Lectures on the four last books of the Pentateuch - Richard Graves - Google Books

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CONTENTS.

THE AUTHENTICITY AND TRUTH OF THE HISTORY.

THE Jewish nation has received the Pentateuch, as containing the

only authentic history of their Lawgiver and his institutions, from

the very era when these institutions commenced, to the present

day-Arguments to prove the reception of the Pentateuch,

from the present day, back to the return of the Jews from the

Babylonish Captivity-Arguments to prove the Pentateuch was

not first compiled at that era, or altered and modified according

to circumstances then existing; but that it was a previously ex-

isting and acknowledged code-Pentateuch proved prior to the

separation of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah-Prior to the

establishment of the regal government in Israel-Not first com-

piled by Samuel-Acknowledged by Joshua.

The authenticity and truth of the four last books of the Pentateuch

proved from the subject and structure of the history, so far as

the facts are not miraculous-Importance and peculiar nature of

its various regulations concerning property-Publicity and im-

portance of the main series of facts-Marks of truth in the

minute detail of these facts-Simplicity of style and narrative—

Selection and arrangement of facts and circumstances, such as

is natural if Moses were the writer, unaccountable otherwise-

Impartiality-Comparison of the Pentateuch, in this respect,

The authenticity and truth of the four last books of the Pentateuch

confirmed, by a comparison of the book of Deuteronomy with

those of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers-Statement of the

general argument deduced from this comparison-How far si-

milar, how far dissimilar, to that used by Archdeacon Paley,

in his Hora Paulina-Its application to the history, so far as it

relates events not miraculous-Instanced in general coincidences

between the recapitulation in Deuteronomy, and the direct nar-

ration in the preceding books-In particular facts and circum-

stances-As to rules of purification-Directions for carrying

the tabernacle-Disposition of the tribes in camp, &c.-An

apparent contradiction-How reconciled-As to the appoint-

ment of inferior judges—And of the twelve spies.

The argument stated in the preceding Lecture, applied to the nar-

rative of miraculous events in the four last books of the Pen-

tateuch, in order to shew that they are related with the same

marks of truth as the common events-Instanced in the manner

of referring to the delivery of the Law in Horeb-And to the

punishment inflicted for the worship of Baal Peor-And to the

delivery of the Decalogue-In the general manner of allusions

to different miracles-In the account of various miracles wrought

to punish opposition to the authority of Moses-Apparent con-

tradiction as to the different statements of circumstances attend-

ing the punishment of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram-Its expla-

nation-Inference from thence.

The common events of the Jewish history incredible, if separated

from the miraculous, but when combined with them, form one

natural and consistent narrative-Instanced in the history of

Moses before he undertook the deliverance of the Jews-In the

difficulties attending that attempt, from the Jews and from the

Egyptians-His conduct as leader of the emigration unaccount-

able if unaided by supernatural power-At the departure from

Egypt At the Red Sea-On the return of the twelve spies

from Canaan-In the detention of the Jews in the wilderness

Admitting the authenticity of the Pentateuch, the miracles recorded

in the four last books of it are unquestionably true and clearly

supernatural-Leslie's four marks of certainty-Their application

to the Mosaic miracles-First character, the facts, public-Se-

cond, clearly supernatural-Various instances of this-Third

and fourth, recorded by public monuments and commemorative

rites, commencing at the time of the facts-Instanced in the

tribe of Levi-The three great feasts-The entire Jewish ritual

-The form of government-The distribution of property, &c.-

Recapitulation, and Conclusion of the FIRST PART.

THE THEOLOGICAL, MORAL, AND POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE

THEOLOGY OF THE MOSAIC LAW.

General subject and arrangement of this Part-Origin, nature and

effects of idolatry-Corruption of patriarchal religion-By the

worship of the heavenly bodies-The elements-Deified men-

Egyptian hieroglyphics introduce the worship of animals and

vegetables, &c.-Connexion of idolatry with magic, &c.-Ido-

latry not to be checked by ordinary means-Vices attending it—

Design of covenant with Abraham-Jewish scheme conducted

according to the analogy of nature-Theology of the Mosaic

Law-Declares the self-existence of God-His unity-His mo-

ral perfections-His providence-Such a theology affords a

strong presumptive argument of a divine revelation.

