I observe on this passage, the gloss in our _English_ Bibles is thus, to call _themselves_ by the name of the LORD, which is very erroneous: _themselves_ is a mere interpolation; and would we translate it truly, it ought to be, to _call in_ the name of _Jehovah_; rather, to _invoke_ in the name of _Jehovah_. _Vatablus_ turns it, then began the name of _Jehovah_ to be invoked. The jewish writers generally take this passage to mean the origin of idolatry, as if it imported, then began men to profane the _Name_, by calling themselves therewith. And our great _Selden_ drops into that opinion. But was it probable, the divine historian would have been so careful to commemorate an epoch so disagreeable? or to what purpose, even before he had so much as mention’d any publick form of true religion? the very wording of that verse imports somewhat very remarkable, which he was going to declare, “and to _Seth_, to him also there was born a son, and he called his name _Enos_: then began men to invoke in the name of _Jehovah_.” [Illustration: TAB. II.] In understanding this verse aright, we must certainly affirm that _Moses_ intended hereby, to assert the practice of publick religion; which necessarily includes two things, the origin of temples, and the sabbatical observance. For in all publick actions, time and place are equally necessary. In the generation, or days of _Enos_, grandson of _Adam_, when mankind were multiply’d into distinct families; besides private and family devotion, the publick worship of God was introduc’d in places set apart for that purpose, and on sabbath days. Publick worship necessarily implies all this. Many and great authorities confirm this understanding of the words, as well as the reason of things. The _Targum_ of _Onkelos_, _Aquila_’s translation. _Rabbi Elieser_ in _Maase Bereschit_ XXII. _R. Salomon Jarchi_, the _Chaldee_ paraphrast. _Vossius in comm._ on _Maimonides_ de idololatria. And very many more, too tedious to be recited. Try the place by other like expressions in scripture, and we find, it amounts to the same thing. _Genes._ xii. 8. _Abram_ builded an altar unto _Jehovah_, and _invoked_ in the name of _Jehovah_. So it ought to be translated. This was the second altar he built in _Canaan_, being the second place he settled at, near _Bethel_. In the preceding verse, we have an account of his first settling at _Sichem_, and of _Jehovah_ appearing to him personally and conversing with him: and of his building an altar to that _Jehovah_, who appeared unto him. But I think there is so little difficulty in it, that ’tis needless to multiply authorities or argumentations: yet the importance of it demanded thus much.