se aE _ The person charging this material is re- _ sponsible for its return to the library from ~ which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN L161—0O-1096 The Prince of the House of David; or, ‘Three Years in the Holy City BY The Rev. Prof. J. H. Ingraham * Revised and Corrected by the Author om NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Wit Ae ine ARNG A ipeneva veces ; 1 y fof ~ PREFACE. Tue Letters comprising the present volume were written for the purpose of presenting, per- haps, in a new aspect, and from a new point of view, the advent of the Son of Mary, Christ the Lord, among the people of Judea. It was the editor’s hope, in writing them, to tempt the daughters of Israel to read what he wrote, and receive and be convinced by the arguments and proofs of the divinity of Christ as here presented. For the Israelite as well as the Gentile believer this volume appears; and if it may be the means of convincing one son or daughter of Abraham to accept Jesus as Messias, or convince the infidel Gentile that He is the very Son of the God and Creator of the world, he will have received his re- ward for the midnight hours, stolen from parochial labors, which he has devoted to this work. All the scenes of the life of Jesus during the last four years of his stay on earth, as recorded in the Gospel, are here narrated as if by an eye- witness of them. Adina, the writer, a Jewess, is assumed to lv PREFACE. have been a resident of Jerusalem during the last four years of our Saviour’s life; and to have written to Alexandria, to her father, numerous letters, describing all events of interest, and especially giving a minute narrative of the won- derful events of the life of Christ, whom she daily saw. With sacred awe and deep reverence, as con- scious of treading on ‘‘holy ground,” the writer has unfolded, with the four Gospels as his guide, the successive incidents of their marvelous His- tory, such as no four years, before or since, have paralleled. Jesus was man, as well as God! In this book He is seen, conversed with, eaten with, as aman! Some of the scenes present Him (as evidently He did pass them) in the hours of domestic inter- course and friendly companionship. There can be no charge of irreverence where none is intended, and where the writer has trod ‘“‘with his shoes off his feet,’’ and with the most zautious steps. The subject is one of infinite delicacy, and the writer believes and trusts that while he has sought to present (in order to attain the end he seeks), the man Christ Jesus, he has not forgot- ten the ‘‘Godhead veiled in the flesh. ”’ J. Howe TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE PIN EELOPEDELCURCPING Gos bie ele's sis. ole 0 6t 0 0a'd sna Sete e Panties cde toeweanes xii LETTER I. Account of the journey from Alexandria to Jerusalem—Gaza— Joseph’s Well—The Dead Sea—Jordan—Emotions on behold- ing the Holy City—Rabbi Amos—Desecration of the Temple— Sacrifices for sin—A Prophet of God preaching near Jordan.. LETTER II. Rabbi Ben Israel’s return—Happiness with Rabbi Amos—Rebecca —Mary—View from the Residence—Scene from the Housetop at morning—The Sacrifice and Temple-worship at sunrise— Evening Sacrifice and Worship—Idol-worship at the Koman castle near the Temple—Prophecies fulfilled—Under a cloud— The Messenger foretold by Malachi—Elijah the Prophet— Rabbi Amos acknowledges the corruption of the Priests— Decay of Reverence—A young man, who has heard the new Prophet, near Jericho..........0000. ila dbldeletadisle ceive uviathciside sia LETTER III. Presentation of the First Fruits—Tower of Antonia—Insult from a Roman Soldier—Protection afforded by a youthful Roman Centurion—Pageant of the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate— The new Prophet, as described by John, the Cousin of Mary— He hve a full account of his journey to the Jordan—Arrival at Jeri Decececeeceseseseeedecssednecscccnenceseucevesbetesecves LETTER IV. Death of Rabbi Israel—Extract from her Father’s letter concern- ing the new Prophet—Continuation of John’s account of his visit to Jordan, to see the new Prophet—The Twelve Stones of the Jordan—Description of the Prophet—His Sermon—“‘Art thou not Elias ?”°—‘ Messiah ?”—Generation of Vipers—Woe to the Priests—‘‘ The Lord our Righteousness’’—One Thou- sand baptized—Joseph of Arimathea—A second Sermon at EVENING. ..ccscscerveveees ereeer eer eeeeee eeceeerereeseeseeeeeereeeeeee LETTER V. Baptism of Two Hundred more—Blessing in the Name of the Lamb of God—Joseph of Arimathea—Conversation with the Prophet—He sings the Evening Hymn of the Temple—Hymn 19 30 vi CONTENTS. / PAGE of Praise—Conversation with the Prophet concerning Messiah —His Death—His Kingdom not of this World—The Prophet retires to the Desert—Appearance of Lazarus—His explana- tions of the Prophecies—Taught by his Friend—Description of this Friend—Jesus, the Nazarene—Conflict of mind—Study- ing the Prophets........... rintw ced temas AA PISA ANSE Si. Yonge LETTER VI. Ben Israel—Answer to her Father’s Letter against this ‘* novelty * —Extract from his Letter—Reply—Indignation against the Prophet among the Priests and Levites—-Messengers are sent to invite him to Jerusalem—His Answer—He is accused of Sedition—The Messengers declare their Conversion and Bap- tism—They are arrested—Conversations and Discussions at the House of Rabbi Amos—Stephen—The Prophet performs no Miracles—Rabbi Amos going to Gilgal—Adina and Mary going with him—They expect to see the Prophet—The Roman Centurion reading the Scriptures—He would like to hear the Prophet—Barabbas, the Robber—The Escort—John gone to look after his ships in Galilee..... Naki Nia'a'yin dWain'S wd bre one Slate LETTER VII. The Messiah has come!—Account of the visit to Jordan—Adina, Mary and John go with Rabbi Amos—Escorted by the Roman Centurion—Barabbas—Two Gibeonite Servants—Glimpse of Caiaphas—Turtle Doves and young Pigeons—Blind Bartimeus and his Lamb—The Sheep Gate—-A.milius—Roman Soldiers— Bethesda—The Moving of the Waters—Absalom’s’ Pillar— Joined ‘by the Escorti ce ec.cvah ven dials yes naepees MARAT es LETTER VIII. Continuation of the Account—Edomite Robbers—View from Bethany—Conversation with the Centurion—Hope of his Con- version—Repose at the house of Rabbi Abel—Attractions of the Family—Lazarus, Martha, Mary—Embroidery for the Temple—Copies of the Law and the Psalms—Present for the wife of Pilate—‘‘I. N.’’—Jesus of Nazareth—Lazarus accom- panies them—Gamaliel—Saul—Arrival at Jericho—Gilgal— Barabbas—Going to Bethabara.......ssccseccevsccessecceecsce Of LETTER IX. The way to Bethabara—Matthew, the Publican—Judas Iscariot— The Tower of Elijah—Vast Multitude—Description of the Prophet—His Sermon—" Behold the Lamb of God !”—The Baptism of Christ—The Dove—The Voice from Heaven— Jesus disappears.....cssesseseeee By atodsly tues abd Uies clopeteehs ae a naan LETTER X. Adina believes in the Christ—The voice of the Dove—John and Lazarus follow Jesus—The excited Multitude disperse—Rabbi CONTENTS. vi PAGE Amos converses with the Prophet—John and Lazarus over- take Jesus in the Wilderness—He sends them back from fol- PWR RITE VSLOL Ys 5 coo 0 cle cisis eu eivivin Ch abietoicee dee easione bse 115 LETTER XI. Return to Gilgal—John Lazarus, Gamaliel, Saul and others—Dis- cussion on the Prophecies concerning the Messiah—‘‘ Visage marred ’’—‘‘No form nor comeliness ’’—Sorcery at the Bap- tism of Jesus—‘t Thou art my Son ’’—Born in Bethlehem—Of the seed of David—Miracles?—Difference of Opinion—Return to Jericho—The Beautiful Mary of Magdala—Waiting for CSUS. rv recverevesecceser tress severe sssesesseees eveveees eeeccees LETTER XII. Adina’s Father refuses to believe—Meeting of all the Prophecies —Nothing seen of Jesus for five weeks—John tells them of his finding Jesus in the Desert—He is worn down by fasting and sorrow—Jesus returns—John follows Him as His disci- ple—Hymn of Praise—Pilate’s Message to Caiaphas—The an- swer—Development of Power............ aS ee ots elbie'cip\e sees LETTER XIII. “A Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief**—A Miracle— The Carpenter’s tools--Andrew, Simon, Philip, Nathaniel, James and John—The Mother of Jesus—Cana—Elizabeth— The Water turned into Wine--Thirty Priests studying th PROPOR Cea os Wiev ed eras pars Rivina adem oe SPE TP Ore ue ae dele aisle bes © LETTER XIV. Fame of Jesus increases—He is attended by thousands—Cures and Miracles—The Lame Man restored—John’s account of His Miracles—He Casts out Devils—They confess Him—Visit of the Magi—The Murder of the Innocents—Escape of Jesus— Summary of evidence proving that Jesus is the Christ........ LETTER XV. Imprisonment and Death of John the Baptist—Jesus is told of it —The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes—Envoy of the Priests—Miracles by the aid of Beelzebub—John the Bap- tist was Elias—Six other Disciples chosen—Jesus no ambi- tious leader—Refuses to be made a King.............- ales slolaee LETTER XVI. Uproar among the People—Rabbi Amos professes himself a be- liever—Messiah a Man, not an Angel—Is He not also God ?— Nicodemus—Jesus fatigued—His power not for His own relief —Benjamin, the lost Brother, returns—He had been healed by Jesus, after being a lunatic seven years—How the cure was wrougbt—Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem...... 124 134 144 155 165 1% viii CONTENTS. LETTER XVII. PAGE Tumult at the entry of Jesus on the niorning of the Passover— Shouting—Jesus purges the Temple of the Money-changers— The Scourge of Small Cords—He is questioned by the High- Priest—He is rejected—Another Miracle............eeeeeees ae LETTER XVIII. Recovery of Adina’s Father from sickness—She combats his ob- jections—“Out of Egypt have I called my Son —* Galilee of the Gentiles’’—Jesus comes to the house, with a great Multitude—Amilius, the Centurion—Description of Jesus— He is charged with sedition—Amilius refuses—Jesus enters the house of Rabbi Amos—Adina greets Him—A wound upon His temples—HElias asks for a Miracle—A man with the palsy let down in a blanket—He is healed........... Shih dsleat vice oD i LETTER XIX. Divisions on account of Jesus—Nicodemus visits Him by night— The new Birth of Water and the Spirit—Throne on Calvary— Jesus forgives Sins, with a Miracle of Healing—Jesus departs for Galilee—He declines the Roman escort—Four Lepers AOE a aa is converted—Other proofs in behalf of esus.. weeeeeeeeeeee eeereevee eevee eeoeeeeeeeeteoe *#eeeeoeve veeeeeoeeeeeesn LETTER XX. Adina’s illness—Sojourn in Nain—Two Disciples of Jesus arrive at the house—They announce the coming of Jesus--They are driven from the town—Ruth—A letter for Sarah from Samuel —He has been wrecked, and kindly received at the house of Adina’s father, in Alexandria—Samuel arrives—He is seized with a malignant fever—Dies—Preparations for Burial—A Letter from’ Gadarary. ei. ccuich sls ceeu vue peeks soidsitled aces ile eaemtels LETTER XXI. Grief of Ruth—Great procession accompanying the Dead—The Dead is raised to life by Jesus—Mary relates the account of it—Samuel’s remembrance of his state during Death—Jesus abides in the house—Two Weddings at hand......... sieialalelelaniie LETTER XXII. Morning at Jerusalem—Aimilius becomes a Proselyte—Account of the ceremony of his reception as such in the Temple—Jesus appears in the Temple—His Sermon—His Assassination at- tempted, and foiled—He is saluted as King—Tumult—Pilate makes obeisance to Him—He disappears—The Tribute-money —Amilius needs one step more........... aTheaae By fy 187 199 211 CONTENTS. LETTER XXIII. P Adina’s Father about to visit Jerusalem—Enumeration of the * miracles of Jesus—He forgives sins—Eli’s withered arm re- stored—His confession of his sin—Miracle of the Loaves— Jesus is to be at Jerusalem at the Passover—Lazarus is taken sic aeeeeeeecen @eoeeteveeseosess oooeeeeeeseseasesen eersereeoseeovere LETTER XXIV. Adina and Mary go to Lazarus—Cause of his sickness—His vir- tues—Lazarus failing—Beauty of Ruth—Her delivery from the hands of Annas in the Temple—Mary writes to Jesus, then 1x AGE 257 at Bethabara eeeeoeeeeresesen @reoereseesese Biles tatscece siiselttec LOO LETTER XXV. Death of Lazarus—Martha and Mary—‘ That good part "—Grief of the family—Mary’s sin—Betrayed by Prince Herod Vale- rius—Carried away by him to a castle in Galilee—She escapes to the Mother of Jesus at Nazareth—Her sin forgiven by Jesus—He reconciles her to her family—Her lovely Penitence LETTER XXVI. The Burial of Lazarus—He is laid ina Cave—milius present— Grief of Martha and Mary—Barabbas and his Ishmaelite Rob- bers—A fight between him and Aimilius—Barabbas is wounded a OP captive—Crosses upon Calvary—Isaiah’s Prophecy u eoveeeeoereeeeeeeeeeeeresr eevee eereereeeeeeeeeeeeneees e@eeoveeve LETTER XXVII. ¥aith of Martha and Mary in the power of Jesus—Jesus receives their message—The Death of their Brother causes their faith to fail—Dead four days already—Jesus comes—Martha and Mary go out to meet him--The Raising of Lazarus from the Dead—He returns home with JesusS.......sscscecccvseesesseses LETTER XXVIII. Adina’s Father is delayed—He believes in the Power of Jesus, but not that he is Messias—Adina’s reply to his Objections— The Claims of Jesus Himself, in the Synagogue of Bethany-- Testimony of an unclean spirit—He is cast out—He is saluted King—The Jews cry out ‘‘ Sedition against Ceesar !’’--Aimilius —Tumult—Jesus secretly conveys Himself away—His secret Prayer—Lither Messias or a Liar—His future Kingdom—John speaks mournfully and mysteriously of his Death..... is cartels LETTER XXIX. Terror and Trouble--Discourse of Jesus after eating the Passover —John narrates all the incidents of the Last Supper—Judas 274 313 x CONTENTS. ' P Iscariot—‘‘ What thou doest, do quickly "The Garden Baty Gethsemane—The Betrayal—Jesus is taken—Sounds of Angels in the air—John follows Jesus—The multitude take Jesus first to Annas—Rage of the People........ coeuaceh as Okman ema ee ee cn LETTER XXX. Hope and Faith are over!—Weeping, and Mourning, and Despair —Lamentations—Sorrow of John and the Mother of Jesus— No one any longer believes—Mary’s account of ail that had happened—Jesus among the raging multitude—‘‘ Weep not for me: Weep for yourselves!’’°—Peter with his sword drawn —Fierce bitterness of the Priests—Message fromthe Wife of Pilate—Judas Iscariot, with his bag of money—Sunrise...... LETTER XXXI. No more confidence in man!—Flight of the Disciples—Aimilius alone yet firm in the Faith—Facts as given by John, Rabbi Amos, Peter, #milius, and others of the Disciples—Jesus led from Annas to Caiapbas--The testimony of False Witnesses —Peter’s Denial—The Cock-crowing—‘ Blasphemy !”—The Buffeting—Jesus is protected by Aimilius and his Roman soldiers—-Insurrection threatened—Jesus abused by the Rab- ble—He is hurried off to Pilate........ a FSA Se ANH ce, cise A LETTER XXXII. Narrative of the Trial resumed--Omens—Smoke-pall over the City —The wind not does carry it away—Darkness, Earthquake, the Dead rising from their Graves—Jesus in the Preetorium— Questioned by Pilate—Judas rushes in remorseful—‘I am a King *—‘‘ Not Ceesar’s Friend **—The Message from Pilate’s Wife—Jesus sent to Herod—The Mocking—“One must. fall” LETTER XXXIII. John still clinging close to Jesus—Herod and Jesus—Herod and Pilate reconciled—Jesus is silent—Herod gives Jesus up to the Mob—Crowned with Thorns—Mocked with Robe and Reed—Jesus saluted as King--He is led back to the Preetorium —* What is Truth?’’—“ Barabbas!’"—The Robber is liberated by Pilate. coe .se cece fener eeeere eee rer eer eee ese ereseee eeceeeeeeoere LETTER XXXIV. Pilate’s Indecision—‘‘Thou art not Cesar’s Friend ”*—‘ Behold your King!"—‘‘Crucify Him!—Pilate washes his hands— *‘His Blood be on us and on our Children!""—Jesus Scourged —Dragged to Calvary—Judas Iscariot dead—The Cross—The Ascent of Calvary—-Falling under the Cross—Simon the Cyrenian—Skulls—The two Robbers—Ishmerai and Omri— The Centurion’s excuse for Pilate..... setters Race aKate ans Rela Sinn 342 857 376 CONTENTS. LETTER XXXV. PAGE Account. of the Crucifixion continued—The Mother of Jesus— Binding Him to the Cross—The Seamless Robe—The Nailing —Raising the Cross—The Guard set—Casting lots—Purchase of the Robe—‘'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’”—Revilings of the Crowd+-‘‘I thirst’’—The Penitent Omri—‘ This day shalt thou be with Mein Paradise ’’—The Reed and Sponge— Darkness—‘“ Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani ”*—‘‘ It is finished” —‘‘ Father, into Thy handsI commend my Spirit’’—Earth- quake—The tombs give up their dead—‘ Truly this was’ the DOMLOE GO 1 eile os bivig a cclescicsee cele eereeeoevee e@eeoeevee eeeeeeoeee ese LETTER XXXVI. Taking down the Bodies—The Darkness caused by an Eclipse— Jesus dead already—Breaking the Legs—The Piercing of Jesus—Joseph of Arimathea begs the Body of Jesus—The Descent from the Cross—The Burial in a new Tomb—Setting the Watch—Sealing the Stone—Going to the Sepulcher with spices—The note Of JOY........cecseseeseeeoecs Secale bimtoiaals Cvrele " h LETTER XXXVII. The Resurrection of Jesus—Joy—Testimony of Mary—Terror of the Guard—Their flight—The Angels—The Sepulcher empty —Mary tells how she had seen Jesus—Peter and John—Amaze- ment of Caiaphas—Pilate’s emotions—The Guard bribed to oo false tale—They are not punished for sleeping on their Pp e@eeoceeseeeeeeeeee @eseeveo eeeeeeeeeeeee ceeeeeeeeeeeereeeene eee LETTER XXXVIII.} Adina at Bethany—Retrospect of the Life of Jesus—Summary of Argument—-Prophecies of Messias explained—Jesus appears in Galilee—And elsewhere—Boldness of the Christians—Daily Council at Bethlehem—Majesty and Power of Jesus—Expla- nation of the meaning of Sacrifice—The Resurrection of Jesus, notorious—Some Great Event about to happen— Adina’s Father soon expected...........00 JEL COD CIC OGOUN RI eIC 4 LETTER XXXIX. The Ascension—Like the Transfiguration—Commission and Ben- ediction—The Rising Heavenward—Angelic Chorus—The ummary of the ArguMent—POstscriptrrresecvesrees 420 437 451 478 INTRODUCTION. Aprna, the writer of the following letters, was the only child of Manasseh Benjamin, who, though an Israelite of the tribe of Judah, was a native of the Greco-Romano city of Alexandria. His ancestor was the learned David Esdras Manasseh, one of the Septuaginta (or LXX) ap- pointed by Ptolemy Philadelphus in the year B.C. 277 to translate the Bible from the original Hebrew tongue into Greek. Esdras, with his companions, having accomplished this important work, was invited by the king to remain in Egypt, where he died at an advanced age, holding an office of trust and honor. His descendants for five generations were eminent men, and shared the confidence of the rulers of Egypt, under whom they accumulated riches which were finally inherited by Manasseh Benjamin, a man not un- worthy of so eminent an ancestry. He was revered in Alexandria for his integrity, wisdom and rank, as well as for his learning and wealth, and was honored with the friendship of the Roman pro-consul, Rufus Lucius Paulinus. His Xiv INTRODUCTION. love and veneration for the land of his fathers, for the Holy City and Temple of Jehovah, were not lessened by his nativity as an Egyptian Jew, and as he had been in his youth sent to Jerusa- lem by his father, to be educated in the laws of . Moses, so he resolved that his daughter should share the same privileges, be taught as beseemed a Jewish woman, and the inheritress of his name and wealth. After a tedious journey of seventeen days by the way of Gaza, the lovely Adina at length came in sight of the walls and tower of the city of Zion. The caravan halted upon the ridge, and the Jewish travelers composing it alighted and prostrated themselves in adoration before the city of David, and the mountain of Moriah, made sacred by the footsteps of Abraham. 'The maiden unveiled and bowed her head with sacred awe. It was her first sight of Jerusalem—the city of her fathers, the birthplace of her parent, of which, from her earliest childhood, she had heard him speak with the profoundest reverence. As she gazed upon it, she thought of Isaac, who had been bound upon an altar on yonder height, now glittering with walls overlaid with marble and gold; of Isaiah, who had been sawn asunder in the gloomy valley at her feet; of David and his glory; of Solomon and his wisdom; of the INTRODUCTION. xV host of Prophets who had trod its streets or wandered upon its hills. Rapidly her memory brought to her mind the history of the mighty past, of the sieges the city had withstood against the Assyrians, the Persians, the Egyptians, and the nations of the earth; of the carrying away into captivity of her countrymen, of the demoli- tion of its walls and of its Temple; and its re- building by Ezra. But most of all she dwelt with holy fear upon the thought that the pres- ence of God, of Jehovah, had dwelt there century after century, ‘visibly, in unbearable Fire, within the inner sanctuary of the Temple; and that there He had spoken with man, as it were, face to face. She thought also of the Ark of the Covenant, of the Tables of Stone, of Aaron’s budded rod, and of the brazen serpent which were laid up in the Temple; and her heart beat with emotion such as she had never felt before. Lower, and with more awful veneration, she bent her head in grateful reverence to Him who had so distinguished above all nations her nation, above all cities the city Of her fathers and of the Prophets! Then she raised her eyes in pride that she was a Jewess, and looked around proudly upon the noble landscape which, in her imagina- tion, it seemed must be as familiar to the eyes of ; angels as to men, so closely had heaven connected itself with that chosen spot. xvi INTRODUCTION. The Arabs, her attendants, had also bowed and kneeled in the presence of the sacred towers; but it was in honor of Abraham and the patriarchs, their ancestors through Ishmael, who they be- lieved lay with Isaac and Jacob in sepulchers upon Mount Zion. Adina’s proud glance around was arrested by the sight of a cohort of soldiers that came gallop- ing up the ridge from the city, with a glittering eagle carried in advance. “The Romani! The Romani!’’ cried the guides, and rising from their knees they re- mounted in haste, and used every exertion to leave the road open to the approaching troop of horse. An Israelitish muleteer, afew rods below in the path, who could not get out of the way soon enough, was overrun and thrown to the ground, and the cavalcade swept onward to the summit of the hill, disregarding him. The cheek of Adina paled at this sight, but it was not from fear. All her pride died away in her heart; and she forgot the glory of the past, in the sense of the present degradation. In the first exultation of her emotions at fastening her eyes upon Jerusalem, she had forgotten that the land of the Prophets and of kings anointed by God was now a conquered Roman province. But the sight of the Roman cohort brought this INTRODUCTION. XVil painful reality to her mind, and veiling her face, she was overcome by the deepest sadness. The troops passed her and her escort like a whirlwind of war, with ringing spurs, jingling bits, clashing shields, and the noise of the tramp of five hundred hoofs. She could no longer gaze upon the city with joy and pride. The words of Jeremiah rose to her lips: *“How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! Is this the city that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth? The Lord has cast us off from being a nation, and the name of Israel is remembered no more!’’ Tears, free and bountiful, relieved the fullness of her heart, and like a true daughter ot Jerusa- lem, she mourned over the departed glory of her people. Once more they rode on, winding down around a hill covered with tombs, one of which was pointed out to her by a Jewish rabbi, under whose care she was journeying, as that of the prophet Jeremiah. Leaving this tomb on the left, they crossed a small valley, green and beau- tiful with groves, fountains and terraces, and thronged with a mixed multitude, both men and women, who seemed to be enjoying a promenade there, outside the city walls; there were also «vill INTRODUCTION, booths arranged on one side of the shady walk, where merchants from all parts of the earth were selling. The rabbi accounted for this concourse by informing her that they had arrived at Jeru- salem on a great feast day. Avoiding this multi- tude they moved on their way to the right, and © ascended a low eminence from which Jerusalem, in another point of view, burst upon them in all the splendor of its still unconquerable magnifi- cence; for with all its vicissitudes of misfortune, in wars, sieges and desolation, the Jerusalem of the Romans was still a majestic metropolis, and, in a great degree, meriting its appellation of the **Queen of the nations.’’ *‘How beautiful!’’? exclaimed Adina, uncon- sciously reining up her camel. ‘‘Man cannot destroy the city of God,’’ said the rabbi, with haughty confidence. ‘‘She will stand forever. ’’ ‘*Point out to me, good Rabbi Ben Israel, the prominent places! What is that frowning castle beyond the Temple which looks so strong and warlike ?’’ ‘That is the ‘City of David,’ the castle of the kings! It protects the Templeand town. David fortified himself in it, and so did the noble Mac- cabees. It was built by Melchisedec, the first King of Jerusalem, and the friend of our father INTRODUCTION. xix Abraham. It is now garrisoned by a thousand Roman soldiers. ’’ The Jewish girl sighed, and then her eyes being attracted by a graceful tower which the sunbeams of the west burnished like gold, she inquired what it was. ‘“*The one with the palm growing by its side and nearly as lofty®’’ asked the rabbi, who seemed to take pleasure in gratifying the curi- osity of his lovely protégée. ‘“Ves, the same. ’’ *‘That is David’s Tower. Upon it David’s watchman stood when he was looking for tidings from Absalom; and the wood you see far to the northeast is the ‘wood of Ephraim,’ wherein Prince Absalom was slain.’’ **And what palace is that which the setting sun lights up so brilliantly, as if it were covered with plates of silver?” *“That is the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who reigns in Jerusalem as a king. But why do you shudder?’’ he asked, as he beheld her change countenance; but following the direction of her eyes to their right, he beheld, not far distant, a score of crosses bristling upon a small eminence opposite the city gate; and two of the crosses held bodies nailed to them, while a guard of soldiers and a crowd of people stood xx INTRODUCTION, | near looking on and watching the writhings of the victims. 'The groans and execrations of one of them distinctly reached the ears of Adina. - ‘“That is the Hill of Calvary, daughter,’’ said the rabbi, with a look of outward indifference. **It is where the Romans execute their malefac- tors. 'Two have suffered to-day. It is a cruel punishment, not so mild as stoning to death; but the Romans have little feeling. Let us ride on.’” On the left they wound round the wall of a garden that seemed to be open to the public, as in some places the inclosure was thrown down. - Several persons were seen within, walking up and down, or reclining under the shade of olive trees. ““That is Solomon’s garden, now called Geth- semane,’’ said the rabbi; ‘‘it is now like all the royal woods, desolate. ’’ **Yet beautiful in its desolation. How majes- tically the walls of the Temple rise heavenward, seen from this valley! What noble hill, partly covered with trees, is this behind the garden?’’ ‘*Olivet, also a portion of the king’s gardens in the daysofIsrael’s glory. The village beyond it is Bethlehem!’’ ‘“What, the Bethlehem of Judah, out of which the prophet says shall come a Ruler over Israel ?’” ‘‘The same; and we look one day to have that INTRODUCTION. Xxi prophecy fulfilled. It cheers us with the assur- ance that Jerusalem shall not forever be trodden down of the nations, but one day have a king and governor of the royal seed of David.’’ **And do any of the family of David now exist?’’ asked Adina, fixing her eyes earnestly upon the bearded face of the rabbi. **Yes, or the prophecy could not be accom- plished. But they are, as far as known, poor and humble; but I have no doubt that in some part of the world, among the nations, exists some of the sacred stock who are reigning princes, as Daniel and Joseph reigned in Persia and Egypt, from whence they shall come as conquerors to rule over Israel. ’’ *“How then can they spring from yonder little village of Bethlehem?’’ asked the maiden. The rabbi looked a little embarrassed, and was about to make some reply to this difficult ques- tion, when their road was blocked up by a flock of sheep, mingled with a drove of cattle, being driven into the city for the altars of sacrifice. It was with some delay they made their way through these obstacles and came to the gate of Damascus. Here they were detained by the Roman guard and made to show their passports, and to pay thirty sesterces for every camel, and half as many for each mule in the caravan. The scene in the streets was quite bewildering Xxil INTRODUCTION. to Adina, who had been journeying so many days through a desert; but as the dwelling of the rela- tions of her father was near the gate, she was soon in the arms of her friends, who, though they had never seen her before, received her affectionately, as much for her father’s sake, who had com- mended her to their protection, as for her own prepossessing loveliness. Just entering her seventeenth year, the daugh- ter of the rich Alexandrian was in the prime of female charms. Her hair was an auburn brown, long, and shining like gold; her face oval, and transparently olive in its color, tinted with the least perceptible roseate; her eyes large, and of the most splendid light and glory of expression; her nose straight and finely outlined, and her mouth exquisitely shaped with an expression of heavenly sweetness. Having been kindly welcomed, and finding every preparation made for her comfort and hap- piness, she gave a few days to repose, and then, on the return of the caravan, addressed the fol- lowing letter to her father. This letter was followed by many others, all of which it is our intention to give to the reader, as they are writ- ten at a period the most interesting of any other of which history takes record. ‘The first letter is dated, according to the Jewish chronology, three years before the crucifixion of our Savior. THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. LETTERS FROM ADINA. LETTER I. My Dzar Farner: My first duty, as it is my highest pleasure, is to comply with your com- mand to write you as soon as I arrived at Jerusa- lem; and this letter, while it conveys to you intelligence of my arrival, will confirm to you my filial obedience. I will not fail to write you by every caravan that leaves here monthly for Cairo; and if there are more frequent opportunities, my love for you, dear father, and sympathy for you in your sepa- ration from me, will prompt me to avail myself of them. My journey hither occupied many days, Rabbi Ben Israel says seventeen, but although I kept the number up to ten, 1 soon became too weary to keep the account. When we traveled in sight of the sea, which we did for three days, I enjoyed the majesty of the prospect, it seemed so like the sky stretched out upon theearth. I also had the good fortune to see several barges, which the 2 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. rabbi, who was always ready to gratify my thirst for information, informed me were Roman gal- leys, bound some to Sidon and others into the Nile; and after one of these latter, asit was going to you, I sent a prayer and awish. Just as we were leaving the seashore to turn off into the desert, I saw a wrecked vessel. It looked go helpless and bulky, with its huge black body all out of the water, that it seemed to me likea great sea-monster, the Behemoth, stranded and dying; and I felt like pitying it. The rabbi gave me to understand that it had come from Alexandria, laden with wheat, bound for Italia, and been cast ashore ina storm. How terrible a tempest must be upon the sea! I was in hopes to have seen a leviathan, but was not gratified in the wish. The good rabbi, who seemed to know all things, told me that they seldom appear now in the Mid- dle Sea, but are seen beyond the pillar of Hercules at the world’s end. At Gaza we stopped two days. We entered the gateway of which Samson carried away the gates, and I was shown the hill two miles to the southeast where he left them. Many other places of interest were shown me, especially the field, which our path led across, where he put to flight the Philistine hosts with much slaughter. A lion’s cave was also pointed out to me, out of which came the lion which Samson slew, and upon which he made his famous riddles. The dry well into which the ten Patriarchs lowered the Prince Joseph their brother, was also shown me by our Arab guide, and the rock on which the Ishmaelites told down the pieces of PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 3 silver. I fancied the old Arab related the occur- rence with more elation than was needful, as if he took pride in perpetuating the fact that our noble ancestor had once been the purchased slave of theirs. I noticed several times during the journey that the Ishmaelites of Edom in our caravan took every occasion to elevate their own race to the disparagement of the sons of Israel; indeed, Aben Hussuff, our white-bearded chief of the caravan, in a wordy discussion with Rabbi Ben Israel at Isaac’s well where we encamped, would have it that Isaac was the son of the bond- woman, and Ishmael the true heir, but disin- herited and cast out through the wiles of the bond-woman, who would have her own son the inheritor. But of course I was too well in- structed in the history of my fathers to give heed to such a fable; though the Arabs all took part with their chief, and contended for the truth of what he asserted as warmly and zealously as the learned rabbi did for the truth of his own side. The morning of the last day of our journey we caught sight of the Sea of Sodom and Gomorrah, at a great distance to the east. How my pulse quickened at beholding that fearful spot so marked by the wrath of Jehovah! Iseemed to see in imagination the heavens on fire above it, and the flames and smoke ascending as from a ereat furnace, as on that fearful day when they were destroyed with all that beautiful surround- ing plain, which we are told was one vast garden of beauty. How calm and still lay now that sluggish sea beneath a cloudless sky! We held it in sight many hours, and once caught a 4 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. glimpse of the Jordan north of it, looking like a silver thread; yet near as it appeared to be, I was told it was a good day’s journey for a camel to reach its shores. After losing sight of this melancholy lake, the glassy sepulcher of cities and their countless dwellers, our way lay along a narrow valley for some time, when all at once, on reaching an eminence, Jerusalem appeared, like a city risen out of the earth, it stood before us so unexpect- edly ; for we were still, as it were, in the desert; yet so near on the side of our approach does the desert advance to its walls, that it was not two miles off when we beheld it. I cannot, my dear father, describe to you my emotions on beholding the Holy City! They have been experienced by millions of our people —they were similar to your own as you related them tome. All the past, with its mighty men who walked with Jehovah, came up to my mind, overpowering me with the amazing weight. The whole history of the sacred place rushed to my memory, and compelled me to bow my head, and worship and adore at the sight of the Temple, where God once (alas, why does He no longer visit earth and His Holy House?) dwelt in the flaming Shechinah, and made known the oracles of His will. I could see the smoke of the evening sacrifice ascending to the skies, and I inwardly prayed Jehovah to accept it forthee and me. As we approached the city several interesting spots were pointed out to me, and I was bewil- dered with the familiar and sacred localities which I had known hitherto only by reverential reading PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 5 of the Prophets. It seemed to me that I was living in the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah, as places associated with their names were shown me, rather than in the generation to which I properly belong. Indeed, I have lived only in the past the three days I have been in Jerusalem, constantly consulting the sacred historians to compare places and scenes with their accounts and so verify each with a holy awe and inward delight that must be felt to be understood; but, dear father, you have yourself experienced all this, and therefore can understand my emotions. We entered the city just before the sixth hour of the evening, and were soon at the house of our relative Amos, the Levite. Iwas received as if I had a daughter’s claim to their embraces; and with the luxuries with which they surrounded me in my gorgeously furnished apartments, I am sure they mean to tempt me to forget the j joys of the dear home I have left. The Rabbi Amos and his family all desire to be commended to you. As it is his course to serve in the Temple, I do not see much of him, but he seems to be a man of piety and benevolence, and greatly loves his children. I have been once to the Temple. Its outer court seemed like a vast caravansary or market-place, being thronged with the men who sell animals for sacrifice, which crowded all parts. Thousands of doves in large cages were sold on one side, and on another were stalls for lambs, sheep, calves, and oxen, the noise and bleating of which, with the con- fusion of tongues, made the place appear like anything else than the Temple of Jehovah. It 6 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. appears like desecration to use the Temple thus, dear father, and seems to show a want of that holy awe of God’s house that once characterized our ancestors. I was glad to get safely through the bazaar, which, on the plea of selling to sac- rificers victims for the altar, allows, under color thereof, every other sort of traffic. On reaching the women’s court I was sensible of being in the Temple, by the magnificence which surrounded me. With what awe I bowed my head in the direction of the Holy of Holies! I never felt before so near toGod! Clouds of incense floated above the heads of the multitude, and rivers of blood flowed down the marble steps of the altar of burnt offering. Alas! how many innocent victims bleed every morning and evening for the sins of Israel! What asea of blood has been poured out in the ages that have passed! Whata strange, fearful mystery, that the blood of an innocent lamb should atone for sins I have done! There must be some deeper meaning in these sacrifices, dear father, yet unrevealed to us. As I was returning from the Temple I met many persons walking and riding, who seemed to be crowding out of the gate on some unusual errand. I have since learned that there is a very extraor- dinary man—a true prophet of God, it is believed by many, who dwells in the wilderness fifteen miles eastward near Jordan, and who preaches with power unknown in the land since the days of Elijah and Elisha. It is to see and listen to this prophet that so many persons are daily going outfrom Jerusalem. He lives in a cave, feeds on plants or wild honey, and drinks only water, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. v4 while his clothing is the skin of a lion; at least such is the report. I hope he isa true prophet of Heaven, and that God is once more about to remember Israel; but the days of the Prophets have long passed away, and I fear this man is only an enthusiast; but his influence over all who listen to him is so remarkable that it would seem, and one has almost the courage to believe, that he is really endowed with the Spirit of the Prophets. | Farewell, dear father, and let us ever pray for the glory of Israel. Your affectionate ADINA. 