south side lay the Mount of Offence, where Solomon, in his declining years, built temples to Moloch, Chemosh, and Ashtaroth, 1 Kings xi. 7; 2 Kings xxiii. 13. The Mount of Offence was separated from the city by the narrow valley of Hinnom, Josh. xviii. 16; Jer. xix. 2; where the Israelites burnt their children in the fire to Moloch, Jer. vii. 31; xxxii. 35. Towards the west lay the Valley of Gihon, by some considered to be the Valley of Rephaim. There also lay Mount Calvary, which was separated from the city by the ravine, or deep ground of Goath, Jer. xxxi. 39, afterwards called Golgotha, Matt. xxvii. 33. This is the most interesting spot to the Christian marked on this important Map, for here the price of his redemption was paid. Here the substance of prophecy from the date of Adam's transgression was fulfilled. Here the ever blessed Redeemer endured those fearful agonies which wrought out the salvation of a guilty world. Here the "Son of man," who was one with his Father, was lifted up upon the cross, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life,” John iii. 15

No. XI.

PLAN OF THE TEMPLE.

THIS magnificent structure occupied the northern and lower top of Sion. Hence the Psalmist, in contemplating its erection, exclaimed, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north," or on her north side, is "the city of the great King," Psa. xlviii. 2. He speaks again of Jehovah's making "his dwelling place in Zion," Psa. lxxvi. 2. The first temple was erected by Solomon, with the precious and other metals which his pious father had collected for that purpose, and timber obtained by him from the cedar forests of Lebanon, with stones prepared by his numerous workmen. This temple retained its pristine splendour only thirty-three years, when it was plundered by Shishak, king of Egypt, 1 Kings xiv. 25, 26; 2 Chron. xii. 9. After this it underwent several profanations and pillages, until, at length, it was utterly destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. When the Jews returned from their captivity, however, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel, whom Cyrus appointed governor of Judea. See Ezra i. 1—4; ii. 1 ; iii. 8—13; vi. 15, 16. The dimensions of this temple in breadth and height were double those of Solomon's. It wanted, however, five things which constituted the principal glory of Solomon's temple; namely, the ark and mercy-seat; the Divine presence, or visible glory of the Shechinah; the holy fire on the altar; the Urim and Thummim; and the spirit of prophecy. This temple was plundered and profaned by Antiochus Epiphanes, who ordered the discontinuance of the daily sacrifice, and suspended the worship of Jehovah. It continued thus for three years, when it was repaired and beautified by Judas Maccabeus, who restored Divine worship. After this, it being much decayed by the lapse of time, it was repaired, or rather gradually reconstructed and much beautified, by Herod, by which he probably thought to make atonement to God for all the blood that he had shed, as well as to conciliate the minds of his Hebrew subjects, who, notwithstanding they denied the power, were much attached to the forms of religion. This work was being carried forward at the time of our Saviour's appearance on the earth. Josephus represents the temple thus beautified as the noblest work under the sun. The most splendid and magnificent part of the whole stately pile was the inner temple, or sanctuary, which was covered all over with plates of gold, which, when the sun shone thereon, seemed "like a mount of snow, being excessively white below the

gold, or roof." The dimensions of the sanctuary were but limited: sixty cubits in length and height, and twenty in breadth. This was divided into two outer parts; the outer and the inner sanctuary, into the latter of which none but the high priest entered once a year, on the great day of atonement, Heb. ix. 2-7. The Sanctum Sanctorum, or "Most Holy place," where, in the temple of Solomon, was the cloud manifesting the Shechinah, or Divine presence, was, as Dr. Hales observes, "at the west end of the sanctuary; pointing, as it were, towards Mount Calvary, the future scene of our Lord's resurrection; perhaps by a typical reference thereto, as the true place of atonement for the sins of mankind; and also to distinguish it from the heathen temples in the East, whose adyta, or oracles, usually fronted the east, or rising sun, the grand object of heathen idolatry. Our Sun of righteousness rose with healing in his wings,' or rays, in the west."

