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And besides the general interest which is felt at the present day in all Eastern countries, a peculiar and sacred character must ever be attached by a Christian to that land which was the scene of so many of God's dealings with his ancient church, and was also at a later period the country where our blessed Lord took our nature upon him in the womb of the Virgin Mary; which witnessed his ministry and miracles, and, finally, was the scene of his sufferings for sinners. Who can read, without deep interest, a description of the Dead Sea, the lake of Gennesareth, the Mount of Olives, or the garden of Gethsemane, as they appear to a modern traveller ?

Mr. Tischendorff has therefore peculiar advantages in his travels for securing the attention and interest of his reader, and his book is indeed a very interesting one. But it is deformed by that latitudinarian tone on religious subjects so awfully prevalent in modern Germany. For instance, he speculates as to the possibility of a date being determined for the pyramids of Egypt, (p. 40,) which would carry these ancient structures back to a period beyond the deluge, and perhaps beyond the ordinary era assigned for the creation! This is not a solitary instance in his book of presumptuous speculation. His work is also pervaded by a sickly sentimentalism on religious topics, and a parade of vague, poetical feeling, instead of honest, devotional, heartfelt piety; which we deeply regret to see is finding its way from Germany into our own literature. An attack which Mr. Tischendorff has made upon the Anglican Bishopric at Jerusalem, we believe to be full of mistakes.

Therefore, we cannot recommend our readers to buy the book; but, as it contains some interesting accounts of Eastern people and customs, we have selected what appeared to us most profitable for the purposes of our little work.

Mr. Tischendorff, after spending some time in Egypt, made an excursion to Mount Sinai, returned to Cairo, and thence proceeded to Jerusalem. His description of the scenery of Jerusalem is striking.

"Jerusalem, like Rome, lies upon hills, or as we may more simply state, it is supported by two hilly eminences, one in the east and the

other in the west, but both are united by a deep valley, which, with them, takes a course from north to south. Zion, in the west, extends far towards the south; that which I call its northern halfit is indeed a separated half-it has been customary to call by the name of Akra. Opposite Zion, in the east, lies Moriah, the hill of the Temple, and which extends to the south by its promontory, Ophla, and to the north Bezetha, or, as it doubtlessly is more correctly called, Akra. The position of Jerusalem at present is, without doubt, upon the whole, the same as that which it occupied eighteen hundred years ago, and still earlier, only that Zion's most southern part is now occupied with the castle of David, and a few other buildings outside the walls, whereas in the days of David, as well as in those of Christ, it bore the chief buildings of the city; and to the north a wide district lies now waste and empty, which was enclosed by a wall that had been built during the first twenty years after Christ.

"Jerusalem presents its most unchangeable features towards the east: there Moriah falls almost precipitously into the valley of Jehoshaphat with the brook Kidron, whilst opposite to it the Mount of Olives rises towering above the city and the vicinity. Equally unchanged must the features to the south and west have also remained. In the south there rises, as a neighbour to the Mount of Olives, the "Mountain of Corruption," thus called from Solomon having built temples to the heathen deities. (2 Kings xxiii. 13.) At its foot lies, exactly opposite Ophla, which, strictly speaking, forms but one whole with Moriah, the very ancient village of Siloam, close beneath which the valley of Jehoshaphat becomes narrowest, where, close to the celebrated well, Rogel, the valley Hinnom adjoins the valley Jehoshaphat at a sharp angle. The whole southern portion of Jerusalem, namely, Mount Zion, descends into the valley of Hinnom. This, also, in conjunction with the commencement of the valley of Gihon, forms in the west a necessary limitation to the city, which presents here in the Hippicus, which is now enclosed within the present fortress at the Jaffa Gate, a most important central point for the recognition of the lines which enclosed the city in the time of Christ, and antecedently. It is only on the north that the ground has no fixed natural limits. To the north-west lies a precipitous hilly country, whereas the direct north forms a continuous elevated plain.

From all this it follows, that even at the present day we may obtain, without much trouble, a general impression of the position of ancient Jerusalem. It is seen most perfectly from the Mount of Olives. Who could ever have stood there without feeling the most profound emotion? There certainly our Lord often stood, and beheld the holy city at his feet. Just as the eastern wall bounded it to his view, even so is it distinctly bounded at the present day. There, where the Mosque of Omar stands beside El Aksa, upon the broad, bare area, there, doubtlessly, at that period towered the Temple in all its glory. Above all things, I called to mind during my wanderings upon the Mount of Olives, how the Lord as he ap"And proached from Jericho to make his entry into Jerusalem, when he was come near he beheld the city, and wept over it." (Luke xix. 31.) and how his disciples there questioned him as to the woful hour of the future. Naturally this consecrated spot could not escape tradition: a projecting rock was considered to be the place, and a

chapel was built thereon, of which but few traces now remain. But that the identical spot where our Saviour sat during his fearful prophecy (Matt. xxiv. 3.) cannot be more precisely defined, leaves the tradition in its naked simplicity.

"The Mount of Olives offers another splendid position. It is upon the side where its level summit inclines to the east, and whence the view of the city is intercepted by some buildings. In front is the sandy-coloured Pisgah, solemn and rugged; and hence it wasfor mount Nebo belongs to the chain of Pisgah-that Moses looked down upon the Promised Land. (Deut. xxxiv. 1.) Beneath that range the Dead Sea spreads its waters like a polished steel plate, and around it the desert glares in its nakedness. To the north-east the course of the Jordan may be traced by the verdure and the trees which line its banks. I also thought I could distinguish some ruins which my guide told me were Jericho. To the south-east lies Bethany; nearer to me I observed remains of buildings which I was told was Bethphage. How joyfully may not our Lord have lingered with his disciples in this neighbourhood amid these splendid views! I here enjoyed hours never to be forgotten. (Pp. 158. 139. 140.)

