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Commentaries and annotations on the Holy Scriptures
Commentaries and annotations on the Holy Scriptures Author:John Hewlett Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: disorders and dangers which prevailed in a republic without magistracy, when ' the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through by-ways;' when few... more » prophets were appointed to control the people, and ' every one did that' which was right in his own eyes.' It exhibits the contest of true religion with superstition; it displays the beneficial effects that flow from the former; and represents the miseries and evil consequences of impiety. From the scenes of civil discord and violence which darken this history, the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews presents us with some illustrious examples of faith in the characters of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah. Amidst the great vicissitude of events in which the justice and mercies of God are conspicuously shewn, we are much struck with the account of the illustrious exploits of the Judges; of Sisera's defeat and death; of the victory of Gideon-, of the punishment of Abimelech; of Jephthah's inconsiderate vow; of the actions of Samson; of the flagitious conduct of the Benjamites; of the destruction of Gibeah; with the description of many other particulars that enliven the narrative, which is likewise much embellished by the beautiful song of Deborah and Barak, and the significant parable of Jotham. Many of the sacred writers allude to this book, or quote from it; and several relations contained in it point out the origin of many heathen fables. It should be observed that some of the actions here represented to have been subservient to God's designs, were justifiable only on the supposition of divine warrant, which supersedes all general rules of conduct. Without this, the deeds of Ehud and of Jael might be pronounced censurable for their treachery and cruelty, however prompted by commendable motives. With respect to s...« less