shelter himself under the wings of the majesty of GOD, and to submit to the law, he must be circumcised."

The second ceremony was washing, or baptism ; which must have been performed in the presence of, at least, three Jews of distinction. At the time of the performance of it, the proselyte declared his abhorrence of his past life, and that it was neither ambition nor avarice, but a sincere love for the law of Moses, which prevailed on him to be baptized and he was then likewise instructed in the most essential part of the law. He promised, at the same time, to lead a godly life, to worship the true God, and to keep His commandments. And hence the Christian church has borrowed those ceremonies, which she makes use of in receiving proselytes, whether Jews or Gentiles; for it is manifest that the institution of baptism by JESUS CHRIST, and the discipline of the primitive church in the administration of it, have a relation to this ceremony among the Jews.

The third ceremony to be performed was that of offering sacrifice. All these, except circumcision, were performed by the women as well as the men, who became proselytes. And as concerning those who had gone through all these ceremonies, it was a common opinion among the Jews, that they ought to be looked on as new-born infants. Maimonides says it in express terms :— 'A Gentile," says he, "who is become a proselyte, and a slave who is set at liberty, are both as it were new-born babes which is the reason why those

who before were their parents are now no longer so." Whence it is evident, that nothing could be more just than JESUS CHRIST's reproaching Nicodemus with his being a master in Israel, and yet being at the same time ignorant how a man could be born a second time."

But, to be more particular, I cannot forbear relating here at large all that Maimonides says of the manner of their receiving proselytes. It will, I doubt not, be some pleasure to the reader to trace out in it the origin of Christian baptism, and of the antient ceremonies which the church observed in it. For they are all borrowed from the Jews; JESUS CHRIST and His apostles not having thought fit to abolish them, or to substitute new ones in their

room.

"How," says he, "ought a proselyte now to be received? When any one offers himself; if, upon a strict enquiry, it appears that the motives to his conversion are pure, he shall be asked this question :-What have you seen in us, which inclines you to become a proselyte? Do not you know that the Israelites live now in sorrow and reproach, that they are exiles, are dispersed abroad, and are

" John iii. 16. But our blessed LORD takes this second birth in a much higher and more sublime sense than it was understood by the Jews in general. Hence he says, that a man must not only be born of water, but of the Holy Spirit; i. e. that his soul must be completely changed from sinfulness to holiness the very thoughts of his heart being cleansed by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that he might perfectly love, and worthily magnify, his Maker.

laden every day with fresh miseries?" If he answers, "I know all this, and yet think myself unworthy of being received among them" he must be admitted. And then he shall be taught the principal articles of religion, the unity of GoD, and the prohibition of idolatry, in which he must be thoroughly instructed. And among the commandments of God, which are taught him, both some of the most and some of the least importance shall be mentioned, but briefly; to which shall be added the punishments annexed to the breach of these precepts. It shall be said to him, Are you sensible that before you embrace our religion you may eat fat, and not oberve the sabbath? And that if, after you are become a proselyte, you eat fat, you will be excommunicated; and, if you break the sabbath, stoned?" But nevertheless, these punishments are not to be mentioned to him, but with a great deal of prudence, lest the terrible idea they give him of religion should turn him from the right way. Men must be won over by gentle methods; they must, as the Scripture expresses it, be drawn with the cords of a man, with bands of love."

"And as he must be instructed in the doctrine of punishments, so likewise in that of rewards. It shall be declared to him that the observance of the law will gain him an immortal life in the other world, and that none are truly wise and just in this but they who know the law and keep it. For it shall be added that a future life is reserved only for

the righteous, which are the Israelites; and that if they are unhappy in this world, this very thing shews that they will be eternally happy in the next. It is not necessary that they should enjoy the same happiness upon earth that other people do; their corrupt inclinations might lead them either into pride or error, and they might by that means lose the reward of the world to come. Jeshurun, says the Scripture, waxed fat and kicked. So that God does not punish the Israelites with design to destroy them. No, they shall be preserved; and it is the Gentiles which shall be destroyed. It is proper to enlarge upon this subject, that his love and zeal may thereby be doubled.

"If he alter his resolution, and no longer desire to be a proselyte, he shall be left at his liberty. If he persevere, circumcision must not be deferred; and, if he have already been circumcised, the blood of the covenant must be drawn afresh from the wound. And then time shall be given him for his cure, after which he must be baptized.

"Three chosen men shall stand before him when he is in the water; and shall again propose to him some of the commandments of the law. If it be a woman, women shall put her into the water; the doctors shall instruct her while she is in it; and then they shall go out, and turn away their eyes from her while she comes out of it."

P Deut. xxxii. 15.

妻

CHAP. II.

Names and Divisions of the Holy Land.

AS to names, the country of the Hebrews has had several. 1. It was first called the Land of Canaan, from Canaan the son of Ham, whose posterity possessed it. 2. It was afterwards called Palestine, from the people which the Hebrews called Philistines, and the Greeks and Romans (corruptly) Palestines, who inhabited the sea-coasts, and were first known to them. 3. And it likewise had the name of the Land of Promise, from the promise God gave Abraham of giving it to him; 4. that of the Land of Israel, from the Israelites having made themselves masters of it; 5. that of Judea, from the tribe of Judah, which was the most considerable of the twelve, and the only one that remained after the dispersion; 6, and lastly, the happiness it had, of being sanctified by the presence, actions, miracles, and death of JESUS CHRIST, has given it the name of The Holy Land, which it retains to this day.

As it has happened to other countries with respect to the inhabitants and their cities, so likewise to this. It has often changed its inhabitants and masters; several of its cities have been ruined, and several of them built anew; and it has been divided in several different manners, in the various