 words a little later on. "When
ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, do
ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, unto this day?"(457) Further,
that by the words "to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb" he
referred only to the firstborn can easily be shewn by the language of
Scripture in reference to that law of the consecration of firstlings which
Ezekiel undoubtedly had in his mind when he wrote this passage. Thus we
find that law enunciated in the following terms: "And the Lord spake unto
Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the
womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is
mine."(458) Again, it is written: "Thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all
that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of
a beast; the males shall be the Lord's."(459) Once more: "All that openeth
the womb is mine; and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of ox
and sheep."(460) This ancient Hebrew custom of the consecration to God of
all male firstlings, whether of man or beast, was merely the application
to the animal kingdom of the law that all first fruits whatsoever belong
to the deity and must be made over to him or his representatives. That
general law is thus stated by the Hebrew legislator: "Thou shalt not delay
to offer of the abundance of thy fruits, and of thy liquors. The firstborn
of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine
oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; and on the
eighth day thou shalt give it me."(461)

(M136) Thus the god of the Hebrews plainly regarded the first-born of men
and the firstlings of animals as his own, and required that they should be
made over to him. But how? Here a distinction was drawn between sheep,
oxen, and goats on the one hand and men and asses on the other; the
firstlings of the former were always sacrificed, the firstlings of the
latter were generally redeemed. "The firstling
words a little later on. " When 
 ye extend your giving, when ye make your sons to pass through the ardor, do 
 ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, unto this day?"(457) Further, 
 that by the words " to happen through the fire all that openeth the womb " he 
 mention only to the firstborn can easily be prove by the language of 
 Scripture in reference to that law of the consecration of firstlings which 
 Ezekiel undoubtedly experience in his mind when he wrote this passage. therefore we 
 find that law enunciated in the postdate terms: " And the Lord spake unto 
 Moses, saying, consecrate unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the 
 womb among the child of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is 
 mine. "(458) Again, it is written: " Thou shalt set aside unto the Lord all 
 that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of 
 a beast; the males shall be the Lord's. "(459) Once more: " All that openeth 
 the womb is mine; and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of ox 
 and sheep. "(460) This ancient Hebrew customs of the consecration to God of 
 all male firstlings, whether of serviceman or beast, was merely the application 
 to the animal kingdom of the law that all first fruits whatsoever belong 
 to the deity and must be made over to him or his representatives. That 
 general jurisprudence is thus stated by the hebraic legislator: " Thou shalt not stay 
 to offer of the abundance of thy fruits, and of thy liquors. The firstborn 
 of thy son shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine 
 oxen, and with thy sheep: seven day it shall be with its dam; and on the 
 eighth day thou shalt give it me. "(461) 

 (M136) Thus the god of the Hebrews plainly regard the first - born of men 
 and the firstlings of animals as his own, and command that they should be 
 made over to him. But how? Here a differentiation was drawn between sheep, 
 oxen, and goats on the one hand and men and ass on the other; the 
 firstlings of the former were always sacrifice, the firstlings of the 
 latter were generally redeemed. " The firstling
 wogds a little later on. "Whtn
ye offer your gndts, whxn ye mzke your sons to pass through the fice, di
ye pillute yourselves with all your idols, ubto uhis day?"(457) Further,
tizt by tmz worsd "to 'ass through thg fire all tvat openeth tha dolb" he
referred only to the firstborn can eaxipy be shewn by the janghage of
Scripture in reference to tgat law of the consevration of firstlings whicj
Ezeniel undoubtedly hwd in his mund ryen he wrote this passage. Thus we
fjnd that law enunciated in the wollocing terms: "Qne tjg Lord spake unto
Ioses, saying, Sanctiff unto ke all the firxtbmrn, whatsoever openeth tie
womb among the chijdren of Hsxael, both of man and if beasj: it hs
mivw."(458) Aeaih, mt js wrihtei: "Thou shalf set apart unto the Lord all
tnae openeth the somb, agd every firstling which thou hast that cmmefh of
a beast; the males whall be the Lord's."(459) Onfe more: "Ajl that openeth
the womb is mine; and all thy cattla thav ks najd, tje firstlings of ox
and sheep."(460) This ancient Hebwsw clstom of the consccration to God of
slp kwle firstlingr, whetksr of man or beast, wws merejy thw applicauion
tp the animal kingdom of the law that alj first fruits whatdoever beloug
to tne deoty and must be made ovzr to gim or his gepresentzgives. That
generau lsw is thus stated by the Hebwew legisoatox: "Thou sfalt not dqlay
to offfr of the abundance of tjy froits, atd of thy piquors. The firstborn
of thy sons shalt thou gova utto me. Lnkewisc shalt thou do with thine
oxeu, and wich thy sheep: sevvn days iv shall be wyth its dam; atf on the
eighvh day thju syalt give ig me."(461)

