UNCLE IN ENGLAND, 151 



acting the evil, and for reclaiming mankind from 

 a depraved polytheism, in which the true belief 

 would be altogether lost ; and with it the only 

 means of ultimate reconciliation. The Patri- 

 archal dispensation was no longer suited to this 

 altered state of the world, nor sufficient for this 

 gracious purpose ; it was, therefore, to be super- 

 seded by a new and intermediate dispensation, 

 which should strongly inculcate the doctrine of 

 the Divine Unity, and perpetuate and confirm 

 with unceasing light, from time to time, the true 

 original doctrine of redemption. Such was the 

 object of the Lemtical dispensation. 



*' The dispersion of the people at Babel had 

 spread the corruptions of which they had been 

 guilty, over the face of the earth ; and it pleased 

 God to separate from them one family who were 

 to be the depositaries of that peculiar principle 

 w 7 hich was to give efficacy to all religious duties. 

 For this purpose Abraham was selected from 

 amongst the idolaters of Babylonia, to be the 

 father of a nation to which the new dispensation 

 was to be committed. They were to preserve 

 the true principles of religion for the rest of the 

 world ; and from them that Messiah was to pro- 

 ceed whom they never ceased to desire, though 

 they so strangely misconceived his real character, 

 and debased the sublime object of his mission. 



" The Patriarchal religion had been originally 

 conferred on all mankind ; its principle was 



