jamin's Gate on the east. The Corner Gate on the N. W., and the Horse Gate on the South. The Fish Market, Beast Market and Wood Market. The pool of Bethesda, Theatre, &c.

Jerusalem, formerly the capital of Judea, is now called, by the Turks, Cudsembaric and Cudscherif; it is about three miles in circumference, and situated on a rocky mountain, with very steep ascents on all sides, except to the north; the valleys being deep, and at some distance, environed with hills. From the oppressive tyranny of the Turks, it is now but thinly inhabited.

A DESCRIPTION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE. HIRAM, an Ethiopian king of Tyre, was Solomon's coadjutor in the construction and furnishing of the temple at Jerusalem.

Solomon sent for Hiram; for he was filled with wisdom and understanding, skillful to work in gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, timber, glass, fine-linen, &c.; and to engrave any manner of engraving; and to find out every device which shall be put to him, and he came to Solomon: and Solomon and Hiram made a league together. Hiram furnished Solomon with cedar and fir trees, olive and palm trees and algum. He sent also to Solomon six score talents of gold. He furnished seamen to navigate Solomon's vessels to Ophir; and such skillful artisans to prepare the materials for the temple, that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was building. There were three thousand and three hundred overseers, and 150,000 workmen engaged on this work. The temple was built upon Mount Moriah. It was supported by 1453 columns and 2906 pilasters, all hewn from the finest Parian marble. Three grand columns or pillars were named Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, wisdom which God gave unto Solomon, and strength and beauty unto Hiram king of Tyre, whom God blessed to build and ornament the temple. This temple was in many respects the most astonishing sight éver beheld. Its site was partly upon a solid rock originally steep on every side. The foundation was of vast

dimensions, said to be 300 cubits from its lowest base; it was composed of stones many of them sixty feet in length. The lower part of the superstructure was composed of blocks of white marble more than sixty feet long and seven feet by nine in bigness. The circumference of the whole pile, was four furlongs. In the front were spacious and lofty galleries, wainscoted with cedar, supported by uniform rows of white marble columns. Josephus asserts that nothing could exceed the exterior parts of this house of God, for elegant and exquisite workmanship, or in splendor: its solid plates of gold seemed to strive to outdazzle the rising sun. The part of the building not covered with gold, had at a distance the appearance of pillars of snow, or white marble mountains. And the grandeur of the internal workmanship of this magnificent edifice was fully equal to its external magnificence. Nothing superb, costly, or elegant was spared. The different parts of the world seemed to have vied with each other, to pour their most costly treasures into this treasure house of heaven. The lower story of the temple was decorated with the sacred furniture, the table of the shew bread, the altar of incense, and the candlestick of pure beaten gold. The altar and table were overlaid with pure gold. Several doors of this sanctuary were fifty-five cubits in height, and sixteen in breadth, likewise overlaid with pure gold. The richest Babylonian tapestry of purple, blue, and of exquisite workmanship, waved within these doors. Gold vines of curious workmanship with leaves and clusters of grapes of gold were suspended five or six feet from the ceiling. The eastern gate of the temple was immense, and of pure Corinthian brass, a most valuable metal. But it would be a task to enumerate all the golden works, paintings, and gildings, vessels of gold, and scarlet, violet, and purple sacerdotal yestments, and all the piles of incalculable riches in this temple of Jehovah. The most precious stones, spices and perfumes, every thing that nature or art or riches could furnish, were stored within these stupendous and hallowed walls:

This structure, for beauty, magnificence, and expense, exceeded any building which was ever erected. It was built of large stones of white marble, curiously hewn,

and so artfully joined together, that they appeared like one entire stone. Its inner walls, beams, posts, doors, floors and ceilings, were made of cedar and olive wood, and planks of fir; which were entirely covered with plates of gold, with various beautiful engravings, and adorned with precious jewels of many splendid colors. The nails which fastened those plates were also of gold, with heads of curious workmanship. The roof was of olive wood, covered with gold; and when the sun shone thereon, the reflection from it was of such a refulgent splendor that it dazzled the eyes of all who beheld it. The court in which the temple stood, and the courts without, were adorned on all sides with stately buildings and cloisters; and the gates entering therein, were exquisitely beautiful and elegant. The vessels consecrated to the perpetual use of the temple, were suited to the magnificence of the edifice in which they were deposited and used.

Josephus states, that there were one hundred and forty thousand of those vessels, which were made of gold, and one million three hundred and forty thousand of silver; ten thousand vestments for the priests, made of silk, with purple girdles; and two millions of purple vestments for the singers. There were also two hundred thousand trumpets, and forty thousand other musical instruments, made use of in the temple, and in worshipping God.

According to the most accurate computation of the number of talents of gold, silver, and brass, laid out upon the temple, the sum amounts to six thousand nine hundred and four millions, eight hundred and twenty-two thousand and five hundred pounds sterling; and the jewels are reckoned to exceed this sum. The gold vessels are estimated at five hundred and forty-five millions, two hundred and ninety-six thousand, two hundred and three pounds, and four shillings, sterling; and the silver ones, at four hundred and thirty-nine millions, three hundred and forty-four thousand pounds sterling; amounting in all, to nine hundred and eighty-four millions, six hundred and thirty thousand, two hundred and thirty pounds, four shillings. In addition to this, there were expenses for workmen, and for materials brought from Mount Libanus, and the quarries of Zeradatha. There were ten

thousand men per month in Lebanon, employed in falling and preparing the timbers for the craftsmen to hew them, seventy thousand to carry burdens; eighty thousand to hew the stones and timber; and three thousand three hundred overseers of the work; who were all employed for seven years; to whom, besides their wages and diet, king Solomon gave as a free gift, six millions seven hundred and thirty-three thousand, nine hundred and seventy-seven pounds.

The treasure left by David, towards carrying on this noble and glorious work, is reckoned to be nine hundred and eleven millions, four hundred and sixteen thousand, two hundred and seven pounds; to which if we add king Solomon's annual revenue, his trading to Ophir for gold, and the presents made him by all the earth, as mentioned 1 Kings x. 24, 25, we shall not wonder at his being able to carry on so expensive a work; nor can we, without impiety, question its surpassing all other structures, since we are assured that it was built by the immediate direction of HEAVEN.

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone-squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. (1 Kings v. 17, 18.)

When the temple of Jerusalem was finished, the capstone was celebrated, with great joy. "This is the stone which is become the head of the corner. (Psalm cxviii. 22. Matt. xxi. 42. Mark xii. 10. Luke xx. 17. Acts iv. 11. 1 Kings vi. 27.)

And he set the cherubims within the inner house; and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall; and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shew-bread was; and the candlesticks of pure gold; five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle; with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold; and the bowls, and the snuffers,

and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the Temple. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work, that he had made king Solomon, for the house of the Lord.

Now, when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priest could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.

And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. (2 Chron. vii. 1—4.)

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper, that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. (Psalm cxxii.)

In the year of the world 3029, King Solomon died, and was succeeded by his son Rehoboam. Soon after this, instigated and led on by Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, ten of the tribes revolted from Rehoboam, and set up a separate kingdom, with Jeroboam at their head. In this manner were the tribes of Israel divided, and under two distinct governments, for two hundred and fifty-four years. The ten revolted tribes became weak and degenerated; their country was laid waste, and their government overthrown and extirpated by Salmanezer, King of Assyria. After a series of changes and events,