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    mho should tome oftly to-destroy the rest of man kind ^ they enj oi ned a submission to rites that were oppressive * painful and ignominious , and the adoption of a name and of a creed that were detested by the whole world . What Heathen in his -right mind wouM embrace such a

    doctrine , especially , as it offered him no advantage whatever to compensate the great and various sacrifices he was called upon to make ? The Pharisees felt this ; a » d their attempts to proselyte the nations ended with the promulgation of the gospel . All the efforts they frnade were to follow the

    apostles , and to pervert those Who had already been brought over to the faith . On the other hand , the preachers of spiritual Judaism , as they had received a commission to convert the Heathen world , received

    also the necessary means to effect this task , however arduous ,, They laid aside every burdensome rite $ they held forth an illustrious messeflser 9 already arrived from God 9

    not to destroy , but to save mankind 5 they invited £ very man , however poor , obscure or illiterate , upon the simple terms of repentance and reformation , to come and receive the

    most glorious and animating privileges , —the forgiveness of their past sins , the favour of God , and the hope of immortal glor y * What rendered this invitation most effectual

    ¦ was the happy effect which the newly-purified religion produced on the lives of those who preached it to others . Under its influence , they exhibited examples of all that is beautiful and sublime in virtue : * and

    thus proved the reasonableness and subserviency of their doctrine to make them happy here as well as hereafter . The deportment a « d character of the first teachers of Christianity assumed by this means a language more convincing , if not more eloquerit than their tongue i 31 recommending their faith to the world . And it is to them

    and their converts that Philo refers , when he pens the following matchless passage : " The children of wisdom resemble the sand : because the sand is uncircutnscribed in number ; and because , as the sand wliicli lines the shore repels the incursions of the sea , © o ttre divine Jvotd of instruction does tin niras of ntan .- Tfeis # ord , accord-

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    ing to the promises of € tod * spreads to cjvefy comer df the universe * afcd renders him who receives it , fhehfcit of all things , extending in every way to the east and to the west , to the north and to the south . A goo < dl tn&it is not a blessing only to himsel f but

    the common benefit of all other ten &s he readily communicates to all others , the advantages which fee him * self enjoys . For as the sub is a ligftl to all those who have eyes , so the

    divinely wise are the light of all rational beings . For in thee , says tt » £ scripture , shall all the tribes of men he blessed . If any one , fherefbre * in a house , or a city , or a country , ot a nation , is become enamoured of

    wisdom , those who live in that house , or city of country , or nation , must learti from him to mend their lives , Fot as the aromatic spices , which exhaling ' spread on the breeze , fill with their sweet odour those who are near 5 in the same manner the friends and & < c-

    qaintances of a good man , derive from the breath of ' virtue , which emanates far and wide from his character ^ & perfume that adorns and enriches their own . " P . 592 . The inference to be drawn from these remarks is , that where Philo and Josephus speak of Judaism prevailing among the Gentiles , we are to understand them t 6

    me&n Judaism purified by Christ and disseminated by the af > osttes . In the second book against Apioit ^ Sec . 39 , Joseplius speaks to this effect : s For a long time past multitudes are

    become zealous for our worship ; noils th ^ re a city a mong the Greeks , nor a nation among the barbarians , to whom many of our customs have not been extended , and who do not

    endeavour to imitate tlie cordiality &nd harmony , the distribution of their property , the industry in their callings , the patience under tortures in support of our tews , which are evinced amoh&st us . And what is most worthy of admiration hi this respect is * that this zeal for our law is ndt

    awakened by any allurement froiii pleasure or profit , but by the internal excellence of the law itself . And as God pervades the whole world , so his law has at length pervaded all mankind ; and whoever tefleefs on his own country , and even Ilis owii family , will find £ vi $ erace of the asset * - tioti n ® w triade by me . Let those

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    Mr . Jones on Philo mid Jmephis ftton $€ &rfotians ** -- 'S € > o !• W

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1818, page 39, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2472/page/39/