bear in mind, that the Gospel was first preached to the Jews, in Judea; and that the Evangelists and Apostles, with the exception perhaps of St. Luke, were all of the Hebrew nation. Much of the peculiar beauty of the inspired writings cannot be perceived, unless the history, condition, and character of the Jews have become objects of your attention, not only during the period of the Mosaic dispensation, as recorded in the Old Testament, but at the time of our Lord's appearance. It is also important to understand the frequent allusions in the New Testament to their opinions, habits, manners, and ceremonies. A view of the darkness and depravity which prevailed in the world, both among Jews and Gentiles, at the period when our Saviour appeared upon earth, will enable you to appreciate more justly the Divine excellence of the christian dispensation. I shall be highly gratified, if the historical sketches, I propose to give you, in a series of Letters, to illustrate the Evangelists, induce you to apply with renewed ardour to the study of the New Testament.

LETTER II.

State of the World at the Time of our Saviour's

Appearance.

MY DEAR NIECES,

I will now fulfil the promise in my preceding letter, and give you a brief account of the ignorance and depravity which overspread the earth, until the Sun of righteousness arose, and opened new and celestial prospects to the benighted world.

When the Son of God was born in Judea, the greatest part of the habitable earth was subjected to the Romans; and their vast dominions were styled, all the world, as in Luke ii. 1. The sceptre of universal power was then swayed by Augustus Cæsar, who, after he had conquered his enemies, gave peace to the nations. This event took place in the year in which our Saviour was born. The Roman empire was then in the zenith of its prosperity and splendor; and the benign in

fluence of letters and philosophy were diffused over countries, which before had been enveloped in darkness and ignorance.

Yet though science and literature flourished. in the Augustian age, mankind were still sunk in gross ignorance, both of religion and morals. St Paul declares that, "The world by wisdom knew not God." The Apostle appears to allude to those Grecian philosophers, who were numerous in Athens; and who, under the name of Sophists, that is, professors of wisdom, undertook to teach every science. They valued themselves on their ability to defend either side of any question, political or moral; and it was often their glory to make the worse appear the better reason.

All the nations of the earth were devoted to polytheism and superstition. A general belief prevailed, that all things were subordinate to powerful beings, who were called gods, and whom it was thought incumbent upon all who wished for prosperity, to worship and to conciliate. Among the Greeks and Romans, one of these gods, Jupiter, was supposed to excel the others in dignity, and to possess a super

eminent authority, and perhaps, in some degree, to direct and govern the tasks and offices of inferior deities.

Every nation, however, had its own peculiar gods, differing from those of other countries, in their names, natures, and attributes, and in many other respects. But in process of time, the Greeks and Romans became as ambitious in their religious, as in their political claims; and maintained that their gods, though under different appellations, were the objects of religicus worship to all nations. Therefore they gave the names of their deities to those of other countries.

The principal objects of adoration, in most nations, were deified human beings; either heroes, or kings, or the founders of empires, or others who had obtained celebrity by remarkable actions, or useful inventions. These illustrious persons were remembered by their posterity, with fear, gratitude, and reverence, which caused them to be exalted to the rank of gods.

Together with these, the sun, moon, and stars, were worshipped by various nations,

and this appears to have been a very ancient form of idolatry. But in time, the objects of worship were multiplied. The mountains and rivers, the earth and sea, even the diseases of the body, the virtues and vices, (or, rather, the tutelar genii, who were regarded as presiding over these things,) were made the objects of adoration. In Egypt, divine honors were paid to animals, and even to noxious and venomous reptiles.

The most magnificent temples were raised, and dedicated, by the inhabitants of almost every country, to their gods. The statues, and other representations of their deities, were placed in these superb edifices; and it was supposed, that the god for whom they designed the statue, was really present in it, if the dedication was properly made. The temples were furnished with altars, and other requisites for sacrifice.

The care of the temples, and the direction of all religious ordinances, were committed to an order of men, called priests, who were distributed into various classes. They were supposed to possess a high degree of sanctity,