astronomy, and physics. The anatomy of plants and animals, the knowledge of minerals and meteors, the form of the earth, the course of the planets, and the whole system of the world, were still mysteries to them. The Chaldeans and Egyptians, who already knew something of them, kept it a great secret, and never spake of them but in riddles, with which they mixed an infinite number of superstitions and fables.

As these sciences depend chiefly upon experience, a succession of ages always improves them, and they are at present in the greatest perfection they ever were. They are taught openly to any one that will apply himself to them; and they agree perfectly with our holy religion, which condemns all superstition, divination, and magic; however, we find but too many that give ear to astrologers, and such impostors, not only peasants and ignorant people of the lowest sort, but ladies that value themselves upon their wit, politeness, and knowledge; and men that, notwithstanding they have had a good education, set up for freethinkers, and cannot possibly submit to the dictates of true religion.

What then must be the case when all this nonsense made a part of religion; when conjurors were taken for men really inspired; when

2 Many ladies of quality in France, had professed astrologers and necromancers in their household. It is well known that Louisa of Savoy, mother of Francis I. was the grand patroness of Cornelius Aggrippa. Queen Elizabeth also held the science of Dr. Dee, the conjuror, in high repute; and is reported to have held frequent conferences with him on the subject at his poor house in Mortlake.

astrology, pyromancy, necromancy, and such knaveries, were esteemed divine knowledge? How was it possible to resist the authority of the priests, who gravely recounted an infinite series of proofs in confirmation of their doctrine, and were implicitly obeyed by whole nations? They could not help believing them, when they did not know how to account for these things in a philosophical manner; and if they had known, they must have been very bold to have contradicted them."

A proneness to idolatry was not therefore peculiar to the Israelites. It was a general evil; and the hardness of heart, with which the Scripture so often reproaches them, is not for their being more attached to earthly things than other people, but for being so much as they were, after having received such particular favours from the hand of GoD, and seen the great wonders that he had wrought for them. It is true much resolution was necessary to resist the influence of the bad example of all other nations. When an Israelite was out of his own country, and amongst infidels, they reproached

The intelligent Abbé had no doubt the case of Galileo in view when he wrote the above. This great philosopher, for asserting the true system of the world, was twice im. prisoned by the holy infallible inquisition, in 1612 and 1632; obliged to renounce his heretical opinions, and not to defend them by word or writing; was condemned to imprisonment during pleasure, and to repeat the seven penitential Psalms once a week, and his books being condemned also, were publicly burnt at Rome! The doctrine for which he was persecuted, is now believed by the Pope and all his conclave! Thank God, the infernal inquisition is now no more! In Spain it had its last refuge, and there it is now suppressed. (1809)

him with having no religion at all, because they did not see him offer any sacrifice, or worship idols and when he told them of his GoD, the Creator of heaven and earth, they laughed at him, and asked him where he was. These taunts were hard to bear: David himself says that, when he was an exile, He fed himself day and night with his tears, because they daily asked him, where is thy GOD? Weak minds were staggered with these attacks, and often gave way to them.

The propensity that all mankind has to pleasure, heightened the temptation: as the heathen feasts were very frequent and magnificent, curiosity easily prevailed upon young people, especially women, to go and see the pomp of their processions, the manner of dressing out the victims, the dancing, the choirs of music, and ornaments of their temples. Some officious body engaged them to take a place at the feast, and eat the meat that was offered to idols, or come and lodge at his house. They made acquaintance and carried on love intrigues, which generally ended either in downright debauchery, or marrying contrary to the law. Thus did idolatry insinuate itself by the most common allurements of women and good cheer. In the time of Moses the Israelites were engaged in the infamous mysteries of Baal Peor by the Midianitish women, who were the strange women that perverted Solomon.

Besides, the law of GoD might appear too severe to them. They were not allowed to sa¬ b Psalm xliii. 3. Numb, xxv. 1—3.

crifice in any place but one, by the hands too of such priests only as were descended from Aaron, and according to some very strict rules. They had but three great feasts in the whole year, the Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles: a very few for people that lived in plenty, and in a climate that inclined them to pleasure: as they lived in the country, employed in husbandry, they could not conveniently meet together but at feasts, and for that reason were obliged to borrow some of strangers, and invent others. Do not we ourselves, who think we are so spiritual, and no doubt ought to be so, if we were true christians, often prefer the possession of temporal things to the hope of spiritual? And do we not endeavour to reconcile many diversions with the Gospel, which all antiquity has judged to be inconsistent with it, and against which our instructors are daily exclaiming? It is true we hold idolatry in detestation, but it is now no longer a familiar sight, and has been quite out of fashion above a thousand years. We are not then to imagine that the Israelites were more stupid than other people, because the particular favours they had received from GoD could not reclaim them from idolatry. But it must be owned that the wound of original sin was very deep, when such holy instructions and repeated miracles were found insufficient to raise men above sensible things."

d And here we may see the absolute necessity of that Holy Spirit which the Gospel has promised, to purify the heart from all its defilements, to bring life and immortality to light, and to give us correct notions of that infinitely pure

But however impure the state of the Israelites may appear, we see a much greater degree of blindness and impurity in other nations, particularly among the Greeks and Egyptians; who were in other respects the most enlightened.

CHAP. XX.

Their political State, Liberty, and domestic Power,

AFTER religion we must say something of the political state of the Israelites. They were perfectly free, especially before they had kings. They had neither homages, nor manors, nor prohibitions from hunting or fishing; nor any of those kinds of dependencies which are so common among us, that lords themselves are not exempt from them. For we see sovereign princes that are vassals, and even officers under other sovereigns, as in Germany and Italy,* They enjoyed therefore that liberty so highly valued by the Greeks and Romans, and it was their own fault that they did not enjoy it for ever; it was GOD's design they should, as appears from his reproof delivered to them by Samuel, when they asked for a king;' and Giand holy Being, who is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.

• The state of things in these countries is strangely altered since the good Abbé wrote; and even since the preceding edition of this work was published, viz. in 1805. Some of the dependant German states have been exalted to regal authority, and the Ecclesiastico-political government of Italy has been totally changed! (1809) 1 Sam. x. 18, &c,

f