rusalem is by no means unfruitful. Thomson* and Maundrell affirm that at this day there are to be found on the most barren rocks, marks by which it is evident that these rocks were formerly fruitful. There are on them the remains of walls, manifestly constructed to prevent the earth from washing away from which it appears that these rocks formerly contained vines. The same custom still prevails in China and Switzerland. If the Talmud be ex amined, it will be found that the neighbourhood of Jerusalem was productive, and that one acre there was held in greater estimation than the same quantity in any other part of Palestine. Which thing is easily explained: the neighbourhood of Jerusalem was stony, and on this account not suitable for agriculture, but very favourable for olives and vines, from which greater profit was made. For Catot says, of all kinds of lands, if you would buy an hundred acres to the best advantage, a vineyard is the most profitable; in the second place, a moist garden; in the third, a willow grove; in the fourth, an olive yard; in the fifth, a meadow; in the sixth, a plain for corn; in the seventh, a wood for cutting; in the eighth, an orchard; in the ninth, a wood for masts. Moreover, Abulfeda‡ living not far from Jerusalem and an eye witness, has given a minute description of Palestine and the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, which I consider as decisive on this subject. And ought not his testimony to have more weight than that of Strabo ? He did not see Palestine when it was in its most prosperous state, but long after, when wars had wasted it; and yet he says, that Palestine is the most fertile region of all Syria, and that it has advantages of salubrity, because it is watered with rain, except only the * Thomson's Description of Palestine, p. 19. Maundrel p. 94. Arvieux T. II. p. 204. Bellonii Observat. lib. ii. c. 81. De re rustica, cap. VI. In descriptione Syriæ, p. 10. BB country of Sichem. He says, moreover, that Jerusalem has the richest soil of Palestine. So much for Abulfeda, who is the most credible witness, and by whom the testimony of Strabo and others is destroyed. The bountiful earth pours forth from its bosom its splendid gifts over Palestine, and that part that is mountainous is favourable for the cultivation of the vine, and is covered with trees and various fruits. It is naturally not very moist, but in most places rains descend in abundance. Its waters are sweet, and on account of the abundance of good grass, its flocks abound in milk more than elsewhere. Josephus says, since we possess a fertile country we attend to agriculture. But let us admit the objection of those who say, that the neighbourhood of Jerusalem is unfruitful; yet the proofs of the fertility of the other parts of Palestine are abundantly sufficient to vindicate the truth of the descriptions, contained in the Sacred Scriptures. As to the testimony of those who have travelled to this land, and affirm that it is barren and unfruitful, if we consider the doubts which arise from them, and their tendency to destroy our faith in the Sacred Scriptures, they appear to be fallacious: for Palestine, even in our days, is far from being sterile, according to Thomson.* That the principal part of this land at the present lies uncultivated and desert, I freely grant, although that is by no means to be attributed to the poverty of the land, but rather to the fewness of the inhabitants and their neglect of agriculture. But if that region was well inhabited and the land cultivated, it would exhibit its former fertility, and would afford more luxuriant crops than the best parts of Syria: and even now, better wheat and other kinds of grain are nowhere found, than the land of Jerusalem produces for Saligniacot says, that he has not eaten any bread so sweet and delicate as in Jerusalem. Bellonius says, that the country of Jerusalem, and especially in the vicinity of the city is richly cultivated and contains very fine vineyards. Apples, almonds, figs and olives, producing much oil, grow there. We see every where from the travellers in Palestine,† that notwithstanding the desolation of that country, the fertility of the land of Bethlehem is still very great. Pliny says, that the land of Damascus, which drinks in the river Chrysorrhoa is very fertile, and Strabo and Bellonius testify the same thing. From these arguments and testimonies, I think, it evidently appears, that Palestine has been fertile, and that in our own age the soil is productive. * Observat. lib. ii. cap. 93. Sandy's Travels, Book III. p. 120. Theve not, T. I. lib. ii. p. 245. Myricke's Reise nach Jerusalem p. 97. Doubdan Voyage de la Terre S. + Conf. Cotovici Itinerar. lib. ii. cap. 8: cap. 16. Savari de Breves Voyages, p. 171. Rauwolf's Morgenländische Reise, T. III. cap. 22. Breuningii Itiner. lib. iii. cap. 18. Reisebuch des heiligen Landes, pag. 718, 842. Bisselii Topothes. Palest. p. 49. Andrichomii Theatrum Terra Sanctæ, pag. 41. Ockely's Geschichte der Sarazenen, p. 279. Plinii Hist. Nat. lib. v. cap. 18. lonii Observat. lib. ii. cap. 91. Strabo de Rebus Geog. lib. xvi. Bel [To be concluded in the next Number.] STAEUDLIN'S GESCHICHTE DER THEOLOGISCHEN WISSENSCHAFTEN is designed to exhibit the state and progress of theological knowledge, from the revival of literature to the present time. Its author, the Professor of theology at Goettingen, has divided the work into three periods-from the year 1450 to the Reformation; from the Reformation to the commencement of the 18th century; from the beginning of the 18th century to the present time. This history is given under different heads-as, Theological knowledge generally; Hermeneutics; Systematic theology; Church history; &c. &c. The portion here translated, is from the first head, of the third period, in which the writer, before entering upon the details of his history, presents us with an exhibition of the causes which led to the great revolution in theological opinion, which occurred during the 18th century. To this succeeds an account of the most important works of this period, intended to prescribe the manner and course of theological education, &c. The reader will find the greater part of this interesting account in the following article. As there are few subjects on which information is more generally desired, than the state of theological opinion and learning on the continent, during the last fifty or hundred years, it is probable that the translation of Staeudlin, may be continued in some of the future numbers of the REPERTORY. *The Preface of the first Volume is dated, May 1810. |