among the Jews, till after the cessation of prophecy: most of them
sprang up, subsequent to the return from the Babylonian captivity.
The Scribes are not usually considered as a religious sect: they were
writers of the law, and often perverted the meaning of the text, instead
of explaining it. "Scribes," "doctors of the law," and "lawyers," were
only different names for the same class of men.
The Pharisees believed in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection
of the dead, and in a future state of rewards and punishments. "Trusting
in themselves that they were righteous," they despised the rest of
mankind, were entirely destitute of humility towards God, and paid more
attention to outward ceremonies than to the duties of moral virtue.
The Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead, and the immortality
of the soul; therefore, confining all their hopes to this present world,
they devoted themselves to its pleasures, and only punished the crimes
which disturbed the public tranquillity.
The Nazarites, of whom we read in the Old and New Testament, were
persons either devoted to God by their parents, or who devoted
themselves for life, or for a limited time. The only three instances of
Nazarites devoted to God by their parents before their birth, are
Sampson, Samuel, and John the Baptist.
The Herodians were partizans of Herod the Great.
The Galileans, so called from their leader Judas of Galilee, were a very
turbulent and seditious sect, and by degrees united to themselves almost
all the other sects.
The Publicans were not of any sect, civil or religious, but merely
tax-gatherers, and collectors of customs due to the Romans. The
Publicans were generally Jews, and by their employment were rendered
odious to their brethren.
Proselytes were those persons, who being Gentiles by birth, came over to
the Jewish religion, but retained that name, till they were admitted
into the congregation of the Lord, as adopted children.
The land of Canaan, so named from Canaan the son of Ham, whose
posterity possessed this land, as well as Egypt or Mizraim, lies in the
western part of Asia. Its boundaries were to the north, Coelo Syria;
to the west, the Mediterranean Sea; to the east, Arabia Deserta; and to
the south and south west, Arabia Petrea and Egypt. Its extent was about
200 miles from north to south, and its breadth 100.--It was divided into
two parts, by the river Jordan; the capital was Jerusalem, (supposed to
have been the Salem of Melchisedek.) The whole country was also called
Palestine from the Philistines, who inhabiting the western coast, were
first known to the Romans, and being by them corruptly called
Palestines, gave that name to the country; but it was more commonly
called Judea, as the land of the Jews. Since our Saviour's advent it has
been called the Holy land, but in modern writers, all distinction is
frequently lost in the name of Syria, which is given to the whole
country east of the Mediterranean, between the sea and the desert.
* * * * *
The government of the Jews partook of the patriarchal form, as much as
was consistent with the condition and circumstances of a nation.
The leaders or princes of the 12 tribes, possessed a peculiar and
supreme authority over each tribe, as their chief magistrate and leader
in time of war.
The elders or rulers of cities, only exercised authority in their own
respective cities, and as well as the princes were subject to the great
council.
The Sanhedrim or great national council of the Jews was established by
Moses: it consisted of 70 persons, besides the president, who after the
time of Moses was usually the High Priest.
* * * * *
The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Bible, made at Alexandria,
when Ptolemy Philadelphus was king of Egypt. It is often signified in
books by "the LXX."
The Vulgate was a very ancient version of the Bible in Latin.
The Bible commences with an account of the creation of the world, 4004
B. C., the history of our first parents, their deviation from virtue,
and the evil consequences that ensued. To Adam and Eve were born sons
and daughters. The only three mentioned by name, are Cain, Abel and
Seth, and the sacred historian has chiefly confined himself to the
posterity of Seth, from whom Noah descended: in his time mankind became
very wicked, and to punish them, God sent a violent rain upon the earth
which caused a general deluge, and all the inhabitants of the world were
drowned, except Noah, his wife, their three sons, Shem, Ham, and
Japhet, and their wives, and a few animals of every kind. The
descendants of Noah and his sons multiplied greatly, and "they were all
of one language," after a time the whole race of men moved from their
original habitations in Armenia, and settled in the plains of Shinar
near the Euphrates. Here they determined to establish themselves, and
build a tower whose top might reach the heavens. God was displeased with
this work, which seems to have been undertaken in defiance of his power,
and he confounded the language of those who were engaged in it. This
obliged them to discontinue their labour; they soon after dispersed, and
the different parts of the world became inhabited.
