who composed his lamentations on the destruction of Jerusalem. They consist of five chapters. In chapters 1 and 2, he laments the miseries of the siege. 3. His own particular afflictions. 4. He bewails the destruction of the city and temple the miseries of all ranks and denounces certain ruin upon the Edomites, for their cruelty. 5. He further laments the direful effects of the famine to which they were reduced by the siegeand prays for their deliverance.

The whole of the book is very pathetic; and seems as though every word had been wrung from a broken heart and written with a tear. In 2 Chron. xxxv. 25, we are told that Jeremiah wrote some lamentations on the death of Josiah but it appears they have been lost ; for it is evident these were written on the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans' army. The Evangelist, Matthew, xxvii. 9, ascribes to Jeremiah a prophecy found in Zecheriah xi. 12, 13. Jeremiah might have uttered that prediction, Matthew does not say he wrote it; and Zecheriah might have repeated it ; or, as Jeremiah formerly stood in the front of the proph etic writings, the Jews might have called the whole book by his name; as the books of Moses were called by their first word.

EZEKIEL.

EZEKIEL's name bespeaks his having strength of God; and it is evident, that as God gave him his commission, so he gave him strength to execute it. He wrote his prophecies at Babylon; and the history of the times in which he lived you will find in 2 Chron. xxxvi; and 2 Kings xxiv. and xxv. There is much in this book hard to be understood; the waters run, so deep that the tallest soon get out of their depth; however, we may swim in it, though we cannot ford through it, and may profit by it. His visions may be obscure, but his preaching is so plain that none need mistake it. The beginning and latter end of this book appear to be the most mysterious; and though, like the book of nature, it cannot be all understood, much may be gathered to strengthen our faith, and encourage our hope in God, whose ways and thoughts are not ours.

This prophet foretells the awful calamities that were nanging over Judea - predicts the ruin of those nations which had insulted the Jews in their afflictions - exhorts them to repentance- comforts them with promises of deliverance and foretells the future glory of the church under the figure of a new temple. He began his predictions in the fifth year of Jehoakim's captivity, and continued about 19 years. It is supposed, that he was put to death by the captives in Babylon, for faithfully reproving them; and that he was dragged along the stones till his brains were dashed out.

DANIEL.

THIS prophet was of the royal family of Judah, and was carried captive to Babylon with others; and it was under the captivity that he prophecied. God speaks of him as one of those who had the greatest interest in heaven. Ezek. xiv. 14. He lived a long and active life; and was in the courts and councils of some of the greatest monarchs that ever reigned; as Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and Darius. The six first chapters of his book are historical, and are plain and easy; but the last six are prophetical, and contain many things that are dark, and hard to be understood; but perhaps these prophecies are rendered obscure from the want of a more complete history of the Jewish nation from Daniel's time to the coming of Christ. He foretells the time when the Redeemer would make his appearance, more exactly than any other of the prophets. In chapter ix. 24, he states the time at "seventy weeks." A prophetical week is seven years reckoning a day for a year; and which makes Daniel's 70 weeks 490 years; and on this account the Messiah was generally expected at the time Christ made his appearance in the world. Daniel (whose name signifies judgment of God) is supposed to have died at Susan, in Persia.

HOSEA.

HOSEA, and the eleven following, are called "the lesser prophets," on account of their writings being less in bulk than the others; although it is probable they preached as much as the others. Hosea was the first of the writing

prophets; even before Isaiah; and it appears that both Isaiah and Ezekiel frequently borrowed from him. Thus, being taught of one Spirit, the one confirms what the other has spoken. Before you study the writings of this prophet, you would do well to carefully read the chapters here referred to: 2 Kings xv: 2 Chron. xxvi: xxvii : xxviii. He prophecied before the captivity for about 80 years, in the days of Jeroboam, Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz, kings of Judah. His prophecies chiefly relate to the ten tribes, who were then in prosperity; and whom he sharply charges with their murders, uncleanness, idolatries, oppression, and reliance on the Assyrians. And intermingles a variety of calls to a reformation of life; with a promise of God's blessing on their repentance. He is very brief in his manner; and to us, who are unacquainted with many of the ancient customs, appears obscure in his writing. The Jews reckon him to have prophecied nearly ninety years; and the scope of his discourses is to discover sin; and denounce the judgments of God against the obstinately impenitent. The name of HOSEA signifies saviour, or salvation.

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JOEL.

