Such alfo were the Powers of the Affembly of the People in the ancient Government of Carthage. This was likely after the Model of Tyre, to which City the Hebrew Conftitution could not be unknown, and a Similitude between them is highly probable. In this Government "the People declared " what they thought was proper to be done,

concerning the Things which were laid " before them; fuch Declarations were re"ceived as the determined Refolution of "the whole City, and it was not lawful "afterwards to oppofe it, or to contradict "it*."

These popular Affemblies in the forementioned Governments of Greece, Italy, and Africa, we may add in Afia too, as the Carthaginian Government was of Tyrian Original, may ferve to explain this Part of the Hebrew Conftitution, which appears to have fo near Refemblance to them.

There is one Thing deferves particular Obfervation, the Manner in which Matters were proposed to the Affembly, and in which

the

de graviffimis quibufque rebus confultaret, ut fi bellum decernendum, vel pax facienda, vel fi quid aliud omnes at. tingerent Magiftratus ufque adeo concionibus fubjecti, ut etiam ipforum regum jus a populi fuffragiis dependeret, neque item reliqui magiftratus fere aliter, quam a populo confentiente, creabantur. Craig. de Repub. Lacedæm. L. i. c. vii. p. 48.

* Populus vero id quod placebat, de re eadem ad fe relata decernebant. Ejus decretum, feu totius civitatis fcitum, fixum habebatur, ultraque id tendere, five obfiftere, aut contravepire, fas non erat. Ubbo Emmius Refp. Carthag. p. 8.

the Affembly gave its Affent. In the Governments of Athens, Lacedæmon, Carthage, and Rome, when any thing was to be proposed to the People, it was to be propofed to them by a proper Magiftrate; upon which Propofal the Affembly was to receive or to reject it. It was even provided by the * Laws of Lacedæmon, that none fhould be allowed to debate any thing, befides what was propofed to them by the Kings and the Senate; or, in the Roman Style, the People refolved on the Propofal of a Senatorian Magiftrate. An Institution plainly intended to preserve the Wisdom of an Administration by the Councils of the Prudent, as well as the Liberty of the People in their Affent.

We have seen the Covenant between God and the Hebrew Nation thus proposed by MoJes to the Congregation, and voted by them unanimoufly, Be it as propofed.

When Joshua was made Succeffor to Numbers Mofes, Mofes is directed to fet him before xxxvii. 18. Eleazar the Prieft, and before all the Congregation; there feems to have been a Propofal of his Choice to the People, as well as the Solemnity of Inauguration into his Office; agreeable to what was done before, when they received Jehovah for their King; agreeable to the Manner of afking and taking the Consent of the People in other Go

*Plutarch. Lycurgus.
+ Uti rogas.

vernments;

vernments; and agreeable to the Account the Scriptures give of the Manner in which they promised Obedience to Joshua. And Joshua the Son of Nun was full of the Spirit Deut. of Wisdom; for Mofes bad laid his Hands xxxiv. 9. upon him, and the Children of Ifrael hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Mofes. Or they confented to do what Mofes propofed to them in the Name of Jehovah, to receive Joshua for his Succeffor, and to obey him as Judge in his Room.

I

24.

When Saul was appointed firft King at the Defire of the People, it is thought not improbable by fome ingenious Men, that Saul was nominated by a Ballot, and not by a pure Lot; but however that was, Saul's Appointment to the Kingdom was in the Congregation of the 1 Sam. x. whole People. And when Saul appeared before the People, his Election was confirmed by unanimous Confent, and all the People fhouted, and faid, God fave the King. And afterwards, when fome were displeased with Saul's Advancement, and despised him, Samuel calls the Affembly again to renew the Kingdom. Then faid Samuel unto the People, xi. 14. Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the Kingdom there. We have accordingly this Account of what the People affembled at Gilgal did, And all the People went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul King before the Lord in Gilgal.

However

27.

15.

However short these Accounts are, yet if we take along with us the Conformity of this Congregation of Ifrael to the Affemblies of the People in other Governments, and the Manner in which this Affembly is defcribed in other Places; we may, I think, very justly suppose, that if this Congregation did not chufe Saul by Vote and Ballot, they at least consented to his Nomination, and confirm'd his Authority when propos'd by Samuel, as that Propofal was made on their own Petition; especially when the Congregation was, fummoned to renew the Kingdom, and when, according to the Reason of their Meeting exprefs'd in their Summons, They made Saul King before the Lord.

In like manner, though Solomon was first proclaimed King by David's Order, when Adonijah exalted himself, faying, I will be ■ Kings i. King; yet he afterwards propofes Solomon to the People, and confirms him in the Throne by their Assent; for they made Solomon the Son of David King the Second xxix. 22, Time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be chief Governor, and Zadock to be Priest: Thus Solomon fat on the Throne of the Lord as King, in the ftead of David his Father, and profper'd, and all Ifrael obeyed

1 Chron.

23.

bim.

But the Authority and Rights of this Branch of the Hebrew Government, as one of the States of Ifrael, may yet further ap

pear,

pear, if we obferve how far they were concern'd in Treaties of Peace and Leagues of Friendship.

When the Inhabitants of Gibeon came to Joshua, Joshua at the first made Peace with Jof. ix.15, them, and a League to fave their Lives; this Treaty was confirmed by the Oath of the Princes, and the Princes of the Congregation fuare unto them: but when it was found foon after, that the Gibeonites had impofed on Joshua and the Princes, the Congregation grew uneafy, and murmur'd against the Princes, and fo it was brought before the Congregation; and the Princes propofed to the People a Confirmation of their League, because they had fworn unto it. And the Princes faid unto them, Let them live, as the Princes had promifed them. It fhould feem plain from hence, that a Convention, tho' made by Judge and Senate, was to be ratified by the. Confent of the People or Commons of Ifrael, according to the Hebrew Conftitution, to give it full Authority.

This Congregation of Ifrael had alfo, as the popular Affemblies of other Governments had, fome Jurifdiction in criminal Caufes.

21.

When Saul in a Battle with the Philistines iSam. xiv. had adjured Ifrael, not to eat any Food till 42-43-45the Evening, his own Son Jonathan tranfgrefs'd his Order; and upon his Confeffion, Saul his Father, then King and General, determines to put him to Death. And Saul anfwered, God do fo to me, and more allo;

L

for