Wesley Corpus

And he speaks home to the point: Nam fuit ante Helenam cunnus teterrima belli Causa; sed ignotis perierunt mortibus omnes Quos venerem incertam rapientes more ferarum, Viribus editior caedebat, ut in grege taurus. “Full many a war has been for women waged Ere half the world in Helen’s cause engaged; But, unrecorded in historic verse, Obscurely died those savage ravishers, Who like brute beasts the female bore away, Till some superior brute re-seized the prey: A a wild bull, his rival bull o'erthrown, Claims the whole subject herd, and reigns alone.” I doubt he who gives this, not as his peculiar opinion, but as what was then a generally-received notion, would scarce have allowed even so much as Juvenal,-- Pudicitiam Saturno rege moratam In terris............... “Chastity did once, I grant, remain On earth, and flourish’d in old Saturn's reign : ” Unless one should suppose the reign of Saturn to have expired when Adam was driven out of Paradise. I cannot forbear adding another picture of the ancient dignity of human nature, drawn by the same masterly hand. Before men dwelt in cities, he says, this Turpe pecus, glandem atque cubilia propter, Unguibus et pugnis, dein fustibus, atque ita porro Pugnabant armis, quae post fabricaverat usus. “The human herd, unbroken and untaught, For acorns first, and grassy couches fought; With fists, and then with clubs maintain'd the fray, Till, urged by hate, they found a quicker way, And forged pernicious arms, and learn'd the art to slay.” What a difference is there between this and the gay, florid accounts which many moderns give of their own species ! 8. But to return to more authentic accounts: At the time when God brought the Israelites into Canaan, in what state were the rest of mankind? Doubtless in nearly the same with the Canaanites, with the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and the rest of the seven nations. But the wickedness of these, we know, was full; they were corrupt in the highest degree. All manner of vice, all ungodliness and unright eousness, reigned among them without control; and therefore the wise and just Governor of the world gave them up to a swift and total destruction. 9. Of Israel, indeed, we read, that they “served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the Elders that over lived Joshua.” (Josh. xxiv.