UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 19 



word the Israelites have been accused of cheating 

 the Egyptians ; and, what is of more consequence, 

 it has been said that they were commanded to 

 do so. But when the word is corrected, you see 

 that these calumnies at once fall to the ground. 

 And I would recommend you all to adopt a 

 general rule in reading the scriptures, of which 

 I have found the benefit. Whenever you meet 

 with any expression that seems to be inconsistent 

 with the moral justice of God pause compare 

 the different parts where the same, or a similar 

 phrase, occurs, and, before you come to a rash 

 conclusion, study the acceptation that the words 

 had at the period when the present version was 

 made. If it requires a knowledge of the original 

 language, apply to some learned person ; not so 

 much to reason for you, as to furnish the data 

 on which to satisfy yourselves. However bounded 

 may be our notions of the qualities of the Deity, 

 and though his attributes far transcend our con- 

 ception, yet it is certain that our ideas of justice 

 must have been derived from principles implanted 

 by Him ; and no decree of His can ever be con- 

 trary to that justice for the nature of God is 

 immutable: He is 'the same yesterday, to-aay, 

 and for ever.' " 



12th. I am sure, Mamma, that you must feel 

 very grateful to Colonel Travers for all the in- 

 teresting things which I have picked up from 



