when the blow was juft defcending, with a fearful voice, and trembling hand, he would appoint a fucceffor; or what is full as probable, his apprehenfions would predominate over all ideas of natural justice, or else the ftrange fuggeftions of at least a poffiblity, that deftiny might delay to discharge its promife, would induce him to die amidst the deceits of hope, and leave his unfecured property to the rapacity of law, and the contest of various claimants. Mofes, however, is reprefented as going on, immediately after this, in the great affairs which were allotted to him. Undifturbed by the common terrors of ordinary men, we ftill find him tranfmitting the laws of life and eternity, from God to man: He continued, as before, to fettle with the fame fagacity, the moral, civil and religious fyftem: He was the amanuenfis of Providence; and after he had done all the appointed fervice to fociety, he died at the age of one hundred and twenty years, in the fulleft poffeffion of every faculty; for "his eye was "not dim, nor his natural force abated."

And yet, as there has not arisen another like Mofes, whom God knew face to face; and, as the life of man is, fince confiderably fhortened (infomuch that all the fcriptural fimiles of its brevity are in a moral 'fenfe unable to give us the precife idea) the concealment of the laft hour is a particular indulgence to us: Prefcience would diftrefs the most virtuous mind, and in every light we can poffibly view this matter, ignorance is blifs, and foreknowledge, would, to all intents and purpofes, be agony.

ESSAY

XXIV.

STORY OF CALEB and OTHNIEL.

PASSAGE.

AND CALEB SAID, HE THAT SMITETH KIRJATH-SEPHER, AND TAKETH IT TO HIM WILL I GIVE ACHSAR MY DAUGHTER TO WIFE.

IN

N the fhort, but very pleafing narratives of Caleb and Othniel, bravery and piety are powerfully recommended and rewarded. Caleb's story is related by himself in the 14th chapter of Joshua, from whence we eafily fee into his charac-] Enamoured of glory himself, he naturally loved it in others; and being called to battle in a righteous caufe, he propofed, by way of encouragement to the youthful heroes of his day, the most precious prize in his poffeffion-even Achfah, his daughThis propofal fired the bofom and,

ter.

ter.

animated the exertions of the youth Othniel, who took it, and received the beautiful reward. With this fair present, it fhould feem, he led a life of honour and virtue, ever warmly devoted to his God, and his country: for, after the death of Joshua, when the children of Ifrael again relapsed into disobedience, and ingratitude, and the Almighty fold them to the king of Mefopotamia, as a punishment, Othniel was the perfon who, upon their repentance, was ordained to deliver them from the chains of captivity: and fuch was the wifdom of this hero's mind, that after he had rescued them from flavery by the valour of his arm, he kept the land in the compofure of peace forty years. All that time the place had relt; nor do we hear of any farther flagrant inftances of trefpass, or violation, till after his death; upon which, that disobedient people once more began to revolt, and degenerate.

The union of magnanimity and moral goodness well deferve the highest treasures

of

of reward; and it were to be wifhed, that the courage of Othniel was conftantly enriched by the principles of Othniel. War, in itself, is certainly only a more legal butchery than private murder, but when the sword is drawn in a cause like this, where integrity was blended with intrepidity, every bofom is officious to share the honours, and every hand ready to bestow the laurel. The father-in-law of Othniel was, himself not infenfible, however, to the deserts of victory, and we find him afferting his claim before Joshua, like a foldier. How beautifully has he contrived to rehearse his own fucceffes, without vainglory, or oftentation! And he speaks of the fervices he has done, and is still able to do the state, without incurring from delicacy itself the character of a boaster.

Forty years old was I, (fays he) when

Mofes, the fervant of the Lord fent me "from Kadesh barnea to efpy out the "land; and I brought him word again, as "it was in mine heart. "on that day, faying, H 5

And Mofes fware

furely the land

" whereon