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of a positive and negative nature, that they derive from 
their religion—of the principles, the dispositions, and the 
habits that have been, in a manner, rooted out by its 
general influence, as well as those which have been incul¬ 
cated and imbibed by its particular application.—To go 
no further, if we look over the scripture history of the 
early ages of the world, we shall find that, even under the 
influence of revelation, actions and habits were allowed its 
votaries, the bare contemplation of which the Christian seeks 
to avoid; and, as it regards the history of the Jews, the utter 
extermination of those heathen tribes, who opposed them, 
or occupied the spot which was the subject of promise, was 
commanded by divine authority*; however little they may 
have been justified in aggravating their sufferings by 
unnecessary acts of cruelty in the execution of those 
commands. It is the glory of the Bible, that it not only 
relates to us the obedience of the servants of God, but also 
their failings and vices—not that we should imitate the 
latter, but rather to convey a lesson of instruction to future 
generations by contrasting their different effects. 
We flatter ourselves the reader will not deem the fore¬ 
going remarks irrelevant or misplaced, when he recollects 
that in concluding our account of the origin of the Made- 
gasses, we left them under the impression that they were 
immediately descended from the ancient patriarch; and 
having been completely insulated, and thereby separated 
from the rest of the world for a long series of ages, were 
excluded from the advantages of revelation, and yet have 
maintained their primitive faith and the simple worship 
connected therewith. Not having met with any account 
which appears to us more probable, it is our intention to 
consider them in this state; having the concurrent opinion 
* The wars of the Jews and Canaanites were undoubtedly struggles for 
existence : and had not the former been enabled, by divine aid, to overcome 
and exterminate their idolatrous enemies, they would have been exterminated 
by them, and thus the fulfilment of the promises would have been frustrated. 
