Julian's order, and the temple was soon after destroyed by a fire from heaven.

The triumph of Christianity over Idolatry and Judaism is amply corroborated by the conduct of this apostate Emperor, in his impious attempt to frustrate the prophecy of Jesus Christ, and rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem. The miraculous interposition of heaven to prevent the execution of this project, and assert the truth of Christianity, is recorded by Christian, Jewish, and Pagan writers. Gregory Nazianzen thus expresses himself on this mysterious subject. "The Jews set about the work of rebuilding with great attention, and pushed on the project with the utmost labour and application. But when now driven from their work by a violent whirlwind and a sudden earthquake, they fled together for refuge to a certain neighbouring church. There are who say, the church refused them entrance, and that when they came to the doors, which were wide open but a moment before, they found them on a sudden closed by a secret and invisible hand. As they strove to force their way in by violence, the FIRE which burst from the foundations of the temple met and stopped them, and one part it burnt and destroyed, and another it desperately maimed, leaving them a living monument of God's condemnation and wrath against sinners." "The day after the earthquake," adds

the Rabbin Gedaliah ben Joseph Iechajah, "a dreadful fire fell from heaven, which melted all the IRON TOOLS and Instruments employed about the work; and destroyed many, nay, incredible numbers of the Jews." And the truth of this statement is confirmed by the confession of Ammianus Marcellinus, Julian's professed Pagan apologist, who describes this miracle in the following words: "Julian committed the conduct of this affair to Alypius of Antioch, who formerly had been Lieutenant in Britain. When therefore this Alypius had set himself to the vigorous execution of his charge, in which he had all the assistance that the governor of the province could afford him; horrible balls of fire breaking out near the foundations with frequent and reiterated attacks, rendered the place, from time to time, inaccessible to the scorched and blasted workmen; and the victorious element continuing in this manner, obstinately and resolutely bent, as it were, to drive them to a distance, Alypius thought it best to give over the enterprize."*

The particular stone in the foundation from which these terrible flames issued, is said by old Masons, to be the same which Jacob used for a resting place, when journeying towards Padanaram in Mesopotamia.

* Vid. Warb. Julian.

CHAP. IV.

CONTAINING NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIX YEARS.

VIEW OF MASONRY FROM ENOCH TO THE UNIVERSAL

DELUGE.

THE great and prominent truth to be illustrated in these views of antient Masonry, is, that religion or the genuine worship of God, was the chief object of Masonic practice in the primitive ages of the world. And this may be deduced from the existence of pure Masonry at the present day; for had it been erected on any other foundation but the glory of God; had it been instituted solely to exalt human wisdom, or to promote human greatness; it would have been but as a flitting sunbeam, which passeth away and leaves no trace behind.

Religion was the only foundation on which our order could be securely placed; for no institution can be firm or permanent, which is not supported by the favour and protection of the Deity. Every thing merely human must inevitably decay and crumble to ruins before the alldevouring hand of time.

"The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,

And, like the baseless fabric of a vision,
Leave not a rack behind."*

But the word of God, and every thing founded on that basis, shall never pass away. Even " the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up ;"* but Masonry, pure and uncontaminated with earthly abominations, shall triumph over the general and universal dissolution, and shall cement the Host of Heaven in a holy union and communion to all eternity.

Before Enoch assumed the superintendence of our Order, there appears to have been some intermixture of the two lines of Seth and Cain, for the world does not exhibit so bright an aspect as during the last period. Adam, however, was yet living, and his authority was sufficient to restrain the race over which he possessed the supreme government, as king, priest, and prophet, from those rash and violent deeds, which, after his death, deformed the face of nature.

Enoch prosecuted his scientific researches with indefatigable industry, and communicated his dis

coveries to his brethren. The line of Seth were indeed less eminent than the Cainites for mechanical arts, because their attention had been devoted to more sublime pursuits. They practised very successfully the speculative sciences which form a constituent part of Masonry. The celestial bodies were objects of their constant investigation. In the science of astronomy Enoch made many improvements; and it is thought that he was acquainted with the grand period of six hundred years, at the expiration of which, the sun and moon return to the precise situation which they occupied at the beginning of it. Other sciences were invented and perfected by Enoch, which tend to illustrate God's attributes and perfections; and hence this extraordinary Patriarch earned a distinguished reputation, which will endure, both amongst Masons and Christians, until the frame of this world shall be shook in pieces by the voice of the Archangel and the trump of God.

But the study of human science was not the sole intention of God in the creation of man: He formed him for a nobler purpose; and these studies were but secondary considerations, springing as natural effects from natural causes. Of this truth we have had abundant proofs, in the view we have already taken of the origin of the sciences. For it appears that the idolatrous na