lytes, either under the Old or New Teftament, be-fides thofe who were circumcised and complete.

17 Q. Having heard this particular Account of Synagogues and Profelytes, proceed now to fay what was the laft Act of Nehemiah's Reformation,. which we read in Scripture?

A. That he turned out Manaffeh, the Son of Grandfon of the High Prieft, for marrying the Daughter of Sanballat, the Horonite, Neb. xiii. 28.

18 Q. What did Sanballat do with his Son-inlaw Manaffeh, on this Occasion?

A. He procured a Grant from Darius Nothus, who was now King of Perfia, to build on Mount Gerizim, near Samaria, a Temple like that at Je-rufalem, and to make Manaffeh, his Son-in-law, the High Prieft of it.

19Q. What was the Confequence of this Practice?

A. Samaria thenceforth became the Refuge of the rebellious Jews, who were called to Account : for breaking the Sabbath, eating unclean Meats,, or were found guilty in finning against the Law in any remarkable Inftances.

20 Q. WhatChange was wrought hereby amongs the Samaritans ?

A. Their firft Original was from fome Eaftern Heathens, who were planted there by the King of Affyria, after the Captivity of Ifrael; but when,, on feveral Occafions, the Jews flocked to them, it made a confiderable Change in their Religion: For though before they worshipped the God of Ifrael in Conjunction with other Gods, 2 Kings xvii. 24-41. they now caft off their Idolatry: A d fince a Temple was built amongst them, in which the Jewish Service was performed, and the Law of Mofes read publicly, they came much nearer to the Worship of the true God, prefcribed in Scripture. 21 Q. Didi

I 3.

21 Q. Did not the Jews love them the better on this Account?

A. No, by no Means; but they hated them grievously: The Enmity which began from the Oppofition which the Samaritans made to the Jews in their rebuilding Jerufalem and the Temple, was fo exceedingly increased by their sheltering all the rebellious Jews, that the Jews at Jerufalem published the bittereft Curse against them that ever was denounced against any People.

22 Q. What Miferies were contained in this Curfe?

A. The Jews forbid all Communication with the Samaritans; declared all the Fruits of their Land, and their Cattle unclean; excluded them from being ever received as Profelytes; and barred them, as far as poffible, from having any Portion in the Refurrection of the Dead to eternal Life.

23 Q. What Appearance of this great Enmity do we find in the New Testament?

A. This feems to be confirmed by the Words of Scripture, John iv. 9. The Jews have no Dealings with the Samaritans? And the Woman of Samaria afked our Saviour, How is it that thou, being a few, afkeft Drink of me, who am a Woman of Samaria? And when the Jews would give the worst Name they could to our Saviour, they faid, Thou art a Samaritan, and haft a Devil, John viii. 48.

Sect. II. Of the Jewish Affairs under the Perfian

and Grecian Monarchies.

H

OW were the Jews governed after the
Death of Nehemiah?

A. We find not any more particular Governors

of

of Judea, made by the Kings or Emperors of Per fia; but Judea feems to be made fubject to those whom the Perfian Kings made Governors of Syria; and that, under them, the Regulation of Affairs was committed to the High Priest; fo that he had all the Sacred Authority, and the Civil Powers allo, in a good Measure, under the Syrian-Governor.

2 Q. Did the High Priests continue their regu-lar Succeffions, as to the eldest of Aaron's Family?

A. This Succeffion was-fometimes interrupted by the Emperors of the World, or their deputed Governors of the Provinces, appointing another. Perfon to take that Office.

3 Q What is the firft remarkable Inftance of that Kind?

A: When Johanan, or Jonathan, the Son of Jojada, Neh. xii. 11. had poffeffed the Royal Priefthood feveral Years, Bagofes, the Governor of Syria, appointed his younger Brother, Jefhua, to depofe him, and take the Priesthood; upon which there 'was a Tumult in the inner Court of the Temple, and Johanan flew Jefhua there.

4Q. How did Bagofes, the Governor, refent this? A. He entered into the inner Court of the Tem-ple, though the Jews forbid him, as being unclean; but he told them he was purer than the dead Carcase of him whom they had flain there; and im- pofed on the Priefts a Fine of about thirty-one Shillings for every Lamb that was offered throughout the Year?

5Q. What was the next more famous Difficulty: and Deliverance which the Jews met with?

A. They were moft remarkably faved from the Oppreffion and Refentment of Alexander the Great, who was King of Macedonia in Greece, when they!

14

had

had refused to affift him in the Siege of Tyrus.

6 Q. In what Manner were they delivered? A. When Alexander marched against Jerufalem, defigning to punish the Jews on this Account, Jaddua the High Prieft, the Son of Johanan, being directed by a Night- Vifion, met the Conqueror in his Prieftly Robes, with the other Priests attending him in proper Habits, and all the People in white Garments: Alexander being ftruck with this Sight, faluted the High Prieft with a religious Veneration, embraced him, entered Jerufalem in a friendly Manner, and offered Sacrifice to God in the Temple, for his late Victories.

7Q How came Alexander fo fuddenly to change his Purpofe, and behave himself with fo much Mildness?

A. Alexander declared, that he himself, in Macedonia, had seen this very fame Perfon, thus habited, in a Night- Vifion, encouraging him to purfue his Expedition against the Perfians, and prom fing him Succefs.

8 Q. What further Favours did Alexander fhew the Jews?

A. When Jaddua, the High Prieft, had fhewn him the Prophecies of Daniel, particularly chapter viii. ver. 21. where the He-Goat is interpreted to be the King of Grecia, who should conquer the Medes and Perfians; and chapter xi. 3. He bid the Jews afk what they had to defire of him: And, according to their Requeft, he granted them the Liberty of their own Laws and Religion, and a Freedom from Tribute or Taxes every feventh Year, because then they neither fowed nor reaped.

9Q Did Alexander fucceed in his following Wars, and his Attempts against the Perfian Empire, according to the Jewish Prophecy?

A. When he departed out of Judea and Palestine,

he marched into Egypt, which speedily fubmitted to him: There he built the City Alexandria, and peopled it with feveral Nations, among whom were many Jews, to whom he gave the fame Privileges as to his own Macedonians. The next Spring he haftened to find out Darius Codomannus, King of Perfia, whom he had routed once before, and he now vanquished him in a final decifive Battle near Arbela, and became Mafter of the Perfian Empire.

10 Q. How long did he reign after this Battle? A. He went on and conquered Indiá; but in five Years Time he fell into fuch Riot and Drunkennefs, that put an End to his Life; though others fay he was poifoned.

IIQ. What became of the Jews after Alexander's Death?

A. A little after the Death of Alexander, four of his Generals divided his Empire, who were the four Horns of the He-Goat, mentioned by the Propher Daniel, which grew up, after breaking the firft Horn, Dan. viii. 22. and ch. xi. 4. and the Jewsfell under the Dominion of Ptolemy, after ward fürnamed Soter, who had Egypt, Arabia, Cœlo-Syria, and Palestine, or the Land of Ifrael, for his Sharé.

Here it may be obferved, that as Ptolemy had Egypt,

Palestine, &c. for his Share, fo Caffander had Macedonia and Greece; Lyfimachus had Thrace and Bithynia, and fome other Provinces thereabout; Seleucus had Syria, and the Northern and Eastern Provinces in Afia.-Thus was the Empire of Alexander the Great divided among his Generals.