This objection, as well as the new tranflation, was originally taken. from Mr. HARMER'S "OBSERVA

TIONS ON DIVERS PASSAGES OF

"SCRIPTURE, &c."-A work, by which, the learned, and worthy author has done much fervice to the world. But, as it's greatest utility confifts, in the collection he has made, of the manners, produce, cuftoms, &c. of the Eaft, from the narrations of various travellers ;the value of the book will not be impaired, if it's author be wrong in this point; which is rather to be confidered, as an inference from other facts, than advanced by him, as a fact itself.

He expresses himself surprised, that fo celebrated an author, as Alting, fhould imagine thefe words of the Prophet, "Butter and honey shall he

eat, &c." are expreffive of a ftate poverty as Vitringa, in his commentary, affures us, he did. "The "Old Teftament (he fays) fo often

fpeaks of honey and

milk, as " emblems

maintains like

* The learned Mr. BLANY, wife the fame opinion. But furely, John the Bap tift's diet, teaches us what were the species of food, in a flate of great poverty, or seasons of great hardship, and diftress, viz. LOCUSTS and WILD HONEY. Though Mr. HARMER endeavours to fhow, that there was not even any exceffive rigour or aufterity in John's diet. But how he can reconcile the two propofitions with each other, he has not attempted to explain..

"emblems of PLENTY, and the con"nexion between butter and milk "is fo obvious, that few, he be

¢

lieves, have embraced this opi"nion." He then informs us, ftill further to refute Alting, and fupport his own opinion, that, "butter " and honey is an exquifite break"faft among the Arabs, and pre"fented to princes they would ho

nour with great diftinction; confe

quently, nothing is more untoward than the thought of Alting."

Now, though I by no means intend to defend the opinion of Alting, that these articles of food are ever used in Scripture, as emblems

of

of a ftate of poverty; and though, (as I have before obferved) in the latter part of this very chapter of Isaiah, the country of Judea is described, as affording a plenty of them, to those few who remain, after the reft are flain, or taken captive;yet, I muft obferve, that in the paffages alluded to by Mr. Harmer, milk and honey are not used as emblems of the RICHES of the inhabitants, or at all given as proofs of their abounding in delicacies ;but only, as fuch proofs of the fertility of the foil, as would fecure them from the famine, they must have fuflained in the wilderness, had they not been miraculously fupported.

This will be evident to any one, who will take the trouble of comparing, Joshua, v. 5.-with Genefis, xliii. 11.-Deuterenomy, viii. 8.xxxii. 13.2 Samuel, xvii. 29.— 2 Chronicles, xxxi. 5. (though many other paffages might be cited) and will prove flill further, that they were by no means delicacies, but only the most common articles of food. In a mere pafturage state, they may indeed be the beft articles of food, which can be procured, and the eating them together, may be esteemed a luxury.

The fame, likewife, may be the cafe, in a wandering ftate, like that

of