Terah the father of Abraham was a descendant of Shem; he settled with
his family in Haran in Mesopotamia, where he died: God soon after
commanded Abraham to remove with his wife Sarah into the land of Canaan,
and here when they were far advanced in age, their son Isaac was born.
God made many remarkable promises to Abraham, and one of them was, "that
in him all the families of the earth should be blessed." This was a
declaration that the Messiah should be a descendant of Abraham. To make
trial of his obedience, God ordered him to offer up Isaac, as a burnt
offering on Mount Moriah, but just as he was going to slay him, an
angel of the Lord appeared, and told him not to touch the lad, but to
take a ram and offer it up in his stead. It was upon this mountain that
Solomon's temple was afterwards built and here our Saviour was
crucified, the mountain being then called Calvary.
Isaac married Rebekah, and had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Jacob though
the younger obtained the rights of primogeniture; he also procured his
father's blessing by very unjustifiable means; and then repaired to
Padan-aram to take a wife out of his own family. He married Leah and
Rachel, and had twelve sons, who were called the twelve Patriarchs or
fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel, their names were, Reuben, Simeon,
Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphthali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zabulon, Joseph and
Benjamin. They were all born in Padan-aram; but Jacob returned to Canaan
before his father's death. Joseph was the favourite son of Jacob; on
which account his brethren hated him, and at length sold him to some
Ishmaelites, who were merchants, and the descendants of Ishmael a son of
Abraham; these Ishmaelites carried Joseph into Egypt, where he became a
slave to Potiphar, the chief officer under the king. His good conduct
soon gained the esteem and confidence of his master, but the wickedness
of Potiphar's wife caused him to be thrown into prison. He was released
from this confinement, in order to interpret two dreams of Pharoah's.
God enabled him to discover that they predicted seven years of plenty
which would be followed by seven years of famine; and the wise advice
Joseph gave the king on this subject, induced the monarch to raise him
to a very high office in his kingdom, and entrust to him the whole care
of collecting and managing the corn. This famine was severely felt in
Canaan, and Jacob sent his sons into Egypt to purchase corn. Joseph
recognised his brethren, and after putting them to several trials, for
the purpose of making them properly sensible of their former cruel
conduct, he discovered himself to them in a very affectionate manner;
he enquired concerning his father, and when he found the old man was
still alive, he desired his brothers to fetch him, and their families
out of Canaan. Jacob who had bitterly wept the loss of his favourite
son, whom he believed from the accounts of his other children to have
been devoured by a wild beast, rejoiced when he heard of his safety, and
desired to go to Egypt to see him before he died. Pharoah gave Joseph's
family the land of Goshen for their residence; and during his reign, the
Hebrews were held in great estimation. The descendants of Jacob
multiplied to so great a degree, that about sixty years after the death
of Joseph, the king who then reigned over Egypt became jealous of their
numbers, and endeavoured to check their increase by slaying the infants,
and reducing the parents to a state of slavery. They suffered many
hardships during several years, but at length God was pleased to deliver
them in a miraculous manner by the hand of Moses, who would soon have
conducted them into the promised land, had not their disobedience and
perverseness brought upon them the punishment of a forty years'
wandering in the wilderness. During this time, God commanded Moses to
deliver his laws to the people of Israel. Aaron the brother of Moses was
made High Priest, and to him was committed the superintendance of
religious ceremonies.
Neither Moses nor Aaron were permitted to enter the promised land on
account of their disobedience to a command of God; and they both died in
the wilderness during the last year of their wandering. Joshua was
appointed to succeed Moses in the important office of leader of the
people, God promised him his support, and when all things were prepared,
he led the Israelites to the banks of the river Jordan: as soon as their
feet touched the water, the current was stopped, the river became dry
ground, and the people entered the country opposite to the city of
Jericho, which was taken in a miraculous manner.
