rejected. The temple fell; and, as that Lord predicted, not one stone was left on another. The plough was driven over the ground. After a time, edifices of a new form, and appropriated to a strange worship, rose from the soil. Jupiter and Venus were adored in spots where every broken memorial was associated with the honour of Jehovah and the sufferings of Jesus. Another change. The cross became triumphant. An empress is in Jerusalem, searching after every holy place and thing. Now Christ assumes the ascendant on those bare and sun-burnt hills. Ere many centuries, however, the Saracen planted the Crescent there instead of the Cross. Then the Christian nations of Europe formed crusades, and rushed to pluck the holy sepulchre of their Lord out of the hands of those whom they called Moslem infidels. Enthusiasm gave success. A Christian kingdom was founded within the walls of Jerusalem. The triumph vanished. Mohammed resumed his throne, which he has continued to hold to the present day. And now, the very existence in Jerusalem of the recently-founded Christian bishopric, serves only to show, by its insignificance, that outwardly, at least, the rule there of the prophet of Mecca is exclusive and beyond dispute. In Jerusalem, indeed, may Jews and Christians, as well as Mohammedans, be found. But they are despised, destitute of political power, and of very small weight in society; while the Turk, conscious of his supremacy, rules with absolute sway, almost unrestrained, save by his own capricious and despotic will. Any influence which England or France might exert in favour of Christians is lessened and almost destroyed by the constant disagreements-nay, the deadly animosities, in which, not only in Jerusalem, but in other parts of the land, members of rival churches indulge one against the other, preferring the gratification of their own petty malice to the honour of their common Lord and the good of mankind. Yet, down to the present hour, does the capital of Palestine retain claims to be described in the language of our great religious poet : fair Jerusalem, The holy city, lifted high her towers, And higher yet the glorious temple rear'd The physical position of Jerusalem has marked peculiarities. In general it may be said that the approach to it from other parts of the land was an ascent, for it stands on an elevation which Schubert gives at 2500 Parisian feet above the ocean,—a height attained by few cities of the Eastern hemisphere lying near the sea. The ascent is the most considerable from the east, that is from the Dead Sea and the vale of the Jordan. In what part of the world is there a city in a district having diversities of level so great? The elevation of the towns in Palestine is very remarkable. The ridge on which Jerusalem stands approaches to nearly 3000 feet above the level of the Mediterranean. This height will be best conceived of, if the reader compares it with that of some lofty hill known to him. Dover Castle, in Kent, is but 469 feet above the ocean; Dunnose, in the Isle of Wight, 810; the Malvern hills, in Worcestershire, 1444; and it is only when we come to such hills as Ingleborough, in Yorkshire (2361), the Cheviot, in Northumberland (2658), or Skiddaw, in Cumberland (3022), that we find heights comparable with those of the Holy Land. Let the reader fancy a city on the top of Helvellyn (3055), and then he will understand the elevation of Jerusalem, Hebron, and Saphet. The height of these towns must have greatly conduced to the safety and the health of their inhabitants. There is, as we have intimated (p. 28), a difference of height between Jerusalem and the vale of the Jordan amounting to above 3000 feet. This difference occasions a corresponding difference of temperature equal to that which is found between London and Rome: in other words, the average temperature of Jerusalem differs from that of Jericho no less than the average temperature of the capital of England from that of the capital of the Papal states. While the climate of the vale of the Jordan and of the Dead Sea is much the same as that of the southern part of the Arabah and of the Delta of the Nile, the climate of Jerusalem resembles that of the isle of Lemnos, of ancient Troy, of the vale of Tempe. In consequence, the date palm, though it grows near Jerusalem, cannot bring its fruit to maturity there, while the dates produced in the neighbourhood of Jericho have from ancient times stood in the highest repute. Cotton and similar products of hot climes grow not near Jerusalem, but in the vicinity flourish grapes which produce a wine whose flavour and strength are of a very high kind; there also the olive, the fig, the walnut, largely repay the cares of the cultivator. In regard to the seasons at Jerusalem, the same may be said as of all Eastern countries bordering on the Mediterranean, namely, that the cold of winter extends far into spring, and the warmth of summer goes onward through autumn. The heat of summer often rises to 32 degrees of Reamur, or 104 of Fahrenheit. When, as often happens in the midst of summer, the dry hot east or south-east wind blows, even night affords little coolness, and the heat of the unshaded city is almost intolerable to those who come thither from lands of clouds, streams, and mists. Lying * See 'Scripture Illustrated from recent Discoveries in the Geography of Palestine,' the first publication in the 'Library of Christian Literature.' See also the Map of Arabia Petrea, &c., in 'The People's Dictionary of the Bible.' Consult the Map of Palestine in the 'Biblical Atlas,' by the author of 'The People's Dictionary of the Bible.' high, Jerusalem is in even the later part of spring visited often by cold northern breezes, so that even in June the comfort of an additional garment is sometimes felt desirable (comp. Luke xxii. 55, 56). On the other hand, the heat in autumn is very great. After the early rain, which falls between the autumnal and the winter solstice, has refreshed the thirsty soil with its rich streams, the south-west winds bring weather so mild, that the early part of December is sometimes the most lovely season in the year. Generally, continued cold does not begin till the middle of January. It sometimes freezes in February. Snow in Jerusalem is not unusual, though of short duration. The higher points of the country have a white appearance from snow for several days in succession. The later rain falls about the time of the vernal equinox. Dew is abundantly formed in Palestine. The greater part of the water used is supplied by rain, and in Jerusalem every house has one or more cisterns, by which the water is preserved in purity. CHAPTER V. THE VISIT OF THE MAGI-THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT-RETURN TO NAZARETH. Having performed the accustomed rites in the temple, Mary could now enter again into the ordinary circle of domestic duty. A somewhat