Of the several parts and courts of this temple it is unnecessary to speak, they being so distinctly defined in the Plan. For more extended remarks on this celebrated structure, however, and for a notice of the various incidents connected therewith, we may refer the reader to the description of the temple in "THE RITES AND WORSHIP OF THE JEWS," also to "EASTERN ARTS AND ANTIQUITIES."*

No. XII.

MODERN PALESTINE.

SYRIA remained a province of the Roman empire until its conquest by the followers of Mohammed, a.d. 633–638; from which period Palestine was subject to the Saracens, until the establishment, by the crusaders, of the Latin kingdom, 1099. This kingdom was destroyed by Saladin, 1187, and the crusaders were finally expelled 1291; from which time Syria continued subject to the sovereigns of Egypt, until the conquest of both countries by Selim 1., 1517, when they were brought under the Turkish sway. About this period Palestine was divided into five provinces, or sections; namely, Palestine, Huran, Al Ghut, Emessa, and Kinnarin. More recently, it has been divided into pashalics, the greater part of Palestine being comprehended within the pashalic of Damascus, as represented in the Map. The government of the territories of Damascus, Tripoli, etc., with the privilege of conducting pilgrims to the holy places, was ceded to Mohammed Ali, the pasha of Egypt, 1833, who, therefore, now possesses the whole of Syria.

The present Map represents, as far as its limits will allow, the present state of our knowledge of the modern geography of Palestine. It would exceed our limits to notice the numerous places which are interesting from their being associated with sacred history, and therefore only some of the principal features in the face of the country are here briefly adverted to.

RIVERS, SEAS.-1. The river Jordan. This river rises under the lofty peaks of the Anti-Libanus, and flows in a direction almost wholly southward with the Lake of Tiberias, through which it passes, and that of the Dead Sea, which it forms by its discharge, thereby dividing Palestine completely from north to south. At its mouth, or discharge into the sea, the river is deep and rapid, rolling a volume or waters from 200 to 300 feet in width. Anciently, at certain seasons, it overflowed its inner bank, 1 Chron. xii. 15; Jer. xlix. 19; 1. 44; and at the present day it rises to a height of from nine to ten perpendicular feet, between the months of January

* Published by the Religious Tract Society.

and March; a height sufficient to produce an extensive inundation, when the channel was not so deep as it now is. There are close thickets all along on the edge of the stream, to which allusion is made, Jer. xlix. 19; 1. 44. 2. The Lake of Tiberias. Dr. Clarke speaks of the uncommon grandeur of the scenery of this spot; and he describes the lake as being of greater length and finer than any of the Cumberland and Westmoreland lakes, although perhaps inferior to Loch Lomond. For picturesque beauty he compares it to the lake of Locarno, in Italy. Travellers inform us, that it is subject to whirlwinds and sudden gusts of wind from the hollow of the mountains by which it is surrounded, which may explain the occurrence recorded in Luke viii. 23, 24. 3. The Dead Sea. This sea, which in Scripture is variously called, the Sea of the Plain, the Salt Sea, and the East Sea, Deut. iii. 17; iv. 49; Numb. xxxiv. 3; Josh. xv. 5; Ezek. xlvii. 18; Joel ii. 20, is a collection of water of considerable magnitude. It is surrounded by high hills on three sides, and is bounded on the north by the plain of Jericho, through which the Jordan flows into it. The Kedron, Arnon, and other rivers, also, discharge their torrents into this sea. The size of these waters is not correctly ascertained. Jo Josephus affirms that they are seventy-two miles long, and eighteen broad; Diodorus, sixtytwo miles long, and seven and a half broad; and Pliny, 100 miles long, and twentyfive wide in the broadest part. This sea is recorded in Holy Writ to have been produced by the exercise of Divine wrath against the guilty cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Deut. xxix. 23.

