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the arguments of Vignoles from the sUence of history, against 

 himself? Why is not the usual language and expression, 

 the " land had rest forty years," employed on this occasion ? 

 Or if, as he supposes, the Israelites probably subjected the 

 Philistines, (les assujettir a leur tour,) as is most natural and 

 consistent, on the hypothesis that their victory was so com- 

 plete as to insure a peace of forty years, still more I would 

 reiterate the question. Why is there no allusion to it in the 

 Books of Judges or of Samuel, no facts recorded that wouldj 

 at least, insinuate their triumph, and the subjection of their 

 bitterest enemies? Why, on the contrary, do the Philistines, 

 hearing that the ark of the covenant was come into the camp 

 of Israel, (Saml. 4. 7- 8. 9-) encourage one another, " Be 

 strong, oh yc Philistines, quit yourselves like men, that ye be 

 not slave?, to the Hebrews, as they have been to you." This at 

 least it will be admitted, would not be very natural language 

 to use, after a subjugation of forty years to those very 

 despised Hebrews, whose oppression they are represented as 

 attempting to shake off. IVIen are generally most affected 

 with the later and more immediate crises of their fortune, 

 are disposed to remember late experience, rather than ancient 

 tradition, to consider the last forty years of slavery, rather 

 than the preceding of dominion ; and historians are at least 

 as willing to record the flourishing periods of their country's 

 prosperity and triumph, as the disastrous interval of its sub- 

 jugation and decline. To what principle in the human mind, 



then. 