longer rest and greater strength were, however, necessary before she could venture on the journey which would take her to Nazareth. She appears to have sought them in Bethlehem; though it would seem as if Luke intended to represent the family as proceeding to Galilee immediately after having 'performed all things according to the law of the Lord' (Luke iii. 39). On their reaching Bethlehem, they were able to command the conveniences of a house (Matt. ii. 11). Here they received an extraordinary visit. Throughout the East there had long prevailed a belief that some great personage was about to be born in Judea, who should possess the dominion of the world. This prevalent opinion was carefully observed and scrutinised by the Magi, or wise men, a class of persons who, in Babylon and other eastern parts, were devoted to the study of wisdom. They also gave great attention to the stars, in the belief that thence they should gain secret knowledge. Near the time of the birth of Christ, they, in their astronomical studies, saw and watched a junction of the three planets, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, which seemed to them to announce the long-expected prince. Under this opinion, they took their way towards the west, and, guided by the same celestial light, came to Judea, and proceeded at once to its capital. The cruel Herod, yet alive, was enduring tortures from a terrible and loathsome disease. Anna had spread the report of the advent of the Messiah throughout the capital (Luke ii. 38). The news reached the ears of the jealous and troubled tyrant. At this crisis the three Magi appeared, asking where they might find the new-born king. 'King!' The word fell as thunder on the ears of Herod. Are Anna's words then true? The newborn King of the Jews! Then am I in danger.' He called his counsellors together and learnt that Bethlehem was the place where the Messiah should appear. Immediately he issued the ruthless command that all children in the town under two years of age should be put to death. Meanwhile, the Magi had paid their visit to the infant monarch; and when they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, they fell down and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.' Thus was the wisdom of the East brought to the cradle of the gospel, that, offering its homage, it might signify the rising of a brighter luminary, and intimate the union in the Christian church of the east and the west, the north and the south-one fold under one shepherd. And thus was set in broad contrast, on one side fancied knowledge, and on the other infantine simplicity; here barbaric grandeur, there poverty, combined with the favour of God; the waning light of human speculation and the waxing sun of divine truth. The far-famed wisdom of the East is now without value; the treasures of the gospel are only beginning to be correctly understood and fitly valued. When the Magi bent their knees to the child Jesus, they pictured what would soon be the attitude of the world. Meanwhile, a terrible blow was about to strike Bethlehem. Herod's inhuman command was on the point of being executed. God, however, had the tender seedling under his special care. The attention drawn to him, if it aroused the suspicious king, opened kind eyes to watch that no harm befel the infant. When, therefore, real danger impended, his parents were put on their guard, and forthwith they withdrew and went down into Egypt. Egypt had long afforded refuge to children of Israel when in distress. It was the nearest asylum. It was also the best, since there the Roman power could operate for protection, unrestrained by Jewish bigotry or regal spite; and there, also, were multitudes of Hebrew blood, who could feel for and assist countrymen in peril or in want. There was, in consequence, a reason why Mary should hasten with Jesus into Egypt. The way was long. With a brevity which shows the absence K in the scriptural narratives of a disposition to do more than report the mere facts, and that in outline, and which is out of keeping with a legendary spirit, the Gospels tell us nothing of what occurred on the way, in what places the travellers lodged, where they finally settled, or how Joseph contrived to find means of subsistence. Had invention been here at work, it would not have left so bare and unadorned a narrative as that which we possess. The writers, in their haste to reach the all-important transactions of Christ's public ministry, naturally pass over these preliminaries with a few simple indications. Where Scripture is silent, it is not fitting to let tradition speak. We therefore leave untold particulars, of whose value we have no satisfactory guarantees. But, in knowing that 'the holy family' went from the hill-country of Judah into Egypt, we know many other things, to some of which we shall briefly refer. Their journey took a south-west direction. Probably, in order to avoid pursuit, they would shun the towns, and so keeping along on the hills of Judah, not turn to the west till they reached Beersheba, the southern limit of the land. Passing thence towards Egypt, they had to make their way over a widely-extended desert. The mother and child were alike young. The former was weak as well as young. She was also in alarm; for the life of her beloved boy, of whom such great things had been said, was in peril. Assailed, probably, by inclement weather, ill-fed, worn with travel, unprotected from beasts of prey, Mary still kept on, sustained chiefly by the unsinking power of motherly love. At last they came to human abodes. They entered Goshen, lying on the east side of the Nile, and passed the district in which, of old, their patriarchal ancestors had found shelter and food, and across which Moses had led his people, in order to redeem them from Pharaoh's hard bondage. Whether or not they penetrated as far westward as the Nile, we cannot say. If they did, what wonders must they have witnessed-in a most prolific land, a teeming population, the pyramids with their bare, solemn grandeur, the temples covered in every part with legendary sculptures, the very tombs decorated with the highest efforts of art! How sweet the waters of the river; how rank the vegetation; what an abundance of fish and birds; what strange manners in the towns; what gigantic and gorgeous edifices in honour of false divinities! How dissimilar that full and splendid ritual to the simple observances of the temple at Jerusalem! And how can men live on the same soil who hold religious opinions so diverse, and worship different gods? That these and many other sights must have made deep impressions on the minds of Mary and Joseph we may be well assured. Such impressions are lasting. They, doubtless, affected the education through which the parents afterwards conducted their child. But they could have had no direct or definite influence on the mind of Christ. |