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unce that might be wanting on the way: but Jacob answered, "What needeth it? "Let me find grace in the fight of my "lord" i. e. What occafion is there, Efau, for giving thee fuch trouble? If I am again happy in the fociety and esteem. of my brother-What more can poffibly be added unto me? Heaven, in its utmost profusion of bounty, cannot more fincerely bleis me. Thus terminated the interview,, to the general joy of the parties concerned. at that time, and to the fatisfaction of every man fince, who reads the history.

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The Bible indeed, for the most part, clears up the point as it goes along; and, without feeming to poffefs the least art, almoft every narrative is actually fo constucted, as to exhibit what the critics require, and what, indeed, is faid to be effential to every compofition-a beginning, a middle, and an end. What is ftill more, the minuter laws of literature are feldom vio

Jated, especially, in what may, not impro

perly, be termed the episodes of fcripture;

and

and while on the one hand, we reverence it, as a complete and perfect system of morals, we are on the other, delighted, with a beautiful variety of antient record, and of admirable writing.

STORY of DINAH.

PASSAGE.

AND DINAH, THE

DAUGHTER OF LEAH, WHICH SHE

BARE UNTO JACOB, WENT OUT TO SEE THE DAUGH

TERS OF THE LAND.

How
HOW foon after the loss of primæval

innocence, the paffions, which were let loofe upon the world, tyrannized amongst mankind! We have fcarce got beyond the middle of the first book of the Bible, and there is hardly a violation in human nature which is not upon record. Presently after the creation of man, the first and only woman then in the world, introduced the fault of disobedience; to that, fucceeded the horrid crime of murder, the murder of a brother. Then, as popu lation increased, errors multiplied in proportion;

in

portion; and the almighty Father, feeing that the wickednefs of man was great the world, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil, continually; and, moreover, that the whole earth was filled with violence, repented that he had made it, and at length destroyed it, and buried it in a univerfal grave of waters; preferving only the family of one man, who was perfect in his generations. The deluge was scarce gone, before Error rapidly ftrode over the new world, and the firft material circumftance left us in proof of it was the building of Babel: And

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they faid one to another, Let us make "brick, and build us a city, and a tower, * whofe top may reach unto Heaven." What an arrogant idea! And thus came upon us the uncontroulable monfter Ambition. In the next place we are informed of the battle of the kings, whence came Rebellion. In the hiftory of Hagar and Sarah, we perceive the origin of Jealoufy. The deftruction of Sodom and Gomorrah needs no comment. The wife of Lot is a monu

ment

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