learning and understanding were fo pleafing to the priest of On, that he made him his fon-inlaw. A priest of On was held in the highest eftimation, called , Cohen which fignifies a kind of prince. Cyril fays, Cyril fays, *pia & mavos, On is the Sun. The city of Heliopolis is called On. Pharaoh thought he conferred a great . honour on Joseph, when he gave him to wife Ascenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

Mofes lived with his father-in-law, leading a retired life, the life of a simple shepherd, tending the flock, until God was pleafed to manifeft himself on mount Horeb, by his effential name, Jehovah. Mofes, at firft, fenfible of his own inability, and human weakness, began to fhrink from his miffion, pleaded his infirmities, and the probability that the Ifraelites would not acknowledge his authority. Perhaps it might have occurred to his mind, that his brethren, however they might, and indeed muft, have been convinced of his affection for them, would hardly look upon themselves as fafe

C 2

* The Septuagint interprets the word in the fame manner, and calls the city of On, Heliopolis. Gen. 41, 45.-and he gave him to wife Afcenath, the daughter of Potiphera, Priest of On. Theophilus from Manetho, fays, Ων ητις έτιν Ηλιοπολις.

BRYANT.

fafe under the conduct of a man, whofe apparent rashness in killing the Egyptian, had redoubled their fufferings, as might be fuppofed to be the cafe. * He wished therefore to decline the undertaking: but God having condefcended to answer all his objections, by convincing him that a miraculous and invincible Power fhould accompany him in all his undertakings; infpired by divine courage, he undertook the facred embaffy; and was, contrary to his first expectations,

Mofes, at the time of his miffion, was arrived at that period of life, which must have totally excluded every idea of ridiculous enterprize; he was fenfible of his own inability. for fuch an undertaking, and had otherwife weighty reafons to diffuade him from it. He was married to a woman whofe father had no fmall poffeffions, and had a family already ap proximating to, or arrived at maturity. To abandon them, and bring on them perhaps a train of misfortunes, by rifquing an adventure, which had every natural appearance of proving unfuccefful and deftructive, would have been the greatest madness, without an extraordinary divine commiffion: and on recollection, it is not improbable, that his father-in-law might have thus thought of it, for it was not, until Mofes had been fuccefsful, and had fhewn himfelf in perfon to his enemies, that he brought his daughter and her children to him. "When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Mofes' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done, &c." It is true, that at firft Jethro permitted Zipporah and the children to accompany Mofes to Egypt, but it appears also that she had fome difference or difpute with Mofes, which occafioned her to return: it could not have been merely the ceremony of circumcifion, but probably a total diffidence and want of faith, of which we are only left to conjectures.

pectations, received with every mark of grateful acclamation, by an almost desponding people. Being then acknowledged as their leader, the Almighty Power having been displayed, by the most astonishing miracles, with an high hand and an out-ftretched arm their enemies were deftroyed, and their deliverance accomplished. Soon after, the illuftrious prophet, on MOUNT SINAI, received immediately from God, the * Written Law.

Between the first lawgiver and Chrift there is fome fimilitude.

Mofes was born at the very time Pharaoh had given order for the deftruction of the male children of the Hebrews.

Christ was born at the time when Herod had ordered the first born of the Jews to be killed, according to the prophecy "there was weeping in Rehma; Rachel weeping for her children ?"

Mofes was for a time concealed by his mother? This also is true of Chrift. Mofes fed the Ifraelites with manna; Chrift fed the multitude by the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and was the bread that cometh down from Heaven, the bread of life.

Mofes brought his family down to Egypt, fitting on an ass; Chrift came into Jerufalem in the fame manner. Mofes caused water to fpring from a rock; Chrift was fpiritually that rock, he gives the water of eternal life.

Mofes was the perfon by whom the law was revealed. Grace and truth, which is the fpirit of the law, came by Christ.

Mofes led the Ifraelites from the bondage of Egypt to the land of Promife. By Chrift men are delivered from the bondage of fin and fatan, and restored to happiness and heaven.

Mofes fafted forty days in the mount,

Chrift fafted forty days in the wilderness.

Mofes

Mofes died on mount Nebo; Chrift, on mount Calvary.

This comparison was, in a great measure, made by learned Rabbis, which is one ftrong argument against them in favour of Chrift. You will find it nearly thus, as quoted by Reland, "Rabbi Barachia, faid in the name of Rabbi Ifaac; as was the first redeemer Mofes, fo fhall the latter Meffiah be; of the first, it is written, that Mofes placed his wife, and fons upon an afs; fo alfo fhall it be of the latter, as it is written, he fhall be poor fitting on an afs. Of the first it is written, that he brought down Manna from Heaven; thus alfo of the latter in the 72d pfalm. Of the firft it is recorded, that he companded the waters to accompany his people in the defert; ot the latter, Joel. 3. A fountain fhall proceed from the house of God, and water the valley of Chittiin.

SKETCH

SKETCH III.

OF THE INVENTION OF LETTERS:

WAS then writing the discovery of

Mofes I believe not: Or was that moft wonderful art immediately revealed to him by God? If this had been the case, I should imagine that fo extraordinary a circumstance would have been worthy of relation amongst other miracles. But we do not read that the Ifraelites expreffed any aftonishment at fuch an event; which had it been a recent discovery, might be expected.

The principal teftimony which antiquity affords in favor of Mofes in this point, is taken from Eupolemus in Eufebius, who fays, that Mofes was the first wise man, and the first who delivered letters to the Jews, from whom the Phoenicians received them,

aş