Some time after Joshua's death, Judges were appointed to govern Israel:
they were 12 in number and their government lasted rather more than 300
years. Othniel was the first of the Judges, and Samuel the last. In his
time the people desired to have a king like other nations, and God
commanded him to anoint Saul of the tribe of Benjamin 1095 years B. C.,
to be the first king of Israel. Johim succeeded David of the tribe of
Judah, and at his death the throne devolved to his son Solomon, who
built a temple to the name of the "Lord his God;" in it were deposited
the ark--the holy Scriptures, and other sacred things.--Solomon was
succeeded by his son Rehoboam, the folly and wickedness of whose conduct
induced ten of the tribes to revolt, and they chose Jeroboam one of his
officers for their king. The two tribes that remained faithful to
Rehoboam were Judah and Benjamin. Rehoboam's kingdom was called Judah,
and the capital of it was Jerusalem. Jeroboam's kingdom was named Israel
and its chief city was Samaria.
Jeroboam was succeeded by his son Nadab; and after he had reigned two
years, he was killed by Baasha, who usurped the crown and destroyed the
whole race of Jeroboam, a man remarkable for his impiety.--All the
succeeding kings of Judah were descendants of Rehoboam, which fulfilled
the promise made by God to David, that he would "establish his house and
the throne of his kingdom for ever:" this was a declaration that the
Messiah was to be a descendant of David.
There were frequent wars between the kings of Judah and Israel, and
between them and the neighbouring kings,--the kings and people both of
Judah and Israel, soon fell into the greatest depravity; and at length
God suffered Shalmaneser king of Assyria, by the capture of Samaria in
the reign of Hoshea, to put an end to the kingdom of Israel 721 years
B. C. and about 250 years after its first establishment into a separate
kingdom. And 606 years B. C. and about 115 years after the destruction
of the kingdom of Israel, God permitted Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
to invade Judea in the reign of Jehoiakim, and to besiege and take
Jerusalem. Jehoiakim was carried prisoner to Babylon, though afterwards
restored to his kingdom, and succeeded by two other kings, yet, from
this period may be dated the commencement of the Babylonian captivity,
which according to the prediction of Jeremiah was to last 70 years. When
this time was completed, Cyrus, under whom were united the kingdoms of
Persia, Media, and Babylon, permitted the Jews to return to their own
land, and rebuild their temple at Jerusalem.
They were conducted by Zerubbabel the grandson of Jeconias, and Joshua
the son of Josedec the high priest. The second temple was finished in
the reign of king Darius of Persia.
The settlement of the people "after their old estate," together with the
arrangement of all civil and ecclesiastical matters, were completed by
Ezra and Nehemiah.
At the period, about 430 years B. C. the Scripture history closes, and
for the remaining particulars of the Jewish history recourse must be had
to uninspired writers, particularly to the books of the Maccabees and to
Josephus.
Judea continued subject to Persia until Alexander conquered that
country; it then fell under his dominion and he treated the Jews with
great lenity. After the conqueror's death, Judea became subject to his
successors, till Mattathias, a priest eminent for his piety and
resolution, encouraged the people to shake off the Syrian yoke.
Mattathias died before this was effected, but his son Judas Maccabeus
completed the deliverance of his country, and the government of Judea
remained in his family till the time of Herod the great, who put an end
to the administration of the Maccabees or Armenians, and prevailed upon
the Roman senate to appoint him king of Judea.
It was in the thirty sixth year of the reign of Herod, and while
Augustus was Emperor of Rome that our Saviour Jesus Christ was born,
four years before the common æra.
Herod was a cruel tyrant to his people, and even to his own children:
but to keep the Jews in subjection, and to erect a lasting monument to
his own name, he repaired the temple at Jerusalem, and considerably
enlarged the kingdom of Judea.
