good can refult from them, I may have the happiness of feeing it in fome degree take place. The prin cipal fubjects, which I have undertaken to elucidate, have, I believe, been confidered by me, in a light quite new. For I do not recollect that any perfon before, has followed the fame mode of illuftration. Particularly in respect to the plagues in Egypt, it does not appear, that any writer has obferved that correfpondence, which feems to fubfift, between the offence, and the punishment; as well as between the people, and their cuftoms. It will afford me great fatisfaction, if this correfpondence fhould appear univerfally obvious and and precife, and founded in truth. As what I here present to the public is a small part of a large collection, I may poffibly, if I live, venture to produce other obfervations upon fimi- lar fubjects, and of a like tendency. For my chief labour has been, ever fince I have had opportunities of reading, obferving, and forming an unbiased opinion, to do honour to the religion, which I profefs, and to au- CONTENTS. |