Conversations on the Bible. Its statements harmonized and mysteries explained. Designed for the family circle, the study, and to meet the inquiries of the present age

Preface

This work is the cliild of my old age. My reasons for preparing it have been partly personal. I needed sometliing to do. I must have some steady congenial employment, or I could not be happy. I felt, too, that if I neglected to employ my faculties, I might soon lose them. The best mode of preserving them unimpaired would be to keep them bright with use. At the same time, I could think of nothing on which, at my period of life, I could more appropriately employ my thoughts, than on the Bible. I firmly believed it to be a revelation from God to the Avorld — a " light shining in a dark place ;" I had made it, in one form or another, the study of a / long life ; my sentiments in regard to it were matured and settled ; and what better could I do, than to pass over its sacred contents in the form of question and answer, and set them forth for the instruction and benefit of my fellow men ?

The conversational form was adopted, as being the most familiar, and the best adapted, perhaps, to arrest and fix attention. The conversations are between a clerical father and his son, — not a mere child, but a son liberally educated, and about to enter upon studies preparatory to the ministry. This remark will show, that the work is not intended merely for children, and young persons. It is meant to be read in families, by Sabbath school teachers, by persons of all ages and conditions in life. Indeed, the conversations, though between father and son, are supposed to be had in a family, in presence of the different members.

And this remark will help to explain the nature of these conversations. The son does not approach his father always in the

6 PREFACE.

character of a mere inquirer, but often as an interlocutor, engaged in carrying on a conversation, and proposing questions for this very purpose — questions which, in some instances, might seem more appropriate to come from the father, than the son.

In conclusion, I commit this, my latest and perhaps my last publication to God and his people, hoping that it may lead to a more diligent study of the Bible, to a greater love for it and delight in it, to a firmer faith in its holy doctrines, to a more strict conformity to its sacred precepts, and thus to a more perfect preparation for that eternal rest which remains for all the children of God.

ENOCH POND.

FIRST BOOK.

FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON

CONVERSATION.

I. Do We Need A Bible? ^agb

Universal desire for further light. — The Bible's inspiration. — Its necessity. — Nature versus Revelation.— Nature the only light of the heathen.— Its abuse and perversion.— Nature's insufficiency confirmed. — Original universality of Revelation. — Subsequent loss and reasons for its slow development throughout the world. , . 21

II. What Belongs To The Bible?

Apocryphal books of the Old and New Testament. — Their exclusion. — Authority of the received books. — The majority of one a fiction. — Books of the Bible. — Their preservation. — Collected by Ezra. — Later additions. — Jewish manuscripts and our present Bible. — Do they agree. — Probabilities and proofs. — First acceptance of the Apocryphal books by the Roman Church. — Their incredible absurdity.— Their value. — Canon of the New Testament. — Council of Laodicea. — Revelation of John. — Genuineness of the accepted books „ 26

III

BY WH0:M and when were the books op the BIBLE WRITTEN? Books of the Bible chronologically untrue, and the Authors not as represented. — Fallacy of such an assertion — Proofs of genuineness. — The books of the New Testament. — Investigation concerning them. — Pacts and conclusions regarding the books of the Old Testament. — External testimony in proof. — Internal evidence.— Enemies and infidels. — Research of modern times. — Difficulties and objections removed 34

IV. Is The Bible True?

A vital question. — Historically considered. — Its circulation among contemporaries. — Veracity unquestioned. — Character of statements made. — Improbability of acceptance if false. — Evidence of profane history. — Propriety of relying on Apostolic testimony. — Their motives for truth. — Danger of proclaiming it. — Persecutions. — The witness of the world in the present day. — Customs, rites and ceremonies. —Their origin.— The Christian's faith. —The infidel's argument. — Belief in Scriptural records and authenticity increasing 39

Table Of Contents

Y, PAGE.

ARE THE SCRIPTURES FROM GOD?

