Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1740 edition. Excerpt: ... DISSERTATION ON THE Civil Government OF THE HEBREWS. INTRODUCTION. IT is fomewhat furprizing, that when fo many able Hands have undertaken to explain the religious Rites and Ceremonies, the civil Laws and Juftice of the HebrewChmch, andCommon wealth; fo very few mould have undertaken to explain the Form and Polity of the Government itfelf. The Hebrew Commonwealth is, without queftion, one of the moft ancient of the" World, and juftly looked upon as a Model of Government of divine Original; it will deferve our Attention, as much fure, as any of the Forms of Government in the ancient times, either among the Egyptians, Greeks, or Remans. It fhould more efpecially deferve our Attention as Chriftians, who own the Laws delivered by Mofes to the Hebrew Nation, to have been given by the Oracle of B God, God, and cftablifhed by Authority of the fuprcme Govern our of the World; in which therefore, we may exped to find a wife and excellent Model, becoming the Wifdom of fuch a Lawgiver. It will yet further deferve our Attention, as a right Underftanding of feveral Parts of the religious Rites and Conftitutions of that Church will much depend upon a right Underftanding of their civil Polity and Government; for in this Conftitution both are much intermix'd with each other, fo that the one is not clearly to be underftood without the other. This Conftitution is therefore well called a Theocracy, by Jofephus; or a Government of God, in which God himfelf condefcended to govern the Hebrew Nation, with the Title and Authority of their King. It is to the fame fenfe 'David fpeaks of the Succeffion of his Son Solomon, that i Chron. he was chofen to jit upon the Throne of Xxvih. 5. tfoe kingdom of Jehovah, over Ifrael. So that the Laws of Religion and State, in...