MORAL PRINCIPLES OF THE JEWISH LAW.

The Ten Commandments due to the Mosaic Law-Their extent-

Their importance illustrated by the practices of the heathen

world-The Jewish religion inculcates the two great principles,

of love to God, and love to man-Also love to our enemies, as

far as was practicable under the Jewish economy-It did not

substitute outward observances for internal piety-Proved from

the general principles of internal religion, which it establishes-

From the conditions on which alone it proposes the forgiveness

of transgressions-From the connexion it points out between

the ceremonies of the ritual and internal religion-Recapitu-

MORAL PRINCIPLES, &c.-continued.

The penal code of the Jewish Law conformable to its moral and

religious system-Capital crimes-Idolatry, and the various

crimes connected with it-Strict prohibition of human sacri-

fices-Supplementary sanctions, presupposing a special Provi-

dence-Jewish constitution a theocracy-Severity against ido-

latry justified-Jewish Law prohibits all impurity-Yet not un-

naturally austere-Disobedience to parents, how punished-

Wisdom of the Mosaic Law, respecting murder and manslaughter

With respect to slavery-And false witnesses-Principle of

retaliation explained-Equity of punishment for the invasion of

property-Mildness of laws towards slaves-Form of trial—

Consistence of the religious and penal code.

POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE JEWISH LAW.

Importance of the mode in which property is distributed in a state

-Agrarian Law of Lycurgus, &c.-Defects of the Spartan con-

stitution in this point Agrarian Law among the Jews-How

guarded-Promoted agriculture and attachment to rural life—

Jewish nobility and gentry-Jewish yeomanry sufficient for de-

fensive war-Offensive wars effectually discouraged by the Jew

ish constitution-Constitution of the tribe of Levi peculiar to

the Jewish scheme-Its great utility-Jewish Law guarded the

rights and comforts of the very lowest classes-Of the stranger

-The poor-The aged and infirm-Recapitulation.

ORIGINALITY AND DESIGN OF THE JEWISH RITUAL.

Importance of the question, Whether the Jewish Ritual is opposed

to the system of heathen worship, or in any degree borrowed

from it?—The latter improbable, if Judaism is of divine ori-

ginal-Spencer's opinion-grounded on supposed political wis-

dom of such a proceeding-Examples he adduces-mistaken as

to these examples-as to reformation from Judaism to Christi-

anity-and from Gentilism to Christianity-Attempt to accom-

modate Christianity to pre-existing customs, &c.-Its mischiefs-

Reformation from Popery to Protestantism-Spencer's opinion

contrary to Scripture-Parts of the Jewish Ritual more ancient

than Moses-Origin of circumcision-Designed contrast between

Judaism and idolatry-Jewish Ritual a barrier against idolatry,

proved by experience-Josephus-Tacitus-Spencer's opinion

supported by insufficient evidence-How far Judaism resembled

idolatry Instances of contrast-Minuteness of Ritual, how

useful and its sanctuary, priests, &c.-Ritual not burthen-

REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF JUDAISM AS PREPARATORY TO

SETTLEMENT OF THE JEWS IN CANAAN.

SECT. I.-The objection arising from the treatment of the Ca-

naanites considered, so far as relates to the Canaanites them-

selves-Objection includes two questions-Doubt as to the

extent of the severity exercised against the Canaanites-This

severity justified by their crimes-Their idolatry not an error of

judgment alone-Cruelties and pollutions it produced-Neces-

sity of expelling them from the land in which the Jews were to

settle Their guilt incorrigible-The objection proved to lead to

Atheism-Analogy between the general course of Providence,

and the treatment of the Canaanites-In the sufferings of the

innocent-Connexion of this measure with the entire scheme of

the divine economy-Review of the considerations offered on the

first part of the objection.

SECT. II. Second part of the objection which relates to the Jews

-A clear divine command changes the moral character of the

action-Jews mere instruments in the hands of God-Series of

facts proving this-Jews not actuated by the common passions

of conquerors-Avarice and licentiousness checked by the situ-

ation in which they were placed-And sanguinary passions-

Abhorrence of idolatry impressed upon them, but not a spirit

of personal or national hostility-Proved by their conduct to the

Canaanites-Necessity of employing the Jews as instruments of

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