* separate three cities.
Unquestionably in imitation of these cities, the heathen had
their {asyla,} and the Roman Catholics their privileged
altars: and similar traditions seem to obtain in many
barbarous nations, for "the North American Indian nations have
most of them either a house or town of refuge, which is a sure
asylum to protect a manslayer, or the unfortunate captive, if
he once enter it. In almost every Indian nation, there are
several towns, which are called old beloved, ancient, holy, or
white towns, (white being their fixed emblem of peace,
friendship, prosperity, happiness, purity, etc.) They seem to
have been formerly towns of refuge; for it is not in the
memory of the oldest people that human blood was shed in
them."
4:41-43 Ex 21:13 Nu 35:10-15 Jos 20:2-7 Heb 6:18
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