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CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE JEWISH LAW.

The civil and political Constitution of the Jewish Government, being most admirably adapted to its Theocracy, affords another proof of its Divine original.

THE distribution of Property, in every State, forms the principal criterion whereby to judge of its constitution. If it be held by the few, in large masses, without the lower classes having any means of acquiring moderate portions, there result arrogance and tyranny on the one side, and dependent base servility on the other.

The Agrarian Law of Lycurgus, in Sparta, approached nearest to the basis of the Jewish Constitu

tion, which was founded on an equal distribution of property. But the Spartan institutions, by confining agriculture to their slaves; by banishing the enjoyments of wealth; severing the ties of natural affection; and preventing every domestic comfort;-obliterated in their rigorous discipline, all the kindlier charities of life; and fostered an exclusively martial spirit. This eventually spurned all the restraint of the Legislator; the people indulged their ruling passion, rushed into offensive wars, extended their dominions, introduced the use of money, whence luxury succeeded, and the Spartan Constitution was overthrown.

Now the Hebrew Code had for its basis an equal Agrarian law, (Numb. xxvi. 53, &c.) which provided on their entrance into Canaan, for a regular division of the land, according to the numbers in each Tribe; and assigned an average of about twenty-five acres to each man of the 600,000 that then entered. This they held, independently of temporal superiors, by direct tenure from the Lord Jehovah; and this tenure was inalienable. The land might indeed be temporarily sold; but it was always to revert back to the original family, on the occurrence of every Jubilee. This rule of reversion did not hold as to houses in cities; thereby giving a decided preference to rural property, and an inducement to an agricultural life. Neither was the estate of one family to pass into

female slaves by strict regulations (Exod. xxi. 7. 10. and 20. 24). This appears more strongly, when contrasted with the Spartans butchering their helots in cold blood; or with the Romans torturing theirs for the most trifling causes; and with the abominable licentiousness towards the females on all occasions. Whilst the frequent and dangerous rebellions of slaves under heathens, compared with their peaceable conduct under the Jews, proves the wisdom and superiority of the regulations.

Lastly, the administration of justice was public, at the places of concourse, viz. the gates of the city; their Judges, the Elders and Levites, were taken, as our jurors, from the citizens; and thus were the fittest to determine as to all general circumstances. No torture was allowed; no actual cruelty was permitted; and two unimpeachable witnesses, at least, were required for conviction.

When the Mosaic Law then is considered, as combining the most pure and elevated principles of religion and piety, with the most admirable precepts of practical morality, and active benevolence and charity; that these were all sanctioned and enforced by a penal code, singularly adapted to these religious and moral principles, and displaying a wisdom and rectitude immeasurably beyond that of any contemporary legislature of nations, humanly speaking, far more civilized and

refined, and that this code was established amongst a people long debased by slavery, and exhibiting in their national character no superiority of natural ingenuity and intelligence; when all this is considered, the promulgation of such a system, under such peculiar sanctions, at such a period, and to such a people, is perfectly unaccountable on any principles of human wisdom and power.

Hence arises a third presumptive argument for the Divine Original of the Jewish Law.

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CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE JEWISH LAW.

The civil and political Constitution of the Jewish Government, being most admirably adapted to its Theocracy, affords another proof of its Divine original.

THE distribution of Property, in every State, forms the principal criterion whereby to judge of its constitution. If it be held by the few, in large masses, without the lower classes having any means of acquiring moderate portions, there result arrogance and tyranny on the one side, and dependent base servility on the other.

The Agrarian Law of Lycurgus, in Sparta, approached nearest to the basis of the Jewish Constitu

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