the Jews under Simon. He is treacherously murdered John Hyrcanus, defeated by Antiochus, is besieged in Je- Aristobulus succeeds his father. His miserable death. Alexandra resigns herself to the guidance of the Pharisees. They persecute the late king's friends. The queen dying appoints Hyrcanus to succeed her. Aristobulus his bro- ther seizes the kingdom. Hyrcanus aroused by Anti- pater makes war against Aristobulus. Impiety and vice of the people. The brothers apply to Pompey. The Pompey succeeds in taking the temple. He profanely enters the most holy place. Demolishes the walls of Jerusalem. Makes Hyrcanus tributary. Takes Aris- tobulus and his sons captives. Gabinius alters the form of government in Judea. Aristobulus escapes from Aristobulus and his son Alexander put to death. Prospe- rity of Antipater. Advancement of his sons Phasael and Herod. Insolent conduct of the latter towards the San- Antipater treacherously poisoned. His death avenged by Herod. Disturbances in Judea. Antony coming into Syria, favours the sons of Antipater. Invasion of the Herod, assisted by Antony, makes war against Antigonus. Defeats Pappus. Celebrates his marriage with Mari- Opposition of the people to Herod. Ananelus made high priest. Hyrcanus returns to Jerusalem. Aristobulus brother to Mariamne raised to the high priesthood. He- rod procures his death. The cruelty and jealousy of Herod alienate Mariamne, and cause great distress in his Death of Alexandra. Infringements of Herod. Conspi- racy against him. He rebuilds Samaria. Famine and pestilence in Judea. Herod's marriage. He builds Herod undertakes to rebuild the temple. Return and marriage of his two sons. Malice of Salome and Phe- roras against them. Herod sends for Antipater. Brings his sons to trial before Augustus, who acquits them. New troubles in his family. The temple dedicated. Herod, slandered by Syllaus, falls under the displea- sure of Augustus. Recovers the favour of the emperor. Herod quarrels with his brother, who conspires with An- tipater. Death of Pheroras. Discovery of Antipater's plot. The temple of Janus shut. The angel Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary. Christ is born at Bethle- hem. Arrival of the wise men. Herod murders the in- nocents. Antipater returns from Rome. He is put to death. Miserable end of Herod. Division of his king- dom. Archelaus, reigning tyrannically, is deposed. Judea made a Roman province. The Lord Jesus Christ comes to his temple. Prophecies fulfilled. Vain ex- pectation of the Jews. Promises respecting them. So- HISTORICAL INTERVAL BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. INTRODUCTORY LETTER. MY DEAR ROBERT, AMONG the books I lately sent you was one containing a series of letters on the Church Catechism,* and other subjects connected with your profession as a member of the Church of Christ. Though not in the first instance addressed to you, I trust you will consider them as especially intended for your use, as my godson, mentioned in the first of them. I hope you will read them with earnest prayer to Almighty God, that, by the influence of his Holy Spirit, they may be conducive to the good of your immortal soul. It is now your turn to be addressed; and, as I am not likely to have frequent opportunities of conversing with you, I shall adopt the epistolary mode of writing; because it will subject you to the reading of only a distinct portion at one time, and also give you opportunities of proposing questions, or offering remarks on the subjects I shall recommend to your notice. I was much pleased to * A Sponsor's Gift. B observe, in my late visit, that you have a sincere and ardent desire to improve in the various studies you are pursuing; but more particularly was I gratified to find that you are not negligent as to the "one thing need→ ful," as to the attainment of that knowledge by which you may become “wise unto salvation." Your daily private reading of the word of God is a practice so likely to prove of everlasting import, that I trust nothing will ever prevail on you to relinquish or intermit it. The letters I mentioned may be useful to direct you in this profitable study; and I shall be always ready to afford you any other assistance in my power. Your knowledge of ancient history is doubtless extensive; because, in the course of your classical studies, it is almost continually presented to your attention. But profane history is not the most ancient, any more than it is the most important: these two qualities are com bined in sacred history alone; in the history of God's people contained in the Bible. I have furnished you with a chart of ancient history, which will assist you in a collation of the two branches, sacred and profane and in order to carry you forward in the pursuit, I now propose to direct your attention to that period wherein the character of inspiration no longer distinguished the records of the Jewish nation; to that period which forms a connexion between the history and prophecieš of the Old Testament, and the wonderful events and fulfilments recorded in the New Testament. It will be your part, my dear boy, to decide whether my efforts be useful and acceptable in this instance: if they prove so, I shall very likely extend them to other subjects connected with your spiritual improvement. But let us remember that no efforts on my part, nor application on yours can be profitable without the blessing of God's Holy Spirit to direct, enlighten, and sanctify us; guiding our hearts and lives in the way of God's precepts, and bringing our souls to an entire confidence in his mercy through Christ the only Saviour. That you may have grace to seek this inestimable blessing, and that my endeavours may be made profitable to you, is the sincere prayer of Your very affectionate, In order to afford you a concise and clear account of the events which befell the Jews during their captivity in Babylon, and after their return from it, I shall go back to the reign of Jehoahaz, the immediate successor of Josiah, King of Judah; for, though there is much of their subsequent history contained in the Bible, it is either blended with the writings of the prophets and rulers, or related by the apochryphal writers, in such a manner as to lose the clearness and continuity which are needful to render history intelligible to young minds. Ispresume you are well acquainted with the history of the kings of Israel and Judah; if not, I would advise you to study it in the Bible itself. Your Chronology of the Bible will help you in tracing the successions, and the Key I lately sent you will direct you to the ehapters in which the several reigns are recorded. The destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of Judah, had long been foretold by the prophets; yet |