The Syrians and the Phoenicians, together with the Assyrians, are indebted to the same cause for the greatness which they displayed. The confusion in which the chronology of all these nations is involved, prevents us from enlarging on their character and condition". Suffice it to say, that the period of their highest exaltation is between the call of Abraham and the time when the Judges had the supreme authority in Israel'. During this interval, those emigrations from Egypt and Phoenicia, which gave character and importance to Greece, took place". The Phoenicians pushed their maritime discoveries and settlements to Africa, and Spain'.

sent forth colonies to

Greece, in her turn,

Sicily and Italy', who

founded the flourishing republics of Syra

administration, Delany's Rev. Exam. with Candour, vol. 3. chap. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

p Stillingfleet's Orig. Sac. book 1.

q Abraham left Haran, 1921, before Christ. The Judges ruled from 1405 to 1095, before Christ.

r 1556, A. C. Cecrops in Athens, 1485, Danaus in Argos, 1493, Cadmus in Thebes. Gillies' Greece, vol. i. chap. 1. s Calmet's Dictionary, articles Phoenicians, Africa, Ca

naan.

t About the eighth century before Christ.

VOL. I.

13

cuse, Sybaris, Crotona, and others, which in time yielded to the superior power of the Romans, and were lost in their mighty empire.

Of all the Heathen nations subsequent to this period, the Greeks and the Romans attained the greatest exaltation. Among them the principles of civilization were better understood; the powers of the human mind displayed in a much higher degree; and the various relations of life made productive of superior personal enjoyment, and more permanent and extensive public benefit, than among the others. Who that is the least read in history, has not heard of the fame and grandeur of these celebrated nations; nations, immortalized by their statesmen, their philosophers, their poets, their historians, their warriors. To this day, their writings are considered as models of composition, and fountains of erudition. In their intercourse with each other they appear to have made many and great advances towards that state, which is now considered as the most improved and best calculated to make such intercourse a

blessing". In the discharge of their duties as members of political society; in their national conduct towards other nations, they displayed virtues, which justly entitle them to our admiration and respect". Among them, we find that civil liberty flourished; the arts and sciences were cultivated; and numerous examples of private as well as public worth, were constantly presenting themselves to view, and spreading around them their salutary influence. Let me not be misunderstood. I am speaking of Heathen nations, and endeavouring to do that justice to them which they merit. Comparing them with the word of God, they were awfully deficient in morals”; many imperfections existed in the administration of their governments; and they cultivated the infamous science of magic. Yet the contrast between them and the other Heathen nations is striking; so much

u Potter's Antiquities of Greece, and Adams' Roman Antiquities, under the different heads of information belonging to social intercourse. Anacharsis's Travels. Ferguson's

Roman Republic.

An interesting paragraph on this subject, will be found in Saurin's Sermons, Eng. Trans. vol. iv. Serm. 6.

y Rom. i.

So, that no one who does not delight in singularity, will withhold from them the crown of reward for their superiority.

These nations, through the medium of tradition, were acquainted with many of the truths which God had from time to time revealed to his people. Besides the information which had been handed down from one generation to another, they enjoyed the instruction of their Sages, who travelled to Egypt and elsewhere, to enlarge their knowledge. From these sources they derived their religious systems, and their forms of worship. Without entering into any detail of their theology or ceremonies, I desire you to fix your attention simply on the animal sacrifices which they offered to their idols.

By examining the accounts which are given of these sacrifices, their nature, the state of the victims, the ceremonies accompanying their death, the design of the offerers, and every thing which was considered as essential to their acceptance on the part of Heaven, and their benefit to men, there will be found a very close, and in many respects, surprising similitude be

z Gillies' Greece. Rollin's Anc. Hist.

tween them, and those appointed by God". These sacrifices taught them the necessity of redemption by blood; not that they understood the doctrine of such redemption as revealed, but by these sacrifices they confessed themselves sinners, and sought forgiveness from their offended Sovereign: To this the apostle refers, when he says, "The Gentiles which have not the law, do

by nature the things contained in the "law, these having not the law, are a law "unto themselves: which show the work "of the law written in their hearts, their "conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile, accusing or else "excusing one another"." The law of which he speaks, is the Mosaic law, which throughout taught the necessity of our redemption by Christ, and purification by blood. The "things contained in this law," of which sacrifices were the chief, giving meaning and efficacy to all the rest, the Gentiles, he says, did by nature. "Nature," therefore, "was not that which discovered

a Potter's Grec. Antiq. vol. i. b. 2. chap. 4. Adams' Rom. Antiq. Religion of the Rom. sect. 3.

b Rom. ii. 14, 15.