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dened Pharaoh; and for the fame
reason; because they had refused to
hearken to his voice, as Pharaoh had
done. He might referve them for a
more fignal deftruction, which would
difplay his glory, and forward the
converfion of the nations; while, at
the fame time, he fhewed the riches
of his mercy to fuch, whether Jews
or Gentiles, as embraced the Gospel;
whom he owned as the fpiritual feed
of Abraham, and his peculiar people.
Whoever will condefcend with can-
dour and attention to perufe Dr.
Whitby's annotations on Rom. ix.
cannot, I think, have the shadow
of a doubt left on his mind, respect-
ing either the drift of St. Paul's rea-
foning, or the truth of it.

P. 12. "We know it is our duty
to believe that Aaron's miracle was

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performed by the power of God; "but we are at a lofs to discover, by "what power the magicians per"formed theirs."

It is a pleasure to me to find thefe gentlemen folicitous about the performance of their duty; and therefore, let me address to them a word of confolation and encouragement. Be not fwallowed up by overmuch uneafinefs, as touching this matter. Reft fatisfied that whatever may be determined concerning the wonders wrought by the magicians, whether they are fuppofed to have been wrought in reality, or appearance only; by legerdemain, or the power of evil spirits, through the permiffion of God, willing to make his power known in this grand conteft either way, the argument drawn from miracles, in fupport of Revela

tion,

tion, will remain in it's full strength. The fuperiority of the God of Ifrael was manifefted, and the conteft yielded by the adverfaries, who could not protect themfelves or their friends from the maladies and plagues inflicted by omnipotence. Whatever the magicians did, or however they did it, it appeared evidently, they might as well have done nothing. Mankind can never be ensnared by pretences of this fort, when they fee fuch pretences controlled and overruled by a fuperior power. You are men of too much fenfe, I am fure, to be found on the fide of Jannes and Jambres, or to take a retainer from Simon Magus.

P. 13. "Where did the magicians. "find water to practise their art up04

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LET. "on, fince Aaron had already turned "it all into blood?"

XIV.

Not all, gentlemen, by your leave. The Egyptians not being able to drink of the water of the river, “ dig"ged round about it (as you are "told*) for water to drink." And, depend upon it, they found fome, or it had been very bad with them indeed. But the truth is, that nothing

is more common among writers, both facred and profane, than the use of the word all, not in an abfolute, but a relative, or comparative sense, as im plying many, fome of all forts, &c. By adverting to this fimple and obvious confideration, you might have fpared yourselves the trouble of labouring in vain, through three or four pages, to be witty on the fubject of Pharaoh's

* Exod. vii, 24.

cattle

XIV.

cattle being killed more than once, LET. and fuch like pleasant conceits.These are poor piddling doings; but we shall have some flashing, by and by, to make amends.

P. 15. Some weak believers are " in doubt, whether fo mean, so un"generous, and fo difhoneft an act, "as borrowing the jewels of the

66

Egyptians, without any intention "of returning them, did not rather

originate in that difpofition, which "characterizes the Jews to this day, "than in the command of the just "God, who certainly could need no "fuch tricks to accomplish his inten"tions."

Much reafon have we to wifh, that fome one among the unbelievers would take the pains to acquire a moderate stock of Hebrew, that fo he "might

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