At his death, the countries over which he had reigned were divided among
his three sons, but they were not allowed to take the title of kings;
they were called ethnarchs or tetrarchs. Archelaus one of Herod's sons,
acting with great cruelty and injustice, was, by order of Augustus,
banished to Vienne in Gaul, where he died. His dominions were then
reduced to a Roman province, and from this time the Jews possessed but
little civil authority. Justice was administered in the name and by the
laws of Rome, and taxes were paid immediately to the emperor. Several of
the Roman governors severely oppressed and persecuted the Jews, and at
length, in the reign of Nero they openly revolted from the Romans. Then
began the Jewish war, which was terminated after an obstinate defence
and unparalleled suffering, on the part of the Jews, by the total
destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem, by Titus son of
Vespasian the Roman emperor. Since that time the Jews have no where
subsisted as a nation.
Though I have endeavoured, my dear, to give you as brief an account as
possible of the Jewish history, yet the subject is so interesting, that
I perceive it has already occupied a much longer time than I at first
intended. The history of our Saviour's ministry and the Acts of the
Apostles we must therefore defer to a future opportunity: though I
hardly know if these subjects require any elucidation; the facts in the
New Testament being recorded in so clear a manner by the Evangelists
themselves, that I think they must be intelligible even to your
apprehension.
I hope you will perceive that I have mentioned but very slightly some of
the most interesting and important events, purposely to induce you to
seek a more detailed account of them in the sacred volume itself. This
inestimable treasure will I am sure furnish the most agreeable topic of
many of our future conversations. You, my dear, have never been taught
to consider religion as a dry and difficult study, but rather as a means
of adding to the cheerful enjoyment of the many blessings bestowed upon
you by the almighty giver of all good, and I trust the gratitude and
piety of your future life will prove you worthy of being called a
disciple of the benevolent Jesus.
_Anne._ Indeed, mamma, I feel the truth of what you say, and I will
endeavour to act as you wish me.--I am sure I shall have much more
pleasure in reading those parts of the Bible you think proper for me,
now I have some connected idea of the whole.
_Mrs. Harley._ I believe you will. But good bye, my love, for the
present: when you go to bed you will find the prayers you asked for on
my table; there are besides two hymns which I have selected from an
admirable collection.
_Anne._ Thank you, mamma, I will learn to repeat them.
_A Morning Prayer for a Child._
O Almighty God, the Father and Preserver of all mankind! I desire to
offer thee my sincerest thanks that I am arisen this morning in health
and safety. May I spend the day on which I am now entered in
endeavouring to do thy will: let me carefully avoid all that I know to
be displeasing in thy sight, and diligently apply myself to perform all
the good in my power. May I keep a strict watch over my lips and temper,
and try to live in peace with those around me. Grant thy protection and
blessing to my relations and friends; if it should please thee to
preserve us through this day, may the close of it find us more worthy of
again addressing thee through Jesus Christ,
Our Father, &c.
_An Evening Prayer._
Almighty and Merciful God! at the close of another day which thou hast
graciously permitted me to spend in the enjoyment of many blessings, I
would return thee humble thanksgivings from a grateful heart. Conscious
of the many errors I am continually committing, I would earnestly
implore thy pardon for whatsoever has been amiss in my conduct this day.
Forgive me, O Lord, every foolish and angry word I have spoken, every
perverse thought I have indulged, all I have done that I ought not to
have done, and all I have left undone that I ought to have done. O may I
truly repent of these my past faults, and strive to amend my future
life. Bless my relations and friends; pardon all their past
transgressions, and if it please thee to preserve us through the night,
may we arise in the morning to do thy will. Above all the other
blessings thou hast granted me, I would value that of having become
early acquainted with the religion of Jesus. May his example be my
guide, and, with a thankful remembrance of all he did and suffered for
our sakes, I sum up my petitions for the whole human race in the prayer
himself taught us, saying,
Our Father, &c.
A MORNING HYMN.
Lord of my life! O may thy praise
Employ my noblest powers.
Whose goodness lengthens out my days,
And fills the circling hours!
Preserved by thine almighty arm,
I pass the shades of night,
Serene, and safe from every harm,
And see returning light.
While many spent the night in sighs,
And restless pains and woes;
In gentle sleep I clos'd my eyes,
And undisturb'd repose.
When sleep, death's semblance o'er me spread,
And I unconscious lay,
Thy watchful care was round my bed,
To guard my feeble clay.
