Prophet Samuel came to anoint him king, and how the Son of David here made his appearance in our world; when all at once a delightful valley, covered with green fields, opened to our view. Its beauty was heightened by the barren rocky hills all around it. As we entered it and rode along, it was delightful to imagine how a multitude of the heavenly host, descended from above, and, hovering over this verdant spot, where the flocks were resting, sang, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.' Near one side of the plain is a field of olives, enclosed by a wall, with a subterranean church in the centre of it. This is pointed out as the very spot where the Shepherds were, when the angel announced to them our Saviour's birth. Our guide told us that the Greeks and Catholics had a long dispute about the possession of this place. The case was carried before the grand signor, and the Greeks, by dint of money, gained their cause. In this church the Christian Arabs now assemble for worship. Over this church, are the ruins of another church, and of a convent, which stood above ground. Under an olive tree near by, we sat down, and read Luke ii:-sang, 'While shepherds watched their flocks by night,' and Hymn 3d, book 1st, and then united in giving thanks to the God of heaven, for the glad tidings which were here announced, and which had come to our ears in a far distant land, and to the ears of our dear Christian friends, who were also at this time remembered by us. After this season of devotion we gathered some flowers in the field, and returned to Bethlehem. Many maps and geographies place Bethlehem south-east of Jerusalem. It is in fact west of south.

"In the evening in company with Mr. Wolff we celebrated the love of our Redeemer by receiving the holy Supper. The place, the time,* our employments

* According to the opinion of oriental Christians, this day was the anniversary of the sacramental ordinance.

and prospects, all conspired to increase the tenderness and solemnity of the occasion. We renewed our religious vows, confessed our sins, and implored forgiveness. We gave ourselves anew to each other in brotherly love, and dedicated ourselves anew to the missionary work.”

Mr. Fisk went, May 2nd, to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He describes it as an immense building. About thirty feet in front of the door lay the stone of unction, from which Christ went to the place of crucifixion. A hole in the marble floor marked the place, where it is said the cross stood. Through a small aperture in the floor was shown the fissure in the rock which was rent. He then went to the part of the building which contains the sepulchre. It is the opinion of Chateaubriand, that this was the identical spot, where the sepulchre was, in which our Lord was laid. And, "there seems little or no grounds to doubt," remarks Mr. Fisk, "that this is the place which Christians have venerated, ever since the time of Constantine. Its situation, together with the general tradition, favors the probability, that this is indeed the very place, where the Lord lay, and whence he rose triumphant over the grave."

He went again the next day to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was found to be crowded with a distracted mob, whose hideous clamor seemed very unsuitable for that sacred place. Around the sepulchre a company of youth were running in the most ridiculous and frantic manner, clapping their hands, shouting, singing, dancing, and scuffling. After these outrageous manœuvres had ceased, the priests and Turkish guards were preparing for the holy fire. An ecclesiastical procession from the altar passed three times round the sepulchre, bearing seven standards, on which were the pictures of Christ on the cross, the virgin Mary, &c. As the time appointed for the appearance of the fire approached,

the multitude became very noisy. Suddenly they were seen around the sepulchre, looking up, pointing with their hands, with out-cries and shoutings. The fire had appeared in a lamp, suspended from the dome of the church. "This part of the heavendaring imposition," continues Mr. Fisk, "was contrived with some skill, and it is not strange that the credulous, ignorant multitude should be led to believe, as they do, that the fire is miraculous." Soon the fire was brought out of the sepulchre, and the congregation rushed forward to light their candles, and in a moment the whole temple seemed in a blaze. Many again commenced shouting, jumping, and swinging their torches, putting their hands into the blaze, and passing it quickly across their faces. "We retired from the church," the journal proceeds, "wearied and disgusted with beholding such impious scenes. We felt as though Jerusalem were a place accursed of God, and given over to iniquity. The Jews hate the name of Christ, and if you mention it, they will almost gnash upon you with their teeth. The Turks exalt the name of their impious prophet above the name of Jesus, and are pre-eminent for hypocrisy, oppression, and falsehood. The Greeks and Armenians profane the temple of the Lord, and know very little of true Christianity. The Roman Catholics thunder out their excommunications against all, who distribute or receive the Scriptures. For these things we weep and exclaim, 'How long, O Lord, before thine arm shall be revealed for the salvation of this people? For these things wilt thou hold thy peace forever? "

TO REV. MR. TEMPLE, MALTA.

"Jerusalem, May 2, 1823.

"After the lapse of three years and a half since leaving America, I am permitted to live on the Mount where my Saviour died. It is a year to-day since we entered the Holy City. Mr. Wolff took a room

among the Jews, and Mr. King and I lodge in the Greek convent of the Archangel.

"I know not how to describe my feelings since I have heen here. I have experienced sudden alternations of fear and hope, despondency and confidence, timidity and courage. I cannot move my eye without seeing awful evidence, that the curse of God rests on Jerusalem. Turkish avarice and despotism, Jewish unbelief and hardness of heart, and the superstition and idolatry of nominal Christians-for these things I weep. The associations connected with these places affect me more deeply, than I had anticipated. My window opens toward the east, and shows me at once the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the mosque on Mount Moriah, where Solomon's temple stood, and Mount Olivet. I look at them again and again with new emotions of wonder, gratitude, and grief. O when will the Saviour be truly adored on the Mount where he suffered? May the Lord hasten the time."

The preceding pages show us the feelings of a Christian traveller, who visits Jerusalem and its venerable scenery. Nor is it strange that he should be affected even to tears, when he sees how the curse of the Almighty still rests upon that once lovely portion of his heritage. And could Christians in general but walk over that ground, rendered sacred by the ashes of prophets and apostles, and the blood of atonement, they would not grudge any sacrifices they might make to redeem it from the reign of error.

"Sabbath, May 4. The afternoon was interrupted by an exceedingly unpleasant affair. We went to witness the service of the Greek church, and after service, while we were conversing with the metropolitan, a man came to tell us, that a janizary had come to our rooms to carry us before the moolah, or Turkish judge. We returned to our rooms, and inquired of the janizary, what was the occasion of his

being sent. He told us it was in consequence of a complaint from a dervish in relation to some book. This dervish was Hadgi Mohammed, who came with us through the desert from Egypt. He was poor, and not well provided for the journey, and we gave him water, bread, coffee and tea, from time to time as he had need. He knew how to read and seemed intelligent, and we therefore often conversed with him, and gave him a copy of Genesis, which he read apparently with interest. One day in the desert he showed us a beautiful Persian manuscript. It contained a poem on Mecca, with representations of the temple. We offered to purchase it, and finally agreed with him for three dollars, gave the money and took the book. He continued with us till we arrived at Gaza. After that we saw no more of him, till we had been three days in Jerusalem, when we met him in the street, and saluted him as a friend. He, in return, saluted us as friends.

"After this he called several times at our rooms. We gave him coffee, according to the custom of the country, and read and conversed with him. One day we showed him a Persian Testament, and he sat on his heels, at least an hour and a half, reading in it. One day he wished to borrow the book, which he had sold us, in order to copy it. We had some fear that he wished to borrow, and not return again; and therefore invited him to come, and copy it in our room. This morning he called again, and said an effendi wished to see the book. We told him to invite the effendi to call on us and see it. He said, 'Very well,' and went away. We told the janizary how the case stood, and sent him to tell the judge, and to say likewise that if the dervish wished for the book, he must send the money, and we would give him the book. He soon returned, and said the judge had given him positive orders to bring us before him. Mr. Damiani, son of the English consul at Jaffa, was with us, and after consulting together, we conclud