UNCLE ftf ENGLAND. 39 



"But are we certain that some of these dis- 

 tant prophecies have not been added in later 

 times?" Wentworth said. 



" I am glad ihat you have made that enquiry," 

 replied my uncle, "because it gives me an op- 

 portunity of shewing you how impossible it is 

 that any such addition could have been made to 

 the Pentateuch. In the fourth chapter of Deute- 

 ronomy are these "words : * Ye shall not add unto 

 the word which I command you, neither shall ye 

 diminish aught from it.' 



" This prohibition preserved these books from 

 the slightest alteration ; for it was considered so 

 binding, that no copies were allowed to be made 

 by any persons but the Scribes attached to the 

 synagogue ; and as the Jews were commanded to 

 read portions of them every Sabbath day in their 

 families^ and as at certain times the whole ( law' 

 was publicly read to the congregation, it is evi- 

 dent that any alteration must have been noticed. 

 There is a remarkable proof of the fidelity with 

 which that injunction was obeyed,, in this fact ; 

 that the Samaritans have preserved the law of 

 Moses to this day, as uncorrupted as the Jews 

 themselves have done ; although they were irre- 

 concileable enemies, and though they have been 

 exposed to all the changes and revolutions that 

 can befall a nation during the long interval of 

 two thousand four hundred years. No oppor- 

 tunity could have been more tempting than when 



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