O let the same almighty care
My waking hours attend;
From every danger, every snare,
My heedless steps defend.
Smile on my minutes as they roll,
And guide my future days;
And let thy goodness fill my soul
With gratitude and praise.
AN EVENING HYMN.
Great God! to thee my ev'ning song,
With humble gratitude, I raise;
O let thy mercy tune my tongue,
And fill my heart with lively praise?
My days unclouded, as they pass,
And ev'ry gently rolling hour,
Are monuments of wond'rous grace,
And witness to thy love and power.
Thy love and power, celestial guard,
Preserve me from surrounding harms:
Can danger reach me, while the Lord
Extends his kind protecting arms?
Let cheering hope my eyelids close,
With sleep refresh my feeble frame,
Safe in thy care may I repose,
And wake with praises to thy name.
_CHAPTER V._
MONDAY.
_Mrs. Harley._ The story you are to read this morning, my dear, is
founded upon facts which come within my own observation. I dare say you
have frequently heard the French Revolution spoken of: it was this event
which gave rise to the incidents contained in
_The History of the Melcour Family._
Mr. de Melcour was the son of a younger branch of a good family; his
father died when he was quite a child, and left him but a small
patrimony. He early entered the army, where for many years he served
his country with honour and fidelity: he was present in several
engagements, and by his bravery and exemplary conduct, acquired the
esteem of all his fellow officers. During the peace which followed the
American war he married an amiable lady, whose fortune united to his
own, enabled him to quit the noisy scenes of a military life, and settle
on a beautiful little estate he purchased in the province of Gascony.
Here he enjoyed all the happiness which a good conscience, a good
temper, and a feeling heart can bestow, joined to the blessings of
domestic peace. Madame de Melcour spent her time in the bosom of her
family; she had little taste for the dissipation of the capital, and
possessing only a limited income, had she indulged herself in expensive
pleasures, she must have foregone the higher satisfaction of
contributing to the comfort of those in less fortunate circumstances.
She had profited by the excellent education her parents had been careful
to give her, and this enabled her to bring up her own children with
little assistance from others. Frederic and Elizabeth were the happiest
little boy and girl in the neighbourhood: they tenderly loved their
parents, and feeling the necessity of doing their duty, it became quite
habitual to them. The little faults natural to childhood they were
conscious would not be punished with severity, and their good actions
they knew would never pass unrewarded. Frederic employed much of his
time in working in a little garden that his father had given him:
Elizabeth assisted in the management of the flowers, and their highest
ambition was to present their mamma with a nosegay of roses, before any
were blown in the _great_ garden.
Thus happily passed many years at Melcour; when the troubles attendant
on the revolution came to disturb the tranquillity of their domestic
enjoyment. M. de Melcour was called upon to resume a military command;
and though he disapproved of many of the measures that had been pursued
by the government, yet, when he saw his sovereign in distress, he would
not withhold his aid. He was particularly active in endeavouring to put
a stop to the devastation caused by a misguided populace; and in a fray
between some peasants and soldiers, he fell a victim to his benevolent
exertions in the cause of humanity.
The sad news was brought to Madame de Melcour just as she was recovering
from the bed of sickness; her constitution already much weakened, was
unable to support the fatal shock, and she soon after closed her eyes
for ever in the arms of her beloved children.
At this period, Frederic was just fifteen, his sister two years younger;
they were left without any protector but an aged grandmother, who had
constantly resided with her daughter since the marriage of the latter
with M. de Melcour. Already suffering from the infirmities of age,
Madame de Joinville felt herself unable to resist the persecutions of
ill-disposed persons, and in the course of a few months found it
necessary to leave the chateau. It was her intention to retire with her
grandchildren into England, the country where she had spent much of the
early part of her life, and where she still hoped to discover some of
her former friends. Accordingly, having settled her affairs as well as
the distracted state of the nation would permit, and, accompanied by
Frederic and Elizabeth, she proceeded to the nearest seaport. They
encountered many difficulties on the road, but at length, through
Frederic's activity, succeeded in securing their passage in a vessel
that was on the point of sailing for England.