Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-19


over by the physicians, on account oil the oos','
nacv Of the distemper, we're saved by this god.
dess. Numbers who had been deprived OF 'hei,
ewes and of other parts of their bodies, were all
restored on application to Isis" by 'his ais
order, therefore, which no application 10 '"en
gods could cure, and which was upon the ma
gicians also, who were supposed 10 posssss
most power and influence, God contoundeu
their pride, showed the folly OF their Worship
and the vanity of their dependence Inc msdns
by which the bles and blains were intiic'eo'
viz: the sprinkGng Of The ashes from The |urnaee'
was peculiarly appropriate. Flutarch assures
us, Delside ct Osiride, that IN several cues !"
Egypt, they were accustomed TO sacriace nu'
man beings to Typhen, whom they burnt awe
upon high altar; and at the close oil the sacfi'
fee, the priests gathered the ashes oil theseNic'
Tins, and scattered them in the air; II pre-
sumo" says Mr.. Bryant, "wilh this view, tha'
where an atom Of their dust was waited,
blessing might be entailed The Ike was Done
by Moses, with the ashes OF the furnace thal
wherever any, the smallest portion aIighted' IL
might prove plague and curse to !his cruel,
ungra,efuI people Thus, there was designed
contrast in these workings Of Providence; an
apparent opposition tc the superstition OF the
| times
7. The ereyious had, the seventh plague, at
tended with rain, thunder and lightnIng'n
country where these scarcely ever occur, and
according to an express prediction OF Moses,
must, in the most signal manner, point out the
power and Justice of Cod Fire and ,oater were
some of tine principal objects OF Egyptian IDOL
airy; and fire, as Porphyry Says they consider
ed to be a great god. To find, therefore, mat
these very elements, the objects OF their adora-
ton. were at the command Of servant OF Jeno-
yah broueh, as a curse and soourge on the
whole land, and upon men also and cattle, must
have shaken their belief in these imaginary del
ties. while il pro, ed to the Israelites, that there
was none like the God Of Jeshuron
8. In the eighth plague, we see by what inslg'
nifcant creatures God can bring about gene
raj destruction A caterpillar is beyond all ami
mails the most contemplate, and taken singly,
the leas, TO be dreaded in the whole empire OF
nature; but in the hand OF divine justice, !; be-
comes one of the most formidable Toes oil the
human race.
9. The ninth plague, the total and horrible
darkness that lasted for three days, afforded both
Israelites and Egyptians the most illustrious
proof of the power and universal dominion OF
God; and was, particularly 10 the latter, mos:
awful vet instructive lesson against species ol
idola,ry, which bad been long prevalent in that
and other countries, viz: the worship OF the
celestial hminories The Sun and Moon were
both adored as supreme deites; as the sole dis
nensrrs of ligh, and life; and the sun was iDvok'
ed as the yiver Of immortality and eternal bless
edness Porphyrg De Abstinen. i. a, preserves
the very form used by the Egyptian priests II
adore ssing the sun OH behalf Of a deceased per
g 10 GODS aO sovereign 45rt, the SUM- aha
all We Otnrr ucIlIes WIZ bc>iow lille on mankind
receive me: and gran, that may be- admitted a.
companion with the immortal Gods" These
objects of their superstiticus worship, Jehovat
showed by this plague to be his creatures. dis
pensing or Withholding their light merely al
his will and pleasure; and that the people
might be convinced that all this came by his
appointment, alone, he predicted this awful dark
ness; and that their astronomers might have the
fullest proof that this was no natural occurrence,
and could not be the effect Of any kind of eclipse
which, even when total, could endure only a.
bout four nainuies and this case could only hap
pen once in 1000 years, he caused this paIpabIe
darkness 10 continue for three days!
10 The tenth and last plague, the Staying OF
the hrst-born, or chief person in each family,
|
button; for after that this nation had been pre-
served by of the Israelilish family, they had,
contrary to all right, and in defiance Of original
stipulation, enslaved the people to whom they
had been so much indebted; and not contenled
with this, they had proceeded to murder their
offspring, and 10 render the peoples bondage
in,olerable, by wanon exertion Of power 1t
had been told them, that the family Of the Is
raeliles was esteemed as Gods flrsl-born. But
they needed not this admonnion, and hence
those judgments came upon them, that termi-
mated in the death Of The eldest in each family.
On the whole, we may say, behold the good.
ness and severity of God! Severity, mixed
with goodness, even to the same people. He
punished and corrected them al the same time;
for there was not one of these judgments, that
had not, from its peculiar nature and circum-
stances, some emendatory influence. Nor could
more eAeatual mode be adopted, 10 demon.
s,ra,e to that people, the absurdity, and the in
efficacy of their dependence, Than that made use
of on this occasion, by the wise, just, and mer-
ciful God. AT the same time, the Israelites
themselves must have received lesson Of the
most impressive instruction, Oh the vanity and
vickedness Of idolatry,to which they were at
all times most deplorsbly prone; and of which