inconfift- denominations, they have no title to what they may appreency of un- hend will refult to the advantage of their caufe from believers. thofe prophets in the point before us. This declaration Dr. Prideaux we have thought proper to make, fince, in order to serve a prefent turn, thefe gentlemen will vouchsafe fometimes to allow the teftimony of an infpired writer, especially when it seems to run counter to any other of the facred penmen, or to oppose what is advanced by fome friend to revelation. Of this we have a flagrant inftance, not to mention others that might be produced, in a late profligate writer, who has admitted the teftimony of Mofes, in order to overturn the authority of St. Paul, and to prove the generality at least of commentators to have mistaken the fenfe of the facred historian in a particular paffage. But, not to dwell longer upon this topic, fuch ftale artifices, not to fay grofs prevarications, are known to be common among the patrons of infidelity, by all who have examined their writings with any attention $. Most writers, indeed, are too apt to extol the authority of the antients, when it tends to establish some novel scheme; and to explode the fame authority, when it makes against any favourite hypothefis. This, it must be owned, is a fault, and will always be condemned by perfons of candour and ingenuity. But it is the height of impudence to confider a writer as an impoftor, and at the fame time to have recourse to him, in order to confirm an opinion that we think is founded on truth. This will hold good with regard to profane authors, and even those of little fignificancy or repute. What name, then, does he deferve, what mark of infamy ought he to be branded with, who acts in this manner with regard to thofe, who have all the requifite criterions that can be claimed by writers divinely inspired, and whofe impofture, could it be clearly evinced, muft draw a veil of gloominess and horror over the whole rational world! As for Dr. Prideaux, when he affirms Belefis, upon the diffolution of the antient Affyrian empire, to have poffeffed miftaken. himself of Arabia, it must be owned, that he opposes what has been advanced in this differtation; but, at the fame time, it cannot be denied, that he likewife opposes himself. Befides, we have already overthrown this unfupported affertion.. The truth of the matter is, that learned gentleman had not taken care to inform himself fufficiently of the ftate and condition of the Arabs, from the days of Ifhmael to the prefent time. This may eafily be evinced from feveral paffages in his laft invaluable work.. However, we must make a wide CHUBB's differtat. or inquiry concerning the history of Melchizedek. Lond. 1746. difference difference between him, and the aforefaid writers. He has deferved well of literature and religion, whereas they, though educated in a Chriftian country, are a fcandal and reproach to both t. the truth IN fine, the Arabs, and the Jews, both the defcendents The Arabs of Abraham, are at this time living monuments of the di- and Jews vine authority of the facred hiftorian, and confequently of living mothe truth of Chriftianity. The former have fubfifted as a numents of nation near 4000 years, though in a state of enmity with their neighbours, and even, as far as in them lav, with all of Chriftimankind. This plainly evinces them to have been preferved anity. in their independency by a divine over-ruling power. For nothing but fuch a power could have fcreened them from the numerous and formidable enemies, with whom they have been perpetually invironed. And if this be the cafe, how fully has the divine prediction been hitherto verified, even in the moft extenfive fenfe, which affirms, that Ishmael, or, in other words, his pofterity, to the remoteft periods of time, shall dwell in the prefence of all his brethren » ? HAVING thus proved by an hiftorical deduction of facts, and confequently in the ftrongeft manner the fubject will admit, that the Arabs were never wholly fubdued by any foreign power, we hope our readers, or at leaft the fober and rational part of them, will acquiefce in what has been advanced. They cannot in reafon defire ftrict mathematical demonftration, when an historical point, at fuch a vast distance of time, is to be established, the object of fuch an inquiry not being capable of it; tho' we have approached a complete induction, which is fuch a kind of demonftration, as near as poffible. For we have rendered it in the highest degree probable, that the defcendents of Ishmael were not reduced to a ftate of fervitude in any age between the death of their great progenitor and the prefent time. We have also either anfwered or obviated all objections, deferving the least notice, that have been, or may be, urged against the conftant and perpetual independency of thofe Arabs. Nor have we been at all partial to the cause of CHRISTIANITY in this affair; but have drawn up thofe objections in the strongest terms, and in fuch a manner as to exclude even the least appearance of bigotry or fuperftition. The internal excellency of the CHRISTIAN RELIGION and the