from the comparison of the Saviour, in which they are represented as complaining of their fellows, because they would not perform their part of the play. "We have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented." Matt. xi. 16, 17.

5. We have mentioned the practice of embalm ing. This was sometimes done by the Jews, as appears from Gen. 1. 2, 26. "And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel" (Jacob), v. 2. "So Joseph died, and they embalmed him." v. 26. It appears also to have been the intention of Nicodemus, to have embalmed the body of the Saviour, as he had brought a preparation of "myrrh and aloes," and wound the body "in linen clothes with the spices." John xix. 38-40. And Mary, and the women with her, seem to have designed the same, when very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared." Luke xxiv. 1.

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6. To be deprived of burial was regarded by the Jews, and by the ancients generally, as a very great disgrace and calamity. Eccles. vi. 3. The Psalmist counts it among the evils to which the people had been subjected. "The dead bodies of

thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven; and there was none to bury them." Ps. lxxix. 2, 3. Hence it became a religious duty, as well as an act of humanity, to bury the dead; and those were uncommonly barbarous

wars, in which the vanquished were not allowed to bury their dead. 1 Sam. xxxi. 8–13; 2 Sam. xxi. 9-14. The Romans believed that the souls of the unburied were compelled to wander a hundred years along the banks of the river Styx, before they were permitted to cross it, and enter the abodes of the dead.

7. The Jews buried in graves, and tombs or sepulchres. These sepulchres were often of great extent, hewn out of the solid rock, and divided into several distinct apartments, which were frequently, as among the Egyptians, magnificently ornamented with painting and sculpture. This was especially the case with the tombs of persons of note, either in a civil or religious respect. To this, and to similar exterior elegance the Saviour probably alluded, when he said to the Pharisees : "Ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous." Matt. xxiii. 29.

8. The following is from Hasselquist, in relation to the tombs, or sepulchres, of the ancient kings of Syria, near Sidon: "They are cut out of a limestone mountain, and have their aperture level with the earth, which in most cases is so large, one may enter with ease. They consist of vaults or chambers, some fathoms square, worked out in the mountain, with oblong niches in the walls. A great part of them are now open, and serve as huts for shepherds." Rossellini says of the sepulchres of Thebes, "In many the pictures are perishing day by day, because, having been a

long time open, they serve for a retreat to the Arab families, which have no other cabin to cover themselves, and their miserable herds."

9. These extracts will, perhaps, throw light upon Isa. lxv. 4; "A people which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments." They also explain how the demoniac “had his dwelling among the tombs." Mark v. 2 – 5.

10. Any person who stepped upon a grave, or touched a tomb, was ceremonially unclean. And as those coming to the feasts from a distance, could not be expected to be familiar with every place where there was a solitary grave or sepulchre, there was a law which required, that they should be painted white, with chalk and water, or a similar preparation, on the 15th day of the 12th month, which made them perfectly visible, until the great festivals were over. To this practice Christ alludes, in his rebuke of the Pharisees: "Ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." Matt. xxiii. 27; Luke xi. 44. Let us learn from this language, to be clean within, as well as without, to be pure of heart, that we may have the approbation of Him, who knoweth the heart, and secure that peace which passeth knowledge.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER XIV.

14. What was first done on a person's death? What of the burial, and of embalming? How long time was occupied in embalming? How did the relations express their grief? What is said of tearing the face, &c.? How long did these lamentations continue? How long did they mourn for Jacob? For Aaron, and Moses? What is said of hiring mourners? Give the substance of the extract from Jowett, illustrative of this practice. What says Brown of this custom? What passage from Jeremiah is explained by this custom? What passage leads to the opinion, that music was employed on these occasions? What is said of children imitating these practices? Repeat the passage alluding to this.

5. 6. Did the Jews ever embalm? What examples of their being embalmed are mentioned? What is said of Nicodemus' intention, respecting the body of Christ? What other instance of like intention is given? What is said of the being deprived of burial? What says the Psalmist of this? Was it regarded as a duty to bury the dead? What of the wars in which this was not allowed? What superstition had the Romans respecting those who were not buried?

7-10. Describe the tombs or sepulchres. Whose tombs were more especially ornamented? How does the Saviour allude to this? Give the extract from Hasselquist in substance. What does Rossellini say of the Sepulchres of Thebes? What passages are illustrated by these facts? What is said of those who touched a grave or tomb? What was the law respecting this matter? In what language does Christ allude to this custom? What important lesson should we learn from this language of the Saviour to the Pharisees?

CHAPTER XV.

The Temple.

1. STRICTLY speaking, there were three temples; the one by Solomon, the one built under the direction of Zerubbabel, and that erected by Herod the Great; though the Jews, and perhaps the Scriptures, recognise but two, the temple by Herod being regarded as an enlargement or rebuilding of that by Zerubbabel, and so called the second temple.

2. The First Temple. This is properly Solomon's Temple, the foundation of which was laid by him A. M. 2992; B. c. 1012. The time occupied in building and completing this splendid structure, was something between 7 and 8 years, - that is, from the period at which its foundation was laid. Vast preparations for the building had been made before this, both by Solomon and David. It was, indeed, the suggestion and plan of David, who was not allowed of God to build it himself, but had the assurance that his successor should erect it. 1 Chron. xvii. 1-15. The immense wealth, which this monarch had made ready for the temple, may be partly collected from 1 Chron. xxviii., xxix. Having been thus furnished, Solomon began with the resolution to make the temple one of the most costly and magnificent buildings in the world.