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

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this severity-To alienate the two nations-To overturn the

grand support of idolatry-To impress a salutary terror on the

Jews themselves-To supersede the necessity of a continued

series of miracles-Treatment of the Amalekites--Nature of

their crime-Connexion of their punishment with the general

scheme of the Jewish dispensation-General answer to all ob-

jections of this kind-This dispensation did not encourage a

spirit of general persecution or conquest-Care taken it should

not harden the hearts of the Jews-General laws of war among

the Jews merciful-Great care to encourage a spirit of huma-

nity-Conclusion.

CONDUCT OF THE JEWS.

SECT. I.-Objection against the reality of the Mosaic miracles de-

rived from the frequent idolatries of the Jews, invalid-These

idolatries did not prove any doubt of the divine original of the

Mosaic Law-First species of idolatry by forbidden symbols,

&c. Whence so frequent-Implied acknowledgment of Jeho-

vah-Second species of idolatrous worship, in forbidden places,

and with idolatrous rites, implied the same-Third species, wor-

ship of idols with Jehovah-Whence-Fourth, worship of idols

without God-Yet not an absolute denial of God, or rejection

of his worship-Defects and apostasies of the Jews confirm the

certainty of a divine interposition, rather than weaken it-Ob-

jection against the divine economy, from the temptations they

were exposed to, unreasonable Residence of Jews in Egypt

considered-And the temptations from the surrounding Canaan-

ites-Degree and duration of the divine interposition suited to

the analogy of nature-Mr. Gibbon accuses the Jews, falsely,

of being indifferent spectators of the most amazing miracles.

SECT. II. The conduct of the Jews, subsequent to the death of

Joshua, is not inconsistent with the divine original of the Mosaic

Law-Situation of the Jews under their judges, adapted to the

purposes of the divine economy-Expediency of placing them

in this situation-Severity of the punishment inflicted by Pro-

vidence for their offences, no valid objection-Establishment of

the kingly government a confirmation of the authenticity of the

Pentateuch-Why desired by the people-Why permitted by

God-Theocracy preserved under the kings-Illustrates the na-

ture of the divine control over the Jews-And of the Jewish

character-Both shew the credibility of the Jewish idolatries,

notwithstanding the divine original of the Mosaic Law-Sepa-

ration of the ten tribes an apparent objection-Its origin-Ido-

latry of Solomon-Inference from it as to the idolatries of the

Jews-Separation of the two kingdoms, why expedient-How

effected-Its natural tendency-Abused by Jeroboam-Even his

conduct confirms the divine original of the Mosaic Law-Schism

he introduces consistent with that belief-Gave occasion to ma-

nifest the divine Providence in the history of the ten tribes-

Effects of this separation on the two tribes-Instanced in the

history of Abijah-Of Rehoboam-Of Asa-Of Hezekiah-

General reflection on the providential government of the Jews---

On the caution to be exercised in estimating the characters de-

scribed in the Old Testament-And the effects of the Jewish

SANCTIONS OF THE JEWISH LAW.

SECT. I. Objections against the Mosaic Law, from its employing

temporal sanctions-And visiting the iniquities of the fathers on

the children-WARBURTON'S opinion on this subject-His work

incomplete his reasoning not perfectly conclusive-How far I

agree with, and how far I differ from, his opinion-Two conclu-

sions seem true: first, that Moses employed temporal sanctions

in his Law; second, the history of the Old Testament shews

he believed a future state, and contains a gradual development

of it-Moses employed temporal sanctions, both nationally and

individually-This accounted for-From the nature of the Jew-

ish theocracy-Reality of the extraordinary providence exercised

over the Jews proved in this work, without resorting to War-

burton's medium-Temporal sanctions sufficient-Necessary to

confute idolatry-Adapted to the intellectual and moral charac-

ter of the Jews-Best mode of introducing the doctrine of a

future state, with effect-A necessary part of the theocracy—

Exemplified to man the principles of God's moral government. 264

SECT. II.-Visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children-In

what sense to be understood-Not unjust-Necessary in a the-

ocracy, as far as relates to temporal and national punishments-

Chiefly denounced against idolatry-In this case not only just,

but merciful-Human tribunals not permitted by the Mosaic

Law, to act upon this principle-Why-Analogous to God's

general providence-A dispensation of mercy rather than seve-

rity-Limited in its extent and application.