MOUNTAINS.-1. Lebanon, called by the Greeks Libanus, is a long chain of limestone mountains, extending from the neighbourhood of Sidon, westward, to that of Damascus, eastward, and forming the northern boundary of the Holy Land. It consists of two principal ranges, and forms a kind of horse-shoe in its length, beginning three or four leagues from the Mediterranean, above Smyrna, and running north towards Sidon, thence bending from west to east towards Damascus, and returning from the south, northward from the strait of Damascus as far as Laodicea. The western part of this chain is properly Libanus; the other part, eastward, is called by the Greeks Anti-Libanus. Lebanon was formerly celebrated for its cedars, to which there are many references in the sacred writings, but they are now considerably reduced in number, and those still standing are fast falling into decay. 2. Carmel is a range of hills, extending six or eight miles, nearly north and south, coming from the plain of Esdraelon, and ending in the promontory, or cape, which forms the bay of Accho, now Acre. It is of a whitish stone, with flints imbedded in it. On the east is a fine plain, watered by the river Kishon, and on the west is a narrower plain, descending into the sea. The summit of the hills abound with oaks. and other trees; and, among brambles, wild vines and olive trees may still be found, indicating its ancient state of cultivation, to which allusion is made, Isa. xxxv. 2; Amos i. 2. 3. Tabor is a large insulated mountain, which rises in the plain of Esdraelon, in Galilee. Its shape is that of a truncated cone; and, according to Burckhardt, it is entirely calcareous. Some authors state that it is four, others two miles high; the latter is most probably correct. During the greater part of the summer, Tabor is covered in the morning with thick clouds, which disperse towards noon-day. VALLEYS, PLAINS, AND DESERTS.-The valley of Hinnom and the valley of Jehoshaphat have been noticed under the Map of Jerusalem; those which we now notice are: 1. The valley of Elah, or, the Terebenthine vale, celebrated as the field of the victory of David over the Philistines, 1 Sam. xvii. 2. Of this valley Dr. Clarke says "Nothing has ever occurred to alter the appearance of the country.

وو

The very brook where David chose his five smooth stones,' has been noticed by many a thirsty pilgrim, journeying from Jaffa to Jerusalem, all of whom must pass it in their way. The ruins of goodly edifices attest the religious veneration entertained in later periods for the hallowed spot: but even these are now become so insignificant, that they are scarcely discernible; and nothing can be said to interrupt the native dignity of this memorable scene." 2. The plain of Esdraelon. This plain is of vast extent, having on its northern side the abruptly rising Tabor. Warriors of every nation under heaven have pitched their tents here, and have beheld their various banners wet with the dews of Tabor and of Hermon. 3. The wilderness of Judea began near Jericho, and extended along the shores of the Jordan and the Dead Sea. It was here-for the Hebrews gave the name of desert or wilderness to all parts that were not cultivated or thickly inhabited that the holy Baptist was educated, and began to proclaim the approach of the Messiah's reign, Matt. iii. 1. 4. The region round about Jordan. This region extended from the Sea of Tiberias to the Dead Sea, on each side of the Jordan. Of this district the plain of Jericho forms a part. Josephus says, " Its length is 230 furlongs, and its breadth 120; and it is divided in the midst by Jordan. It is much burnt up in the summer time, and in consequence of the extraordinary heat contains very unwholesome air." Although the features of the Holy Land just described are not traced on the present Map, in every instance, by their ancient names, yet the reader, by comparing the preceding Maps of Palestine with it, will readily observe their relative situations. For though the country is now "trodden under foot of the Gentiles," according to ancient prophecy, Dan. viii. 13; Luke xxi. 24, yet are its features, for the most part, the same. Time, indeed, has varied the aspects of some, and destroyed many of its ancient places, but still the Christian traveller may there trace the footsteps of his Lord and Master; may, in wandering over it in its desolation, recall to memory many a hallowed scene, as recorded in the Bible, from the days of the patriarchs to those of the apostles. Every fresh account which we receive from that country brings with it something of interest to the Christian, and illustrative of the book of truth.

No. XIII.

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL.

It was no vain boast of the great apostle of the Gentiles, when he said, that he had been "in journeyings often," 2 Cor. xi. 26. This, indeed, may be seen in the Epistles, where he is found now at one part of the world then known, and now at another, zealously promulgating that faith which he once sought to destroy. But there being no consecutive narrative of the apostle's travels in holy writ, it does not strike the ordinary reader to what an extent zeal for the salvation of the soul of man, and the glory of his Redeemer, carried him forward in his "labour of love." The present Map, therefore, is one not only of great interest, but of great importance, as supplying this desideratum, and as being illustrative of the apostle's ardent zeal and those precious portions of Scripture-the Epistles.

