An Universal History, in a Series of Letters, Vol 2 Being a Complete and Impartial Narrative of the Most Remarkable Events of All Nations, From the History of the World Ancient History

Excerpt from An Universal History, in a Series of Letters, Vol. 2: Being a Complete and Impartial Narrative of the Most Remarkable Events of All Nations, From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Forming a Complete History of the World; Ancient History

Father of all mankind. History, however, proves most conclusively the erroneousness of this popular notion as it teaches that many other nations have enjoyed even a greater measure of the blessings of heaven than what fell to the lot of the Hebrews. Neither does their history warrant us to infer that this people evinced such superior virtues as to entitle them to their assumed preference of divine favor; as indeed it would be blasphemy to impute to God a partiality for them without the existence of peculiar circumstances that would reconcile such a favor with His impartial and perfect justice. It is remarkable that a vain boast of the Hebrews can have acquired almost the authority of an article of faith among Christians, who have before them the most ample evidence of the wicked and blood thirsty revengefulness of the Hebrew race. It is also wonderful to observe with what credulity Christians have joined in the praises bestowed by the Hebrews on their prominent men, in the face of the very vices which the historical records of the Hebrews themselves impute to these same men. Surely the Hebrew nation has had among them many men not only en dowed with great qualities, but who have also evinced superior virtues; but on the other hand, names have been, by the partiality of an interested priesthood, surrounded with a halo of sanctity, which has led many Chris tians to regard them with superstitious reverence. Yet it is the duty of the historian to look only at the true merits of these people, and examine with perfect impartiality their claims to divine preference.

It has been properly observed that the history of the Hebrews is first the history of a man, then of one family, and then of a nation?

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