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sion so plain, that the person in whose favour it was all done, might have been effectually alarmed, his going forward stopt, and consequently the mischief which was at hand, and which he had the notice of, effectually prevented?

It is not indeed so easy to answer that part; but it may be resolved into this, that the fault seems to be our own, that we do not give due attention to such notice, as might be sufficient to our deliverance.

Thus, if the invisible spirits give a due alarm, they do their part, if they jog us and awaken us in a deep sleep, and pull us again and again, and give us notice that something is coming, that some danger is at the door; if we still sleep on till it comes, if we will go on, happen whatever may, the kind spirit has done its duty, discharged its office, and if we fall into the mischief, the fault is our own, we can by no means blame the insufficiency of the notice, and say, to what purpose is it? seeing we had due and timely warning, but would not take the hint; we had due notice of the danger, and would not step out of the way to avoid it, the fault is wholly our own.

An account of apparitions and supernatural appearances, which were seen round about the city of Jerusalem, just previous to its overthrow by the Romans; as given by Josephus, the Jewish

historian.

OUR LORD said in reference to the ruin of that nation-" And fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."

1. He says; "On the 8th of the month Zanthicus, (before the feast of unleavened bread,) at the ninth hour of the night, there shone round about the altar, and the circumjacent buildings of the temple, a light equal to the brightness of the day; which continued for the space of half an hour."

2. "About the sixth hour of the night, (says Josephus,) the eastern gate of the temple was found to open without human assistance." This gate was of solid brass; and so large and heavy, as to require twenty men to close it. And Josephus says, "it was secured by iron bolts and bars, that were let down into a large threshold consisting of one entire stone." The Jews themselves concluded, from the miraculous nature of this event, that the security of their temple had fled. When the procurator was informed of this event, he sent a band of men to close the door; who with great difficulty executed their orders.

3. Again, the same celebrated Jewish author says; "At a

subsequent feast of Pentecost, while the priests were going by night into the inner temple, to perform their customary ministrations, they first felt, (as they said) a shaking, accompanied by an indistinct murmuring; and afterwards voices as of a multitude, saying in a distinct and earnest manner: "Let us depart hence." How striking was this miraculous premonition. It commenced with a shaking; to call and fix the attention of the Jewish priests. Then was heard an indistinct murmur. This would make them listen with all possible heed. Then they heard the distinct voices, as of a multitude in great earnestness and haste ;"Let us depart hence!" And their last fatal war with the Romans commenced before the next season for celebrating this feast.

4. Another sign was the following. The same author says: "A meteor resembling a sword hung over Jerusalem, during one whole year." This could not have been a comet, for it was stationary a whole year, and seems from the words of Josephus, to have been much nearer than a comet, and appeared to be appropriated to that city. This reminds one of the sword of the destroying angel, stretched out over Jerusalem, 1 Chro. xxi.

This stationary position of the sword for a year, was a lively indication that the impending ruin was fatal.

5. Josephus says again: "As the high priests were leading a heifer to the altar to be sacrificed, she brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple." Most striking rebuke to those infidel priests who had rejected the lamb of God, who had shed his blood once for all, and abrogate the Levitical sacrifices; which yet they were impiously continuing. This wonder was exhibited in the temple, the type of the body of Christ, and at the passover, when at a preceding passover Jesus was arrested and sacrificed; and it took place before the high priests and their attendants; so that they could never complain for want of evidence of the fact.

6. This author says: "Soon after the feast of the passover, in various parts of the country, before the setting of the sun, chariots and armed men were seen in the air passing round about Jerusalem :" This strange sight occurring before sunset, and being seen in various parts of the country, must have been a miraculous portent; a sign from heaven. The Jews had said, "what sign showest thou, that we may see and believe." Now they had their signs in abundance, yet they would not believe.

7. The last and most fearful sign Josephus relates; that one Jesus, son of Ananus, a rustic of the lower class, appeared in the temple at the feast of tabernacles, and suddenly exclaimed, "A voice from the east-a voice from the west-a voice from the four winds-a voice against Jerusalem and the temple-a voice

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against the bridegrooms and the brides-a voice against the whole people!" These words he continued to exclaim through the streets of Jerusalem by day and by night, with no cessation (unless what was needed for the support of nature) for seven years! He commenced in the year 63, while the city was in peace and prosperity, and terminated his exclamations only in his death, amidst the horrors of the siege in the year 70. This strange thing, when it commenced, soon excited great attention: and this Jesus was brought before Albinus, the Roman governor, who interrogated him, but could obtain no answer except the continuation of his woes. He commanded him to be scourged, but to no effect. During times of festivals, this cry of his was peculiarly loud and urgent. After the commencement of the siege, he ascended the walls, and in a voice still more tremendous than ever, he exclaimed, "Wo, wo to this city, this temple, and this people!" And he then added, (for the first time for the seven years,)" Wo, wo to myself!" The words were no sooner uttered, than a stone from a Roman machine without the walls, struck him dead on the spot!

Such were the signs in the heavens and in the earth, which just preceded the destruction of Jerusalem. Several of them are recorded by Tacitus as well as by Josephus. The veracity of Josephus as a historian is probably allowed by all. Scaliger affirms that he deserves more credit as a writer, than all the Greek and Roman historians put together.

An Account of the commencement of the kingdom of Mexico, and by whom; of remarkable incidents attendant on their journeyings, until their establishment as such. Also, some account of Montezuma the II. and ninth king of Mexico. Of the supernatural phenomenon, or presages of the overthrow and revolution of his kingdom, by the Spaniards.

THAT region of country in South America, called NewMexico, and more particularly the city, is the place at which several northern tribes of Indians arrived after wandering nearly forty years, and who came from a region of wilderness north of the gulf of California. The cause of their separation, and departure from their own people and country, arose very likely from some dispute or disaffection among their tribes. But they allege as a reason, something widely different from this, which we gather from their tradition of this affair, as recorded in their history.

There was, say they, amongst us at the time of our departure

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