It would exceed our limits to notice the many important places embraced within the present Map; and the Map itself supplies the necessary information with reference to the localities of the places mentioned in connexion with the labours of the apostle.

The reader will perceive, from the circumstance of Melita being defined in two separate seas, that it is a disputed question at which the apostle was shipwrecked,

Acts xxvii. xxviii. It is stated, ver. 27 of the former chapter, that the ship in which he sailed was" driven up and down in Adria." Now, if by Adria is to be understood, in the modern sense, the Gulf of Venice only, there remains no alternative but to adopt the opinion of the learned Bryant, who is supported by Dr. Hales and others, that the place in question was not the African Melita, or Malta, but the Adriatic Melita, or Meleda. But the fact is, it has been clearly demonstrated by many eminent modern writers, from Ptolemy, Strabo, and other ancient authors, that, at the date alluded to, the Adriatic Sea comprehended the whole of the sea between Greece, Italy, and Africa; in other words, it embraced the Ionian, Cretan, and Sicilian seas. This fact is enough to decide in favour of the island being Malta; and, besides this, there is a weight of evidence in its favour, which amounts almost to a demonstration; and the usual course of geographers and commentators therefore is here followed. There is an inlet in this island called the Port of St. Paul, which has been regarded, from time immemorial, by the inhabitants as the "certain creek with a shore," mentioned Acts xxvii. 39.

Of the Seven Churches of Asia, we would notice, 1. Ephesus. The reader will discover, by perusing the Epistle to the Ephesians attentively, the true state of that church in the days of the apostle. As a city, ancient writers were prodigal in epithets describing its renown. But the candlestick of Ephesus has long been removed; and as long it has been venerable only for its ruins, the most interesting of which is the theatre, memorable for a tumult, described Acts xix. 21-41. See Rev. ii. 1-5. 2. Smyrna. This city, which in the earliest ages was of great importance, is the only one of the seven which can be regarded as retaining its former prosperity. It is now one of the most important commercial cities of the Turkish empire, containing, it is said, a population of about 130,000. The Greeks have a bishop here, and two churches. See Rev. ii. 8—11. 3. Pergamos. This city was the capital of Hellespontic Mysia. Its ancient importance may be inferred from its possessing a library of 200,000 volumes, which Antony and Cleopatra transferred to Alexandria. At the present day, it retains some remnant of its ancient importance under the name of Bergamo. It consists of small and mean wooden houses, among which appear the remains of early Christian churches, "like vast fortresses amidst barracks of wood." See Rev. ii. 12-17. 4. Thyatira was upon the river Lycus, between Pergamos and Sardis. It still exists under the Turkish name of Ak-hissar, or "the white castle;" but in ancient remains it is more deficient than any of the seven, and its buildings consist, for the most part, of mud and earth. Many nominal Christians are still to be found there. See Rev. ii. 18-29. 5. Sardis, once the capital of the Lydian empire, and one of the most celebrated cities of the east, is now a miserable village, under the modified name of Sart. It is situated about sixty miles from Ephesus, at the foot of Mount Tmolus, and on the back of the river Pactolus, renowned for its golden sands. See Rev. iii. 1-6. 6. Philadelphia. This city was situated about twenty-five miles E. by s. of Sardis, upon a branch of Mount Tmolus. At this spot there are still to be seen the relics of a noble city, called by the Turks, Allah Shehr, "the beautiful city," or "the city of God." The American missionaries, Fisk and Parsons, were informed by the Greek archbishop Gabriel, 1820, that there were five churches in the town, besides twenty not used. It is estimated that about 1000 Christians still take up their abodes amidst its ruins. See Rev. iii. 7-13. 7. Laodicea. There were four cities of this name; two in Asia Minor, and two in Syria. The Laodicea of Scripture was one of the former, and was situated on the confines of Lydia and Phrygia, about forty miles east from