and sworn by his and upon that very book (which I had orged, and which they never saw before) ir public judicatures; that this book was gospel and law, which they had ever that time, these thousand years past, unilly received and owned, and none other. ald ask any Deist, whether he think it ble, that such a cheat could pass, or such end be received, as the gospel of Chris; and that they could be made to believe they never had any other gospel? The e reason is applicable to the books of Moand to every matter of fact, which has all four marks before mentioned; and these ks secure any such matter of fact as much being invented and imposed in any after s, as at the time when such facts were said e done.

nge in Salisbury plain

y every body; and yet none knows , why those great stones were set by whom, or in memory of what. ppose I should write a book tomoraffirm that these stones were set up les, Polyphemus, or Garagantua, in of such and such of their actions; and er confirmation of this should say in that it was written at the time, when ons were done, and by the actors themby eye witn witnesses; and that this book

- received as truth, and quoted by authe greatest reputation in all ages Moreover that this book was well n England, and enjoined by act of parto be taught our children, and that we ch it to our children, and had been it ourselves, when we were children. y Deist, whether he thinks this could on England? And whether, if I should pon it, I should not, instead of being bebe sent to Bedlam?

- let us compare this with the Stoneas I may call it, or twelve great stones set Gilgal, which is told in the fourth chapJoshua. There it is said, that the rea

son, why they were set up, was, that when their children, in after ages, should ask the meaning of it, it should be told them; and the thing, in memory of which they were set up, was such, as could not possibly be imposed upon that nation, at that time when it was said to be done; it was as wonderful and miraculous, as their passage through the Red Sea; and withal free from a very poor objection, which Deists have advanced against that miracle of the Red Sea; thinking to solve it by a springtide with the concurrence of a strong wind, happening at the same time, which left the sand so dry, that the Israelites, being all foot, might pass through the oozy places and holes, which it must be supposed the sea left behind it; but that the Egyptians, being all horse and chariots, stuck in those holes and were so entangled, that they could not march so fast, as the Israelites; and that this was all the meaning of its being said, that God took off their (the Egyptians) chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily. So that they would make nothing extraordinary, at least nothing miraculous, in all this action.

This is advanced in Le Clerc's Dissertations upon Genesis, lately printed in Holland; and that part, with others of like tendency, en