the right of the first-born, has among most nations been very considerable. The first-born son in the patriarchal ages had a superiority over his brethren, and, in the absence of his father, was priest to the family. Among the Jews, he was consecrated to the Lord, had a double portion of the inheritance, and succeeded in the government of the family or kingdom. It is, however, remarkable, and unquestionably shows the connection between this institution and the birth and office of our Saviour, that if a woman's first child was a girl, neither she, nor the children that came after her, were consecrated.

In every nation of Europe, the right of primogeniture prevails in some degree at present, but it did not prevail