palace, there is not a decent house in the place. The Turks have destroyed all remnants of the ancient church; and even the place where it stood is now unknown. The town, in 1820, contained 1,000 houses, paying taxes to government, besides 200 or 300 small huts. There were nine mosques, one Greek church, and one Armenian church; four or five Greek priests, and one Armenian.

PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia lies in the plain of the river Hermus, about twenty-seven miles south-east of Sardis, and on the great caravan-road to Persia. Situated on the ascent of the Tmolus, embosomed in trees, interspersed with minarets, and overhung with the mountain, it presents an imposing appearance. The interior of the town, however, is mean, with but few remains of antiquity, and its walls are in ruins. Its present name is Allah Shehr, "the city of God,"-" which," observes Mr. Hartley, "viewed in connexion with the promise made to that church, and especially with that of the writing of the name of the city of God upon its faithful members, is, to say the least, a singular concurrence."

At

"This Lydian city was founded or enlarged by Attalus Philadelphus, from whom it derived its name. the period of the Apocalyptic address, it had been greatly reduced, both in size and population, by frequent earthquakes. The character given of the church is highly interesting.

In

For comfort under trial, a rich promise is made to the Philadelphian church. She should be kept in the hour of tribulation which was coming on the Roman world, and her enemies should come to honour her, and acknowledge her the beloved of God. what manner she was preserved in the season of persecution, which shortly followed, we are not informed; but the general history of the city seems to show, that the blessing of the Lord has, in a peculiar manner, rested upon it. Its resistance to the arms of the Turks

in the fourteenth century manifested the value the inhabitants set upon their religious privileges. ‘Philadelphia alone,' says Gibbon, has been saved by prophecy or courage. At a distance from the sea, forgotten by the emperors, encompassed on all sides by the Turks, her valiant citizens defended her religion and freedom above fourscore years, and at length capitulated with the proudest of the Ottomans. Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect—a column in a scene of ruins.”*

LAODICEA. This city lay on the river Lycus, in Phrygia. Its original name was Diospolis; it was afterwards called Rhoas; but Antiochus II., king of Syria, having rebuilt, or enlarged and beautified it, called it Laodicea, after his wife Laodice. Strabo speaks of it as being a great and important city in his time and the age preceding.+ About the commencement and early part of the Christian era, it was one of the largest towns in Phrygia, and vied in power with the maritime cities. It is at present in ruins, but still exhibits marks of having been the seat of the greatest luxury and magnificence.

"Laodicea," observes Dr. Chandler, " was often damaged by earthquakes, and restored by its own opulence, or by the munificence of the Roman emperors. These resources failed, and the city, it is probable, became early a scene of ruins. About the year 1097, it was possessed by the Turks, and submitted to Ducas, general of the emperor Alexis. In 1120, the Turks sacked some of the cities of Phrygia by the Meander, but were defeated by the emperor John Comnenus, who took Laodicea, and built anew or repaired the walls. About 1161, it was again unfortified. Many of the inhabitants were then killed, with their bishop, or carried with their cattle into captivity by the Turks.

In 1190, the German emperor, Frederick Barbarosa, going by Laodicea with his army towards Syria on a crusade, was received so kindly, that he prayed on his knees for the prosperity of the people. About 1196, this region, with Caria, was dreadfully ravaged by the Turks. The Sultan, on the invasion of the Tartars in 1255, gave Laodicea to the Romans; but they were unable to defend it, and it soon returned to the Turks. We saw no traces of houses, churches, or mosques. All was silence and solitude. Several strings of camels passed eastward over the hills; but a fox, which we first discovered by his ears peeping over a brow, was the only inhabitant of Laodicea."

Thus have we traversed the numerous countries which it was our intention to traverse.-In closing our lectures, we must express the high gratification which our numerous peregrinations have afforded us. Not only have we thereby felt a deeper interest in Scripture narratives, but we have obtained a greater insight into the sense, and received a more lively impression of the truth, of Scripture; and, in conclusion, we repeat a sentiment we uttered at the commencement of our course, that to derive all the benefit from the sacred volume, which it is calculated and intended to impart, we must make ourselves familiar with the places in which it was written, or to which it refers.

THE END.