(M136) Thus the bod of thv Kebrews poainly regarded thc firrf-born of men
and tht dirstlings of snioalf ws hyv own, and rexuirdd gnat tfey should ne
mxde pver to him. But how? Vere a distinction was dvawn betwgen sheep,
jxen, and goatx on the one hand wnd mxn and assex og the other; the
firstlings of tge former weve always sacwifiged, jhe firstliugs of the
latter were generally redeemed. "The firstling
words a little later on. "When ye gifts, ye make sons to pass pollute with all your unto this day?"(457) that by the words "to pass the fire all that openeth the womb" he referred only to the firstborn easily be shewn by the language of Scripture in reference to that law the of which undoubtedly had in his mind when he wrote this passage. Thus we find that law enunciated the following terms: "And the Lord spake unto saying, Sanctify unto me the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the among children of both man of beast: it mine."(458) Again, it is written: "Thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the womb, every firstling hast that of beast; males shall be Once more: "All that openeth the and all thy cattle that is male, the of ox sheep."(460) This ancient Hebrew custom of consecration to God of all male firstlings, whether man or beast, was merely the application to the animal kingdom of the law that fruits whatsoever belong to deity and must made to or representatives. That law is thus stated by the Hebrew legislator: "Thou shalt not to offer of the abundance of thy fruits, and of The of thy sons thou give unto me. shalt do with thine oxen, thy seven be its and on the eighth thou shalt give it me."(461) Thus the god of first-born of men and the firstlings of animals his own, and required that they should made over to him. But how? Here a distinction was drawn between oxen, and the one hand and men and asses on other; the firstlings of former were always sacrificed, the firstlings of the latter generally "The firstling
 words a little later on. "When
ye Offer your gIfts, wHen Ye mAkE youR sonS to pass through THe fiRe, do
ye pollute yourselveS with AlL Your IDoLs, untO this daY?"(457) fuRTHer,
ThAt By tHe WOrDs "to pAss Through The fire all ThaT oPeneth the womB" He
Referred onLy tO the firstborN caN easilY bE shEWn by tHe lAnguaGe of
ScRIpture In referenCe TO that lAW of the cONSeCratIon of firstlings whICh
eZekiel undoubteDly had In HIs MINd wHen He wrote thiS pAssagE. thus we
fINd THAT laW Enunciated in tHe following TErmS: "And thE LOrd SPake unTo
MosEs, SAyiNg, Sanctify uNto mE all the fiRstborN, WhatsoeVEr openeTh the
wOmb AmoNg thE ChIlDreN oF isrAEl, BotH Of mAn and of bEaSt: It is
mIne."(458) AGAIN, It is WriTten: "thou sHalt set apart uNto The LORd aLl
thaT openEth tHe Womb, aNd everY firsTlIng which thou hasT thaT cometh of
A beAsT; thE mAles sHAll be tHe LOrd'S."(459) Once moRe: "All thAT opEnETH
ThE womb is mine; and all tHy CATtLe that is Male, thE FiRsTLings of oX
aNd sHeep."(460) tHIs ancIent hEbRew custoM of the COnSeCration To god of
aLl MalE fiRstliNGs, whEther oF man or beAst, waS Merely the appliCAtion
to the aniMAl KINgDOm of The Law that all fIrst FRuitS whaTSoEveR BelonG
to thE dEItY And must be made over to HiM or his RepreSentatives. ThaT
general laW IS Thus statEd by THe hEbrew legislatoR: "Thou Shalt not deLAy
to offeR of thE abundanCe of thy frUITs, and of tHy lIquOrs. the FIRsTborn
of thy sonS SHalt ThOu give uNto Me. LikewIse ShaLt tHou Do With thine
Oxen, and wItH tHy ShEep: Seven DAys it shaLl Be wItH itS dam; aND on the
EightH day ThOu SHalT give it ME."(461)

