THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 289 



I consider the prophecy concerning Ifhmael, and his des- 

 cendants the Arabs, as one of the moft extraordinary that 

 we meet with in the Old Teflament. It was alfo one of the 

 earlieft made, and proceeded upon grounds of private repa- 

 ration. Hagar had not finned, though flie had fled from 

 Sarah with Ifhmael' her fon into the wildernefs. In that 

 defert there were then no inhabitants, and though Ifli- 

 mael's * fucceflion was incompatible with God's promife to 

 Abraham and his fon Ifaac, yet neither Hagar nor he ha- 

 ving finned, juftice required a reparation for the heritage 

 which he had loft. God gave him that very wildernefs 

 which before was the property of no man, in which Ifh- 

 mael was' to erecl: a kingdom under the moft improbable 

 circumftances poflible to be imagined. His f hand was to 

 be againft every man, and every man's hand againft him. 

 By his fword he was to live, and pitch his tent in the face of 

 his brethren. 



Never has prophecy been fo completely fulfilled. It fub- 

 fifted from the earlieft ages ; it was verified before the time 

 of Mofes ; in the time of David and Solomon ; it fubfifted in 

 the time of Alexander and that of Auguftus Csefar ; it fubfift- 

 ed in the time of Juftinian, — all very diftant, unconnected 

 periods ; and I appeal to the evidence of mankind, if, with- 

 out apparent fupport or necemty, but what it has derived 

 from God's promife only, it is not in full vigour at this very 

 day. This prophecy alone, in the truth of which all forts of 



Vol. I. Oo religions 



* Gen. xv. \% f Gen.-xvi. i-a. 





f*. 



i 



