And yet amid it all there comes the recollection that the intellect that planned, the spirit that soared, the mind which waved its pinions to such a noble flight, claps its wings in the midst of ruin, smiles upon decay, towers beyond the ashes of destruction, and builds its own monuments in immortality. VIRTUE and INTELLECT survive the wrecks of TIME, One fact is worthy of notice; and that is, the MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE EAST remain unchanged with the rolling movements of ages-they alter not with the course of time. This remark is more strictly true, in reference to the scenery and manners of Palestine. In the language of a recent traveller"The hills still stand round about Jerusalem, as they stood in the days of David and of Solomon. The dew falls on Hermon, the cedars grow on Libanus; and Kishon, that ancient river, draws its stream from Tabor, as in the times of old. The Sea of Galilee still presents the same natural accompaniments, the fig-tree springs up by the way-side, the sycamore spreads its branches, and the vines and olives still climb the sides of the mountains. The desolation which covered the Cities of the Plain is not the less striking at the present hour, than when Moses, with an in spired pen, recorded the judgment of GOD. The swellings of Jordan are not less regular in their rise than when the Hebrews first approached its banks; and he who goes down from Jerusalem to Jericho, still incurs the greatest hazard of falling among thieves." In conclusion: The difficulty of compiling the present publication, has been not what to choose, but what to omit. And the writer can sincerely say, that the delightful Illustrations of Scripture, which have been continually coming before his mind, in the progress of his examinations, have made him more sensible than ever, how much real, intellectual, and moral pleasure and improvement is lost, especially by the YOUNG, for the want of correct engravings, explaining Scripture names, customs, phrases, &c. There will be found in this volume, single embellishments, which explain more fully many obscure passages of THE BIBLE, than whole pages of comment would without them. To the pious CHRISTIAN, whose experience is, "Thy word is sweeter than honey to my taste; yea, sweeter than honey in the honey-comb," every thing calculated to open the treasures of God's WORD, must be worthy of his attention. And it is by the discovery of such stores of excellence and beauty, that a taste for the study of THE BIBLE will be cherished and increased. "BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WHO ONLY DOETH WONDROUS THINGS; AND BLESSED BE HIS GLORIOUS NAME FOR EVER AND EVER AND LET THE WHOLE EARTH BE FILLED WITH HIS GLORY; AMEN AND AMEN."-Psalm lxxii. 18, 19. THE END. |