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ends； and which may be considered their proximate and efficient causes are
contained in human nature itself； so that their acquisition hinges only on
our own power； and on the laws of human nature。 （23） It may be concluded
that these gifts are not peculiar to any nation； but have always been shared
by the whole human race； unless； indeed； we would indulge the dream that
nature formerly created men of different kinds。 （24） But the means which
conduce to security and health are chiefly in external circumstance； and are
called the gifts of fortune because they depend chiefly on objective causes
of which we are ignorant； for a fool may be almost as liable to happiness
or unhappiness as a wise man。 （25） Nevertheless； human management and
watchfulness can greatly assist towards living in security and warding off
the injuries of our fellow…men； and even of beasts。 （26） Reason and
experience show no more certain means of attaining this object than
the formation of a society with fixed laws； the occupation of a strip of
territory and the concentration of all forces； as it were； into one body；
that is the social body。 （27） Now for forming and preserving a society； no
ordinary ability and care is required： that society will be most
secure； most stable； and least liable to reverses； which is founded and
directed by far…seeing and careful men； while； on the other hand； a society
constituted by men without trained skill； depends in a great measure on
fortune； and is less constant。 （28） If； in spite of all； such a society
lasts a long time； it is owing to some other directing influence than its
own； if it overcomes great perils and its affairs prosper； it will perforce
marvel at and adore the guiding Spirit of God （in so far； that is； as God
works through hidden means； and not through the nature and mind of man）；
for everything happens to it unexpectedly and contrary to anticipation； it
may even be said and thought to be by miracle。 （29） Nations； then； are
distinguished from one another in respect to the social organization and the
laws under which they live and are governed； the Hebrew nation was not
chosen by God in respect to its wisdom nor its tranquillity of mind； but in
respect to its social organization and the good fortune with which it
obtained supremacy and kept it so many years。 （30） This is abundantly clear
from Scripture。 Even a cursory perusal will show us that the only respects
in which the Hebrews surpassed other nations； are in their successful
conduct of matters relating to government； and in their surmounting great
perils solely by God's external aid； in other ways they were on a par with
their fellows； and God was equally gracious to all。 （31） For in respect to
intellect （as we have shown in the last chapter） they held very ordinary
ideas about God and nature； so that they cannot have been God's chosen in
this respect； nor were they so chosen in respect of virtue and the true
life； for here again they； with the exception of a very few elect； were on
an equality with other nations： therefore their choice and vocation
consisted only in the temporal happiness and advantages of independent rule。
（32） In fact； we do not see that God promised anything beyond this to the
patriarchs ＇Endnote 4＇ or their successors； in the law no other reward is
offered for obedience than the continual happiness of an independent
commonwealth and other goods of this life； while； on the other hand； against
contumacy and the breaking of the covenant is threatened the downfall of the
commonwealth and great hardships。 （33） Nor is this to be wondered at； for
the ends of every social organization and commonwealth are （as appears from
what we have said； and as we will explain more at length hereafter） security
and comfort； a commonwealth can only exist by the laws being binding on all。
（34） If all the members of a state wish to disregard the law； by that very
fact they dissolve the state and destroy the commonwealth。 （35） Thus； the
only reward which could be promised to the Hebrews for continued obedience
to the law was security ＇Endnote 5＇ and its attendant advantages； while no
surer punishment could be threatened for disobedience； than the ruin of the
state and the evils which generally follow therefrom； in addition to such
further consequences as might accrue to the Jews in particular from the ruin
of their especial state。 （36） But there is no need here to go into this
point at more length。 （37） I will only add that the laws of the Old
Testament were revealed and ordained to the Jews only； for as God chose them
in respect to the special constitution of their society and government； they
must； of course； have had special laws。 （38） Whether God ordained special
laws for other nations also； and revealed Himself to their lawgivers
prophetically； that is； under the attributes by which the latter were
accustomed to imagine Him； I cannot sufficiently determine。 （39） It is
evident from Scripture itself that other nations acquired supremacy and
particular laws by the external aid of God； witness only the two following
passages：
（40） In Genesis xiv：18； 19； 20； it is related that Melchisedek was king of
Jerusalem and priest of the Most High God； that in exercise of his priestly
functions he blessed Abraham； and that Abraham the beloved of the Lord gave
to this priest of God a tithe of all his spoils。 （41） This sufficiently
shows that before He founded the Israelitish nation God constituted kings
and priests in Jerusalem； and ordained for them rites and laws。 （42） Whether
He did so prophetically is； as I have said； not sufficiently clear； but I am
sure of this； that Abraham； whilst he sojourned in the city； lived
scrupulously according to these laws； for Abraham had received no special
rites from God； and yet it is stated （Gen。 xxvi：5）； that he observed the
worship； the precepts； the statutes； and the laws of God； which must be
interpreted to mean the worship； the statutes； the precepts； and the laws of
king Melchisedek。 （43） Malachi chides the Jews as follows （i：10…11。）： 〃Who
is there among you that will shut the doors？ ＇of the Temple＇； neither do ye
kindle fire on mine altar for nought。 （44） I have no pleasure in you； saith
the Lord of Hosts。 （45） For from the rising of the sun； even until the going
down of the same My Name shall be great among the Gentiles； and in every
place incense shall be offered in My Name； and a pure offering； for My Name
is great among the heathen； saith the Lord of Hosts。〃 （46） These words；
which； unless we do violence to them； could only refer to the current
period； abundantly testify that the Jews of that time were not more beloved
by God than other nations； that God then favoured other nations with more
miracles than He vouchsafed to the Jews； who had then partly recovered their
empire without miraculous aid； and； lastly； that the Gentiles possessed
rites and ceremonies acceptable to God。 （47） But I pass over these points
lightly： it is enough for my purpose to have shown that the election of the
Jews had regard to nothing but temporal physical happiness and freedom； in
other words； autonomous government； and to the manner and means by which
they obtained it； consequently to the laws in so far as they were
necessary to the preservation of that special government； and； lastly； to
the manner in which they were revealed。 In regard to other matters； wherein
man's true happiness consists； they were on a par with the rest of the
nations。
（48） When； therefore； it is said in Scripture （Deut。 iv：7） that the Lord is
not so nigh to any other nation as He is to the Jews； reference is only made
to their government； and to the period when so many miracles happened to
them； for in respect of intellect and virtue … that is； in respect of
blessedness … God was； as we have said already； and are now demonstrating；
equally gracious to all。 （49） Scripture itself bears testimony to this fact；
for the Psalmist says （cxlv：18）； 〃The Lord is near unto all them that call
upon Him； to all that call upon Him in truth。〃 （50） So in the same Psalm；
verse 9； 〃The Lord is good to all； and His tender mercies are over all
His works。〃 In Ps。 xxxiii：16； it is clearly stated that God has granted to
all men the same intellect； in these words； He fashioneth their hearts
alike。〃 The heart was considered by the Hebrews； as I suppose everyone
knows； to be the seat of the soul and the intellect。
（51） Lastly； from Job xxxviii：28； it is plain that God had ordained for the
whole human race the law to reverence God； to keep from evil doing； or to do
well； and that Job； although a Gentile； was of all men most acceptable to
God； because he exceeded all in piety and religion。 （52） Lastly； fr