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ample a profeflion or employment, which after- 

 wards, for feveral ages, loll its original dignity, by 

 being confined to the lower dalles of the people. 



Such was the happincfs and tranquillity enjoyed 

 in this innocent employment, that it gave birth to 

 the fineft poetical imagery, and w T as celebrated 

 under the peculiar diftinction of the Golden Age. 



But as foon as the defendants of Abraham 

 were fettled in Paleftine, they generally became 

 hufbandmen, from the Chiefs of the tribe of 

 Judah to the lowed branch of the family of Ben- 

 jamin. High birth or rank did not at that time 

 make any diftindtion, for Agriculture was confi- 

 dered as the rnoft honourable of all employments; 

 witnefs the illuftrious examples of Gideon, Saul, 

 and David. 



Many pafTages in the Sacred Writings have a 

 ftrong and beautiful analogy to the fentiments of 

 the heathen poets, in delineating the happinefs 

 enjoyed in thofe ages of paftoral and agricultural 

 employment. 



The Chaldeans, who inhabited the country 

 where agriculture had its birth, carried that valu- 

 able art to a degree of excellence unknown ia 



former 



