Of the Kingdom of God. t 6 z Rind them ; and her; for the purpofes of SE R zvt. holinefs and falvation, a model was formed VI. of a fociety feparated from the ref' of the `'v"-'4 world, governed by peculiar laws given by God himfelf, and by a fpecial and imme- diate interpofition of his own authority in the execution. This is commonly and very jufily called a theocracy, or a kingdom of God. Mofes exprefily faith to the I, fraelites, in the name of God, Exod. xix. 5, 6. (and very remarkably, for it was an introduction to the publifhingg of the moral law, the principal inflrument of God's government over them): Now, therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my commandments, then ye (hall be a peculiar treafure unto me above all people, and ye (hall be unto me a kingdem of pri jis, and an holy nation. The divine wifdom faw fit to put into that con - ftitution a great number of rites and cere- monies, yet not without clear enough inti- mations that holinefs, and jufice, and cha- rity, were its chief defign ; for the Lord expref ly declared, that he had not as great delight in fäcrifices as in obeying his voice, that to obey was better than facri face, and to hearken than the fat of rams. He chewed his people what was good; and what did he require of them, but to do juflly, and to V o L. IV. M love
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