It is not easy to determine the time when JOEL prophecied; but, as he makes no mention of the ten tribes, it appears that he prophecied after their captivity; and, perhaps, in the reign of Hezekiah or Manasseh. In the first chapter, and former part of the second, he speaks of a fearful famine, occasioned by great drought, and destructive insects. 2. He exhorts to repentance-prescribes a fast - promises a blessing thereon assures them that their evils shall be removed on their repentance and humiliation and Zion comforted the Holy Spirit is promised to be poured out in the latter days. And this promise was fulfilled in the days of the Apostles: Acts ii. Chapter 3. He denounces God's judgments against the enemies of his people-foretells the conversion and restoration of the Jews- the ruin of their enemies and future glorious state of the church.

To understand Scripture, one part must be compared with another. See now, 2 Kings xv: and 2 Chron. xxvi. JOEL signifies he that wills, commands, or swears.

THIS prophet phrophecied in the days of Jeroboam, the second king of Israel. See chap, vii. ver. 10. AMOS was a country farmer; and his name signifies a burden. He appeared a little before Isaiah; and was contemporary with Hosea. He was a man faithful and bold in reproving sin; and shunned not to denounce the judgments of God upon it. In chapters 1 and 2, he threatens in a most awful manner those nations that were enemies to Israel and complains of their unthankfulness. 3 and 4. He calls Israel to an account for their oppression idolatry and incorrigibleness. 5. He calls them to repentance. 6. He warns them of the desolations that were coming upon them. 7. He speaks of some particular judgments, particularly on Amaziah. 8. A famine of the word is threatened. 9. He declares the certainty of the desolation, and concludes with a promise of the setting up of Messiah's kingdom the Jews' return from Babylon the conversion of Israel and Judah and their return to their own land.

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It is probable, Amos lived to see a great part of his predictions fulfilled.

OBADIAH.

THE time when Obadiah lived is not easily deter mined; but when we compare his predictions with those of Jeremiah, chap. xlix: Ezekiel xxv: and Psalm cxxxvii: it appears to be but a short time after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. His prophecy consists but of one chapter; wherein Edom is threatened for their spiteful conduct in rejoicing in, and helping forward, the destruction of the Jews: and concludes with a promise of the Redeemer's kingdom being set up. Scripture does not inform us who he was, when he lived, nor where he died. His name signifies servant of the LORD.

JONAH.

WHO this prophet was, is not certain; though we know he was the son of Amittai the prophet which was of Gath-hepher. See 2 Kings xiv. 25, and xv. He lived in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash, king of Israel The Lord commanded him to go to Nineveh and proclaim its ruin; and his comission appears to be the only,

commission found in his book; " Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown:" iii. 4. The rest of the book may be considered a relation of the preface to, and the consequences of that prediction.

From the whole we may learn, that God's commands must be obeyed, regardless of all consequences-the danger of disobedience that, though we may fly from duty, we cannot fly from God-the only method of escaping ruin, is to repent of our sins. It appears that in Nineveh there were 120,000 little children, beside much cattle: chap. iv. 11. Jonah's being cast into the sea and delivered from it, is a well known type of the burial and resurrection of Christ. See Matt. xii. 39–41: xvi. 4 Luke xi. 30, 32. JONAH signifies a dove; though he acted very unlike one.

MICAH.

THIS prophet prophecied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, a period of about 50 years. He assisted Isaiah; and somewhat resembles him in his style. Compare Isa. ii. 2, 3; with Micah iv. 1, 2. He faithfully reproves sinners of all ranks; both in church and state. And endeavors to comfort God's people with promises of deliverance. In chapter v. 2, we have a very plain prediction of Christ, which is quoted by the chief priests and scribes: Matt. ii. 5, 6. He predicted the ruin of the city and temple and reestablishment of the Jews. MICAH signifies poor, humble. Read 2 Kings xv. to xx. and 2 Chron, xxviii, to xxxii.

NAHUM

WE cannot ascertain at what time NAHUM lived and prophecied. But he is supposed to have lived in the reigns of Hezekiah and Manasseh. See 2 Kings xviii. to xxi: and 2 Chron. xxix. to xxxiii. He might have said many things relating to Israel and Judah, notwithstanding we have nothing in his writing of either; it is evident, JONAH said more than was written. 2 Kings xiv. 25. This prophet gives a lofty, but plain, description of God in his goodness to his people, and wrath against his enemies: describes the ruin of Nineveh and the - Assyrian empire. His name signifies comforter, penitent.