Scripture topography [by M.F. Maude]. [2 vols. Vol.2 is of the orig. ed.].

"times of the Gentiles" are fast fulfilling, and the dark hour of earth's woe and wickedness in which we live, is nearest to the bright dawn of the "perfect day."

While we read in these pages accounts of the various places in which the Gospel was preached, and in which Churches flourished, but where now vice, and misery, and darkness dwell; or tremble at the awful doom which, according to prophetic warning, has fallen upon once mighty kingdoms; let us plead at the throne of grace for " THE

GENTILE WORLD."

Let us, by our prayers, our labours, and our lives, hasten the glorious time when earth's loveliest scenes shall be no longer disfigured by Pagan temples, or Mahommedan mosques, or Popish altars; but from each distant land, and from every sea-girt isle, the voice of praise and adoration shall rise to GOD, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Then mountains and hills shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Then the heavens shall sing, and the earth be joyful, because their King reigneth ; and Creation's groan of anguish shall be exchanged for the chorus of universal praise.

NEWPORT, I. W.

1849.

M. F. M.

INTRODUCTION.

ON SCRIPTURE NAMES.

"To illustrate the Holy Scriptures, let me begin with the names of the places of the country:-First, we will begin with the general name of the country. It is called 'Bar Alsham,' or the country of Shem. This at once proves that it is named after the great patriarch Shem; and by this name it is called by the natives until this day. Syria, or Soria, is only a name given to the country by foreigners, on account of the enterprize of the Phoenicians, whose capital was 'Sorr,'-'Tyre,'— (Sorr is the Hebrew word for Tyre,) and the navigating, and commercial, and colonizing inhabitants had been called Sorrians, after their capital 'Sorr'... The most ancient city on the face of the globe is Damascus; it existed before Abraham, whose steward was Eleazar of Damascus. Jerusalem from the time of Melchizedek, till now, bears the same name . . . The same might be said of Joppa, Nazareth, Cana of Galilee, Sidon, (bearing the name of the patriarch its founder, till this day.) Antioch, where the believers were first called Christians, bears the same name till now. This will be more remarkable to us, when we find that places of great fame in Syria, have been called by almost all foreign authors by other names, yet in the country these names are unknown; for example, Tyre is the Greek name for Sorr; Tyre is the word used almost in all translations of the Bible, except the original, and yet no one in Syria understands what

Tyre is; and though the city has received its fate according to prophecy, its recollection is known according to the original Sorr. Again, Palmyra is the name given to Tadmor. By the name Palmyra it is spoken of by all travellers, and ancient and modern authors; yet if you ask a Syrian anything about Palmyra, you might just as well ask the name of any place in the moon; but if you ask about Tadmor, any one will tell you Tadmor is in the desert, built by Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. Again, in the same country, there are places not mentioned in Scripture-their names are now changed; for example, Aleppo for the ancient Eolea,' &c. There are two principal rivers in Syria, Jordan and Orantes; Jordan has retained its name until now, whereas Orantes is now called 'Assia,' and no one amongst the natives knows it by its former name. These things will be more striking when we reflect that the country has had many conquerors and masters, with new languages, religions, and habits-the Greeks, the Persians, the Romans, the Saracens, the Crusaders, the Turks, &c.: yet in spite of all attempts to introduce fresh names, religions, and habits, the original names and customs have remained, and all modern vanished away. For example, all recollections about the stupendous expedition of the Crusades have no tradition in the country now, nor are they known by the natives; yet the bathing of Naaman the Syrian in the Jordan, and the cure of his leprosy, has its tradition. The birth of our blessed Lord in Bethlehem, the conversion of St. Paul near Damascus, are believed by the natives as facts; and the very street called Straight, and the remains of the house of Ananias, are till this day seen in Damascus."-Voice from Lebanon, by ASSAAD Y ΚΑΥΑΑΤ, pp. 326-328.

1 It appears somewhat uncertain whether Aleppo does, or does not, represent the ancient Helbon. See "Helbon."