firft of the human race, and which doubtlefs, like the religion of his own fon, was, in process of time, corrupted by the doctrines and opinions of men. Thus, he defcribes death as a ftate of oblivion and reft; as * his lying down in the duft, and not awaking till the Heavens be no more and he declares his hopes of a happy refurrection thro' a Redeemer, in clearer terms than any other writer, before life and immortality were brought to light. I know, fays he, that my Redeemer liveth, and that he fhall ftand at the latter day upon the earth, and tho' after my skin, worms deftroy this body, yet in my ficfh fhall I fee God.

Some writers, affecting fingularity of opinion, have adduced fpecious arguments, to prove that Job is a fictitious character, and that the whole of his hiftory, is nothing but an allegorical description of the vexatious treatment, which the Jews received from their malevolent neighbours, after they returned from Babylon, and began to rebuild their city and temple t. But we have no lefs authority than that of God himself, to convince us that Job was a real man; for he ranks him with two other eminent perfonages, and fays.

Tho' Noah, Job, and Daniel were in that city, they should deliver but their own fouls by their

+ Ch. xix. 25. § Ezek. xiv. 14. ▾

* Chap. xiv. 12. Legat.

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Warburt. Div.

right.

rightcoufnefs, faith the Lord. And had not the Apoftle James, believed him to have had a real exiftence, he never would have recommended him as a pattern to other men. Ye have heard, fays he, of the patience of Job.

There have been various opinions among learned men, about the writer of this book. Some have afcribed it to Elihu; fome to Solomon, and others to the Men of Hezekiah, But it appears to me highly probable, that Job left behind him fome memoirs of his own life written by himself; and that Mofes meeting with thefe in the land of Midian, felected the most remarkable paffages, and after digesting them into a book, embellished the whole with a poetic ftile and scenical drefs. He would look upon this hiftory, as very applicable to the diftreffed condition of his own countrymen, and after returning into Egypt, would frequently read it to them, to confole them under their afflictions, and give them the hopes of a happy deliverance from their thraldom.

But may it not be faid, if Job at one time speaks of a refurrection in fuch a clear manner, why does he not more frequently introduce this doctrine, and dwell upon it with pleasure, as the best and fureft confolation to good men, under all the

miferies of human life? And if Mofes was the writer of this book, why does he in his other writings, overlook a future state, and not make it the great fanction of thofe laws which he gave to the Ifraelites? But I would observe' that a refurrection and future immortality are often mentioned by Job, tho' in phrafes peculiar to the language and period in which that book was written*. And doubtlefs there were wife and fufficient reafons, why Mofes did not infert the doctrine of a future ftate, into his fyftem of legiflation. Perhaps, the minds of his countrymen, being yet rude and untutored, were not able to look up to the invifible and fpiritual objects of religion, fo as to be awed to obedience by them and a doctrine, which made them forego the concerns of this world for the rewards of another, was not fuited to that œconomy, of which, under God, he was the minifter and conducter. But tho' the law of Mofes was fenced with temporal promifes* and threatenings alone, and as an apostle remarks, was added because of tranfgreffions, yet this could never preclude the Ifraelites, from any of those bleffings, which were to be accomplished by the feed of the woman, and which were included in that covenant, made with their father Abraham.

See Peter's Crit. Defert. on Job. + Gal. iii. 19.

Several

Several reasons may be affigned, which make it very probable, that Mofes during his exile, which lafted forty years, not only wrote the hiftory of Job, but likewise the book of Genefis.

We are told that Jethro, prieft of Midian, gave him his daughter in marriage, and likewife appointed him keeper of his herds and flocks. This would make his circumftances in life, eafy and comfortable. And, as the nature of his employment afforded him time and leifure, we may take for granted, that a man already learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, would not flacken his pursuit after knowledge, but would profecute fuch ftudies as fuited his genius and inclination. The works which he left behind him, indicate the fuperiority of his talents for hiftorical compofition. When we reflect then, upon his ardent and inflexible love to his countrymen, which proved the occafion of his banishment, need we wonder to find him employed, in writing the history of his ancestors, and tracing them up to their very origin. His fituation in Midian, might afford him materials for a work of this kind, which he could not fo readily procure elsewhere. The people among whom he lived, were the defcendents of Abraham, on whom his Maker beftowed this encomium. I know him, that he will command his children, + Gen. xviii. 19.

*Exod. iii. 1.

and

and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Now, tho' Midian the father of the Midianites, was the fon of Abraham by his wife Keturah, yet, we have no reason to suppose that he would not have as religious an education as Ifaac the fon of Sarah, and heir of the promise. Befides, it appears from hiftory, that the other branches of Abraham's family, were for many generations a flourishing people, (and at this time. one of them was prieft and probably prince of Midian) while the pofterity of Jacob were reduced to a cruel and ignominious bondage in the land of Egypt. Such an abject state for a long period of years, would naturally deprefs their minds; render them infenfible of any liberal accomplishment; and wean their attention from every other circumstance, but how to earn their bread, and avoid the frowns of their unfeeling task-masters. Thus, it is not to be fuppofed, that Mofes could collect among his own countrymen many useful memoirs of antient times. But living with his father in law, who afterwards gave a specimen of his great fagacity and judgment, and who being a priest must have had befide him all the ftock of knowledge to be found in that part of the world, he would derive great affiftance from him,

* Şee Jethro's advice to Mofes, Exod. xviii. 17.

in