according to the promise made to Phineas, Num. xxv. 13.

As the Scripture seems no where to intend giving an exact list of the succession to the High Priesthood—that in 1 Chron. vi. 8—which is the fullest, being confined to the lineal descendants of Aaron, and some of whom did not fill the office-it is

impossible that a correct one can be formed, for even the Jewish writers do not agree herein. (See 1 Prid. Con. An. B. C. 655.) With respect to the principal list,-1 Chron. vi. -it may be remarked, that none of the family of Ithamar are included, probably because the regular priesthood was promised to the seed of Phineas,-Num. xxv. 13.

God's care of his Church seems exemplified by the extraordinary length of time that the High Priests, during this period, continued in their office. The whole 24 in the above Table continued throughout a period of 845 years—which, if two names be abstracted, that occupied the situation only one year each, will give an average of no less than 38 yearsa most extraordinary preservation through a succession of 22 lives!

It will be seen by the subsequent Table, (p. 41) that as the Jewish Church declined, a great alteration took place in this respect also-Josephus says, that the number of High Priests from Aaron to Phanas, made " during the war by the sedi "tious," was 83; of whom 13 were till the building of Solomon's Temple, being 612 years; and 18 till the Captivity, being 466 years; then 15 till the reign of Antiochus Eupator; then from the days of Herod, until the burning of the Temple by Titus, 28 in 107 years; but this gives an average of near 20 years to each, even while the period of the shortest durations is included.

Though the Assyrian and Babylonish captivities took place at different periods, above a century distant, yet they terminated together, as to both Israel and Judah, in the reign of Cyrus, the King of Persia. This monarch had conquered the Assyrians, and Babylonians, and was foretold by name, 200 years before his birth, as one under whom Jerusalem and the Temple should be rebuilt, and the nation restored, - Is. xliv. 28-xlv. 1-4.-By virtue of his decree, the people, to the number of 49,697 persons, consisting of some of all the tribes, though principally of Judah, and Benjamin, and Levi, returned to their own land, B. C. 536-under the command of Zerub

babel, the grandson of Jehoiakim, their last king, and Jeshua the High Priest: taking back with them the vessels of gold and silver belonging to the service of the Temple, amounting in number to 5400.-Ezra, i. 11.

The foundations of the new Temple were laid with much solemnity, and it was nearly 20 years in building; but many of the "Priests and Levites, and chiefs of the fathers, who "were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the "foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with

a loud voice," at its inferiority,-Ezra, iii. 12.—This consisted not only in the building, but in the circumstances that characterised it-the vessels were brass, instead of gold; and five things were wanting to it,—the Ark of God, the Oracle of Urim and Thummim-the sacred fire, which descended from Heaven, and consumed the burnt offerings at the opening both of the Tabernacle,-Lev. ix. 24—and the Temple of Solomon,-2 Chron. vii. 1--andwhich never took place in the second Temple,-the Schechinah, or glorious presence of God, appearing "between the cherubims"-and the spirit of prophecy. The glory, however, of this latter house, was greater than the first; as was predicted by the prophet Haggai, ii. 9, -inasmuch as it witnessed our Lord's personal appearance, and preaching.

For some time after the captivity, Judea was little more than a Persian province, and continued subject to that power above 200 years, but the public worship was maintained with great zeal, under Ezra, a descendant, if not a son, of Seraiah, the last High Priest; who collected the sacred writings into one body; and Nehemiah, his successor and at this period the government was again sacerdotal, rather than regal.

On the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great, it fell under his influence, though not subdued by him: God miraculously interposing by a dream, as related by Josephus, in which Jaddua the High Priest appeared to the Conqueror, whilst engaged in the siege of Tyre, and encouraged him to proceed in his attack of Persia, assuring him God was with

him. On which, when the monarch perceived the same person coming out to meet him, and to intercede for Jerusalem, he not only spared the city, but granted them an exemption. from tribute every seventh year-the sabbatical year-when they were less capable of bearing this burden.

After the death of Alexander, Judea became subject to either the Egyptian, or Syrian kings, his successors, as the power of each prevailed—at length, in the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the eighth of the Syrian kings, B. C. 175— it fell into a most miserable state of servitude. This was a monster of profanity, lust, and cruelty-he took Jerusalem by storm-put 40,000 of the inhabitants to death, and sold as many more for slaves-he polluted the Holy of Holies, sacrificed a sow on the altar of burnt offerings, and sprinkled the whole Temple with a liquor made of its flesh; and after having plundered it of the sacred vessels and utensils, valued at 1800 talents of gold, appointed a governor as wicked as himself; and confirmed a sacrilegious High Priest, his creature, in his office.

Not satisfied with this, he issued a decree, that every one under his dominion, should conform to his religion; but this was resisted by Mattathias, a Priest of Modin, who, zealous for God's service, fell upon the king's messenger, and slew him; and then retired with his five sons, into the mountains. Soon finding themselves at the head of a considerable army of their countrymen, they attacked their enemies-destroyed their altars, and purging the land of idolatry, restored the true worship.

Mattathias was succeeded by his son, Judas Maccabæus, so called from the initial Hebrew letters of his standard, signifying "Lord, who is like unto thee among the mighty!"—similar to the S. P. Q. R. of the Romans.-He refurnished the Temple from his spoils, taken in the war-and renewed the public service and under him, and his successors, of the same family, a feverish state of liberty was enjoyed for near 100 years; during which the regal dignity was assumed. After this, their civil dissensions afforded the Romans an opportunity of inter

fering, when Pompey, laying siege to Jerusalem, captured it, and put 12,000 of its inhabitants to the sword.-The conqueror profaned the Temple, by entering into the “ Holy of "Holies," but spared its treasures; which were afterwards carried off by the avaricious Crassus, to the amount of £2,000,000. sterling.

Judea then became little better than a province of the Roman empire; and Herod, a stranger, an Idumæan, but who married a descendant of the family of the Maccabees, retained a dependant sovereignty above thirty years. He repaired, or rebuilt the Temple with great magnificence, it occupying the labour of forty-six years,-Jo. ii. 20-but he also erected a Temple which he dedicated to Cæsar, and instituted the Heathen worship. Archelaus, his son and successor, having offended the Romans, was dethroned by them; and the country was afterwards ruled by a Roman governor, who disposed of the Priesthood at his pleasure; and under one of these, Pontius Pilate, our Lord was crucified.