external evidence that fupports it ftand in no need of, nay, they utterly dif claim, any arguments that will not appear ftrictly conclufive to a rational and ingenuous mind. But whether the greatest part of our modern fceptics and unbelievers,, at least those * PRID. connect. &c. vol. i. p. 1. Univ. hift. vol. xx. p. 200, 201. Gen. xvi. 12. . who who have for fome years paft fo frequently entertained the public with their most acute and ingenious lucubrations, exhibit any indications of fuch a mind, we fubmit to the judg ment of even the fober and more candid part of their brethren themselves; we say, the fober and more candid part of their brethren themselves; tho' it must be owned, that no modeft diffident fceptic ought to be confidered as upon the fame footing with a petulant, obdurate, and blafpheming infidel. There is certainly a wide difference between them. Nor can we deny, that a proper diftinction ought likewife to be made between the true and genuine defenders of Christianity, and those who, by their abfurd principles, and ill polemical conduct, caft a flur upon it. The former are intirely divefted of bigotry and fuperftition, adorned with charity in its utmost luftre; never depreciate reason by too low a depreffion, or too high an elevation of it; pay a proper regard to the aids with which literature supplies religion; and remain firmly attached to all the primitive and apoftolical doctrines of CHRISTIANITY. But the latter erect fuperftructures upon the foundations of CHRISTIANITY, which are fubverfive of it; clog our most holy religion with such abfurdities, as will prove an eternal obftacle to the converfion of unbelievers, and, by their departure from the dictates of common fenfe, as well as want of charity, hinder the farther propagation and extenfion of it. These men are by no means qualified to undertake the defence of the moft pure and holy, the moft equitable and juft, the most charitable, humane, and benevolent, and, we may add, the moft excellent and rational inftitution that ever appeared in the world. Non tali auxilio, nec defenforibus iftis, INDE X. INDE X. N. B. To fave the trouble and expence of a geographical table to this large The numbers expressed by letters refer to the volume, thofe by figures to the page, A t A. ARON, the brother of Mofes, married ibid. a Chriftian martyr in Devonshire, xv. kaliff of the Saracens, his advantageous king of Bulgaria, murdered by his brother, Aba, a city in Phocis, by whom founded, vi. 230. a mountain in Armenia, ix. 486. † Abacanum, a city in Sicily, described, viii. Abala, a city on the coaft of Italy, xiii. 457. † Abalita, where fituate, xviii. 259. Aballaba, a Roman ftation in Westmorland, † Abana, a river in Syria, described, ii. 262, Abantes, firit inhabitants of Euboea, viii. 375. Abarts, drive out the Gepida, and take pos Abarim, a ridge of mountains, reaching from Abaras's speech to Scipio Africanus, xii. 400. + Abas, a city of Thrace, viii. 375- leader of the Abantes killed, viii. 377, † Abafa, where situate, xv. 166. 253. † Abaffia, its limits, xviii. 253, feq. Various Abaffines, their power over the Nile examined, Abb, the eleventh month, or July of the Jews, Ab-beth-din, among the Jews, his office, x, 245, Abchamax, fabulous account of him, xvii. ↑ Abcorrenge, a river in Perka, v. 66, (L). Abd albareth, fuppofed by the Arabs to be Abdas, confecrated bishop in Perfia, xi. 89. Abdaftartus, king of Tyre, in Phoenicia, mur- Abdera, a city of Thrace, x. 49. By whom Abdon, judges Ifrael eight years, iv. 27. His Abdua, a fhower of tones near it, iii. 478, (O). Abd Shems, king of Yaman,, xviii. 419. Abel, when probably born, i. 150. The im- Abel Mizraim, why fo called by the Canaanites, Abelard, accused of fome erroneous opinions, i. 15. Abelox's fratagem in favour of the Spanish Abemergius, educates Izates, prince of Adiabene, Aber-Gavenni, where fituated, and whence named, xix. 86. Abefte, a city in Italy, declares for Vefpafian, Abgarus I. founder of the kingdom of Edeffa,. II. his conquefts, ibid. III. his letter to Christ, ibid. (A) feq. VI. ibid. VII. ibid. Embafly to Trajan, ibid. xv. advice to Craflus, xi. 21. Abias invades Abylene, x. 166. Defeated by Abiatbar efcapes Saul's maffacre, iv. 48. Flies to David, ibid. Encourages David, 54. Abibal, first king of Tyre mentioned in history, Abigail, one of David's wives, taken captive by Abibu, fon of Aaron, by Elizabeth, iii. 365. Abijab foretels to Jeroboam the ruin of his Abii, a Scythian nation, fue for peace with Abijam, or Abijab, king of Judah, iv. 114. Abil, an antient Arabian tribe, xviii. 370. Abimael, one of the fons of Joktan, where Abiman, fon of Anak, defeated by Caleb, ii. king of Gerar, his good character, ii. - II. his kindness and juftice to Ifaac, ii. a natural fon of Gideon, iv. 17. His cha- -- the high-prieft, his kindness to David. iv. and Zadok, two high-priefts at once, iv. Abinadab, the ark placed at his house, iv. 33. Abiram, one of the mutineers against Mofes, Abishai aflifts David to kill a fon of Goliah, ii. gets the command of his army, iv. 82. Alavius's treachery to Sopater, xvi. 151, (O). Ablavius |