Bible assertions. — Miracles. — Nature of miracles. — Unknown natural laws — Special need of miracles. — Their intent and purpose. — Divine Authority supported by prophecy. — The value of the Authority. — The nature of Prophecy. — Conjecture versus Prophecy. — Bible said to have all been written since the events transpired. —Evidence against such a statement. — Internal proofs of Inspiration. — The Bible God's Book. 49

VI. The Scriptures Inspired And Infallible

Difference between Revelation and Inspiration. — An Infallible record. — Passages in the Bible not true. — Such explained. — Man's instrumentality. — The work of God. — Proof of the Inspiration of the Bible. — The promise of Inspiration from God. — Many of them. — Inspiration acknowledged by the writers. — Proclaimed by Christ. —Doctrine of the Early Fathers. — Objections. — Difference in style and method. —Original manuscript lost. — Indelicacies of the Bible. — Contradictions. — Improper quotations of New Testament writers. — Paul's disclaim to Revelation. — Doctrine of Inspiration of great importance 55

VII. The Creation

A veritable history or a myth. — Self-evident testimony. — -Other evidence. — Creation of the world explained. — Swedenborg and Pantheism. — Time. — Geology and the Bible narrative. — In the Beginning. — Formation of mountains. — Terrible revolutions.— Cause of the darkness. — First chapter of Genesis explained. — The Sun, Moon and Stars. — Institution of the Sabbath. — Length of days. — Pre-historic man. — The Mosaic narrative descriptive of che Earth before the Flood. ... 65

VIII. The Garden Op Eden

Location of the Garden. — What it contained. — The Great Rivers. — The Tree of Good

and Evil. — Its Fruit. — The nature of it. — Why called the Tree of Knowledge. —

The Tree of Life. — Its object and use. — The result had Adam and Eve ate of its

fruit. — Moral reflections

IX

THE ORIGINAL SIN, Adam and Eve made in the image of God. — What we are to understand by that.— Their free moral agency. — Duties in the Garden. — The Death implied for disobedience.— The serpent. — What it Avas. — Power to speak. — Why the devil did not tempt Adam. — The immediate consequences of transgression. — The sentence delayed.— The curse on the Serpent. — The curse on the woman. — The significance of the curse on Adam. — Entailed sin a law of nature. 81

X. Cain And Abel

Their birtb. — Were they savages.— Religion. — Institution of the bloody Sacrifice.— Ordained by God. — God's reason for not accepting the offering of Cain. — Cain's

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE.

anger. — Murder of Abel. — The result. — Wives of Cain and Abel. — People to whom Cain fled. — Cain's posterity. — Abel's descendants. — The family of Adam and Eve. — Progress of population. — Object of Enoch's translation, — Extended lives of the Antediluvians 92

XI. The Deluge

When it occurred. — Bible predictions. — Preparations. — Local or universal in extent. — Evidences of its universality. — Traditions of ancient nations. — Science confuting old theories. — No positive traces of the Noachian deluge known.-^Previous deluges. — Their universality. — Where did the water come from. — Population of the Earth. — More numerous than since. — Evidences of this theory.— State of Art.

— Capacity of the Ark. — What was preserved. — The resting place of the Ark. — Antiquity of Chinese, Egyptians, etc. — Moral teachings 101

XII. Events Following The Deluge

Noah's first work — First permission to take the life of animals and eat their flesh.— Blood prohibited. — The death penalty for murder. — The rainbow. — Was this its first appearance.— Noah's history. — His sons. — Where they settled. — Occupation^ — ToAver of Babel. — Confusion of tongues. — The original language. — Site of Babel. — Ancient historians 11,?

XIII. Origin Of Nations

The dispersion. — Tribes and families of one tongue. — Nations in the line of Japheth. — Portions of the earth populated by his descendants. — The children of Shera and who they are. — Egypt and Arabia peopled by the children of Ham. — The desire for conquest. — Rise and fall of nations. — Importance of the book of Genesis 119

XIV. Abraham To His Separation With Lot

Birth of Abraham. — When and where — Family connections. — Marries his half sister. — First call. — Its object.— Second call and the promise.- Particulars of his journey to Canaan. — Damascus is passed. — A disreputable act. — Sarah's beauty.