Our concluding extract is Mr. Tischendorff's corroboration of the fulfilment of the doom denounced by our blessed Lord, on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum.

"Of Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, not only have the names disappeared; but even the very stones of the ground, which in the East speak with so eloquent a tongue, here yield us no information. I rode beyond a league to the khan Minyeh, where I could distinctly see the Jordan, which flows at about a league and a half off into the lake. The dark-coloured stones, which lie dispersed about the mountain, close to the dilapidated khan, might be considered as the indication of the spot where Capernaum stood, as the greatest probability speaks in favour of this locality; but no ruins are to be seen, and the stones themselves are shapeless and unhewn. Has not the punishing hand of heaven struck this spot? The wail of our Lord over Chorazin, over Bethsaida, and over Capernaum, exalted unto heaven; (Matt. xi. 21–24.) must it not present itself forcibly to the soul of him, who in vain now seeks for the ruins of a wall or of a pillar, in indication of these cities, where, according to the testimony of Matthew (xi. 20.) the majority of the miraculous acts of our Lord were performed? Magdala, the little village where the pious penitent was born, (Matt. xv. 39.) lies as it did two thousand years ago; even its very name may be still recognised; and yet the three cities, the wickedness of which approached to that of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, must have lain in the immediate vicinity of Magdala." (Pp. 239. 240.)

Questions on Scriptural Subjects, for Bible Classes and Sunday Schools. Dedicated by permission to the Rev. THOMAS DIKES, L. L. B., Incumbent of St. John's, Hull. Seeley and Co. Pp. 94. A useful little book.

The Bible explained, in a Series of Questions and Answers on the Books of the Old and New Testament: being an Easy and Practical Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures: designed for the use of Bible Classes, the Upper Forms in Sunday and other Schools, Families, and Young Persons in general. By the Rev. W. STODDART, M. A., Rural Dean and Vicar of Willington. Hamilton, Adams, and Co. Pp. 183.

This little book contains a great deal of useful information, in the form of question and answer. It would, however, be much improved by a better arrangement of the various topics treated of.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS.

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.
1 SAMUEL Xvi.

1. How long wilt thou mourn ?-It showed great tenderness of spirit in Samuel, to mourn for one who deserved so little from him; but when God had plainly declared his will, he ought not to have repined.

2. Say, I am come to sacrifice.-This was the truth, though not the whole truth. While we may not wilfully deceive any one-we are not bound to make known every thing we intend to do, to all around us; nor would it be right to do so, when we have reason to believe that it would occasion mischief.

4. Trembled.-Perhaps conscious of sin, and fearing lest Samuel was come to denounce the wrath of God upon them. It would appear from this that they understood that there was some further object than the sacrifice that brought him among them.

5. Sanctify yourselves.-Prepare for it. (See Ex. xix. 10, 11. Josh. iii. 5.)

13. In the midst of his brethren.-The words seem to imply that it was done in the presence of his brethren, though kept secret from others. Some, however, understand it, "from amongst his brethren," and suppose that it was done quite privately.

14. An evil spirit from the Lord.-By the Lord's permission. (Compare Job i. 12. ii. 6., and 1 Kings xxii. 19—23.)

16. Cunning player on an harp -Their advice was wise, so far as it might tend in some degree to soothe the melancholy and excited feelings of Saul; but it would have been much better if they had

advised him to put from him the cause of the evil; as Daniel exhorted Nebuchadnezzar. (Dan. iv. 27.)

LESSONS.

I. We should be alive to the duties which lie before us, and not suffer ourselves to be hindered in them by excessive grief for what we cannot prevent. V. 1. (2 Sam. xii. 19-23.)

II. The servants of God come peaceably, and with a message of peace. V. 4, 5. (Luke x. 5, 6.)

III. It is a solemn thing to worship God; and we are not to engage in it lightly or thoughtlessly. V. 5. (John iv. 23, 24.)

IV. It is difficult not to be misled by outward appearance. V. 6. (John vii. 24.)

V. God looks on our hearts. V. 7. (1 Chron. xxviii. 9.)

VI. Those whom men pass by are often dear to God. V. 11. (1 Cor. i. 26-28.)

VII. It is a fearful thing for a man to be given up by God to the corruptions of his own heart, and the temptations of the devil. V. 14. (Hosea iv. 17.)

VIII. Company, or music, or pleasure, may divert the mind for a time, but they cannot set the heart right; for a perfect cure, it must be brought to Christ for pardon and grace. V. 15–23. (Eccles, ii. 1-11. Rev. iii. 18.)

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

1 SAMUEL Xvii. 1-30.

1. Pitched.-i.e., their tents.

4. Six cubits.-The cubit is generally reckoned at about 18 inches. Goliath would therefore be about 10 feet high; and the weight of his armour would be quite in proportion, for the shekel being about half an ounce, his coat of mail would weigh more than 200 pounds.

6. Greaves.-The greaves were something like boots-of brassto defend the feet and legs.

15. Returned from Saul.-Saul's disorder having been in some degree relieved, David had probably left him some time before this battle took place, and returned to his father: indeed, Saul had forgotten who he was, though he seemed to have some confused recollection of him. V. 55-58.

17. Ephah. A measure which contained three pecks and three pints.

18. Captain of their thousand.-The army was divided into companies of tens, hundreds, thousands, &c. The centurion com

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