tion. Amos was a native of Tekoa, a city belonging to Judah; but dwelt in the land of Israel, and prophesied principally against that kingdom; between the years 823 and 758 before the nativity of our Saviour.

Jonah gave his predictions in the reign of Jeroboam, king of Israel, who began his reign 823, A.C. He was commissioned by Jehovah, not only to exhort the children of Israel, but also to announce to Pul, the famous king of Assyria, the destruction of Nineveh, his capital city. Jonah endeavoured to avoid what he probably esteemed to be a dangerous commission, by fleeing to Tarshish. But a dreadful storm overtaking the vessel in which he was sailing, he denounced himself to the sailors as the object of the divine anger, for his vain attempt to escape from the presence of his God. At his own desire he was thrown into the sea, and being miraculously preserved from the fury of the waves, he repaired to Nineveh, and became the means of saving the prince and the numerous inhabitants of that great city; who were brought to repentance by the preaching of the prophet.

Micah was a native of Moresa, a town of the tribe of Judah. Between the years 757 and 698 before Christ, he prophesied to both Israel and Judah. With great spirit and energy he rebuked the princes and false prophets for their bad example, and for their misleading the people.

Nahum, a native of Galilee, prophesied in the reign of Hezekiah, not long after the subversion of the kingdom of Israel, between the years

720 and 698 A.C. He foretold the miraculous destruction of Sennacherib and his army, and the utter overthrow of the Assyrian empire.

Habakkuk lived after the taking of Nineveh, in the reign of Jehoiakim, and not long before the Israelitish captivity. He lamented the corruption of his people; predicted the desolation of the country by the Chaldeans, and the overthrow which should come upon them. This book abounds with pious reflections, and contains fewer predictions than those of the other prophets.

Zephaniah prophesied between the years 640 and 609 before Christ. He reproved the idolatry and the depravity of the children of Israel; but at the same time announced their future restoration and prosperity. During the season of their captivity, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Obadiah rebuked, instructed, and prophesied in the midst of the tribes of Israel. And after the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were delegated by the Lord of Hosts to give unto the people intimations of his will.

Ezekiel was of the tribe of Levi; and being carried into captivity with Jehoiada, king of Judah, about the year before Christ 599, he was placed, together with many of his countrymen, upon the banks of the Chebar, a river of Mesopotamia, where he was favoured with visions and divine communications. While he denounced severe correction for the obstinate workers of iniquity, he declares the natural placability of the Lord, and assures the wicked, that if they

turn from their wickedness and come unto their God, they shall save their souls alive.

Daniel predicted the overthrow of the Babylonian empire by the Persians; the subversion of the Persian empire by the Greeks; the extended dominions of the Romans, and the coming of the Messiah. All his predictions have been fulfilled. The Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, the Roman empire, successively flourished; till, under Augustus Cesar, universal peace took place, and our blessed Saviour was born.

Obadiah flourished between the taking of Jerusalem, A.C. 587, and the conquest of Idumea, by Nebuchadnezzar. He predicted the overthrow of the Edomites, because they exulted over the children of Israel in their time of affliction.

Haggai was raised up by Jehovah to instruct, admonish, and comfort the Hebrews, after their return from Babylon, and when various abstacles opposed their rebuilding the city and temple. He prophesied about 520 years before Christ. Zechariah aided the prophet Haggai, to encourage the Israelites in the work of restoring Jerusalem.

Malachi prophesied about 436 years before the birth of our Lord. He was the last of the ancient Hebrew prophets, for between him and John the Baptist, the spirit of prophecy was discontinued.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, have been styled the greater prophets, because their prophecies were more in number, and of greater -importance; while the remaining twelve are

called the lesser, or minor prophets. Jonah, Joel, Hosea, and Amos, are the most ancient.

QUESTIONS.

What were the general ends and purposes for which the prophets were sent to the children of Israel, by the Lord their God? Which were called the greater, and which the minor prophets? Which of the prophets flourished before the captivity? Which of the prophets were with the children of Israel in their captivity? Which of the prophets prophesied, after the return of the children of Israel from Babylon? Which was the last of the ancient Hebrew prophets? What space of time elapsed between Malachi and John the Baptist? In what years before the birth of our Saviour did the prophets successively and respectively prophesy?

CHAP. XXI.

THE NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION.

THE children of Israel, dispersed through various parts of Upper Asia, of Asia Minor, of Egypt, and even of Greece, had begun to make known the name and the glory of Jehovah among the

Gentiles.

The Hebrew scriptures had been translated into Greek; the most universal language of the world; and their antiquity was acknowledged. What was passing among the Greeks themselves, was a kind of preparation for the knowledge of the truth. Their philosophers well knew that the world must be governed by a God, very different from the gods of the vulgar; those gods which they made the public profession of ador

ing. A truth so impressive, though eagerly opposed, and though badly understood, even by those who privately taught it, was beginning to

awaken mankind.

The Chaldeans, the Egyptians, the Phenicians, the Romans, who were, in most respects, the wisest among the nations; with regard to religion, were the most ignorant and blind. Even the Jews, to whom the true God was revealed, had begun, not indeed as formerly, to forget the God of their fathers, but to intermingle in their religion superstitions utterly unworthy of Him. Different sects arose among the descendants of Abraham, who held very different doctrines, and frequently were involved in fierce disputes with one another. One of these, the Pharisees, was founded under the reign of the Asmoneans, as early as the time of Jonathan. The Pharisees obtained great credit and vast influence among the people, by the strictness of their doctrine, the austerity of their manners, and their scrupulous observance of the ceremonial law. They affected great abstraction from the world; practised severe fasts; made long prayers at the corners of crowded streets and in the synagogues; gave alms with ostentation; exhibited themselves in long flowing robes, and delighted in popular applause. But, according to our blessed Lord's description of them, and the severe reproofs which they drew from him, the meek and lowly Saviour, they were hypocrites, who, under the specious mask of religion, concealed atrocious vices,