KNOWLEDGE OF A FUTURE LIFE AMONG THE JEWS.

SECT. I.-Doctrine of a future state, though it does not form the

sanction of the Mosaic Law, is yet contained in the writings of

Moses-Warburton's assertions on this subject, hasty and incon-

sistent with each other-And with the Seventh Article of the

Church of England-Future state intimated in the history of

the creation and the fall-By the circumstances attending the

death of Abel-By the translation of Enoch-By the command

to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac-Future state must have been

known to the Patriarchs, and influenced their conduct-Attested

in the Epistle to the Hebrews-Instanced in the history of

Jacob Of Moses-By our Lord's reply to the doubts of the

Sadducees-The declaration of Balaam-Future state an object

of popular belief among the Jews-From the laws relating to

necromancers, &c.

SECT. II.-Doctrine of a future state, why not more clearly and

frequently inculcated in the Pentateuch-Ör under the Judges-

Gradual improvement of the Jews-Future state gradually pro-

mulgated suitably to this improvement-By David, in Ps. xvi.

xvii. xxxvi. xlix. ciii. cxv. cxxxix.-By Solomon, in Proverbs,

passim, particularly in ch. iv. viii. xiv. xxiv.: Still more fully in

Ecclesiastes, of which work this doctrine is the basis, particu-

larly in ch. iii. viii. xi. and at the conclusion of the book-How

further impressed on the Jews by miraculous facts-By three

resurrections from the dead-By the translation of Elijah-This

doctrine frequently intimated, and gradually taught with the

greatest clearness by the Prophets-Isaiah-Jeremiah-Ezekiel

-Hosea Joel-Amos--Nahum-And above all, Daniel-And

also in the book of Job.

EFFECTS OF JUDAISM ON THE GENTILES.

SECT. I. Objection to Judaism, first from its being confined to a

single nation-Secondly, from its implying mutability in God,

as being opposed to Christianity-Answer to the first-Judaism

not confined in its effects to one nation, but intended, through

the instrumentality of the Jews, to enlighten mankind-This

effect foreseen and attended to in the Jewish scheme-Various

instances to shew this-Solomon's prayer at the consecration of

the temple establishes the same inference-The miracles wrought

for the Jews made a strong impression on the Egyptians-On

the Canaanites-On the Philistines-On the heathens in the

reign of Solomon-But counteracted by the principles of idolatry

- Instanced in the history of the Samaritans-Who were how-

ever prepared by Judaism for Christianity-Effects produced by

Judaism on the heathens during the Captivity-Instanced in the

history of Jeremiah-Of Daniel-Of his three friends-Of

Belshazzar-Of Cyrus-These facts publicly attested-Impor-

tance of such attestations-Traces of these effects in the East-

Traces of the same effects in the religion of Zoroaster-Of Ma-

homet-Recapitulation-Universal reformation not to be expect-

ed at that period of the world-Objection derived from partial

effects of Judaism, erroneous in its statement of facts-Incon-

clusive in reasoning--A revelation not being universal, implies

no injustice in God.

