without obliging themselves to circumcision or any other rites or ceremonies of the law. 2. Proselytes of justice, or righteousness, who were converts to the Jewish religion, and engaged themselves to receive circumcision, as well as to observe the whole law. But there is no mention of two sorts of proselytes in the sacred Scriptures. The Scriptures mention only two classes of persons, viz. the Israelites, or Hebrews of the Hebrews, and the Gentile converts to the Jewish religion, who were called strangers, sojourners, or proselytes.

The Rabinnical writers inform us, that, when a proselyte was initiated to the Jewish religion, he was to be circumcised, baptized, and offer a sacrifice on the occasion. 1. Circumcision was the seal of the covenant into which the proselyte entered with God, and of the solemn profession which he made to observe the whole law of Moses; and if the proselyte were a Samaritan being before circumcised, blood was to be drawn afresh from the part circumcised. 2. The second ceremony was washing, or baptism; which must be performed in the presence of at least three Jews of distinction. At the time of its performance the proselyte declared his abhorrence of his past life, and that no secular motives, but a sincere love for the law of Moses, induced him to be baptized: and he was then instructed in the most essential parts of the law. He promised at the same time to lead a holy life, to worship the true God, and to keep his commandments.

3. To constitute upright judges for the maintenance of justice, and its impartial administration to all persons. 4. Not to commit incest. 5. Not to commit murder. 6. Not to rob or steal,. 7. Not to eat a member of any living creature.

3. The third ceremony to be performed was that of offering sacrifice. All these rites, except circumcision, were performed by the women, as well as the men, who became proselytes: and it was a common notion among the Jews, that every person who had duly performed all these rites, was to be considered as a newborn infant. Maimonides says, a Gentile who is become a proselyte, and a slave who is set at liberty, are both as it were new-born babes; which is the reason why those who before were their parents, are now no longer so."*

Jenning's Jewish Antiq. b.ì, c. iii, pp. 63--80. Dr. Whitby on John iii, 4--6.

SCRIPTURE ANTIQUITIES,

&c.

PART IV.

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE SACRED BUILDINGS AND PLACES OF THE ISRAELITES.

1. The sacred Buildings, &c. THE TABERNACLE.-The tabernacle, which Moses constructed by Divine direction, according to the model, or pattern exhibited to him by God himself on the mount, was a moveable structure, which was, as it were, the palace of the Most High, the dwelling place of the God of Israel. Here the worship of God for many centuries was celebrated; and hither the Hebrew tribes repaired to offer their sacrifices and oblations.

It was of an oblong rectangular form, thirty cubits long, ten broad, and ten in height, which, according to Bishop Cumberland, who supposes it the Egyptian cubit of nearly twenty-two inches, was fifty-five feet long, eighteen broad, and eighteen high. The two sides, north and south, and the western end, were composed