The high Estimation of Broad-tailed Sheep, iV 



The carcass (which is as much entitled to celebrity for 

 its mutton, as is the merino fleece for its filament) must not 

 be forgotten. It wants no other proofs of its excellence, but 

 the " intranda lanionum laboratoria." Yet we may find such 

 proois now, as well as in ages the most ancient; and by tes- 

 timony the most convincing. The flesh of all victims sacri- 

 ficed ;or sin, were wholly the perquisites of the priests of the 

 Israelites ; save when sacrifices were made for their own, and 

 the sins oi the whole congregation. In other sacrifices, desig- 

 nated parts, or portions, were assigned to them. Priests, in all 

 ages, have been practical judges ot g'ood living-; and, when they 

 can righteously obtain it, are now so. I say not this to the dis- 

 paragement of modern priests, for no one respects them more 

 than I do ; nor is any one better satisfied than I am, that 

 those who serve at the altar should live well by it. The 

 divine author of the regulation, which demanded sacrifices of 

 of the ^'•adipein et partes opimas^'^ ordained, that the victims, 

 of course, should be of the fattest and best animals. Worthless 

 perquisites might have induced Pagan temptations, to lead 

 astray the Israelitish ministers at the altars. The richest parts 

 'tis true, were devoted ; but for their repasts^ food sufficiently 

 inviting remained. Only the fat which could be easily sepa- 

 rated (see Leviticus, iii. 16.) was the Lord's; (Humphreys's 

 annotations 233) but " that which was intermixed with it, the 

 Jews ate freely of : the Gentiles also devoted the fat to their 

 gods." — But in their feasts on the carcasses, the latter in- 

 dulged in the most obscene and sinful orgies ; and thought 

 their gods partook of their gluttony and revels. 



In Leviticus, chapter 22, and other passages of scripture, it 

 will appear, that the off"erings of beasts consisted only of 

 beeves, sheep^ and goats. For burnt- oflfer in gs the males were 

 exclusively devoted ; but for sin and peace-off"erings, females 

 might be used. They were to be without blemish, i. e. hybri- 

 dous mixture, deformity^ dise^Lse, or unclQ^nness. The cawi or 

 omentum, and other separable rich and fatty parts, being holy 

 when dedicated to the altar, it was indispensable, that the ani- 