— Pharaoh sharply reproves Abraham. — Cause of Lot and Abraham's separation.

— Selfishness of Lot 124

XY.

ABRAHAM TILL THE FORMATION OF A CHURCH IN HIS FAMILf Expedition of the Four Kings.— Capture of Sodom and Gomorrah. — Lot and Family among the prisoners. — Abraham to the rescue. — Victory. — Abraham's generosity. — Melchizedek.— Who and what he was.— Without father or mother.— Neither beginning of days nor end of life. — Jerusalem before the Jews.— Relations between God and Abraham. — Sarah's expedient. — Result of unbelief.— Ishmael. — A church established. — Significance of circumcision. — I Mety of Abraham 129

XVI. I'AGE.

ABRAHAM TILL HIS DEATH.

Angels' visit. — lutennew. — Eating natural food. — Who the chief angel was. — Abraham's plea for Sodom and Gomorrah. — Treatment of the angels at Sodom. — Their message to Lot. — Peril of Lot. — Abraham viewing the destruction of the cities. — Pillar of salt. — Profane writers concerning it. — The vicinity of Sodom and Gomorrah on fire for years. — Recent discoveries. — Abraham again denies his wife. — Birth of Isaac. — Character of Ishmael. — Isaac on the altar. — Mount Moriah. — Interesting circumstances. — Sarah's death and burial. — Second wife. — Abraham's will. — His death 1.36

XVII.

KEFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM.

His reputation among the nations. — Skilled in Celestial Science. — Ancient historians

regarding him. — The Mohammedan Koran. — A beautiful story. — A Persian

legend.— Abraham's faith — Abraham as an example. — His transgressions. — His

name honored by posterity 147

XVIII.

ISAAC TO HIS DEATH.

The birth of Jacob and Esau. — Heads of two nations. — Esau's birthright sold for a mess of pottage. — What is signified. — Isaac like his father denies his wife. — Isaac in the land of the Philistines. — His departure. — Esau's marriage and its consequences.— Esau loses the blessing. — His grief. — Jacob threatened with vengeance. — Flight of Jacob. — Character of Isaac 151

XIX.

JACOB TO THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER.

Jacob's journey. — His dream. — His vow. — Marries his two cousins. — Has twelve sons and one daughter. — Separation from Laban. — The stolen images. — Jacob wrestles with the Angel. — Fulfills his vow. — Benjamin born. — Eachel's death. — Her monument standing at the present time. — Jacob returns to his father. — Isaac's death and burial 157

XX.

JACOB AND HIS FAMILY UNTIL THE RECOGNITION IN EGYPT. Jacob's partiality for Joseph. — Envy of the brothers. — Their crime. — Character of the elder sons. — Joseph's romantic career. — Cause of the Egyptian famines. — Joseph's brethren go to Egypt to buy corn. — His treatment of them. — Demands Benjamin. — Grief of Jacob on parting with his youngest son. — Second journey into Egypt. — Pathetic scene in Joseph's palace. — The hidden cup. — Consternation of the brothers — Judah's eloquent appeal. — Joseph sobs aloud and reveals himself. . .166

XXI.

JACOB AND JOSEPH TILL THEIR DEATH.

Pharaoh invites Jacob to Egypt. — Jacob's joy. — Removal to Egypt.— Meeting of Joseph and his father. — Jacob blesses the King. — Joseph's government. — Jacob about to die. — His sons called about him to receive his blessing. — Christ's coming predicted.— Last words. — Death and burial. — Magnificence of this funeral unequaled. — Joseph's life a lesson for the young ■ \1*

XXII. P^^^'E- MOSES UNTIL HIS CALL TO GO INTO EGYPT.

Oppression of the Hebrews. — The cause. — Cruel command of the Egyptian King. — Mothers to drown ail the new-born male children. — Moses born. — A mother's devotion.— Moses providentially saved. — Born a slave. — A prince by adoption, — Becomes a fugitive shepherd. — The religion of the Egyptians. — The burning bush. — The message from God. — Aaron to be his helper 184

XXIII.

THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT.

