he land of Canaan, and this situate in the most agreeable place for its
goodness, and very eminent in itself, and let it be that which God shall
choose for himself by prophetic revelation. Let there also be one temple
therein, and one altar, not reared of hewn stones, but of such as you
gather together at random; which stones, when they are whited over with
mortar, will have a handsome appearance, and be beautiful to the sight.
Let the ascent to it be not by steps [16] but by an acclivity of raised
earth. And let there be neither an altar nor a temple in any other city;
for God is but one, and the nation of the Hebrews is but one.

6. He that blasphemeth God, let him be stoned; and let him hang upon
a tree all that day, and then let him be buried in an ignominious and
obscure manner.

7. Let those that live as remote as the bounds of the land which the
Hebrews shall possess, come to that city where the temple shall be, and
this three times in a year, that they may give thanks to God for
his former benefits, and may entreat him for those they shall
want hereafter; and let them, by this means, maintain a friendly
correspondence with one another by such meetings and feastings together,
for it is a good thing for those that are of the same stock, and under
the same institution of laws, not to be unacquainted with each other;
which acquaintance will be maintained by thus conversing together, and
by seeing and talking with one another, and so renewing the memorials of
this union; for if they do not thus converse together continually, they
will appear like mere strangers to one another.

8. Let there be taken out of your fruits a tenth, besides that which you
have allotted to give to the priests and Levites. This you may indeed
sell in the country, but it is to be used in those feasts and sacrifices
that are to be celebrated in the holy city; for it is fit that you
should enjoy those fruits of the earth which God gives you to possess,
so as may be to the honor of the donor.

9. You are not to offer sacrifices out of the hire of a woman who is a
harlot [17] for the Deity is not pleased with any thing that arises
from such abuses of nature; of which sort none can be worse than this
prostitution of the body. In like manner no one may take the price of
the covering of a bitch, either of one that is used in hunting, or in
keeping of sheep, and thence sacrifice to God.

10. Let no one blaspheme those gods which other cities este