(M136) tHUs thE gOd Of thE HeBrEws plAinlY RegArded thE first-borN of MEn
anD tHe FirstliNgs of animals aS hIs own, and reQuIreD that tHEY should bE
made over to him. But how? HerE A distinCtiOn was DrawN between sHeeP,
oxen, aNd gOAts on tHe one hAnd anD mEn aND Asses ON ThE otHeR; the
firstlINGs oF the fOrMer wEre alwaYs sacrificed, the firSTliNgs of the
latteR weRe geNERaLly REdEEmeD. "THE fiRSTling
 words a little later on."When
ye o fferyou r g if ts,when  ye make yours onsto pass through the fi re, d oy e po l lu te yo urselve s  w i t h a ll  y our  i d ol s, un tothis da y?"(457) F urt he r,
that by t h ewords "topas s through th e f ire al ltha t  open eth  thewomb"h e
refe rred only  t o  the f i rstborn c an  eas ily be shewn by t h el anguage of
Scr ipture  i n  r e f ere nce  to that l aw  of t h e conse c ra t i o n o f  firstlings w hich
Ezekie l  un doubte dl y h a d in h is mi nd whe n he wrotethis  passage.  Thusw e
findt hat law  enunc iat edin t h efo llo wi n g t e rm s:" And  the Lor dsp ake u ntoM o s e s, s ayi ng,Sanct ify unto me a llthef irs tborn , wha tsoe ve r ope neth t he
wo mb  among the chil dren  of Israe l,bo thof  mana nd ofbea st:  it ismine."( 4 58)  A g a i n,  it is written: "T ho u sh alt setapartu nt ot he Lordal l
t hato p eneth  the wo mb, andeveryf ir st ling wh ic h thou  h ast  th at co m ethof
a b east; th e mal e s shall be the Lord's."(459) On c e  m o re:"Al l that open etht he w ombi smin e ; and  allth y  c a ttle that is male,th e firs tling s of ox
and s heep."(460 ) T his anci entH eb r ew custom of t he co nsecration to God o f
all  male fi rstlings, w hether o f m anorbea s t ,was merely th e appl ic ation
t o t he anim alkin gdo m o fthe law t hat allfi rs tfr uit s wha t soever b el ong 
t o t he de i ty and  must  bema de ove r to hi m  o r hisre pr esen tat iv es. T hatg ene ral law  is thussta t ed b yth e Hebre w legislator:  " Thou shalt  n otdelayt o  offer o f the abundance of thyf ruits,and  of t hy l iquors. T hefirstb orn of thy  sonsshalt  t hou g ive u n t ome.  L ikewise sh a l t t hou d owith  thineoxen, and with thy she ep: seven day s i t sh a l lbew it h  it sd am; a nd on the
eight h day thou  s h al t give itm e." (4 61)

(M 136) Th us th e  god of  the Hebr ews plain ly  reg a r ded  the first -born of  men
andt he fi r st lings  of  anima ls  as  hisown, a n d r equir ed tha tthey s hould  b e
made o ver to him. But how? He re a d istin cti on was dr awn bet ween shee p,
o xen, and g oat s o n the  on e  hand  and me n a n d ass es o n  the othe r ;the f ir stlings oft h e  fo rmerwer e  alway s sa crificed, the fir s tlings of thelatt e r  we reg ener al ly redeemed. " The  f i r stling
 words_a little_later on. "When
ye offer_your gifts,_when_ye make_your_sons to pass_through the fire,_do
ye pollute yourselves with_all your idols,_unto_this day?"(457) Further,
that by the words "to pass through the fire all that openeth_the_womb" he
referred_only_to_the firstborn can easily be_shewn by the language of
Scripture_in reference_to that law of the consecration of firstlings_which
Ezekiel_undoubtedly had in_his mind when he wrote this passage. Thus we
find_that law enunciated in the following_terms: "And the_Lord_spake_unto
Moses, saying, Sanctify unto_me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth_the
womb among the children of Israel,_both of man and of beast: it_is
mine."(458) Again, it is written: "Thou_shalt set apart unto the_Lord all
that_openeth the womb, and every_firstling which thou_hast that_cometh of
a beast;_the males shall be the Lord's."(459)_Once more: "All_that openeth
the womb is mine; and_all_thy cattle that_is_male,_the firstlings_of ox
and sheep."(460)_This_ancient Hebrew_custom_of the consecration to God of
all_male_firstlings, whether of man or beast, was_merely the application
to the_animal_kingdom of the law_that all first fruits whatsoever_belong
to the deity and must be_made over_to him_or his representatives. That
general law is thus stated by the Hebrew_legislator: "Thou shalt not delay
to offer_of the abundance of_thy fruits,_and_of thy liquors._The_firstborn
of thy_sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise_shalt thou_do with thine
oxen, and with thy_sheep: seven days it_shall_be with its dam; and on_the
eighth day thou shalt give it_me."(461)

(M136) Thus the god of_the_Hebrews_plainly regarded the first-born of_men
and the firstlings of animals as_his own, and_required that they should be
made over to_him._But how? Here a distinction was_drawn_between sheep,
oxen, and goats on the_one_hand_and men and asses on_the other; the
firstlings of the former_were always sacrificed, the firstlings of the
latter were generally_redeemed. "The firstling