Departure of Moses for Egypt. — The meeting of Moses and Aaron. — Their first acts. — Interview with the king. — Their request. — The king's reply. — The effect on the Hebrews. — Miracle of the rod. — The result. — Meet the king by the river. — The mystic rod laid over the water. — The miraculous result, — Success of the magicians.— The succession of the plagues = . . . ' 189

XXIV.

THE DELIVERANCE OF THE PEOPLE.

The death plague. — Borrowing of the Egyptians. — Rameses. — Route of Hebrews.— Their number. — Pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. — Duration of stay in Egypt. — Feast of tabernacles. — Its institution. — The pursuit by Pharaoh and his army.^ Terror of the Hebrews. — First murmur of discontent. — Passage of the Red Sea. — Was it a miracle 197

XXV.

FROM THE RED SEA TO SINAI.

The march to the desert. — Incidents by the way. — Famine threatened. — Sighing for the flesh-pots of Egypt. — Bread of heaven. — First mention of the Sabbath since the Creation. — A supply of quails. — Wonderful circumstance of the manna. — A '^t full preserved. — Moses smites the rock. — Remarkable result. — First battle. — Their enemies. — Where they came from. — First mention of Joshua. — Pious Jethro. — His advice. — Establishment of Courts of Justice. — Mount Sinai. . . . 205

XXVI.

ISRAEL AT MOUNT SINAI.

The seventy elder ; of Israel. — Who they were. — God becomes the civil head of the nation. — Getting ready to meet God. — Danger of the Mount. — The trumpet sounded. — What it was. — Wonderful sights -and sounds, — Majesty of God. — Delivery of the Law. — Sprinkling the blood of the covenant. — Solemn ceremony. — Seeing God. — The priesthood appointed, — Receiving the Ten Commandments. — The Golden Calf — What Moses did. — Building the Tabernacle. — Aaron's two sons killed. — Organizing an army 209

XXVII.

THE ISRAELITES AT KADESH.

Leaving Sinai. — Dissatisfaction. — A supply of meat provided. — Aaron's jealousy of Moses. — His Ethiopian wife. — The sister of Moses smitten with leprosy — Spies sent into Canaan. — Their report and its results. — Instant death of the spies.— The command to go back into the wilderness. — An insurrection. — Awful destruction of the insurgents. — Budding of Aaron's rod. — Its testimony 221

XXVIII. P^«E.

THE SOJOURN IN THE DESERT.

Wandering in the desert. — Their occupation. — Providence of God. — Their second encampment at Kadesh. — The sister of Moses dies. — Water again brought from the rock. — Moses angered. — Its results. — Death of Aaron. — Conquest of Canaan begun. — The, fiery serpents. — Entering the promised land. — The device of the Moabites and Midianites.^Balaam slain. — Joshua chosen leader. — Cities of refuge ' 227

XXIX.

MOSES' LAST WORDS AND HIS DEATH.

Prediction of the Messiah — The song of Moses. — Goes alone up the mount to die. — He sees the promised laud. — His age. — Important lessons from his life. — As a historian. — His faith. — Meditations on the life of Moses 234

XXX.

JOSHUA AND THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN.

Joshua called Jesus. — The book of Joshua. — Who wrote it. — Joshua sending spies into Canaan. — Fall of Jericho. — The tabernacle set up at Shiloh. — Value of the book of Joshua — Who were the Cauaanites. — Evidences of the conquest of Canaan other than the Bible. — Had the Israelites any right to the laud of Canaan. . . .241

XXXI.

THE RULE OF THE JUDGES.

Who wrote the Book of Judges. — Names of the judges. — Term of office. — Duties. — Idolatry of the Israelites. — Its consequence. — Six hundred Philistines killed with an ox-goad. — Deborah's song. — Gideon. — His son Abimelech the usurper. — Samson.— Treachery of his wife. — Capture of the ark. — Jephtha and his daughter. . 248

XXXII.

SAMUEL AND SAUL.

