Long Livers:

3 s evidently showed the highest Contempt and Disdain of this imaginary Deity . However , as a Specimen of their Propensity to Idolatry , one cannot give a more notorious instance than the setting up the Golden Calf , which was made of those

earrings and ornaments they a little before had borrowed of the Egyptians . It is true this piece of pageantry lasted not long ; the well-grounded zeal of Moses , who had the Honour to discourse a long while very familiarly with God , put a Stop

to their religious Mirth and Gallantry ; the Idol was broken in pieces , burnt , and ground to Powder , and the Crime was no otherwise exrhated than with the Blood of 3000 Souls . It was now hi gh time for Moses to look about him ; the Law then

was form'd with all convenient Diligence and Expedition , and the Decalogue written over again , and that too ( to speak in the Hebrew Style ) by the Finger of God . And certainly , well may it he said to be divinely penn'd , inasmuch as it comprehends whatever Man is to act in relation to his God and Nei ghbour . Whoever will give himself the trouble to read over

Livilicus , will find what Rites and Coremonies were superadded in order to keep up this external Pomp and Magnificence , so necessary at that time for the People , who could not at once be brought hack to the pure worshipping of the Most Hi gh

in Spirit and in Truth . The eating of the Flesh of Annuals was tolerated , as I have elsewhere observed *; but how many restrictions this Toleration was attended with , every one that looks into the Bible may find ; the most delicious food was

absolutel y forbidden , as Swines Flesh and all Shell-Fish ; and the manner of dressing was such as required the utmost Scrutiny in relation to the Life of the Animal , and the Blood , as the Life or Soul , was particularly prohibited .

The bloody Sacrifices too were likewise continued , and several other human Inventions , which in those days God winked at , as he did at the Bill of Divorce ; hut from the Beginning ( I speak the Words of Christ ) it was not so . By reason of which external Acts , Symbols , Shadows and Hieroglyphics ( which Christians afterwards explained as Types of the Messiah ) this

Law ( quite opposite to the Christian , which was called the Law of Freedom and of Men ) was called the Law of Children and of Slaves , for it grew so troublesome and so servile at last , thro' such a Multitude of Traditions of Men , that the Yoke was heavier than could be born withal ; a

Grievance which nothing but the Law of Grace and Liberty could effectually remedy , of which by and by . And might it not have been reasonably expected after so much noble Industry and Care hi instituting such glorious Lawsthe

, Morality of which is incontestible , and all tend to Peace and Happiness , and the exterminating of Rapine , Violence and Oppression , Blood and Slaughter , that these People should have been good and happy ? but it was quite the contrary : So that this

people of Israel who were a leprous , hitchy Race , had no Merit to recommend them to the Divine Favour , but chosen thro' mere Grace , made so little use of those Benefits , that they grew the most ungrateful , wicked , bloody People on the Face of the Earth . Moses indeed , as meek as he otherwise was , had given them an Example , who growing angry at their setting up the Golden Calf ,

punished their Guilt with the blessed Slaughter of about 8000 of the People ; for Moses had said to the Levites , who slew every Man his Brother , Companion and Neighbour , consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord , every Man upon his Son and

upon his Brother , that he may bestow upon you a Blessing this Day . And this Action , which was only upon an extraordinary Emergency , was made a Precedent for the future , and the Honour of God was the Topic for succeeding Minders and

Outrages . I pass hy the Judges and Captains of Israel , as also the Blood that was shed under them , as I do their Democracy , where they quarrell'd with each other till they had quite destroyed the whole Tribe of Benjamin , excepting 600 Persons , as

also ( when they returned again to Aristocracy and Princely Government ) the unnatural Murder of Abimlech , Gideon ' s Bastard , who by a solemn Slaughter of his 70 Brethren , the legitimate Sons of his Father , upon one Stoneobtained the Sovereign

, Sway in Sheehem . This Infection shedding Blood reached also their Kings . David , a Man after God ' s own Heart , made such an ill Use of