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Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and plac'd them in the Cities of Samaria; a mongril People made up of various Nations, and following as great a Variety in their religious Worship: Partly, fearing the LORD; of whom, from fome Ifraelites who were fent back to them for that Purpose, they had got fome flight Notion; but, chiefly, bigotted to the feveral Idolatries in which they had been educated. Thefe, from the City of Samaria, and the Country round about it, were call'd Samaritans: Between whom and the Jews there continually subfifted an utter Enmity.

For the latter, after they were conquer'd by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, when their Temple and City were deftroy'd, and they had continued Seventy Years in Captivity, were permitted to return to their own Country: A Favour, which the other Ten Tribes were never to expect; according as God had foretold by the Mouth of Hof. i. 6. one of his Prophets; I will no more have mercy upon the house of Ifrael, but I will utterly take them away. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will fave them, by the LORD their God,

Upon

Upon their Return, they began to rebuild their City and Temple, being order'd and empower'd fo to do, by Cyrus King of Perfia, who had just then conquer'd Babylon. However, they made but a flow Progrefs in the Work, from the frequent Interruptions given them by their inveterate Enemies the Samaritans: until, at last, in the Reign of Darius, Son of Hyftafpes, King of Perfia, they were enabled to finish their Undertaking, in spite of all the Oppofition of their malicious Neighbours.

Soon after this, it is probable, the Samaritans built their Temple likewise, upon Mount Gerizim, in oppofition to that of the Jews. And thus they continued, ftill maintaining their old Bickerings, and fometimes waging War with each other, many Years. Till, at laft, the Samaritans being totally fubdued by the Jews, remain'd under their Subjection; and finally, after many Seditions and Commotions, both of them, with the rest of the conquer'd World, fell into the Power of the Romans. All which Time, the Jews found it a mighty Inconvenience, to be

oblig'd

oblig'd (as by their Situation they were) to go through the Country of the detefted Samaritans, whenever they were to pafs to or from their own Province Galilee.

Which Preliminaries being thus fettled, we shall proceed to enquire more particularly into their Religion and Govern

ment.

SCRIPTURE POLITICS.

CHA P. I.

SECT. I. THE LAW.

E will begin with the Law; which was given by God, for the Government of this his chosen People, through the Ad

30 miniftration of Moses; to

whom it was deliver'd in a very particular and extraordinary manner. It relates to their whole Behaviour, as well Religious as Civil; and may be compris'd under two general Heads, their Love of God, and of their Neighbour. For which Reason, when the Pharisee who was a Lawyer, one who made the Study and Knowledge of this Law

Matth.

bleffed

Law his Profeffion, asks our xxii. 35. LORD, Which is the great Commandment

in the Law? He receives this Anfwer; Thou shalt love the LORD thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the fecond is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy felf. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

SE C T. II.

The TEN COMMANDMENTS.

But these two being a Summary too clofe and comprehenfive for common Ca-. pacities, God was pleas'd to unfold that which he intended for general Ufe, in Ten Branches; whereof Four contain their Duty to Himself, and the other Six their Duty to one another.

By the first, they are charg'd, not to have any other God or Gods befide the LORD. By the fecond, they are forbidden to attempt making the Likeness or Representation of any Person or Thing whatever, in order to religious Worship.

Idolatry

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