In resigning the closing number of our third volume into the hands of our Juvenile readers, we have only one word more to say-Dear young friends, let religion be regarded as the important business of your life; everything else is shadowy and transient. This alone is durable and eternal as your own immortal nature. If not already decided for God, let your decision be made now. Before the year 1852 shall close, let it witness you a child of God. If already you are the Lord's, be faithful, diligent, and persevering. Cultivate your minds by the acquisition of useful knowledge, and seek a deeper acquaintance with God. Make the Bible your chief study. Cherish the desire to be useful. Let not life pass away in partial indolence. Improve your time; let not a moment be lost. Life is too precious to be thrown away. Always be doing something good, either for yourselves, your fellow-creatures, or for God. Then, when death arrives, will your work be finished, and the cessation of a useful life will be an introduction to an existence of glory and blessedness without end. Adieu.

WILLIAM COOKE.

3, CRESCENT, ALBANY ROAD,

LONDON, 1852.

THE

JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR

AND

COMPANION.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATED.

FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY IN THE HISTORY OF BABYLON.

WHAT is prophecy? It is God's announcement of events before they take place. Prophecies are therefore divine in their origin: they come from the Spirit of God. They are distinguished from history. History merely records what has taken place in times past, but prophecy foretels what shall take place in time to come. Prophecy is distinguished from all conjecture and human sagacity. Wise men may guess that certain events are likely to take place, but prophecy foretels the certainty of many events which were by no means likely to occur; which, indeed, the most penetrating sagacity could never have conjectured. To give prophecy its full effect, it is necessary that the events should so remarkably coincide or agree with their predictions that any candid mind may perceive their correspondence. Now these are the characteristics of hundreds of prophecies contained in the Old and New Testaments, and hence they furnish a collection of facts presenting the most remarkable evidence of the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. They prove that prophecy came not of old by the will of man, but that men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; and that all Scripture being given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect and thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

As the first topic in our observations on the fulfilment of prophecy, we select Babylon. This city was founded soon after the Deluge, and was named Babylon from the tower which was erected therein called Babel, and so named as a memorial of the confusion of tongues; for babel is the Hebrew word for confusion. "Therefore is the name of it called Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth." (Gen. xi. 9.)

In the language of Scripture, Babylon is described as re

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markable for its greatness, its splendour and its wealth. It is called Babylon the great;""Babylon the lady of the kingdoms," the beauty of the Chaldee's excellency, the glory of kingdoms and the golden city." (Isa. xiii. 19; xiv. 4. Dan. ii. 37.)

Profane historians inform us that Babylon was laid out as an exact square, extending fifteen miles each way, and thus making sixty miles in compass. It was surrounded by walls, the highest of which was 300 feet high and eighty-seven feet in thickness, and wide enough at the top for six chariots to run abreast of each other. The walls were defended by 250 towers. The city was entered by 100 gates of solid brass, HT WI YOUTON TO TEEMANJ

10

WALLS OF BABYLON.

being twenty-five on each side of the walls. These gates led into so many streets, which, running in straight lines through the whole city, from one side to the opposite side of the walls, and crossing each other at right angles, divided the city into so many squares. The river Euphrates ran through the city, and its banks were spanned by noble bridges and adorned by public buildings. In the city were two palaces of amazing splendour, one two miles and the other seven miles in compass. In the centre of the city stood the Temple of Belus, two miles in circumference, and containing riches incredible, in which Nebuchadnezzar had put the vessels of gold and

silver which he had plundered from the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The hanging-gardens consisted of large terraces one above another, supported by arches, on which trees and shrubs and various plants were made to grow in a remarkable manner. There were five of these gardens, each containing about four English acres, and laid out in the form of an amphitheatre. Some estimate of the vast wealth of Babylon may be formed from the great image which the king set up for worship in the plains of Dura. The height of this image was at least 100 feet, its breadth ten feet, and formed of gold. Such was Babylon in the time of Daniel. It had stood for 1,600 years, rising in magnificence and amassing wealth from the spoils of surrounding nations. The treasures of Jerusalem, Egypt, Nineveh, Arabia, &c., had contributed to its wealth.

Now what probability was there that this vast city should soon be destroyed? At the time the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah lived, Babylon was in the pride of its power and grandeur. Surrounding nations trembled at its nod, succumbed to its imperial dictum, and followed as captives behind its triumphal car. Yet this proud city, which seemed impregnable to her foes, and endued with strength which bade defiance to the wastes of time, was destined soon to perish in the breath of Jehovah's wrath for her sins, and the vast empire she had formed was to be scattered to the winds.

Let us hear the word of the Lord. "And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldee's excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Isaiah xiii. 19.) Here is a general prediction of the complete and final destruction of that famous city-a prediction which many ages since has been accomplished; and at present, the vast and wide-spread ruins which cover its site attest the truth of the ancient prophecy. The overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, by fire and brimstone, was not more complete and universal than that of Babylon.

But besides this general prediction of its overthrow, there were several particulars with regard to time, persons, and events which have had a striking coincidence with prophecy.

1. The time of Babylon being taken was exactly foretold. This event was to take place within the short period of seventy years. God said, by the prophet Jeremiah (xxv. 11, 12), "These nations," that is the Jews and the neighbouring nations, "shall serve the King of Babylon seventy years; and it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the King of Babylon, saith the Lord." Now this prophecy was delivered, as appears from the first verse of the chapter, "in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah the King of Judah, that was the first year of