SECT. II.-Philosophy not introduced into Europe until near the

period of the Babylonish Captivity-Thales-Anaximander—

Anaxagoras-Probability that some of their opinions were ulti-

mately derived from the Jews-General circumstances in the

history of Grecian philosophy and religion, render the same

thing probable of them-Their sages travelling for learning into

Egypt and the East-Connexion of the Jews with Egypt at

this period-Early philosophers of Greece delivered their tenets

dogmatically-Inference from thence-The higher we trace the

philosophy and religion of Greece, the purer it is found-Infe-

rence - Providence gradually prepared the world for the Gospel

Grecian language and literature-Connexion of Greece with

Asia increased-Conquests of Alexander-Singular distribution

of the Jews at this period-Jews in Egypt use the Greek tongue

-Septuagint translation, its importance-The formation of the

Alexandrian library-Sects of Grecian philosophy-Their effect

-Extension of the Roman empire-Facilitated the spread of

JUDAISM PREPARATORY TO CHRISTIANITY.

SECT. I.-Objection derived from the supposed inconsistency of

the Jewish and Christian schemes-The Law and the Gospel

consistent-Jewish scheme intended, from the first, to introduce

the Gospel-Proved from the promise to Abraham-Circum-

stances attending the repetition of this promise, to shew that

Abraham was a type of Christ-Jacob's prophecy concerning

Shiloh-Psalm ii. xxii. xlvii. lxvii. and lxxii.-Isaiah ii.and xlix.

-These prophecies clearly prove the Mosaic Law was to intro-

duce, and then give place to the Gospel-Why Moses did not

expressly announce the intended abrogation of the Mosaic Law

He has intimated this in his promise of a prophet to arise

"like unto himself"-Our Lord alone answers this character-

Christ a priest after the order of Melchisedek-Meaning of

this declaration explained in the Epistle to the Hebrews-Argu-

ment in this Epistle, ch. x.-Jeremiah prophesies the substitu-

tion of the Gospel for the Law-And the spiritual nature of the

SECT. II. The Law and the Prophets not only professedly design-

ed to introduce the Gospel, but did in fact prepare the way for

it-Necessity of the Law as a preparation for the Gospel, shewn

by considering the probable state of the world, if Judaism had

never existed-Extreme difficulty of introducing true religion

in such a state of mankind-Such universal degeneracy prevented

by the Jewish dispensation-Proved by a brief view of the

facts adduced in this work - Adherence of the Jews to their

Law, proves the reality of a providential interposition-The

prophecies delivered by Moses on this subject prove the same-

The Law was typical and figurative of the Gospel-Instances-

The moral character of the Law prepared for the Gospel-The

connexion of the two schemes shewn by various instances-The

Jews employed as the immediate instruments for introducing

the Gospel-Rejection of the Gospel by the mass of the Jewish

nation does not disprove the connexion of the Law and the Gos-

pel-Confirms the proof from prophecy-and from miracles.

THE PAST AND PRESENT STATE OF THE JEWS EXHIBITS THE

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PROPHECY.

Evidence from Prophecy applicable to Judaism-Prophecy of Moses

-As to the prosperity of the Jews-As to the punishments

they were to suffer-Considered in their variety-Their sources

-Their duration-The face of their country-These predictions

antecedent to the events-Clearly applicable to them— Not such

as human wisdom or political sagacity would have dictated-In-

stanced in the three Jewish Feasts-The Sabbatic Year-The

remoteness of their destroyers-The circumstances attending

the destruction of Jerusalem-In their subsequent dispersion-

In their present state and sufferings.

CONCLUDING LECTURE.

ON THE FUTURE CONVERSION AND RESTORATION OF

Expectations of the Jews on this subject-justified by Prophecy-

Prophecy of Moses-of Isaiah-Predicts a second restoration--

and different in its circumstances from the Return from Babylon

-After a larger period-more permanent-This restoration is

to be connected with the extension of the Gospel-Present cir-

cumstances of the world consistent with this expectation—As to

Palestine-Commercial character of the Jewish nation-The

origin and circumstances of the Parisian Sanhedrim-Its ten-

dency to remove Jewish prejudices--Society in England to pro-

mote Christianity among the Jews-Other circumstances in the

present state of the world, which seem to prepare the way for

the accomplishment of the prophecies as to the final triumph of

the Gospel-Conclusion.

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