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Pekah reigned 20 years in Israel. (2 Kings xv 27) Hoshea who succeeded him, reigned 9 years, (xvii 1) And in the 17th year of Pekah, began Ahaz to reign over Judah, who reigned 16 years, (xvi 1 2) leaving 4 years for Ahaz to reign after Hoshea.

At the end of three years they took it, in the 9th year of Hezekiah. 2 Kings xviii 10.

8 years old, 2 Chron. xxxvi 9
10th day, Jeremiah lii 12
7 men.

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25

31

25th day
800 men, 2 Samuel xxiii 8
Total 29,818, Ezra ii 3—60

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Psalm lxviii 17 The chariots of Zerah, the Ethiopian had 1,000,

God are 20,000

Dan. i 1..In the 3rd year of Jehoiakim, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

300 chariots. 2 Chron. xiv 9

In the 4th year of Jehoiakim, which was the first year of Nebuchaarezzar king of Babylon.Jeremiah xxv l.

21 1st year of Cyrus 3rd year Cyrus, Dan. x 1

....

Dan. ii 1..In the 2nd year of
Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel was
made ruler over the whole pro-
vince of Babylon.

Matt. i 17.... From Abram to
Christ, 42 generations.

Matt. viii 28

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Nebuchadnezzar sent Daniel to school, where he continued 3 years. Dan. i 5 18.

55 generations Luke iii 23-34

1 man, Mark v 2.

xii 40 3 nights and 3 days 2 nights and 1 day, Mark xv 42

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xviii 1 xx 29 30 Mark xvi 5 1 young man Luke iv 25 3 years and 6 months John xix 14 ........6th hour 1 Cor. xv 5..seen- of the twelve

1 blind man, Mark x.46
2 men, Luke xxiv 3

xvi 2.

In the 3rd year, 1 Kings xviii 1 3rd hour, Mark xv 25

Of the eleven, Mark xv 14

Now Sir, what credit can be given to any thing that the Holy Ghost or his clerks have written? How can we be assured that Jonah was not three years in the whale's belly, instead of three days? Or that Isaiah was not thirty years instead of three, running naked about the town.100 Besides it might have been forty years instead of forty days, that poor Moses fasted while God was writing out his commands for Moses to break, as God knew all things from the beginning! Even Samson might have slain ten thousand men instead of one, with the ass's jaw-bone! And instead of three hundred foxes which it is said that he caught,101 it might have been three hundred tigers, the one being as easily caught as the other. But pray Doctor, what would you think that man deserved, whom you should see gathering together three hundred dogs or cats, and tying them tail to tail with a fire-brand in the midst, between two tails ? would you not say that he ought to be severely punished for his cruelty and wantonness? It was well for Samson, that Mr. Martin, our Honourable Member for the county of Galway, did not live in those days! All these things being written for our instruction, are consequently of importance; else an all-wise God would not have taken the trouble of revealing them to us; it is therefore very requisite that we should be acquainted with the precise

number of every particular. For could it be proved that there were thirty knives given to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah, by Mithredath, the treasurer to Cyrus king of Persia, instead of twenty nine as it is written, 102 what a sad mistake that would be!

Let us now return to the Midianites, the nation that protected Moses, after he had perpetrated the inhuman murder on the body of the Egyptian. We find that every man, woman, and child was ordered to be butchered by this God, to whom belong mercies and forgivness, though we have rebelled against him;103 which order was faithfully executed by his servant Moses, the meekest man in the earth. 10 4 And for more proof of the tender mercies of God over all his works, 105 read Deutronomy 2nd and 3rd chapters, with the 8th and 10th of Joshua, and the two last chapter of Judges. The priests tell us that herein did God shew forth his mercy, in the butchering of those little innocent children; so we may be sure that they were safely lodged in heaven; by which means they were saved from the evil to come. If this be the best means of obtaining heaven, would it not be advisable for him to slay every child as soon as it is born? man that is born of a woman, is but of few days, and those full of trouble !106

For

a man

But the slaughter of the Amalekites ought particularly to be observed, where every man, woman, child and suckling, were ordered to be slaughtered by this God, whose goodness endureth continually: 107 which also was done to the praise and glory of God, by Saul, 108 anointed of God for this purpose; but having unfortunately felt a spark of humanity towards an individual, a brother king, it so displeased this God of love, that he took his kingdom from him, and gave it to another;1 one after his own heart, that would not stand upon such niceties. Though we must not forget that the man whose preservation offended God so much, was afterwards hewn in pieces before the Lord,110 because he delighteth in mercy!

