CAP. II. Their Estates and Occupations.

THe riches of the Patriarchs consisted principally in Cattle, whereof Abraham must have had a vast Stock, when he was obliged to part from his Nephew Lot, by reason that the Land could not con∣tain them together.* Jacob had likewise a great number, when he returned from Mesopotamia; since Page  15 the Present that he made to his Bro∣ther Esau was of five hundred and ninety head of Cattle; and the Scri∣pture shews what sort of Cattle they were, which they bred, Goats, Sheep, Camels, Kine, and Asses. There were neither Horses nor Hogs. It was that great number of Herds and Flocks, which made them so much esteem Wells and Cysterns in a Country that has no other River than that of Jordan, and where it rains but very seldom. They had Slaves too, of whom A∣braham must needs have had an huge number; seeing of those who were born in his own house, and whom he himself had exercised, he armed three hundred and Eighteen.* Thus there must have been pro∣portionably bought Children old men Women and Slaves. 'Tis said, when that he returned from Egypt, he was Rich in Gold and in Silver. The Bracelets and Pendants, which his Servant Eliezer gave on his be∣half to Rebecca, were of six ounces of Gold: And they had at that time coyned money, as is manifest by the Purchase of his Sepulcre. Page  16 We see, they used Perfumes and precious Rayment by those of Esau, which Jacob made use of at the reception of his Father's Bles∣sing.*

With all these Riches, very La∣borious they were in their Husban∣dry. They lodged always in the Field, in Tents, changing their a∣bode according to the conveniency of their Pasturage: And by con∣sequence were frequently employ∣ed in Camping and decamping; for they could make but small Days Journies with so great and comber∣some a Train. Not but that they might have built houses as well as the other Inhabitants of the same Country, but they preferred that manner of Life. Which is undoubt∣edly the most Ancient, since it is more easie to set up Tents than to build houses: And has ever past for the most perfect, as fixing men least to the Earth. It does likewise better shew the state of the Patriarchs, who only Inhabited that land as Travellers in expecta∣tion of God's Promises, which were not to be fulfilled till after Page  17 their Deaths. The first Cities, whereof mention is made, were built by the most profligately wicked Cain and Nimrod.* They were the first, who shut themselves up in walls, and used fortifications to a∣void the punishment of their crimes, and to commit new ones with Im∣punity. But the good and honest people lived openly and without any Fear.

The principal occupation of the Patriarchs was the care of their Herds and Flocks; which is appa∣rent through all their History, and by the express Declaration, the Children of Israel made thereof to the King of Egypt.* How innocent soever Agriculture may be, the Pastoral life is the most perfect; the first was the share of Cain and the other of Abel. It has some∣thing more plain and more noble: 'Tis less painful; tyes men less to the Earth, and yet is the most pro∣fitable. Old Cato plac'd the Breed∣ing of Cattle before tilling of the ground; which yet he preferred before the other ways of growing rich. The just reproaches, which Page  18 Jacob makes to Laban, shew, that the Patriarchs took that Employ∣ment upon 'em, and manag'd it with the greatest and most serious Indu∣stry; and that they spared their pains on no occasions.* Thus was I in the day the draught consumed me, and the Frost by Night; and my sleep de∣parted from mine eyes.* Thus have I been twenty years in thy house, &c. We may judge of the pains the men took by what the Women did▪ Rebecca went a great way to fetch water and carryed it upon her Shoul∣ders.* And Rachel her self kept her Fathers flock, neither their Beauty nor their Nobility rendering them the more nice and delicate. The Grecians, whose politeness w• with so much reason Esteem, di• for a long while retain that ancient Simplicity. Whereof Homer fur∣nishes us with examples on all occa∣sions: And upon this foundation it is, that all Pastoral Poems are grounded. And verily in Syria, Greece and Sicily there was above Fifteen hundred years after the Pa∣triarchs People of good quality, who made it their business to breed Cattle Page  19 and who in the greatest leisure of that kind of life, and the fine hu∣mour, which those Countries in∣spire, made Songs mighty natural and pleasant.