The ark in the hands of the Philistines. — A fearful curse to them. — Their dread of it. — Plan to dispose of it. — The result. — Samuel implored for a king. — Samuel anoints Saul. — The first king of the Israelites. — His reign. — A successor chosen. — The intercourse of Samuel and Saul broken 260

XXXIII.

SAMUEL, SAUL AND DAVID.

David anointed. — The effect of Samuel's desertion on Saul. — David and Goliah. —

Their combat. — Saul's jealousy of David. — David marries the daughter of Saul,

— Samuel dies. — Schools of the prophets. — Saul calls up the spirit of Samuel.

— Death of Saul. — Did Samuel appear to Saul. — Lessons taught in this chapter. 266

XXXTV.

DAVID CONCLUDED.

The Psalms partially written during Saul's persecution of David. — The news of Saul's death. — Its effect upon David. — David's eulogy on Saul. — David made king. — A son of Saul also claims the kingdom. — David's reward to the regicide. — Military career of David. — Hiram, king of Tyre. — Their friendship. — Tlie ark brought to Jerusalem. — The temple projected. — David's sin. — Solomon's birth. — Singular fact. — David's death 273

THE REIGN OF SOLOMON.

His age on ascending the throne. — His character. — Solomon's marriage to King Pharaoh's daughter. — The great event of Solomon's reign — The temple. — Its dedication.— Visit of Queen of Sheba. — Solomon's fall into sin — Evidence of his repentance. — His children. — Lessons taught by the life of Solomon 283

XXXVI.

KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL.

The division of the kingdom. — Judah and Benjamin loyal. — Idolatry of the ten tribes. — Invasion by the Egyptians. — Terrible slaughter. — Half a million slain. — Elijah the prophet. — Elisha his successor. — The remarkable letter from Elijah. — Death of Jezebel. — Jonah and Hosea the prophets. — Pul, king of Nineveh. — Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, carries the Israelites into captivity, — Origin of the Samaritans 288

XXXVII.

KINGS OF JUDAH TO THE CAPTIVITY.

Reign of Jotham. — Succeeded by his son Ahaz. — Idolatry of this reign. — This temple closed. — Hezekiah's reign. — One of the best of the kings of Judah. — His character.— The temple opened. — Revival of the passover. — The brazen serpent of Moses broken. — A wonderful phenomenon. — Josiah's government. — The book of the law found on repairing the temple. — Death of Josiah. — Eulogy of Jeremiah. — Jerusalem and the temple destroyed. . 299

XXXVIII.

BOOKS OF KINGS AND CHRONICLES.

History of the books. — Original plan and division. — Discrepancies to be found. — How harmonized. — Omissions and additions found and arranged. — Design of the books.

— Author or authors unknown. — Surmises. — Importance of the books as a matter

of reliable history 308

XXXIX.

THE BOOK OF JOB.

A remarkable character. — Real or imaginary. — The land of Uz.— Its location. — Time at which Job lived. — The author of the book of Job. — The plan of the work. — Truth of the narrative. — Actual sound of God's voice. — Religious belief of those days. — The question of Job's second family being by the mother of the first. . . 313

XL.

THE PSALMS.

What they are. — Their purpose and the authors. — Original and ancient division. — The peculiarity of Hebrew poetry. — The imprecations of tlie Psalms. — The glory of infidels. — The perplexity explained.— Inspiration of David. — Value of the Psalms to Christians 320

XLI.

THE PROVERBS.

Was Solomon the author of them all. — The three thousand proverbs. — King Lemuel.

— Location of his kingdom. — The design of the Proverbs. — Why they seldom

refer to the Sabbath. — Remarks regarding their style. — Their practical value and

adaptation to mankind 325

XLIT. ^'^OE.

ECCLESIASTES.

Why so called. — Ancient Hebrew name. — Its author. — The plan. — Considered a drama by some. — Other opinions. — The question of the piety of Solomon. — Evidences of his repentance and recovery. — The grand object of wise men at this period. — Valuable lessons to be derived from this book 329

XLIII.

SONG OF SOLOMON.

