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Show [C.P.] [72] APARABLE again/Z Peqfl'cutimz. 73 the man blelfed not God, he faid unto him, A! P A R A B L E agaizfl Perfecutz'ofl, in Imitation qf' Scripture Language 9*. ND it came to pafs after thefc things, that Abraham fat in the door of his tent, about the going down of the fun. And behold aman bent with age, coming from the way of the wildernefs leaning on a fiaff. And Abraham arofe, Wherefore dofl: thou not worfhip the mof'r. high God, Creator of heaven and earth? And the man anfwered and faid, I do not worlhip thy God, neither do I call upon his name; for I have made to myfelf a god, which abideth always in my houfe, and provideth me with all things. AndAbraham's zeal was kindled againfi the man, and he arofe, and fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into the wildernefs. and met him, and faid unto him, Turn in, I pray And God called unto Abraham, faying, Abra- thee, and wafh thy feet, and tarry all night; and thou {halt arife early in the morning, and ham, where is the firanger? And Abraham go on thy way. And the man faid, Nay; for I But Abraham preffed will abide under this tree. him greatly: fo he turned and they went into the tent: and Abraham baked unleaven bread, And when Abraham faw that and they did eat. " [I have taken this piece from the Sketch: oft/ye Hiflor} quan, written by Lord Kaim, and {hall preface it with hisLordfhip‘s own words. See Vol. II. p. 4.72, 473. ‘ The following ParaHe again/I Perfizcutimz was communicated ‘ to me by Dr. Franklin of P/Jihde/[I/qu, a man who makes a great anfwered and faid, Lord, he would not worfhip thee, neither would he call upon thy name; therefore have I driven him out from before my face into the wildernefs. And God faid, have I borne with him thefe hundred and ninety and eight years, and nourifhed him, and clothed him, notwithf'tanding his rebellion againf'c me; and couldft not thou, who art thyfelf a firmer, bear with him one night *? * [Dr. Franklin, as I have been told, has often impofed this pa- ‘ figure in the learned world: and who would {till make a greater rable upon his friends and acquaintance, as a part of a chapter of ‘ figure for benevolence and candour, were virtue as much regarded ‘ in this declining age as knowledge. Genrflr. ale ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ' ‘ ' 9% 9% 9E '15 9K ale ‘ The hiltorical fiyle of the OId‘I'g/fammt is here finely imitated; and the moral mull: firike every one who is not funk in llupidity and fuperllition. Were it really a chapter of Gwyn, one is apt to think, that perfecution could never have lhown a bare face among Jews or Chriltians. But alas! that is a vain thought. Such a palfage in the Old TryIament, would avail as little againfl: the rancorouspaifions of men, as the following paflages in the New Tgflament, though perfecution cannot be condemned in ' terms more explicit. " Him that is weak in the faith, receive " you, but not to doubtful difputations. For, 8"." E.] h t, e E.] |