OF SE R PEN T S. 187 



Princes, when we find perverfe Spirits have murmur'd at a divine 

 Adminiftration. 



A Magnificent Table was fpread for them in the Wilder- 

 nefs, their daily Entertainments were miraculous ; they were fed 

 by Marina, a delicious Food diftilled from Heaven, admirably 

 fuited to every one's Palate. He comtttafided the Clouds from abov^e, 

 and opened the Doors of Heaven, and rained down Manna upon 

 them to eat^ and gave them the Corn of Heaven^ . Wherefore 

 have yon brought us up out of Egypt to die in the WildernefSj for 

 there is no Bread, neither is there any Water, and our Soul loatheth 

 this light Bread \ : This vain and empty Bread, fay the LXX. 



They were alfo furnifh'd with miraculous Drink, i. e. Water 

 out of a Rock ; Water that fwell'd into a River, and follow'd 'em 

 in all their Motions, till they arrived in the Land f owing with 

 Milk and Honey •■, Terms, that include a Scene of Plenty and 

 Pleafantnefs. 



I N all their Traverfes through the Wildernefs, they were al- 

 ways under the Guidance and Protecftion of the Shekitia ; by 

 which Word the Jews underftood the Prefence of the Holy Spirit ; ^ 

 of Chrifi, fay the Chriftians. The Shekina was the moft fenfible 

 Mark of the Prefence of God among them, which refted over 

 the Propitiatory, or the golden Cherubims, which adher'd to the 

 Propitiatory or Covering of the Ark j there the Shekina abode in 

 the Shape of a Cloud. Th^ Rabbins tell us, that it firft refided 

 in the Tabernacle, and defcended into it in the Figure of a Cloud, 

 on the Day of Confecration. It pafi: from thence into the 

 San(5tuary of Solomons Temple, on the Day of its Dedication by 

 that Prince J ; where it continued to the Deftrudlion of Jeru^ 

 falem by the Chaldeans, and was not afterwards to be feen there. 



Thus were they conducted and entertain'd by an unintermit- 

 ted Train of Miracles. Now to fret and repine in fuch a Situa- 

 tion, was a Crime of a high and heinous Nature, no lefs than 

 impeaching infinite Wifdom, and taxing it with erroneous Con- 

 dud : If Difficulties occurred in the way, their Duty was Refig- 

 7iation, a Temper obvious in Fagans, whofe Religion forbid all 

 indecorous Sallies of the Paflions. 



Bb 2 SO- 



* P/i/. Ixxviii. 23 — ^25. f tlwnb. xxi, 5, 6.— t» aprw rw Itv^im — 



X Calmet from Bajna^e, Hifiary of ibe Jews, 