Is this an inspired book, and does it belong to the canon of the Old Testament? — Its estimation among the Jews. — How considered among early Christians.— A Hebrew love-song three thousand years old. — An allegory. — Evidences given. — Indelicacies. — This explained. — The general design of the book 338

XLIV.

PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF THE KINGS.

Nature of the prophetical office — The first prophet. — The succession till the time of the kings. — Elijah and Elisha. — The prophets of Baal slain. — Ascension of Elijah, — Miracles of Elisha. — No writings of either left 342

XLV.

PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF THE KINGS.

Jonah, Hosea and Amos. — Jonah and his work — First of the prophets sent to the heathen. — His call. — Attempts to evade it. — The result. — The great fish. — Speculation concerning it. — False or true. — Startling effect of his preaching in Nineveh.— God's veracity. — Jonah's gourd. — Hosea. — His predictions and peculiar style 349

XLVI.

PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF THE KINGS.

The prophet Joel. — Time of his writing. — His smooth and fluent style. — Amos. —

Originally a shepherd. — Condition of Israel at this time. — Division of the Book of

Joel. — Comparison with the other prophets. — His fearful denunciation of the

high priest 355

XLVII.

PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF THE KINGS.

Isaiah. — The most illustrious of the prophets. — Supposed to be of royal descent. —

Traditional account of his death. — Sawn asunder with a wooden saAV. — His

alleged crime. — The course of tlie sun stopped. — Evidences from other nations-

— His eloquence. — Frequent allusions to the coming of Christ 359

XLYIII.

PROPHETS IN THE TI3IE OF THE KINGS.

Micah. — Contemporary with Isaiah. — Also predicts the coming of Christ. — Nahum.

— Little known of him. — His style more impassioned tlian the rest. — Prophesies

the destruction of Nineveh.— Ruins of Nineveh lately explored. — Confirmatory

to Bible history 365

XLIX. PAGE.

PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF THE KINGS.

Jeremiah and Lamentations. — Who he was.— Contemporary with Daniel and Ezekiel. — Threatened with death. — Preservation of the prophecies. — Destruction of the book by order of the king — A new one made. — Persecution of Jeremiah. — Fall of Jerusalem. — Death in Egypt. — Book of Lamentations. — Their peculiarity 369

L.

PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF THE KINGS..

Zephaniah. — Time of his prophecy. — Character of his predictions. — Habakkuk. — The general description of this book. — Obadiah. — The shortest book in the Old Testament.— Subject of this prophecy 375

SECOND BOOK.

FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO THE COMING OF CHRIST.

COXVERSATION.

I.

THE JEWS UNDER THE BABYLONIANS.

Babylon.— Its location. — When and by whom founded. — Nineveh. — Division of Assyrian Empire. — Invasion and destruction of Nineveh. — Daniel in Babylon. — Secoud transportation of Jews to Babylon. — Desolation of the country. — Description of the walls of Babylon and objects of interest. — Cyrus. — The capture of Babylon 379

THE JEWS UNDER THE MEDO-PERSIANS.

Darius. — Daniel the prophet made a prince. — Death of Darius. — The proclamation of Cyrus.— Liberating the Jews. — Cyrus fore- ordained for this act. — The influence of Daniel in restoration. — Zerubbabel the leader. — A contribution of over three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. — An example of liberality. — Laying the foundation of the second temple. — Zoroaster the philosopher. — The Zend-Avesta. — Xerxes. — His immense array 387

IIL

THE JEWS UNDER THE MEDO-PERSIANS.

Artaxerxes supposed to have been the husband of Esther. — The decree of divorce. — Ezra and his commission. — The prediction of Daniel. — Ezra's government. — The great work of his life. — Introduction of the synagogue. — Nehemiah builds the walls of Jerusalem. — Origin of the Samaritan pentateuch. — Malachi the last of the prophets. — Socrates the philosopher. — Plato born 396

IV.

PROPHETS DURING THE CAPTIVITY.

Daniel.— His three companions. — Their education.— Enrolled among the king's servants.—Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream.— His elevation to posts of

PAGE.

honor. — The image of Nebuchadnezzar. — The king's second dream. — Daniel's visions, — The hand- writing on the wall. — Honored bj Darius.— -In tlie den of lions. — His death.— Book of Daniel doubted , 406

V.