109

And how surprized are we to find that within ten years after this slaughter, David is obliged to slay them all over

F

again!! And although he was determined to do all things faithfully, by leaving neither man nor woman alive, lest they should bring tidings to Gath; yet as if the very devil were in those Amalekites, before the expiration of another year, they are alive again! and so numerous, as to invade David's territories, and burn Ziglag, his capital, with fire; carrying away captive all the women and children. 112 But mark, Doctor, the conduct of those Amalekites, whom you call Idolators; they did not hurt one woman or child, whom they had taken. Not so with the man after God's own heart; he butchered all that he could catch:113 and not satisfied with the extermination of his enemies, he must first put them to the most exquisite torture, by burning them in brick-kilns, sawing them assunder, 14 and various other methods of shewing the sure mercies of David.115 Well might Shemei cry out "thou bloody man;" for Saul only slew them by thousands, but David by ten thousands! 1 i 6

The destruction of those nations, you say, is a proof of God's displeasure at sin; they being Idolators, consequently were very wicked people, and were not fit to live upon the face of the earth. But the Bible positively asserts the contrary, by declaring that they were more humane, more generous, more honest, and more peaceable than the chosen people, that were raised up for the purpose of extirpating them. For proof, read the character of the people of Laish,117 who were so peaceable and honest, that they needed no magistrates throughout the land. Yet the chosen people of God went secretly and smote them with the edge of the sword, and afterwards burnt their city with fire !118 But behold, we find written in the book of Joshua, (xix. 47.) three hundred years before this massacre is said to have been perpetrated, the very same transaction recorded, as having been already done in the days of Joshua. This I suppose, is the effect of inspiration!

119

Again, the conduct of the Amalekites, towards the captives is a proof of their humanity.' The noble aud magnanimous spirit of Pharaoh," and the two Abimelechs, ought not to be overlooked, but compared with

121

120

the mean, cruel, and blackguard conduct of this pure and holy God, whose eyes cannot behold iniquity; yet he had the indecent barbarity, to close up fast all the wombs of the poor women belonging to the house of Abimelech !122 In fact, the language of this God throughout the Bible, is most disgusting and filthy; he is always talking of whores and Sodomites,123 and such like obscene and beastly things, which are not fit to be spoken of by any decent or modest person, either male or female;124 besides indecently exposing his own back parts; 125 being ashamed, I suppose, to shew his face!

Is this conduct agreeable to the doctrine taught by Paul ? who says, that it is a shame to speak of those things which are done in secret: that neither fornication, uncleanness, nor filthiness, should be once named among saints; that nothing should proceed out of the mouth, but that which is good and edifying; that it may minister grace to the hearers.126 But what grace, or what instruction can we receive by being told that "she doated upon her paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses; and whose issue is like the issue of horses;"'17 and many such like passages, which delicacy forbids me to expose ?

129

As to his foolishness of which Paul speaks, 128 and his fickle-mindedness, instances are so numerous and so evident, that it would be wasting time to recount them all; therefore one shall suffice for the present. At night he ordered Balaam to go with the princes of Moab; and in the morning was angry with him, because he went.' As to his promises, his own servants could not depend upon his words, such a propensity had he for lying; or why should Jeremiah complain in such a lamentable manner, 130 when he cries out, "Ah! Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ye shall have peace, whereas the sword reaches unto the soul ?" Again he says,131 Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?" and in plain terms he tells him that he has been deceived by him." Even his favourite David had reason to complain of his breach of promise 13 Though there is no necessity for my referring

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