PROPHETS DURING THE CAPTIVITY.

Ezekiel. — Contemporary with Jeremiah. — Called to the prophetic office. — Death of his wife. — Forbidden to mourn for her. — His character and reputation among the Jews. — His regard for Daniel. — His probable death in Chaldea at an old age. . .414

VI.

PROPHETS IN JUDEA AFTER THE RESTORATION.

Haggai. — "What is known concerning him.— Returns from captivity. — Zechariah.— Latter part of his book called in question. — His peculiarities. — Malachi.--Last of the prophets. — Date of his labors.— General character of this book of prophecy 418

VII.

SKETCH OF JEWISH HISTORY BETWEEN THE TWO TESTAMENTS. Dark period of the church's history. — Fall of the Persian empire. — Alexander the Great. — His treatment of the Jews. — His remarkable dream. — Its results. — The request of the Jews. — Alexander's death. — Origin of the Septuagint. — The famou* Alexandrian library. — The founder. — The revolt of the Maccabees. — Who they were. — The Roman sway commenced — Herod's shocking cruelty. — Origin of the Pharisees and Sadducees. — Their belief. — Coming of Christ. . . 426

THIRD BOOK.

FEOM THE COMING OF CHEIST TO THE END.

CONVERSATION.

I.

LIFE OF CHRIST.

Year of birth uncertain. — Singular tradition of the Jews. — The seven thousand years. — The wise men. — The star in the east. — What it was. — Jesus among the doctors. — John the Baptist. — Place where Christ was baptized. — First miracle. — The Sermon on the Mount. — John beheaded to please the daughter of Herod's wife 436

TI.

LIFE OF CHRIST CONTINUED.

Miracles of Jesus. — His journeys. — His approaching end. — His transfiguration. —

Paying tribute. — Seventy preachers sent out.— Raising the dead — Endeavors to

entrap the Savior. — The rich man and Lazarus. — Incidents in the ministry of

Jesus 446

III. FAtiiS.

LIFE OF CHRIST CONTINUED.

Contract to betray Christ. — The price less tlian twenty dollars. — An astounding revelation.— The garden of Gethsemane. — Crucifixion a Eoman mode of punishing criminals.— The message of Pilate's wife concerning Jesus. — The death on the cross. — Burial in Joseph's new tomb. — The resurrection. — Scenes after. — The ascension 457

lY.

THE NEW DISPENSATION.

The Old and the New. — The church under each. — Different dispensations. — Commencement of the new. — Who comprised the church at the time of Christ's death. — The Pentecost. — Changing the day of rest or Sabbath. — Reasons of the change. — The form of admitting new members into the church. — Acts of the Apostles 470

V.

THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

How it was formed. — Deacons appointed and their duties. — Vision of Stephen. — His cruel death. — Persecution of the Christians — Saul of Tarsus. — Scattering abroad. — Spread of the gospel. — Laying on of hands. — Saul's conversion. — Peter raises Lydia from the dead. — Peter in prison 477

YI.

Ln^S OF THE APOSTLES.

Peter. — Doctrines of the Roman church. — His labors. — His death and last request. — Andrew. — Brother to Peter. — His character and labors. — Origin of St. Andrew's —cross. — James the elder. — Brother of John. — First to suffer martyrdom — Roman traditions. — Philip. — First called by Christ. — Supposed field of labor and death. — Nathaniel. — Special friend of Peter. — What tradition says of him. — Matthew wealthy. — Author of one of the books of the New Testament. — Thomas. — His character. — Goes to Egypt and establishes a church in India 489

YII.

LI^TES OF THE APOSTLES CONTINUED.

Simon Zelotes. — His supposed mission. — Jude. — His labors and work among the Gentiles.— Matthias. — Taken in place of Judas. — James the Less. — Claimed to be a brother of Christ. — Objections to this. — John. — His labors and travels. — Traditions.—Interesting incident in his life. . , 497