8 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. LETTER It. My Dear Fatuer: The excellent rabbi, Ben Israel, has just made known to me his intention of returning to Egypt to-morrow, and has waited upon me, to inquire if I had any commands to intrust him with, for my friends in Alexandria. Instead of this letter, which he will be the bearer of to you, I would rather commit myself a second time to his care, and instead of placing this parchment in your hand, let him lay your child again upon your bosom. But it is by your wish, dear father, that I am here, and though I sigh to behold you once more, I will try to be content in my absence from you, knowing that my discon. tent would cause sorrow to bow down your gray hairs. So far as a daughter can be happy from the home of her youth, I have everything to render me so. The good Rabbi Amos in his kindness rec lis your own mild and dignified countenance, and Rebecca, his noble wife, my cousin, is truly- a mother in Israel. Her daughter Mary, my younger cousin, in her affectionate attachment to me, shows me how much love I have lost in never having had a sister. It is-altogether a lovely household, and I am favored by the God of our fathers in having my lot, during my exile from PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 9 my home on the banks of the beautiful Nile, cast in so peaceful and holy a domestic sanctuary. The street in which we dwell is elevated, and from the roof of the house, where I love to walk in the evening, watching the stars that hang over Egypt, there 1s commanded a wide prospect of the Holy City. The stupendous Temple, with its terraces piled on terraces of dazzling marble, with its glittering fountains shooting upward like palm trees of liquid silver, with its massive yet beautiful walls and towers, is evcr in full sight. The golden arc, that spans the door which leads into the Holy of Holies, as it catches the sunbeams of morning, burns like a celestial coronet with an unearthly glory. I dare not gaze steadily upon that holy place, or imagine the blinding splendor within, of the visible pres- ence of Jehovah, in the Shechinah once present there. | Yesterday morning I was early on the house- top, to behold the first cloud of the day-dawn sacrifice rise from the bosom of the Temple. When I had turned my gaze toward the sacred summit, I was awed by the profound silence which reigned over the vast pile that crowned Mount Moriah. The sun was not yet risen; but the east blushed with a roseate purple, and the morning star was melting into its depths. Nota sound broke the stillness of the hundred streets within the walls of Jerusalem. Night and silence still held united empire over the city and the altar of God. Iwas awe-silent. I stood with my hands crossed upon my bosom and my head reverently bowed, for in the absence of man and 10 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. his voice I believed angels were all around in heavenly hosts, the guardian armies of this won- drous city of David. Lances of light now shot upward and across the purple sea in the East, and fleeces of clouds, that reposed upon it like barks, catching the red rays of the yet unrisen sun, blazed like burning ships. Each moment the darkness fled, and the splendor of the dawn increased; and when each instant I expected to see the sun appear over the battlemented heights of Mount Moriah, I was thrilled by the startling peal of the trumpets of the priests: a thousand silver trumpets blown at once from the walls of the Temple, and shaking the very foundations of the city with their mighty voice. Instantly the housetops everywhere around were alive with worshipers! Jerusalem started, as one man, from its slumbers, and, with their faces toward the Temple, a hundred thousand men of Israel stood waiting. A second trumpet peal, clear and musical as the voice of God when He spake to our father Moses in Horeb, caused every knee to bend, and every tongue to join in the morning song of praise. The murmur of voices was like the continuous roll of the surge upon the beach, and the walls of the lofty Temple, like a cliff, echoed it back. Unused to this scene, for we have nothing like this majesty of worship in Alexandria, I stood rather as a spectator than a sharer, as it became thy daughter to have been, dear father. Simultaneously with the billow-like swell of the adoring hymn, I beheld a pillar of black smoke ascend from the midst of the Temple, and spread itself above the court like a canopy. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 11 It was accompanied by a blue wreath of lighter and more misty appearance, which threaded in and out, and entwined about the other, like a silvery strand woven into a sable cord. This latter was the smoke of the incense which accom- panied the burnt sacrifice. As I saw it rise higher and higher, and finally overtop the heavy cloud, which was instantly enlarged by volumes of dense smoke that rolled upward from the con- suming victim, and slowly disappeared melting into heaven, I also kneeled, remembering that on the wings of the incense went up the prayers of the people; and ere it dissolved wholly, I in- trusted to it, dear father, prayers for thee and me! How wonderful is our religion! How myste- rious this daily sacrifice, so many hundreds of years offered up for the sins of our fathers and of ourselves! How, I often have asked myself since I have been here, how can the blood of aysheifer, of a lamb, or of a goat, take away sin? What is the mysterious relation existing between us and these dumb and innocent brutes? How can a lamb stand for a man before God? The more I reflect upon this awful subject the more I am lost in wonder. I have spoken to Rabbi Amos of these things, but he only smiles, and bids me think about my embroidery; for Cousin Mary and I are working a rich gold border in the phylactery of his next New Year’s garment. The evening sacrifice, which I witnessed yes- terday, is, if possible, more imposing than that ef the morning. Just as the sun dips beyond the rall of Gibeah, overhanging the valley of Aijalon, 12 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, there is heard a prolonged note of a trumpet blown from one of the western watch-towers of Zion. Its mellow tones reach the furthest ear within the gates of the city. All labor at once ceases! Every man drops the instrument of his toil, and raises his face toward the summit of the house of God. A deep pause, as if all held their breath in expectation, succeeds. Suddenly the very skies seem to be riven, and shaken with the thunder of the company of trumpeters that rolls, Wave on wave of sound, from the battlements of the Temple. The dark cloud of sacrifice ascends in solemn grandeur, and sometimes heavier than the evening air, falls like a descending curtain around the Mount, till the whole is veiled from sight; but above it is seen to soar the purer incense to the invisible Jehovah, followed by a myriad eyes, and the utterance of a nation’s prayers. As the daylight faded, the light of the altar, hidden from us by the lofty walls of the outer court of the Temple, blazed high and beacon-like, and lent a wild sublimity to the towers and pinnacles that crowned Moriah. There was, however, my dear father, last even- ing, one thing which painfully marred the holy character of the sacred hour! After the blast of the silver trumpets of the Levites had ceased, and while all hearts and eyes were ascending to Jehovah with the mounting wreaths of incense, there came from the Roman castle adjoining the City of David aloud martial clangor of brazen bugles, and other barbarian war-instruments of music, while a smoke, like the smoke of sacrifice, rose from the height of David’s fortified hill. I PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 13 was told that it was the Romans engaged in wor- shiping Jupiter, their idol god! Oh, when, when shall the Holy City be freed from the re- proach of the stranger! Alas, for Israel! Her inheritance ‘‘is turned to strangers,and her houses to aliens.”’ Well said Jeremiah the Prophet, **The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.’’ How truly now are the prophecies fulfilled, which are to be found in the Lamentations, ‘‘The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath given up into the hands of the enemy the walls of her palaces: they have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as in the day of a solemn feast.’’ For these things I weep, my dear father; even now, while I write, my tears drop on the parchment. Why is it so? Why does Jehovah suffer the adversary to dwell within his holy walls, and the smoke of his abominable sacrifices to mingle with that of the offerings of the consecrated priests of the Most High? Surely Israel has sinned, and we are punished for our transgressions. It becomes the land ‘‘to search and try its ways and turn unto God,’’ if perhaps He will return and have mercy and restore the glory of Israel. Our kings are the servants of the Gentiles. Our laws are no more. Our prophets no longer see visions. God has gone up in anger, and no longer holds discourse with his chosen people. The very smoke of the daily sacrifice seems to hang above the Temple like a cloud of Jehovah’s wrath. Nearly three hundred years have passed since 14 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. we have had a Prophet—that divine and youthful Malachi! Since his day, Rabbi Amos confesses that Jehovah has ceased from all known inter- course with his people and holy house; nor has He made any sign of having heard the prayers or heeded the sacrifices that have been offered to Him in his time! I inquired of the intelligent rabbi if this would always be thus? He replied that when Shiloh came there would be a restora- tion of all things—that the glory of Jerusalem then would fill the whole earth with the splendor of the sun, and that all nations should come up from the ends of the world to worship in the Temple. He acknowledges that we are now under a cloud for our sins: but that a brighter day is coming when Zion shall be the joy of the whole earth. My conversation with Rabbi Amos, dear father, a conversation which grew out of the subject of the Roman garrison occupying the citadel of David, and offering their pagan sacrifices by the side of our own smoking altars, led me to examine the Book of the Prophet Malachi. I find that after plainly alluding to our present shame, and reproaching the priests ‘‘for causing the people to stumble,’’ and thus making themselves ‘‘con- temptible and base before all nations,’’ he thus prophesies: ‘‘Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 15 Behold,’’ adds the divine seer, ‘‘I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.’’ These words I read to-day to Rabbi Amos— indeed I was reading them when Rabbi Ben Israel came in to say that he departs to-morrow. The excellent Amos looked grave, graver than I had ever seen him look. I feared I had offended him by my boldness, and, approaching him, was about to embrace him, when I saw tears were sparkling in his eyes. ‘This discovery deeply affected me, you may be assured, dear father; and, troubled more to have grieved than displeased him, I was about to ask his forgiveness for intruding these sacred subjects upon his notice, when he took my hand, and smiling, while a glittering drop danced down his snow-white beard and broke into liquid diamonds upon my hand, he said, **You have done no wrong, child: sit down by me and be at peace with thyself. It is too true, in this day, what the Prophet Malachi writeth, Ben Israel,’’ he said sadly to the Alexandrian rabbi: ‘‘The priests of the Temple have indeed become corrupt, save the few here and there! It must have been at this day the Prophet aimed his words. Save in the outward form, I fear the great body of our Levites have little more true religion and just knowledge of the one God Jehovah than the priests of the Romish idolatry! Alas, I fear me, God regards our sacrifices with no more favor than He looks upon theirs! To- day, while I was in the Temple, and was serving at the altar with the priests, these words of Isaiah came into my thoughts and would not be put 2 16 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. aside: ‘To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?’ saith the Lord; ‘I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bul- locks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; I am weary to bear them; yea, when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I will not hear; your hands are full of blood! Wash you; make you clean. Cease to do evil; learn to do well!’ ‘‘These terrible words of the prophet,’’ added Rabbi Amos, addressing the amazed Ben Israel, ‘‘were not out of my mind while I was in the Temple. They seemed to be thundered in my ears by a voice from heaven. Several of the younger priests, whose levity during the sacrifice had been reproved by me, seeing me sad, asked the cause. In reply, I repeated, with a voice that seemed to myself to be inspired, the words of the prophet. They turned pale and trembled, and thus I left them.’’ ‘I have noticed,’’ said Ben Israel, ‘‘that tice is less reverence now in the Temple than when I was in Jerusalem a young man; but I find that the magnificence of the ceremonies is increased. ’’ **Yes,’’ responded Ben Amos, with a look of sorrow; ‘‘yes, as the soul of piety dies out from within, they gild the outside. The increased richness of the worship is copied from the Roman. So low are we fallen! Our worship, with all its gorgeousness, is as a sepulcher white- washed to conceal the rottenness within!’’ e PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. tz You may be convinced, my dear father, that this confession, from such a source, deeply humbled me. If, then, we are not worshiping God, what do we worship? If Jehovah of Hosts, the God of our Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, hides his face from our sacrifices, and is weary with our incense, whom does Israel wor- ship? Naught! We are worse off than our bar- barian conquerors, for we have no God; while they at least have gods many and lords many, such as they are! Alas, alas, the time of the judgment of Jerusalem seems to beathand. The Lord must suddenly come to his Temple, and as a refiner! Iam deeply impressed with the con- viction that the day is very near at hand! Per- haps we shall see it in our lifetime, dear father! Since writing the last line, I have been inter- rupted by Mary, who has brought to see me a youth, son of a noble Jewish ruler, who was slain by the Romans for his patriotic devotion to his country. He dwells near the Gazagate, with his widowed mother, who is a noble lady, honored by all lips that discourse of her. Between this young man and Mary there exists a beautiful attachment, not ardent enough to be love, but sincere enough for the purest friendship; yet each day their friendship is ripening into the deepest emotion. He has just returned from the vicinity of Jericho, where he has been for some days past, drawn thither by curiosity, to see and hear the new prophet, alluded to by me at the close of my last letter, whose fame has spread far and wide, and who is drawing thousands into the wilderness, to listen to the eloquence that flows 18 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. from his mouth. The young man had been giv- ing Mary so interesting an account of him that she desired me also to be a listener! In my next I will write you all I heard; and I trust, dear father, you will patiently bear with me in all things; and believe that, however I may, from the investigating character of my mind, venture upon sacred mysteries, I shall never be less a lover of the God of our Father Abraham, nor less the affectionate and devoted Adina to thee! Adieu. Avria. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 19 LETTER III. My Dear Faruer: This morning, as I was com- ing from the Temple, whither I had gone to wor- ship and witness the imposing ceremony of the presentation of the First Fruits, I noticed a vast pile of edifices crowning the opposite rock, which I was told was the Tower of Antonia. It seemed to frown sternly down upon the Temple; and upon its battlements glittered, at intervals, numerous Roman eagles. I had so often heard you relate historical events connected with this celebrated castle that I regarded it with peculiar interest. You, who had so frequently described it to me, seemed to stand by my side as I gazed upon it. The four towers, one at each corner, are still as they stood when you fought from the northernmost one, and defended it single-handed against the Romans. But now these barbarians throng its courts, and their bugles, which have sounded from the conquered walls of every land on earth, are even heard in the ears of the citi- zens of Jerusalem. The insolence and power of the Roman garrison have made the beautiful walk about the base of the Tower almost deserted ; but of this I was not aware; and, attended only by my Ethiopian slave, Onia, I lingered to admire the splendor of the cloister once sur- rounding the treasure-house of the Temple, with 20 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. its terraces supported by white marble pillars fif- teen cubits high, when two Roman soldiers com- ing from one of the city gates approached me on their way bask to the castle. It was then that I saw I was alone, the company who had left the Temple with me being gone far in advance of me. I drew my veil closely, and would have passed them with a rapid step, when one of them placed himself in my path, and catching hold of my veil tried to detain me. I left it in his grasp and was flying, when the other soldier arrested me. This was in full view of the castle, and at my shrieks the barbarians in the castle laughed aloud. At this crisis appeared a young Centurion, who was on horseback, coming down the rocky path that ascends the Rock of Zion, and calling aloud to them, he galloped forward, and with his sword put the men, who were drunk with wine, to im- mediate flight, and rescued me, at the same time sending the two soldiers under arrest into the castle. He then addressed me in the gentlest manner, and apologized for the rudeness I had met with at the hands of his men, saying that they should be severely dealt with. Iwas struck with his manly beauty, his civility, and his air of patrician command, although he could not have been more than twenty-eight. In order to escort me safely to the streets below, he alighted from his horse, and leading him by the rein, walked by my side. I confess to you, dear father, I had not neached the house of my relative before my prejudices against the Romans were greatly modified. J had found in one of them as cour- teous a person as I had ever met with among my PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. R1 own countrymen, and for his sake I was willing to think better of his barbaric land and people. He saw through my prejudices, and how I shrank from him as he walked by me; and while we de- scended the height he spoke eloquently in defetise of his native land, of its fair daughters, of its wise men, its brave chiefs, its power and glory, and its dominion over the whole earth! When I heard him use these last words I sighed deeply, for Judah, it is prophesied, should have dominion over the whole earth, and these Romans therefore hold the dominion that rightfully belongs to our people. How is this, dear father? How is it that these barbaric men are permitted by Jehovah to hold the scepter that is the rightful heritage of the Lion of the tribe of Judah? How many times in a day, since I have been in Jerusalem, have I been reminded of the degradations of my people? How is it that these enemies of Jehovah, these worshipers of false gods, stand in the Holy place, and usurp the power that God has given to us? I put these questions to Amos, the good priest, after I had returned home; for my account of my adventure naturally led to a conversation upon the Roman dominion over the earth. It appears that this noble Centurion is not unknown to Rabbi Amos, who speaks of him as one of the most popular Roman officers in command in the city. Iam glad to hear this. He also gave me warning not to approach again near the gar- rison points of the town, as the soldiers take pleasure in giving annoyance to the citizens. While I was writing the above a commotion ‘ 22 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. without, as if something unusual was occurring, drew me to the lattice, which overlooks the street that goes out of the gate to Bethany, one of the most frequented thoroughfares in the city. The sight that met my eyes was truly imposing, but made my heart sink with shame. It was a page- ant, with banners, eagles, trumpets, and gilded chariots! but not the pageant of a King of Israel, like those which dazzled the streets of Jerusalem in the days of Solomon and King David! not the triumphant passage of an Israelitish prince, but of the Homan governor! Preceded by a cohort of horse, he rode in a gilded war-chariot, lolling at his ease beneath a silken shade of blue silk, fringed with gold. The horses were snowy white, and covered with silver mail, and adorned with plumes. He was followed by another body of cavalry, chiefly composed of richly attired young men, and at the head of them, looking more like aruler and prince than the indolent Pilate, I beheld the generous Centurion who had aided my escape from the two sdidiers. His eye sought the lattice at which I stood, and I drew back, but not before he had seen me and saluted me. Certainly, father, this youth is noble and courteous enough to be a Jew, and should any providence cause us to meet again, I shall try and convert him from his idolatry to serve the living Jehovah. I was not pleased with the appearance of the governor. He isadark, hand- some man, but too fleshy, and with the counte- nance of a man given to much wine; and I learn that he is naturally indolent and luxurious, and deficient in decision of character. He is a par- PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 2d ticular friend of the Roman emperor, and to his partiality he owes the governorship here. It is, however, better to have a table-lover and idle man for our master than a cruel and active tyrant like his predecessor, in an insurrection against whom was slain that eminent man, the father of John, the cousin of Mary, of whom I spoke to you in my last letter. And this reminds me that I had something to relate to you. You will remember, dear father, that I alluded to an excitement that is increasing every day, in reference to a new prophet, who is preaching in the wilderness of Jericho, and whose life is as austere as was that of Elijah! For three weeks past several parties of citizens have been to the valley of Jordan to see and hear him, and have so far been carried away by him as to have been baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Among these is John, the cousin and be- trothed of Mary, who, having heard much said of the power with which this man spoke, by those who had returned, also went to satisfy his curi- osity, and, as he says, with a secret hope that God had again remembered Israel, and sent to us a prophet of reconciliation. Upon his return we saw that his countenance was animated beyond its wont, for he is usually of a sad and gentle aspect, and that his fine eyes beamed with an ardent hope, that seemed new-born in his soul. He thus recounted to us his visit to the prophet of Jordan: ‘After leaving the gate and crossing the brook and valley of Kedron, I encountered a large com- pany, who were ascending the road that winds 24 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. over the south side of Olivet. These were men, women, and children, and they were provided with food in baskets, and travel as our people do, when they come up to the Feast of the Passover. I found on joining them that they were directing their steps also toward the wilderness, in order to hear the great prophet, whose fame was in all men’s mouths. Among them were priests and judges, Sadducees, and Pharisees, and Essenes, and even men of no faith; for even in Judah we have many ten thousands who believe in no God, so long has it been since Jehovah hath visited his people! ‘Passing on ahead of this company, I being well-mounted, and they traveling slowly, I at length reached the summit of the hill, from which I obtained a distant view of the valley of the Jordan, and even thought I could make out the town of Jericho, though the distance was thirty or more miles. I looked back to take a parting glance at the city. How like ‘the City of God’ it crowned its lordly hills! All the glory of Jerusalem, of the past, came before my memory, and I sighed that that glory had departed, not in the destruction of its edifices, for Jerusalem is still magnificent and imposing, but in the down- fall of its power. I heard, distant as I was, the strains of the Roman bugles, echoing over the valleys where the prophets, priests and kings lay buried, and reverberating from the Temple walls, the sacred echoes of which, aforetime, had been awakened by the voice of God! Gethsemane, the fair garden of Solomon, where he tried to create a second Eden, lay at my feet, its walls PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 25 broken, and its walks wild and overgrown; here and there a fig or an olive, or a palm tree only, remaining to tell the passing traveler that here was ‘the delight of gardens, the abode of pleasure and of mirth, from which were excluded all who were sorrowful, that no tears might fall upon its enameled floors, dedicated to voluptuous joy.’ This description of it, given by our poets, passed through my mind as I beheld its melancholy and deserted aspect—looking more like a place of tears than of joy, as if its shades would invite the sorrowful to weep in them, rather than the silvery feet of the dancer! **T soon reached the pretty town of Bethpage, where, at the inn, I beheld several horsemen just mounting to go in the direction of Jericho. Sev- eral of them I knew, and on joining the caval- cade, learned they were for the most part drawn out of Jerusalem on the same errand of curiosity with myself. But one of them, however, a wealthy young noble of Arimathea, was actuated by the same holy desire that burned in my bosom, a desire that we might, in the prophet who was called John, discover a man sent from God. The others were bent on commerce, on pleasure, on mere idle curiosity, to see one of whom every one talked in all the land of Judea. As Joseph of Arimathea and I rode together, we conversed about the man we expected to see, and the different reports which were noised abroad respecting him. My companion seemed to be- lieve that he was a true prophet, for being very well read in the scriptures, he said that the seventy weeks of Daniel were now about com- 26 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. pleted, when the Messiah was to come! I then asked him if he believed that the Messiah, who was to be ‘a Prince and King, and have dominion from the sea to the ends of the earth,’ would come in the wilderness, clad in the skins of wild beasts? To this he replied that he could not regard this prophet as the Messiah, for when the Christ should come, he was ‘suddenly to come to the Temple,’ and that we should doubtless first see him there; but that he was greatly in hopes that the prophet we were going to see would prove to be the forerunner, foretold by Malachi. Having a roll of the Prophet Daniel with me, for I took the Prophets along to compare what I should hear the preacher of Jordan proclaim, with them, I saw to my surprise that not only the seventy weeks had about reached their com- pletion, but that the expiration of the ‘thousand two hundred and ninety days’ drew presently nigh! We were both surprised at this coinci- dence with the advent of this new prophet; and joy and fear trembled in our hearts, tempered with hopes we dared not utter. “< “Those who have heard him,’ said Joseph, as we rode into the village of Bethany, ‘say that he publicly proclaims himself the forerunner of the Messiah. The opinion of the more ignorant who have listened to him is that it is Elijah himself, risen to life! while others assert that it is Enoch, come down from heaven; and not afew believe him to be Isaiah.’ ‘‘In this manner, conversing, we crossed the hill of Bethany, where, tradition says, stood the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 27 also where rested the foot of Jacob’s ladder; and from which place, it is believed by many, all good men after the resurrection shall ascend into the third heaven; for it is the common belief that the throne of Jehovah is directly above it. ‘At length, after a long day’s ride, during which we had overtaken and passed many large companies hurrying forward to hear the prophet, also meeting many returning, spreading wonder- ful accounts of his eloquence, wisdom, and power, we came in sight of Jericho. The city is very stately, with its Roman towers and palaces, it being the favorite summer resort of the gov- ernors. Its situation, in a green valley, was re- freshing to the eyes, after our dreary ride all day over the broken and barren hills. On our left, a mile before you come to the town, we passed the ruins of the tower and house of Hiel, who rebuilt Jericho in the days of the Kings. To the right was the field where the Chaldean army defeated our fathers in battle, and took King Zedekiah captive; it was now covered with beautiful gar- dens, and smiled as if peace had ever dwelt in its sweet shades. On an eminence to the north of us, about half a league off, Joseph, who had often traveled this way, made me take notice of the ruins of Ai, and of the hill of ambush, where lay the warriors of Joshua, who surprised and cut off the city. As we approached the city, I could not but recall the period when Israel’s hundred thousands, shod with the sandals they had worn forty years in the wilderness, marched seven times around it. In imagination I heard their martial tread shaking the very earth, and beheld 25 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. the princely Joshua, standing aloof on an emi- nence near, directing the solemn march. Iheard again the thunder of the trumpets of the hosts of God seven times sounded, and saw the proud wall of the city fall, darkening the whole heavens with the clouds of dust that rolled over the heads of awe-struck Israel! But how different was the reality! The setting sun was gilding the firmly standing towers, turrets, pinnacles, and battle- ments of the Roman city, lending to it a splendor that moved the soul to admiration; and the blue sky bent serenely without a cloud above it; and the circling vale, instead of echoing to the tread of an armed host, for whom Jehovah fought, was now filled with Roman knights and ladies on gay parties of pleasure, and processions of maidens moving to the cemetery of the tombs, clad in snow-white vestments, casting flowers in their path, and chanting sacred songs; for it was the day in which the daughters of Jericho celebrate the hapless fate of the lovely daughter of Jephtha, by visiting her sepulcher; for she was born and buried in this city, where Jephtha long dwelt. ‘“At the gate we were stopped by a Roman soldier, who demanded our passports and the traveler’s tribute, which humiliating affair set- tled, we rode into the city; for it was our inten- tion to pass the night there, and early in the morning walked to the banks of the Jordan, where we understood the prophet was teaching and baptizing.”’ At this point of the narrative of the cousin of Mary, dear father, I will close this letter. We had all listened with the deepest attention, not so PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 29 much for the interest it contained in itself, as on account of the admirable manner in which he recited what he had seen; his face being calmly beautiful, his eyes soft and expressive, his voice musical, and his whole aspect the true and ex- pressive manifestation of the intelligence, gentle- ness, amiability, and noble ardor of piety which belong to his whole character. In my next I will resume his narrative, dear father, for when I have given it to you wholly, I have many things to ask you to which it gives rise in my mind. May the blessing of the God of Israel be upon thee, my dear father! ADINA. 30 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVIE. LETTER IV. My Dear Fatuer: I have had the pleasure to- day, not only of hearing from you, but of being assured of your continued welfare. The mes- sages of parental affection contained in your letter are cherished in my heart. The costly gifts of your generous love, sent by you with the letter, and which were safely delivered from your hand into mine, by your faithful servant Elec, will be worn by me with all a daughter’s pride. Iregret to hear of the death of Rabbi Israel, while I rejoice that the high office he held with so much dignity has been bestowed upon you by the proconsul; for though you may not need its emoluments, dear father, such selection is a flattering proof of the estimation in which you are held by the Roman governor. You need not fear, my dear father, that I shall be carried away from the faith of Israel by any strange doctrines; I will take counsel by your wisdom, and be cautious how I adventure in my inquiries upon too sacred ground. I have freely written to you for your advice, and I trust that you will not look upon my inquiries as expres- sions of doubt, but as searchings after what is true. I know you are read in the law above all Jews, and that any difficulties I may meet with in observing things here in Jerusalem, especially PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ol in the worship and ceremonies of the Temple, you will remove for me. In my last letter, which will not reach your hands for some days yet, I commenced giving you the narrative of John, the cousin of Mary, who went down into the wilderness to see and hear the prophet of Jordan. Iwill not take it upon myself to decide or form an opinion upon anything yet, dear father, but state facts, and let your wisdom instruct me into the truths that may grow out of them. One thing which your letter states gratifies me, and gives me confidence; it is these words: ‘‘Do not fear that the integrity of the laws of Moses, or of the worship of the Temple, or the predictions of the Prophets, can be moved by any investigations that man can make into them. They are founded in truth, and will abide forever. The worship of Israel fears nothing from inquiry. But while you ask and question about sacred things, remember that they belong to God, and must be inquired into with awful reverence and profound humility. Any inquiries made into the prophecies with an eye to search out their day of fulfillment are proper and useful; and as this day seems to be that of fulfillment rather than that of prediction, your studies may be suggested and directed by heavenly wisdom, and if so they will be guided to their true issue. Aslam so far removed from you, I cannot judge concerning this prophet your first letter named as being in the wilder- ness; yetI should not be surprised if the fullness of time indicated by Isaiah were near at hand, for the events you enumerated seem to proclaim 32 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. its approach, such as the lax worship in the Temple; the worship of the Roman idols on Mount Zion; the profanation of the altar; and the rule of the heathen over the empire of David. Let us fervently pray, my child, for the fulfill- ment of the prophecies, which promise Messiah to our stricken people! Let us supplicate for the rising of the Star of Jacob, the Prince of Peace, who shall erect his throne on Mount Zion, and whose scepter shall be ascepter of righteous- ness; under whose wide dominion Israel shall lift up her head and rule the nations. My daily prayer, with my face toward Jerusalem, is, that I may live to behold the hope of Israel, and with my eyes see the splendor of the glory of Shiloh.’’ These words of yours, my dear father, give me courage. I believe with you that the day of ful- fillment of the Prophets is dawning; and perhaps is nearer than we believe. When TI have com- pleted the history of John’s journey to Jordan to hear the prophet, you will understand why I speak with such hopeful confidence; and you will agree with me that this preacher of repentance is not one of the class of false prophets, against whose chimeras your letter so properly cautions me. ‘“We arose at dawn,’’ said Mary’s cousin, in continuation of his interesting narrative, ‘‘and leaving the inn, we took our way out of the city by the eastern gate, which we easily found, inas- much as a quarter of the city was in motion, and moving in the same direction. Here we were detained by the Gentile guards for full half an hour, till the multitude had become so immense PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 33 as to tread one upon another, and fill the whole street. Nevertheless we had to wait till the indolent captain of the gate chose to be disturbed in his morning repose, and then bathe his dainty limbs, and then break his fast, all which he did very deliberately, before he would suffer the gate to be opened! Such slaves are we to such mas- ters! Oh, when shall arrive the day when, as saith Isaiah, ‘our gates shall be opened contin- ually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that -men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gen- tiles, and that their kings may be brought captives to our feet.’ ‘*Having passed out of the gate, my friend of Arimathea and myself separated a little from the crowd, and crossed the plain toward Jordan, which was about a mile and a half off. The morning was balmy; the sun made all nature glad. The dew reflected a myriad lesser suns, and the earth appeared strewn with diamonds. For a little way the road lay between fields of corn and gardens; but soon it crossed the open plain, on which were droves of wiid asses, which lifted their small, spirited heads on our approach, eyed us with timid curiosity, and then bounded off to the wilderness southward with the speed of antelopes. As the great body of the people took their way obliquely across the plain, we knew the prophet must be in that direction, as it proved, for we at length found him on the banks of Jordan, full half a league below the landing and ford, which is opposite Jericho, on the great caravan road to Balbec and Assyria, that long and weary road so often traveled by our fore- 34 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. fathers when they have been led into captivity— the road which so many kings have watered with their tears! We gazed upon it with emotions of sadness, and with tearful prayers that Jehovah would return and visit once more the remnant of his people, and not be angry with us forever! After we had approached the Jordan some dis- tance above the ford, we beheld the multitude listening to the prophet far to the south of us, on the edge of the desert, which approaches in this quarter very near Jericho. As we traversed the banks of the flowing stream, we came all at once upon a pillar of stones partly in the water. ‘This,’ said my companion, stopping, ‘is the Mount of Twelve Stones which Israel set up to commemorate the passage of Jordan. Here they crossed on dry ground.’ **T counted them, and found but nine of them remaining. What vicissitudes, I reflected, had not Israel passed through since the hands of our fathers placed that heap together! Generations of judges and long lines of kings; captivities succeeding captivities; wars, conquests and de- feats, and subjection, finally, till we are no longer a people; having a king, indeed, but whose scepter 18 a mockery—a ,Herod, holding his crown at the courtesy of the Imperial Monarch of Rome. Alas, with the end of the reign of sucha king the scepter will forever depart from Judah!’’ he added bitterly. ‘“Then will Shiloh come!’’ exclaimed my cousin Mary, with animation. ‘“Yes; Judah must be abased to the lowest step before she can rise! and with Shiloh king, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 35 her glory will fill the whole earth,’’ responded John, with hope once more beaming in his eyes. *“At length we drew near the dark mass of human beings which we had beheld afar off, assembled around a small eminence near the river. Upon it, raised afew cubits taller than their heads, stood a man upon whom all eyes were fixed, and to whose words every ear was attentive. His clear, rich, earnest tones, had reached us as we approached, before we could distinguish what he said. He was a young man not above thirty, with a countenance such as the medallions of Egypt give to Joseph of our nation, once their prince. His hair was long, and wildly free about his neck; he wore a loose sack of camel’s hair, and his right arm was naked to the shoul- der. His attitude was as free and commanding as that of a Caucasian warrior, yet every gesture was gentle and graceful. With all his ringing and persuasive eloquence there was an air of the deepest humility on his countenance, combined with an expression of the holiest enthusiasm. The people listened eagerly to him, for he spake like the Prophets of old, and chiefly in their prophetic words! Huis theme was the Messiah: ** “Oh, Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity,’ he was saying aS we came up, as if in continuation of what had come before. ‘Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord, and say unto Him: Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously. Behold, He cometh who will heal your backslid- ing, and will love you freely! He will be as the dew unto Israel! He shall grow as the lily, and 36 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. cast forth his roots as Lebanon! His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his fruit shall be for the healing of the nations! They that dwell under his shadow shall return and dwell evermore; and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the .Lord shall be delivered, for beside him there is no Savior.’ ‘** “Of whom speaketh the prophet these thangs?’ asked one who stood near me, of his neighbor, and then of me, for by this time we had taken - places as close to the prophet as we were able; for I did not wish to lose one word that should fall from the lips of a man who could thus empty cities, and people the wilderness with their in- habitants. ** ‘Of Messiah—listen!’ answered him, a Scribe near, as if not pleased to have his attention inter- rupted by his side talk. ‘His words are plain. Hear him.’ ‘* “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, for the day of the Lord cometh!’ continued the prophet, in «@ voice like that of a silver trumpet; ‘for behold, the day is at hand when I will bring again the captivity of Judah. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! The day is at hand when the Lord shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem.’ ‘* “Art thou not Elias?’ asked one, aloud. “* *T am he of whom it is written, the voice of one erying in the wilderness, make straight a highway for our God. The day of the Lord is at hand. Iam but the herald who is sent before to prepare the way of the Lord!’ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 37 ** “Art thou not the Messiah?’ asked a woman, who stood near him, and seemed to worship his very lips. ** “He who cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear!’ he re- sponded, in the deepest humiliation of manner. ‘He who cometh after me hath his fan in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor and gather the wheat into the garner; but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Therefore, repent ye, repent ye, take words and return unto the Lord your God. Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins; for the day cometh which shall burn as an oven, and take heed that ye be not consumed! The ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.’ *« ‘Master,’ said a Levite, ‘dost thou speak these things to us, who are of Israel, or to these Gentiles and Samaritans?’ for there were not a few Roman soldiers among the multitude, drawn hither by curiosity, and also many people from Samaria, nay, even from Damascus. ** “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saith the Lord, for my people hath committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of liv- ing waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. The Lord hath made me this day an iron pillar and brazen wall against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land! and yet thou sayest, O Israel, thou hast 38 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. not sinned! Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee. Repent and do works meet for repentance, every one of you, for ye have polluted theland; neither say, where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt? I am provoked to anger every day by your hardness of heart and stiff- neckedness. Amend, amend your doings! Trust not in lying words, saying, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord! Ye have made it aden of robbers! Your sacrifices therein are become an abomina- tion to the Lord!’ ‘* “This would touch us who are priests, mas- ters,’ said a priest, with a crimson brow. ‘We are not robbers.’ ‘**«Thus saith the Lord,’ answered the youth- ful prophet, as if it were God himself, speaking from Horeb, so that we trembled as we heard him: ‘Woe be unto the pastors that destroy my sheep; I will visit upon you the evil of your doings. How is the gold become dim—how is the most fine gold changed! The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed? Her priests were purer than snow! they were whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies; their polishing was of sapphire! Their visage is blacker than coal; they feed the children of my people with ashes for bread! Woe to Zion, for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests! Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and seek in the broad places thereof, saith the Lord, if you can find a man that executeth judg- PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 39 ment, that seeketh truth! Though they say the Lord liveth, surely they swear falsely. Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, ye house of Israel! Woe unto you, ye priests, for ye have trans- gressed. I have seen in the prophets of Jerusa- lem a horrible thing; they commit adultery and walk in lies, saith the Lord. My people have transgressed for lack of knowledge! Therefore I will reject thee, saith the Lord; thou shalt be no priest to me since thou hast forgotten the law of thy God. Like people, like priests! Therefore doth the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein languisheth. Therefore do swearing and lying, and killing and stealing, and committing adultery, break out in the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. Woe unto you, ye priests!’ Many of the Levites then turned and left him, and went away greatly murmuring; and they would gladly have done the prophet a mischief, but they feared the multitude, who said he had spoken only the truth of them. ‘But the elders of Israel, who are not priests, and who spring from Abraham, shall be saved by Abraham, master?’ asserted, or rather inquired, a rich ruler of our city, after the tumult caused by the withdrawal of the Levites had a little subsided. The youthful prophet rested his dark eyes, like two suns, upon the old man’s face, and said impressively, ‘Begin not to say within yourself, we have Abraham to our father, for I say unto you,’ he added, pointing to the pebbles at his feet, ‘that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. He is of Abraham who doeth righteousness; there- 40 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. fore repent, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance.’ Here was heard some murmuring among a group of many Pharisees and Sadducees at these words, when, sending his lightning glance toward them, as if he could read their very hearts, he cried : ‘* “OQ generation of vipers! Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? The day cometh when he who is to come shall sit asa purifier by his furnaee. Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance. Wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. And ye, daughters of Judah, repent you of the vain thoughts that lodge within you,’ cried he, addressing many females in rich apparel and plaited hair, ‘gird ye with sackcloth, lament and howl; put away these abominations out of my sight, and fear the Lord. Though thou clothest - thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thy- self with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; for Lhear the voice of the daughters of Zion bewailing themselves, and spreading forth their hands in the day when they are spoiled and despised for their iniquities. Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! ‘* ‘Hear, O Israel! AmtTIa God at hand and not a God afar off, saith the Lord. Hear ye the message of the Most High, for the day hath come when Jehovah shall once more visit the earth and talk face to face with his creatures. Behold the day hath come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 41 to reign and prosper, who shall execute judg- ment and justice on the earth. ** “Behold the day hath come, saith the Lord, in which Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, when I will set up shepherds over them, which shall feed them, and they shall lack nothing! ‘** ‘Arise! shine, for thy light is come! Hear, O Israel! for Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace; I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lampthat burneth. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee! Darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the people, as saith Hsaias; but the Lord shall rise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. The Gentiles shall come to his light, and kings to the brightness of his rising. He shall be called the Lord our Righteousness, and shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim the acceptable year of his coming. He hath set me a watchman upon thy walls, O Israel, and I may neither hold my peace day nor night, nor keep silence, nor seek rest, till he come, who hath sent me forth his meés- senger before his face. How can I refrain from my message of joy? How shall I not speak of hisfame? His sons shail come from afar, and his daughters shall be nursed at his side. The peo: ple of the nations shall fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows, to behold, fali down, and adore him. The isles shall wait fer his law, 42 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. and kings shall minister unto him, even unto the Holy One of Israel. Saith he, I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Say ye to the daughers of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. Ho, every one that thirsteth,’ he now cried, raising his voice like the chief of a host, till the furthest heard, “gome ye to the waters; yea, come buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Incline your ear and come unto him. Hear and your soul shall live. Repent, keep justice and judg- ment; and prepare a contrite heart to offer him’ when thou shalt behold him; for thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place with him, also, that is of a contrite and humble spirit. Peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord. ‘* “Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the ends of the earth: for thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: behold my servant whom I uphold—mine elect in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles; a bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. I, the Lord, saith Jehovah, addressing the only begotten, I have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand an@ keep thee, and will give thee for a PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 435 covenant of the people, for alight of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison. I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I not give to another; yet have I made him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. Look unto him, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for unto him every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is his atti the Holy one of Israel!’ **All this was spoken with an enthusiasm and fire that made every pulse bound. **Such,’’ said John, ‘‘was the extraordinary style of this mighty prophet’s preaching, and to those who read the books of the Prophets, every word shone with the brightness of the sun. I fancied I had only to look around to behold the Messiah! The immense multitude stood awed and silent when he had ceased. I gazed upon him with the most adoring reverence. My heart filled with holy joy; forI believed and knew that God had remembered Zion, and was about to dis- play his wonders more remarkably on earth than ever had been witnessed before. Leaving the eminence, he said, and I thought he fixed his eyes on me, ‘Ye who desire to be baptized for the remission of sins, that your hearts may be cleansed for the visitation of this Holy One of God, follow me to the river side!’ Thousands obeyed, and I one of the first. I trembled all over with a sweet pleasure, when he took me by the hand, and asked me if I believed in Him who was to come, and would prepare the way for His abode in my heart by being baptized, which rite 44 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. also was to be a sign and pledge that when I should behold the Shiloh rising I should ac- knowledge Him. Not less than one thousand were baptized by him that day in Jordan, con- fessing their sins, and hopes of pardon through the name of the unknown One, who was soon to come. Among these were Pharisees and Sad- ducees, rulers and lawyers, and one gray-headed Roman soldier. Joseph of Arimathea was not baptized, as he said he wished to examine into the extraordinary subject fully before he could believe. ‘After the baptism, the whole company dis- persed in groups, and the prophet returned into the wilderness till the cool of the evening, where his repast was the wild honey of the desert, and the locust-berry of the ravines. When he reap- peared, he again spoke to an increased multi- tude. In this second sermon, he explained more clearly the application of the glittering chain of prophecies he had given utterance to in the morning, to Messias, and thus enabled me to see more clearly the true character of the expected Messias than I had before done.’’ With this remark of his, dear father, I close my long letter. I make no comments. I will only say that my expectations are actively awake, and that I am looking, with thousands of others, for the near advent of the Messiah. Your daughter, AvINA. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 45 LETTER YV. My Dear Farner: Although but three days have elapsed since I completed my last letter to you, [am so solicitous to have your judgment and counsel upon the remarkable events now occupying the public mind of Israel that I can- not withhold giving you the further relation of the remaining circumstances connected with the visit of Mary’s cousin, John, to the divine prophet of Jordan. Inasmuch as his words have made a deep impression upon my mind, and moved me to believe with him in the truth of this prophet’s words, it is proper that you should know with me all that he has told me, and which have influenced my feelings and opin- ions, in order that you may judge of the weight and value at which all I have heard is to be estimated; and be assured, dear father, that I am ready to be governed in all things by your wis- dom and learning. Listen, then, with your usual goodness, to the residue of this young man’s narration. ‘‘After the prophet had ended his second dis- course, and baptized two hundred more in the sparkling waters of Jordan,’’ resumed the elo- quent cousin of Mary, ‘‘he sent them away to the city to lodge and buy meat; for few, in their 46 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. eagerness to hear him, had brought provisions with them. Many, before leaving him, drew near to receive his blessing of love, and it was touch- ing to see venerable men, with locks shining like silver, and leaning upon a staff, bend their aged heads before the youthful Elias, as if in acknowledgment of his divine commission. Mothers also brought their infants, that he might bless them; and youths and maidens knelt rever- ently at his feet in tears of love and penitence. Calmly he stood upon the green shores, like an angel alighted upon earth, and blessed them in words all new to our ears, but which thrilled to our hearts with some secret power that agitated us with trembling joy. ‘* “In the name of the Lamb of God, I bless thee!’ ”’ ‘“What can be the meaning of these words?’’ asked Mary, with her gentle earnestness. Her betrothed could only reply that he knew not. ‘At length, one after another, the multitude departed, save a few who encamped beneath trees on the banks of the river. Joseph of Arimathea and I were left almost alone standing near the prophet, and regarding him with reverential curi- osity. The sun was just disappearing over the distant towers of Jericho, and painting with the richest purple the hills between the river and Jerusalem. Jordan, catching its reddening radi- ance, rolled past like a river of liquid gold embanked in emerald. The brow of the prophet, lighted up by a sun ray that shone between the branches of a pomegranate tree, seemed like the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai, a PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. AY glory of light. He appeared rapt in heavenly meditation, and we stood silent and gazed upon him, not daring to speak. At length he turned toward us, smiled, and saluting us, grasped the crook or staff on which he had been leaning, for he was weary and pale with his labors of the day, and slowly walked down the shore in the direc- tion of the wilderness. He had not advanced many steps when I felt an irresistible impulse to follow him. I burned to talk with him—to sit at his feet, and ask him questions about the great things I had heard him utter in both of his dis- courses! JI wished him to explain and unfold what had seemed mysterious, and yet teeming with mighty revelations. I panted for light—for knowledge. I yearned to have him open the scriptures to me, and give me that illuminated understanding of them which he possessed. I therefore said to my companion: ** “Let us follow him, and learn more of these great things which we have this day heard.’ ‘‘Joseph, like myself, being anxious to hold converse with him, at once assented, and we pro- ceeded slowly after him, as he moved in a con- templative mood along the desert path. The sun had already gone down, and the full moon rose on the opposite shore, and the prophet stopped as if to gaze upon its autumnal beauty. We drew near to him. He beheld us, but did not avoid us; seeing which I advanced with timid confidence, and said: ** “Holy prophet of the Most High God, wilt thou permit two young men of Israel to speak to thee, for our hearts yearn toward thee with love?’ 48 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ** “And we would fain keep thee company in the desert, rabbi,’ added Joseph, ‘for it does not seem well for thee to dwell thus alone.’ ‘* “But chiefly,’ said I, ‘we would inquire of thee touching the advent of the Mighty Person- age whose near coming thou dost foretell.’ ** ‘Friends,’ said the prophet, in a calm and serene manner, ‘I am a dweller in the desert, and alone, from choice. I approach men only to pro- claim my message. The delights of earth are not for me. My mission is one. Its duration is short. Its aim worthy the greatest prophet of God, yet am I, the least of them, not worthy to be called a prophet; and before the splendor of Him whom I announce to the world, I am the dust of the balance. If thou hast sought me to search after knowledge, come and sit down with me upon this rock, and let me hear what thou hast to say, that I may answer thee and go my way.’ ° t ica his was said softly, gently, almost sadly, and in atone that made me love him more and more. I could have cast myself upon his bosom and wept there; for I was deeply touched that one should be chosen by Jehovah to become his prophet to earth, and yet show such lowliness of heart and sincere humility. Weseated ourselves, one on either side of him, for he refused to per- mit us to place ourselves upon the ground at his feet, saying reproachfully, as he did to those whom we had seen kneel to him, ‘I, also, am a man!’ The scene and the hour were well fitted for such a converse as we were about to hold. The broad disk of the moon poured a flood of PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 49 orange-tinted radiance full upon ug, and lenta hallowed softness to the divine countenance of the youthful prophet. The Jordan, dark as India’s dye, darted swiftly past at our feet, be- tween its deeply-shaded banks, sending up to our ears the faintest murmur of its pebbly passage. Above our heads swelled the vaulted arch of the Temple of Jehovah, with its myriad of altar fires. To our left lay Jericho, just visible, looking like a black mass of castellated rock, unilluminated save by a single watchfire which burned upon its loftiest tower. Behind us stretched the desert waste, cheerless and yet grand, in its desolate distances. Afar off rose upon the air, aud was borne to us at intervals, the voice of a singer in one of the camps; and near us, upon an acacia tree, sat a solitary bulbul, which ceaselessly sang its sweet and varied hymn to the listening moon. ** “All things praise God—shall we be silent?’ said the prophet. ‘Let us sing the evening hymn of the Temple.’ He then commenced, ina rich, melodious chant, such as I had never heard from the priests, our sacred psalm to the whole creation of God. We joined our voices with his, and the tide of praise floated over the waters, and echoed and re-echoed from the opposing shores, as if the banks and stream, trees, hills and sky, had found voice as well as we: *« «Praise! praise! praise ye the Lord! Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him in the seas? Praise Him men of Israel! Praise ye the Lord! For He exalteth high His people, And reigneth evermore! 50 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Praise Him all ye angels! Praise Him all ye hosts! Praise Him sun and moon, and all ye stars of light! Praise Him fireand hail! Praise Him storm and snows! For He judgeth the earth in righteousness, And reigneth evermore! Praise! praise! praise ye the Lord! 7 Praise Him winged fowl, and herds, cattle, and all beasts! Praise Him kings and people, princes, priests, and judges! Praise Him youths and maidens, old men and young children! Praise the name, let them praise the name, Praise the name of the Lord God of Hosts! For his name alone is excellent, His glory above the heavens: Israel is His first born—a people well-beloved! Praise! let Israel, therefore, praise Him! Praise Him evermore, Evermore, Ever, evermore! **Never shall I forget the effect produced upon my inmost being by this hymn, sung at such a time, and in sucha place, and in such a com- pany. The prophet sang as if he was leading a choir of angels. My heart leaped at the chorus, as if it would break out, take wing, and leave the earth! When we called on the winds and the fowls of the air to praise Jehovah with us, it may be fancy, but the thrilling voice of the bulbul seemed to pour from its throat a wilder, richer, more joyous tide of song, and the audible wind bent the adoring trees, and mingled its mystic whispers with the psalm of men! Surely, thought I, it is good for me to be here, for this is none other than the gate of paradise! ‘‘After a few moments’ silence, the prophet spoke and said: PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 51 ** “You sought me, brethern of Israel, can I do ~ aught for you?’ ** “We would hear more, great prophet, touch- ing this mighty man, if man he may be termed, who is to come after thee,’ said Joseph. ***T can tell thee but little, my brethren, save what thou hast heard from me this day. ‘The future is veiled. I bear a message, indeed, butI may not break the seal and read. Iam but the courier of God to man. ‘To you it will be given to know what is now unknown to me. Happy, thrice happy are ye who will behold face to face the Divine One whom I can only behold afar off. If it be permitted me to see him, it will be but for a brief space, for when he cometh I depart, my errand is done. Blessed are those who live to witness his glory, and to hear the gracious voice of God that proceeds from his anointed lips.’ ** *When will be his advent, and with what form and power cometh this Divine being?’ I asked. ** “Agsaman, but not with comeliness of form that men should desire him. His appearance will be humble, lowly, and meek.’ ** “Yet you said to-day, rabbi,’ I continued, ‘that his power should be infinite, and that of his kingdom there should be no end. You spoke of the glory of his dominions, and the humiliation of Gentile kings beneath his scepter.’ *< «This I cannot explain—it is a mystery to me! Ispeak as God, by whom Iam sent, gives me utterance. 1 know that He who cometh after me is greater than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose!’ U. OF ILL. LIB. 52 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ** “You taught us this evening that he would be the Lord from heaven; and yet that Hsaias saith he will be despised and rejected of men, wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities!’ ‘“‘ «The Spirit of God teaches me that these words apply to Shiloh; but I cannot comprehend how these things.can be,’ he answered, with deep sadness. ‘* “May Iremind you, good rabbi,’ said Joseph, ‘that you taught us how that this Divine Person- age should die, though Lord of Life, and be numbered in his death with transgressors, though the Holy One of God!’ ‘* ‘And such will be the events that are ordained to happen; but seek not to know what no man hath had revealed to him. The Divine Messiah himself must be his own interpreter. Blessed will be the eyes that behold Him, and listen to the wisdom of His mouth, and keep the law of His lips!’ ** ‘May I ask you, holy prophet of the Lord,’ said Joseph, ‘how is it that He whom you are sent by God to bear witness to can be the Deliv- erer of Israel, when you predict for him so sad a ' fate? Messiah is to restore Jerusalem, and the glory of the Temple, and the splendor of its wor- ship, so saith Esaias, so say Ezra and Jeremiah. He is called a Mighty Prince, a King, the Re- deemer of Israel, who shall rule the nations and have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth! We, therefore, in the Messias of the Prophets, have looked fora powerful potentate, who shall reign in Jerusalem PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 53 over the whole earth, and subdue all nations, bringing their kings captive at his footstool, and binding their princes with chains; before whom every knee shall do homage—a Monarch who shall not leave a heathen sandal to tread on the sacred soil of Judea, and who shall establish the wor- ship of Jehovah in every place where now rises a temple of idolatry.’ *< “His kingdom is not of this earth,’ answered the prophet impressively. ** “How then can we interpret the Prophet David, who maketh the Lord to say: I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Also, how shall we interpret those sayings of Esaias, who, prophesying of the blessed Christ of God, hath these words: ** “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to estab- lish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth, even forever ?’ ‘“ ‘* “My name is Lazarus, the Scribe,’ he an- swered, as he took his leave.’’ ‘“What,’’ interrupted Mary, when her cousin had spoken this name, ‘‘then I know him well. It is the brother of Mary and Martha, both my friends at Bethany, where I passed a week last year, just before the Passover.’’ ‘IT am glad to hear that,’’ said John, ‘‘for this will be a closer bond of friendship between us. The next day we renewed our acquaintance, and after three days departed together homeward. Upon arriving at Bethany, he learned that his friend had gone to Cana, in Galilee, on a visit with his mother, to the house of one of her kins- folk, whose daughter is in a few weeks to be married. ’”’ Having now, my dear father, communicated to you all that John related to us, you will see what 62 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. grounds there are to look upon the prophet of Jordan as a man sent from God, or to believe that he is the true Elias, whom Malachi hath foretold, and who, as the most learned of the Scribes say, must first come to proclaim the approach of the Prince of Peace, the Shiloh of Israel’s hopes. My emotions, my ideas, my Opinions, at present, are conflicting and full of indecision. On one hand, I am ready to become one of John of Jordan’s disciples, and be bap- tized of him, looking with faith unto Him who is to come after. On the other hand, I tremble lest all should be a delusion, for it does not seem possible that it is my lot to live in that blessed age when Messiah cometh, a period toward which all the patriarchs and prophets have looked, de- siring to see His day, but died without possess- ing the promise, beholding it only afar off. The infinite greatness of this privilege is all that causes me to doubt. Instruct me, dear father; open to me the treasures of your.wisdom. Thou art read in the Prophets. Doth the youthful prophet of the wilderness truly use their predic- tions in their application to Messias? Is it that the intellectual Lazarus truly drew the sad portraiture of His dark career on earth? How are the opposing prophecies to be reconciled in another manner than the young man of Bethany has unfolded them? Explain to me one other interpretation, dear father, how He can be both king and a prisoner! Lord of life, yet suffer death! With a kingdom boundless as the world, yet despised and contemned of men! The account brought by John has set Rabbi PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 63 Amos to studying the Prophets, and indeed all men are looking into them with interest unknown before; for the multitudes that go away from the new prophet noise his predictions abroad, throughout all the land. May God be indeed about to bless his people, and remember ‘his inheritance! ADINA, 64 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. LETTER VL My Dear Fatuer: Health and peace to thee, and all my friends honored and beloved in Alex- andria!—I have again seen the excellent Ben Israel, with whom, four months ago, I came from Egypt, to sojourn in Jerusalem. He not only delivered to me your letters, with the acceptable gifts you kindly sent by him, but also assured me of your welfare in all things. He 1s at pres- ent absent at Damascus, whither he went soon after his arrival here, in order to buy the cele- brated Syrian blades of that city, which he takes down to Egypt at great profit, with other mer- chandise. He assures me that he is gaining much wealth by his caravans of commerce, at which I rejoice, for he is an amiable and worthy man. His entreaties that I would return to Alexandria with him would nearly have overcome my resolutions of remaining here, but for the commands you have laid upon me to avail myself of the peculiar privileges which Jerusalem affords for improving the mind; and were it not Il am deeply interested in the issue of the great expec- tation of Israel. Your letter, dear father, com- mands me to banish this ‘‘novelty’’ from my mind, and continue humbly to worship Jehovah after the manner of our fathers. I trust this I shall ever do, my dear father; and did I discover PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 65 in this prophet any disposition to bring in a new faith, opposed to the ancient faith of Abra- ham, I should tremble to entertain it for a moment. You say that this man must be ‘‘a false and base prophet,’’ or he would not herald a master so low and despised as he professes will be the Christ he bears witness to. ‘‘There have been many false Christs and false prophets, my child,’’ you add, ‘‘and Israel has run after them, as they nowrun after this John of Jordan, and the result has been that they have either per- ished in the wilderness or been cut to pieces, with their deceiver, by the jealousy of the Roman governors, who looked upon such assemblies as seditious. Hold fast, my child, to the religion of our fathers, and be not carried away, as I fear you are in danger of being, by this. wild preacher of repentance. ‘The kingdom of Messias is not a kingdom of repentance and of humiliation, but one of victory, of glory, and dominion. ‘Touch- ing those prophecies of humility and abasement which this prophet of Jordan applies to Messias, they have no application to our expected Shiloh . and Prince. They either apply to some lesser prophet, who will be the forerunner of the true Christ (for that he will have a forerunner the Scriptures speak too plainly for doubting), or, as some say and believe, especially do the Pharisees, there are to be two Messiahs, one who shall come in humiliation and suffering to the Gentiles, as an atonement for the expiation of their sins, and one to come to us in regal power, and in circum- stances of glory and splendor, such as no poten- tate hath ever manifested, and who shall make / 66 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Jerusalem the metropolis of the globe, and the kings of the earth tributary at his feet. Such is our Messias, whom the Lord of Hosts send us speedily, to lift Judah from the dust of her humiliation! If the base person this prophet of the desert heralds be a Messias, he is one to the Gentiles only, whose great iniquities need the self-immolation and humiliation of one come from God, in atonement therefor; but he is nota Messiah to Israel, nor the mighty Prince who shall sit in David’s seat on the throne of Zion. Therefore, my child, you as a daughter of Israel have no interest in this novelty that cometh out of the wilderness, and after which half the land hath foolishly run mad. Wait, be patient, the day of Israel’s glory shall truly arise and shine, and all nations shall see it and rejoice. Think no more of what thy cousin hath told thee. When Messias cometh He will be heralded by a more glorious and eminent person than a young man of thirty, clothed in skins, and for food eat- ing locusts and wild honey, whose origin and authority no man knoweth. Believing that your good sense and sound judgment, my Adina, will at once lead you to adopt my views, I shall not urge them further, as if I seriously feared your defection from the house of your fathers, an event which would bring my gray hairs down with sorrow to the grave. It is my belief that this prophet preaches only himself, and, under the mysterious and deceitful notions of another to come after him, is but gathering an expectant multitude around him to wield them as instru- ments for his own ambitious ends; and by the PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 67 time you write me again, I expect to learn from you that he openly proclaims himself the Christ, after all; or that he, with all who are led by him,’ will be destroyed by the swords of the Roman legions. ’”’ How can I write to you, my dear father, that which is now rushing to my pen, after such an expression of your sentiments as you have made in this extract from your letter? But I know you are wise, and will not evade truth, in what- ever form it may offer itself to you, and I there- fore, with confidence in your justice and wisdom, will faithfully make known to you the events relating to the prophet which have transpired, and may take place in Judea during my abode here. Hear me always with candor, and judge without partiality; for this is, without doubt, a day of wonderful revelations. I fancy that I can now see your brow darken, and that you say, *“enough of this. Are we to have more of this new prophet?’’ Yes, my dear father, more still, and more extraordinary circumstances [am about to relate than I have yet written; for the very priests of the Temple have become believers in the youthful Seer. You will remember how that John, Mary’s cousin, stated that many priests and others were offended at the plain preaching of the prophet whom they went out into the wilderness to see. When they returned to Jerusalem, and made known to the other members of the House of the Priests what had been spoken against them, by the application to them of the words of Esaias and Jeremias, and other Prophets, there arose at 68 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. once a great outcry against him. Many of the Levites even forgot their duties in the Temple, in holding discourse with the Scribes and Pharisees, and others, in the streets, in the arches of the gates, and in the market-places, touching this new prophet, and his bold denunciations of them, being so much the more grieved at them because they were, alas, but too well merited by the looseness of their lives. At length Annas, who is High Priest with Caiaphas, sent two of the most learned men of the Temple, Levites of weight of character, to invite the prophet to Jerusalem; for Annas is a wise man, and not easily carried away by popular feeling; and, as Rabbi Amos hath told me, he is disposed to look upon the preaching of John, for such is his name, with a serious and reverential eye. The messen- gers returned after the fifth day, and made their report openly in the Court of the Temple, where the High Priests sat to receive them, expecting to behold the prophet in their company. At length the assembly being convened, the two learned and venerable Levites both rose up, and declared that they had delivered the message to John, the son of Zacharias, the prophet of Jor- dan, and that his answer was given with the reverence due to the station of the High Priest who had sent to him: ‘‘Go and say to the noble High Priest,’’ said he, ‘‘that I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the Prophet, who, foreseeing my day, saith, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilder- ness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 69 paths straight.’ All flesh will soon behold the salvation of God. My errand is not to city nor temple, nor into any house of Israel will I enter. He who would hear my testimony to Him who is to come after me, let him seek me in the wilder- ness, whence only I am commanded to lift up my voice till Shiloh come.’’ When the priests heard this answer they were greatly enraged, and many fiercely cried one thing and many another; some that he should be sought out and stoned to death for defying the High Priest (which he did not do, as it was for him to obey God rather than man); others, that he should be accused to the Procurator, Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea, as a seditious and dangerous person, and fomenter of insurrections. Caiaphas was of the latter opinion, and wrote, from his tribunal, an epistle to the Roman ruler, making accusation hereof against the prophet of the desert, and recommending him to secure his person, lest further mischief should come of it; adding that Tiberius Cesar, hearing of the mat- ter, would conceive it to be a movement of the whole Jewish nation, desirous of casting off the Roman rule, under a new chief; and thus bring down an army upon the land, utterly to destroy. it. But the milder Annas viewed the whole matter in a different light, and said: *““Men and brethren—let nothing be done hastily. If this man be a false prophet, he will soon perish with his lies, and we shall hear no more of him. If, peradventure, as it would appear, he is sent from God, let us not make haste to do hima mischief, lest, haply, we be found fighting against the Lord of Hosts.’’ 70 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. This moderation found favor with but few, but of these few Rabbi Amos was one. But if the priests who thronged the outer court, in presence of the High Priest, were deeply moved at the report of the prophet’s answer, their excitement became well nigh uncontrollable when both Melchi and Heli, their messengers, rose up, wav- ing their hands for silence, and declared that after having listened to the prophet to whom they had been sent, they were convinced of the truth of his words, and of his divine commission, and been baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Only the sanctity of the Temple prevented the five hundred priests rushing upon them, and smiting them when they heard this. They were at once placed under arrest by order of the High Priest, Caiaphas, for acting in a manner unbe- coming a priest of the Most High God: ‘‘For,’’ said he, ‘‘this is to degrade the Temple to the feet of a wandering impostor, and is an open acknowledgment that virtue hath left the worship of Zion, and must be sought for in the deserts of Jordan. Which,’’ he called aloud, ‘‘which, men of Israel, is the greatest, the altar of the Lord, or the waters of Jordan ?—the Priest of the Most High, or he of the wilderness? Away with these recreant blasphemers, to be tried and adjudged according to our sacred laws.’’ ‘The people who had heard John preach hereupon were only pre- vented from rescuing the two priests by the presence of a guard of Roman soldiers, for which Caiaphas promptly sent. From this account, my dear father, you can PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. V1 form some idea of the excitement which the preaching of this new prophet is producing among all classes. ‘The poorer sort of people are his advocates, and the rich and the rulers, the priests and great men of the nation, oppose him, save a few among the best and wisest. Of these few is Rabbi Amos, who is engaged all the time he is not on duty in the Temple, in searching the Scriptures, to see if these things are so; and at every prophecy he reads he is more and more convinced that the day of Messias is at hand, and that this prophet is, without doubt, he who was to be sent from God in the ‘‘spirit and power of Elias,’’ to prepare the way before him. Every evening there are assembled at our house from twelve to eighteen of the chief men of the Jews, who often pass half the night in warm discussions upon these great things; those among them who have heard John, being disposed to give him the high rank he claims, as forerunner of Shiloh. Among these is Stephen, a man whose father was High Priest, and who is himself a lawyer and student of nomeanrepute. He hasnot yet heard John the prophet, but he openly said last night that after the most careful examination of all the Prophets, he was firmly of the opinion that the day of their fulfillment was close at hand; and that, for his part, he was willing to hail the prophet of Jordan as the true herald of Mesgsias. Hereupon, two-thirds of the company said the same thing, but the others doubted and cautioned the rest not to be too rash; that it was time enough to believe in Messias when he himself should come in his own person. 42 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Such, my dear father, is the present condition of the mind of the people of Jerusalem. If the Prince of Glory should, indeed, suddenly appear, there could be scarcely more excitement, though it would be of a different nature. There is some- thing sublime to see a young man, who dwelleth alone in the wilderness, poor and unknown, thus moving the great heart of a nation; surely his power must be divinely derived. You ask me, and so is the question constantly put by the Scribes, and Pharisees, and priests, to the dis- ciples of John: ‘‘Does he perform miracles? Show me a miracle and I will believe in him; for this is the only test of a true prophet’s Divine commission.’’ No, dear father, he has performed no miracle, unless it, be one continuous miracle, whereby he keeps in the wilderness a multitude, daily enlarged, from the outpouring gates of every city in Judah, listening to his words, and bowing their heads to the sacred waters of his nenitential baptism. As next week Rabbi Amos does not serve in his course in the Temple, and as he will have some affairs that take him to Gilgal, where he has three fields now ripe for the sickle, he has yielded to the desire of his daughter Mary and myself to accompany him; for he does not conceal from us that he shall make it a point to visit and hear the prophet, as it will be but two hours’ travel from Gilgal to the place where he preaches. You will, I fear me, object to this journey. But if the worship of our fathers has nothing to fear from falsehood, it surely has naught to fear from truth; and in either case I, as a true daughter of PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. te Israel, have nothing to fear. If the prophet teach what is false, I shall remain true; andif he teach what is true, shall I not be the gainer? I hear you say this is but feeble and womanly argumentation. But as you have given me the credit of, more than once, declaring it to be your belief that I am old and wise enough to judge for myself in most matters, = beg you will suffer me to hear the prophet with my own ears, in order that I may decide whether I ought to give heed to his predictions, or reject them as the visions. of a dreamer. One thing is clear—if the Christ that John prophesies be the true Son of the High- est, and is in reality to make his appearance ere long, in humiliation and poverty, his rejection by the High Priests, and by the rich and powerful of Judah, is certain. May God, then, remove blindness from our eyes, that, if this be the very Messias indeed, Israel may recognize their king, and not do so fearful a thing in their pride as to reject him openly! In this case, who will stand between God and our ill-fated race? Therefore, my dear father, it behooves every man in Israel to examine this matter with a sober and humble mind, and move with caution in opposition to what may prove the dearest hopes of our people. When I shall have returned from the desert, whither we are to travel on litters and mules, I will write you all that I have heard. You will remember the young Roman Centu- rion, to whose courtesy I was indebted in rescuing me from the rudeness of the two Gentile soldiers. He has preserved, since then, acquaintance with - Rabbi Amos, who speaks of him with respect; 74 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. and as he has of late expressed some interest in knowing what the studies are which occupy the rabbi so constantly when he calls to see him, which he has done frequently, a copy of the Prophets was placed in his hands; but as he professed he was not learned enough to read Hebrew, the good rabbi, who believed he saw in him a hopeful convert to the faith of Judah, called in Mary to read and interpret to him. But her knowledge of the Roman tongue did not prove sufficient, and at her request, the rabbi sent for me to come into the marble hall of the corridor, where they sat by the fountain, under the shade of the acacia, which Amos says you took with your own hands from Isaiah’s grave, and planted here, many vears ago, and which I therefore call ‘‘my father’s tree.’”’ ‘“‘Come hither, Adina,’’ said my unele, in his benevolent tones: ‘‘here you behold a noble Roman youth whom you must be too generous to have forgotten.’’ I bowed, and scarcely lifted my eyelids from the tesselated fioor; for there was a fire in the glance of the handsome youth that they could not encounter. He said some words of salutation, but I only heard the voice, which fell upon my heart with a strange vibration like the effects of music. Surely these barbar- ians of Italia have the richest language of all men; compared with it, our Hebrew is harsh and strangely guttural. ‘‘The Roman Centurion,’’ continued Amos, ‘‘hath desired to know some- thing of the sacred books of our nation, of which he saith he hath heard much; and of the prophe- cies, from which he believes the famed Sibylline books were composed.”’ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. G5 “I have studied the sacred books of Etruria, of Gaul, and those of the Goths and the Druids, of Egypt, and of Persia, as well as of my own people,’’ said the Centurion modestly, ‘‘but in all these I find rites and ceremonies, doctrines and laws, that are unworthy to emanate from the supreme Jove of so vast a universe. We Romans, in the multiplicity of our Gods, in deifying everything, in reality deify nothing! Every- thing we call God, but we realize God nowhere. ”’ ‘““Then thou hast well directed thy inquiries touching this book,’’ answered Amos, with warmth, and looking on the Roman with respect- ful compassion. ‘‘Here is to be found the true and only revelation of Jehovah to men. Here is developed a divine character, worthy of the Creator of the universe. Here are laid down laws and ceremonies, rites and doctrines, com- mands and precepts, that are worthy to emanate from the Father and God of all men. Thoushalt hear and judge forthyself. I am but imperfectly skilled in the Roman tongue, save for daily inter- course, but here is an Egyptian maiden, who can interpret for thee in the idiom of Grecia, or of Italia, and I will place the sacred scroll in her hands while I listen. Come, Adina, open and read the beginning of the Book of Moses.’’ I cbeyed, as I would have obeyed you, dear father, and, seated at the feet of Amos, I read and translated aloud into Greek, which the Roman youth had said was even more familiar to him than his native tongue (as it is to all edu- ‘cated persons in the world), the first five hundred lines. These, as you know, give an account of 76 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. the creation of the world, and of man, of his defection, and his expulsion from paradise; of the promise of Messias to restore what he had lost; of the curse denounced upon the creation, and the slaying of the Patriarch Abel, with the population of the earth, its wickedness, and destruction by the flood. To this the youthful warrior listened with the profoundest respect and attention; and when he had thanked me, and asked permission to come and be further taught from pages which he said seemed, indeed, to be written with the finger of the Supreme Lord of the universe, he asked if the Messias had yet come who was to restore all things? and if not, when was he to be looked for? This inquiry led to a conversation upon the preaching of John in the wilderness, and his predictions of the near advent of Shiloh. Rabbi Amos, seeing that he became deeply inter- ested in the subject, made me turn to the par- ticular prophecies of Daniel, Esaias, David, and others, and read them to him: both those which described, in golden words, the glory and domin- ion of his power, and those which represented him as despised and rejected. After I had read all which the rabbi directed me to read, the young man remained some time very thoughtful. At length he said, with animation: ‘‘I can now comprehend why men run into the wilderness. I should like to hear this prophet.’”’ When Amos told him that he contemplated journeying to Gilgal the next week, and intended to visit the desert to hear him, he at once asked permission to be of his company; but when I PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. vir § remarked that Mary and I were also to go, his dark eyes beamed with pleasure, and he immedi- ately said: ‘*T will accompany you with a squadron of horse, as the roads are not safe, for no longer than yesterday we received a rumor that the cele- brated robber chief, Barabbas, at the head of a large band, has made his appearance again on the hills, between Ephraim and Jericho, and had robbed not only two caravans, but many of those who were traveling to hear this prophet. I will make an expedition against him, after seeing you safely in Jericho.’’ When we heard of this robber, we were not a littie disposed to decline our journey; but Rabbi Amos thanked him, and said he would gladly accept his escort, ‘‘inasmuch,’’ he added, smil- ing, ‘‘as I know you Roman knights here in gar- rison have but little to employ your time, and would esteem it a privilege to have an excursion of this kind. Moreover, you say you must go against this bandit; so we do not so much draw on your courtesy as take shelter under your auty.”’ It is therefore decided, dear father, that we leave early next week for Jericho and Gilgal, and go also into the wilderness to see and hear the prophet. On my return, I shall not fail to write you without delay. Till then withhold your judgment, and have confidence in mine. With holy aspirations for the coming of the kingdom of David, and the restoration of his throne in Zion, I remain with filial love, your daughter, ADINA. 78 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. (John, cousin to Mary, who I erroneously told you in my second letter was the son of the rich matron whose husband was slain by the Romans, and is only her nephew, as, doubtless, you are aware, has gone to the Lake of Galilee, where his father and brother have ships and many serv- ants engaged in fishing, in order to look after their welfare. He may meet us at Gilgal.) PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 49 LETTER VIL. My Dear Fatuer: My trembling fingers scarcely hold the light reed with which I am about to write you concerning the extraordinary things I have seen and heard; but they trembled only with joy. Oh, my father, my dear, dear father, Messias has come! I have seenHim! I have heard His voice! He hastruly come! Oh, joy joy! My eyes have beheld Him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write! But let me not anticipate. In order that you may believe as I believe, though you have seen Him not, I will give to you an account of those events which have happened since my last letter was sent to you. I will try to write free from emotion, and keep my bounding heart still, and my hand calm, while I set in order all that has taken place, that your understanding may judge of them with that candor and wisdom which makes men see in you the wisest Israelite in the land of Egypt. You will recollect that in my hst last epistle, which went by the Cairo caravan, I mentioned that Rabbi Amos, taking advantage of the recess in his duties at the Temple, the course of the venerable Elihud being now waiting upon the altar, made up his mind to pay his annual visit to the wheat fields which he has in charge near Jericho, and which, as you know, are not his own 80 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. lands, but are in trust to him for the heirs of Manasseh, of the tribe of Benjamin, who was slain in trying to rescue Jericho from the Romans. Rabbi Amos, also, felt no little curiosity to hear John of Jordan, as he is called, whose fame has spread far and wide. At the request of Mary and myself, he consented that we should accompany him. John, the young man who is betrothed to my cousin, having gone to the sea of Galilee to see about certain ships which were there in charge of his brother James and his father, was to meet us at Gilgal, and accompany us to Jor- dan; for he thinks and speaks of nothing now but the prophet of the wilderness, from whom he feels that he suffers great loss to be absent even for a day. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho had be- come recently unsafe, on account of the boldness of an insurrectionary chief called Barabbas, who a year ago made insurrection against the Romans, but was defeated, and his band dispersed into the mountains south of the sea of Sodom; but at last, driven to famine, he has taken to robbing caravans; and since the number of travelers has increased so much between Jerusalem and Jordan to hear John and be baptized of him, he. has fallen upon large parties of them, and taken from them all their goodsandmoney. On this account Rabbi Amos accepted the courteous offer of the escort of the young Centurion, who had been ordered by the Procurator, Pontius Pilate, to keep the road open between Jerusalem and Jeri- cho; for even the Roman couriers were stopped by this fearless robber and slain by him. The PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. S1 pride of Rabbi Amos shrank from this dependence upon a Roman arm, in making a peaceful journey through his own land; but there is, alas! dear father, no one now among the seed of Abraham to assert their rights. We can only bow our heads to the yoke the Lord God has placed upon our necks. It was faint dawn when we rose from our couches to prepare for the journey. The mules upon which we were to ride were brought into the court by the two swarthy Gibeonite serfs, whom Rabbi Amos holds in his service, and caparisoned with rich saddles covered with Per- sian saddle-cloths embroidered with gold. The two pack mules were also made ready, on one of which was the traveling equipage of my cousin Mary and myself, which Rabbi Amos smilingly said took up more space than the goods and traveling wares of a Damascus merchant. At sunrise, after we had kneeled upon the house-top in view of the Temple, and sent up our prayers with its sacrifices and clouds of ascending incense, we descended to the courtyard to mount for the road. There was a stout mule for good Rabbi Amos, though the Centurion sent him a hand- some Persian horse to ride; but my uncle said that he had never trusted himself on so uncertain an animal as a horse in his youth, and he thought he should scarcely adventure such a feat in his old age; so he preferred his mule. Having got ourselves seated upon our cush- ioned saddles, and our veils ready to draw over our faces, we expected each moment the arrival of the Centurion and his cohort of horse; but a 82 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Numidian slave came running, and bowing to the ground before Rabbi Amos, said that the Cen- turion would meet us at the corner of the two ways, beyond the walls, at Absalom’s Pillar. Whereupon we all mounted, and took our way toward the East Gate. We were five persons in all, Rabbi Amos, my cousin Mary and myself, and the two Gibeonites, both of whom were young: men, whose fathers for many centuries had been servants in the family of Amos, even from the time of Joshua, when this people de- ceived him by their craftiness, and were doomed to perpetual servitude. Iam much struck with the appearance of this singular race of men. They have very dark faces, eagle-beaked noses, flashing black eyes, and slender, lithe forms. They look cunning and treacherous, but seem to be cowardly, and easily controlled by firmness. They are incapable of any attachments, and gratitude seems to be thrown away upon them. I heard a singular tradition about them from one of the Levites who often visits Rabbi Amos, which is that they are descended from the serv- ants of Noah, which were saved with him in the ark, but who, as being of an inferior rank, were not included in the record of Noah’sfamily. But doubtless you have heard the same tradition. The morning was bright and cheerful, with the golden sun pouring its light over temple and tower, castle and roof, wall and rampart, hill and grove, valley and brook, one and all of which were lighted up with the glory of his morning beams. As we turned the street leading to the Sheep Gate, we passed the house of Caiaphas, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 83 the High Priest, whom I saw standing upon the marble porch of his superb palace. He was not arrayed in his sumptuous robes, with the breast- plate of dazzling stones and kingly cap, as I had seen him in the Temple; but was dressed in'a flowing black robe, over which was thrown a searf of white linen; and upon his snow-white locks he wore a scarlet hood, a dress common te all the priests, so that if I had not recognized him by his tall and commanding form and flow- ing white hair and piercing eye, as he surveyed us, I should not have known that it was the High Priest. He spoke to Rabbi Amos, who did him reverence, and lowly did I bend my own head before the majesty of the representative of God on earth. A little further on we met a party coming from the country beyond Kedron with large cages upon their mules, laden with turtle doves and young pigeons, which they were carrying to the Temple, to be sold therefor sacrifices. My heart pitied the innocent things, whose blue, pretty heads were thrust by the dozen through the rough bars of their prison houses, as they cast their soft eyes up at me, as if asking me to deliver them from their bondage. And when I refiected that they were to offer up their innocent lives for the sins of the men and women of Israel, my cheek burned with the blush of shame, that we were so guilty before the Lord God that the innocent must die for us. As Mary was riding behind me, in order to let the laden mules pass with their immense cages, one of the turtle- doves, affrighted by the noise of the streets, 84 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. extricated itself from between the bars, and, spreading its wings, flew into the air, and then taking its flight for the country, soared far above the city walls, and disappeared in the distance. I felt rejoiced at the innocent bird’s escape, and sent my good wishes for its safe return to its lodge in the wilderness. Just before we reached the Sheep Gate by which we were to gain the Jericho road, we met a poor blind man leading a lamb, or rather being led by atame lamb. He also had two pigeons in his bosom. He was asked by Rabbi Amos, who knew him, whither he was going. He answered that he was going to the Temple to sacrific them. ‘‘Nay,’’ said Amos, with surprise, ‘‘thou wilt not sacrifice thy lamb, Bartimeus!’’ ‘‘T have promised them to God, Rabbi Amos, and I may not break my promise without sin.’’ ‘*But thy lamb leadeth thee everywhere. It is eves to thee. Thou canst not do without it.”’ ‘‘God will provide me another lamb,’’ he an- swered, his face beaming with hope. ‘But thy doves? Thou earnest by them many a mite in a day, they are so well taught in cun- ning and pleasant tricks to please children. If thou must sacrifice according to thy vow, spare these so needful to thee, and here is money to buy doves and another lamb,’’ answered my benevolent uncle. ‘‘Hear what I have to say,’’ answered Barti- meus. ‘‘My father became sick, and was likely to die, and I vowed to God that if he would heal the old man, my father, I would sacrifice unto him one of my doves. The next day my mother, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 85 who has nourished my childhood, and loved me, though I was born blind, with all her heart, was also taken sick. I then vowed my other pigeon. The same night my little daughter, my little blind daughter, whose face I never saw, and who never saw her father’s face, was sick nigh unto death. Then it was that I vowed all that re- mained to me, even the lamb of my bosom, whom Lloved next to my child! My father, my mother, my child, are restored, and in my joy Iam on my way to the Temple to offer these gifts of God to him. It will be hard, sir, but shall I not perform my vow? It will be hard to part with them, I shall miss them so much; but God will not let blind Bartimeus suffer, since He will see that he offereth, in offering his two little doves and his lamb, all that he hath.’’ With these words he moved on, the lamb obey- ing the string which he held, softly moving on before; while I could see the sightless eyes of the righteous son and father trickle tears, as he kissed, and kissed again, the doves that lay in his bosom. This little occurrence made me sad; yet I honored the resolute piety of this poor man, whose eyes, though they saw not men, seemed to see God and feel his presence. There is still humble piety in the land, my dear father, and finding it not among the proud and splendid priests, we must look for it in the hearts of the poor and humble, like Bartimeus. Upon reaching the Sheep Gate, we were not detained by the Roman captain, who kept others, examining their passports, and taking gate- money from those who were without them; for 86 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. though foot passengers may pass in and out free, yet from those who ride horses or mules is exacted money, unless they have passes signed by the Procurator. But the captain of the gate no sooner saw us than he, with great civility, made us pass through the gate in advance of others who were ready to go through, saying that the young Centurion, whose name, I think, Ihave not told you is Admilius, had given him orders not to detain us. The stern, iron-cased Roman soldiers that stood about the gate struck me as having just the aspect and forms of men who could conquer the world. When I reflected that there was not a city on the earth, at whose gates did not stand just such men as these, armed, and clad, and bearded like them, I could not but respect the universal power of the Roman empire, while I feared it. Once outside of the gates, the air blew fresh from the hills of olives, laden with fragrance. After being so long confined within the walls and narrow streets, it seemed to me that I had just broken out of my cage, like the pretty blue- headed turtle dove, and I felt like winging my way too to the free deserts, if wings of a dove so ardently longed for by King Dayid, could only have been given me. On our right, not far from the gate, Rabbi Amos pointed out to me the pool of Bethesda, and turning my eyes toward it, I beheld a most touching spectacle. All the five porches were filled with sick and impotent folk, the lame, halt, blind, and withered, waiting, as my uncle told us, for the moving of the waters; for, at certain seasons, he said that God sends an PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 8? angel down into the pool to trouble the water, when whosoever steps in first is made wnhole of whatsoever disease he may have. I could not but stop my mule to regard so remarkable a sight as this congregation of miserable people, of whom there must have been no less than four hundred; some leaning, pale and haggard, against the columns, some creeping about in helplessness, like brutes trying to get nighor the pool from which the stronger thrust them back; some reclining patiently upon their beds, in humble waiting for God’s time; and othors being borne thither on tho shoulders of men. Sud- denly, as I was about to ride on, and shut out this painful sight, one of the most extraordinary scenes that human eyes could witness took place. The surtacc of the pool, which was hitherto per- fectly placid, all at once became agitated, as if it were boiling, and began to swell, rush, or rather swing from sido to side in a remarkable manner. No sooner was this seen than there arose from the throng of wretched invalids who crowded its steps aecry of four hundred voices all at once, shritks of joy, shouts of wonder, words of amazed exclamation, while s simultaneous move- ment took place of the whole mass of human bodies, which became as wildly tossed to and fro as were the waters. Those nearest plunged madly in, while those behind rushed down, some wildly shrieking in their agonizing haste, and some uttering the most fearful curses, as they found their way obstructed by the impenetrable masseg before them. The most weak and impotent being most eager, and being furthest off, made super 88 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. human exertions to gain the pool, howling, and climbing with hands and feet, over the backs of others, to be hurled to the ground and trampled upon by others who were behind them. Some strong men, who tried to open the way for one they were carrying, drew their knives, and pro- ceeded to cut their way through the haggard and mouthing wretches who crowded the way, which violence being seen by the Romans from the gate, they went down, some score of them, with drawn swords, to quell the tumult; for the whole pool was in an uproar. Unable to endure the dread- ful scene, we rode rapidly on, but I afterward heard that before quiet was restored several men were slain, and that five of those who had got into the pool were drowned beneath the feet of those who recklessly leaped in over the heads of others upon them. ‘‘TIg it possible,’’? I asked Rabbi Amos, after we had reached the borders of Kedron, ‘‘that it is the act of an angel that can produce all this confusion and outbreak of the worst of human passions ?’’ ‘*There is no doubt that the troubling of the waters is a miracle,’’ he answered. ‘‘The act of the angel is good. His touch gives a healing power that cures diseases; and ghall his benevo- lence be answerable for these dreadful and dis- gusting consequences which we have just wit- nessed ?’’ | I was silent; but I sighed for the wickedness of man, that can make even God’s gifts curses in the reception of them. We now turned a little to the right, for as the PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. &9 bridge by which the road of Jericho is usually gained was being solidly rebuilt by the Romans, we had to follow the brookside till we came near Absalom’s Pillar, at the sight of which, the whole history of that misguided young prince came before me. How wonderful that the glori- ous head of golden hair, of which he was vain, and of which the poets of that day speak more than once, should have been the instrument of his death! There were ancient oak trees in sight, which the rabbi said were old enough to be a part of the forest through which he rode so fatally, and doubtless were. He showed me the pit into which the ten young men who slew Absalom cast him, heaping great stones upon him. It is close beside the pillar. This prince must have been as brave as he was beautiful and. disobedient, that when hanging by his hair in the oak, and incapable of doing them harm, it should require ‘‘ten young men to compass him and smite him.’’ How interesting to me is every spot about Jerusalem! I seem to live in the ancient days, when I see the scenes where have been enacted thc great events which consti- ~ tute the history and glory of our nation. We had hardly reached the place where the two roads meet, when we heard to the west the sound of the galloping of a large body of horse, and the next moment the young Roman Centurion came in sight, by the road from the Horse Gate, riding at the head of a troop of horse, whose martial appearance, with the ringing of their armor, and the melody of their bugles, made my blood leap; and Iam sure if I could have seen 90 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. my eyes, I should have discovered in them a martial fire. Admilius looked like a prince, and his burnished armor shone in the sun like armor of fire. At his side rode a youth who bore the eagle of his band; but the Centurion himself carried in his hand only the badge of his rank, which was a vine rod bound with rings of gold. He saluted us with that courtesy which distin- guishes his every motion, and then dividing his troop into two bodies, half of whom trotting on ahead, led the van, and the other half, falling behind, served as arear guard. He then gave the word to move forward. The Centurion him- self rode either by the side of Rabbi Amos, or near our bridles, but he did not so far occupy himself with us as to forget his duty as captain, which he fulfilled with the utmost vigilance, especially after we passed the village, and entered upon the desert space that lies beyond Bethany. Farewell, dear father, till my next, when I will resume my narrative of the events which have taken place since I left Jerusalem. The God of our father Abraham be your defense and shield. Your affectionate daughter, ADINA. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 91 LETTER VIII. My Dear Fatuer: The very kind manner in which you have received my communications re- specting the extraordinary prophet now drawing all Judea after him into the wilderness, and the assurance that I can obtain from ‘your wisdom, jearning and piety, a solution of all difficulties, and a true guide to the truth, prompt mo to con- tinue freely, and in detail, the relation of events that have passed under my expericnee. I shall, in my accounts of tho marvelous occurrences that I have witnessed, and may yet witness, not only convey to you the impressions n2ao upon my own mind, but upon tho minds oi many others of the wise and learned and great, who also have heard and seen these things. Thus you will have the weight of many testimonies, which you will doubtless hold in respect in proportion to the dignity, and wisdom, and rank of the persons. My last letter ended with an account of the Roman escort, under the authority of the young Roman Centurion, who, as I have before written to you, with so much courtesy proffered its pro- tection to our little party. ‘The day was yet early, the sun not having got more than an hour and a half high above the Arabian hills, and the air was of that buoyant elasticity so agreeable 92 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. to breathe, and which strikes me as one of the peculiar blessings of this holy land of our fathers. In Egypt there is a want of life in the torrid air at this season that we do not here experience; and as I rode along I felt as if I would gladly mount the Arabian of the desert, and fly across the sandy seas of Edom with the fleetness which amazes me whenever I see the children of the desert ride; for a band of thirty came near us from a gorge as we approached Bethany, and after watching us a few moments, scoured away into the recesses of the hills, like the wind, as a detachment of a score of our Roman escort was ordered to gallop toward them. Upon this Rabbi Amos said that we were fortunate in hay- ing such strong protection, for this party of the children of Esau would otherwise have attacked and plundered us, as they are wont to do every party of Israelites they fall in with; and the recent concourse of so many people to Jordan, has drawn them boldly near Jerusalem, says the Roman Centurion, in great numbers, to lay in wait for, and rob them. Thus, the hostility which began between the patriarch Jacob and the patriarch lisau, has never yet been healed, but rankles in thc bosoms of thoir descendants even to this day; and still, ‘‘Esau hateth Jacob, because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him.’’ The Romans greatly admired the horsemanship of these children of Esau, and upon their heavy horses, armed with their iron armor, it would havo been vain to have followed them to their retreats. We soon afterward reached Bethany, from PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 93 which we had a gorgeous view of the Holy City of God, with its lofty Temple glittering in the sunbeams, like a mountain of architectural silver. The tower of Antonia darkly contrasted with its splendor, and the citadel of David frowned over the walls with a warlike majesty that deeply impressed me. Ah, how could I gaze upon the scene, my dear father, without emo- tions of awe, wonder, adoration, and gratitude! I drew rein, and entreated Rabbi Amos to delay a few moments while I surveyed Jerusalem, which, familiar as it might be to him, and to all the rest of our cavalcade, was new to me; but he was too far ahead to hear me, for I had already been lingering for some seconds; and the Cen- turion, riding up to my side, stopped respect- fully with a portion of his command, and said he would await my leisure. Icould not but thank him for his civility, and then turning to the city, I was soon lost to all else but the awful contem- plation of it. lTrresistibly, as I gazed, I went back, in memory, to the time when our father Abraham was met before its gates by Melchisedek, its king, who received regal homage from him. I saw again David coming forth from its lofty portals at the head of armies to conquer the surrounding nations. I beheld the splendid trains of oriental monarchs, of the kings of the South, and the kings of the North, and of Sheba, the queen of happy Arabia, winding through its pleasant valley, and entering in to prostrate them- selves before Solomon, the prince of wisdom, glory, and power, the fame of whose wisdom and greatness filled the whole earth. Alas! the 94 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. whole earth is now filled with the story of the shame and bondage of Israel! But the day cometh, dear father, when she shall lift up her face from the dust, and put on regal garments, and God shall place a crown upon her head, and her glory and dominion shall be without end. This certainty quenched the tears that burst into my eyes as I contrasted the present with the past. In memory, as I continued to gaze, I saw the armies of the Assyrians, and the armies of the Chaldeans, the armies of Egypt, and of Per- gia, of Cyrus, and of Greece, all, each in its turn, encompassing the Holy City, and conquering it even though God dwelt therein in the mysterious fire of the Shechinah. But the presence of Jehovah in a city or in a heart will not save it from its foes if the city or the heart be not with God; and we know from the Prophets that the hearts of our fathers were far from God; and therefore were they delivered up to their enemies to be scourged. Oh, my dear father, that oux people of to-day would learn the fearful lesson that the past teacheth them! ‘*You should see Rome,’’ said the Centurion, who had watched my emotion evidently with sur: prise. ‘‘It is a city of grandeur unequaled. Ii covers six times more space than this city, and it contains three hundred and sixty-five temples, while Jerusalem contains but one!”’ ‘‘There is no God but one,’’ I answered im- pressively. ‘We believe that there is one God, who is the author of a great multitude of lesser gods, ana to each we erect a temple.’’ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 95 Upon this, touched with pity that one so noble in mind and person should be so ignorant of the truth, I began to show him from the Prophets that God was One, and that all things were made by Him. But he, plucking a blossom from a tree which was within reach, said: **It is beneath the dignity of the Father of the gods, the great Jove, to descerd to make a flower like this; or shape a crystal; or color the ruby; or create that golden-dyed humming-bird which flutters among those fragant blossoms. He made the sun and moon and stars and earth, but left the lesser works to inferior doitios. Talk to me of thy One God, and prove to mo, maiden, that He made all things, and is One, and thy God shall be my God.’’ ; It was then no time for me to endeavor to combat this error, but I havo reserved to myself the first convenient opportunity to endeavor to instruct him in the truth as it is revealed from heaven to our favored people. He has already manifested an inquiring spirit into our holy faith, and Rabbi Amos has taught him many things from the books of Moses, but sufficient only to lead him to desire to know more; but not to eradicate from his heart his pagan superstitions. The gentleness of his nature, his sound judg- ment, the frankness of his character, the ingenu- ous temper of the whole man, inspire me with great confidence that he will be ultimately con- vinced of hig errors, and embrace the faith of Israel. We now rode forward through the principal street of Bethany, and soon came to the house of 96 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. your former friend, Rabbi Abel, who died many years ago at Alexandria, when he went there with merchandise, and after the welfare of whose chil- dren you desired me to make inquiries. They are now, aS you are aware, grown to the fu} estate of manhood and womanhood, and still dwell at Bethany. Being friends of my cousin Mary, it was decided that we should stop there to rest half an hour before proceeding on our way. It was a plain and humble dwelling, before which Rabbi Amos assisted me to alight; but there was an air of sweet domestic repose about it that at once came home to my heart, and made me love the place even before I had seen the inmates, who had come out to receive, and gone in with my cousin; but on hearing of my arrival there came out a fair young girl of twenty-two, with the most amiable expression of affectionate welcome; and, approaching me with mingled respect and love, she embraced me, while Rabbi ~ Amos pronounced our names to each other. I felt immediately as if I were in a sister’s arms, and that I should love her always. Next came forth a young man of about thirty years of age, with a countenance of an exceedingly interesting expression, full of intellect and good will. He was pale and habitualiy thoughtful, but a fine friendly light beamed in his dark, handsome eyes as he extended his hand to welcome me. You have already had a full description of him and of his character in one of my former letters, and need not be told that it was the son of your friend. At the threshold Martha, the eldest sister, met me, but with more ceremony, and PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 9% made an apology for receiving into so lowly a dwelling the rich heiress of Alexandria, as she termed me; but I embraced her so affectionately, that this feeling passed away instantly. I was much struck with this wholefamily. Each mem- ber of it possessed attractions of a peculiar kind; and in all three I seemed to have found two sis- ters and a brother. Martha busied herself at once to prepare refreshments for us, and soon set before us afrugal but agreeable repast, more than we desired; for we all insisted that we needed nothing, as we had not been long in the saddle. Mary, in the meanwhile, and Lazarus, sat on either side of me, and asked me many questions about Alexandria, and particularly if I had ever seen their father’s tomb. And when I told them that at my father’s request I had kept the flowers fresh about it, they both pressed my hands and thanked me so gratefully that tears in my own eyes answered to the tears in theirs. How shall I describe to you the loveliness of the person of Mary, and yet not so much the per- fection of feature as the soul which animates them, and lends them a charm that I cannot ade- quately convey to you? Her eyes are of that remarkable color so seldom seen among our peo- ple, and when it is, is of a richer and more ceru- lean tone than is found in the azure-eyed nativey of the north. They are as blue as the skies of Judea, and yet possess all the starry, torrid splendor of the eyes of the Hebrew maids. Her hair, which is a soit, golden brown, is worn knotted in wavy masses about her superbly molded neck. Her air is serene and confiding, 9§ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. and she has so little art that she lets you read all the secrets of her pure soulin the summer heaven of the sweet eyes I have spoken of.. There is an indescribable pensiveness about her that is most touching, and at the same time pleasing. Martha, the oldest, is of a more lively disposi- tion, yet more commanding in her aspect, being taller, and almost queenly. Her eyes and hair are jet black; theformer mild, and beaming with intelligence, like those of her brother Lazarus, whom she resembles. She has a winning voice and a manner that leads you to feel strong con- fidence in her friendship. She seemed to take the whole management of our entertainment upon herself, which the quieter Mary left to her, as if a matter of course, preferring rather to talk with me about the land of Egypt, where our fathers were so long in bondage, and about which all our young people in Judea have such awful ideas. Mary asked me if Iwas not afraid to dwell there? if I ever saw the tomb of the Pharaohs? and if the seventy pyramids of the Nilus were not the work of our forefathers? Lazarus conversed chiefly with Rabbi Amos, who questioned him with much interest about the prophet John of the wilderness, to whom, you will remember, I . wrote you Lazarus had paid a visit. After our repast, Martha showed me three beautiful bands of embroidery, which she was working for the new veil of the Temple to be put up next year; for the sisters live by working needlework for the Temple, and Lazarus makes copies of the Law and Psalms for the priests. He showed me his copying table, and the rolls upon it, some PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 99 partly done, some quite complete. He also showed mea copy of the book of Isaiah, which he had just finished, and which had occupied him one hundred and seven days. It was exquisitely executed. Another incomplete copy was thrown aside, and was destined to be burned, because he had made a mistake in forming one letter; for if an iota be added too much, the work is con- demned and burned, so strict are the priests that perfect and immaculate copies of the Law, and none others, shall exist. Mary also showed me a beautifully-embroidered foot tablet, which the wife of Pilate, when she was last from Cesarea, ordered for herself. *‘T shall not receive coin for it,’’ said Mary, **but present it to her: forshe has ever been very kind to us; and when, last year, she and the Procurator Pilate, her lord, came up from Cesarea to Jerusalem, about the time of the Passover, she sent her own household physician to heal Laza- rus, who was taken sick from overmuch confine- ment to his tasks. She knew us only by inquir- ing who it was who worked the embroidering of the altar mantles, which she had much admired.’”’ Seeing upon the table a richly-worked book- cover of silk and velvet, with the letters ‘‘I. N.’’ embroidered in olive leaves upon it, I asked her if that, it being so elegant, was not for the High Priest? **No,’’ answered Martha, with brightening eyes, speaking before her sister could reply, ‘‘that is for our friend, and the friend and brother of Lazarus.’ **What is his name?’’ I asked. £00 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ‘*Jesus, of Nazareth.’”’ ‘‘T have heard John speak of him,’’ said my cousin Mary, with animation, and appealing to me, reminded me how John had repeated what Lazarus had spoken to him of his friend from Nazareth, which I have written to you. ‘“‘E should feel happy,’’ added my cousin, ‘‘to know him also. ’’ ‘*And from what I have heard of him,”’’ said I, ‘*it would be indeed a pleasure to see him.’”’ The two sisters listened to us with pleasure, and Martha said: ‘“If you had been here a few days ago, you would have seen him. He left us, after being with us three weeks, to go to Nazareth again. But he requested to meet Lazarus at Bethabara, on the third day from this, for some important reason; and my brother will go, for he loves him so that he would cross the seas to meet him.”’ ‘‘Then,’’ said Rabbi Amos to Lazarus, ‘‘if you are to journey so soon toward Jordan to meet your friend, you had best join our company, and share our escort.’’ To this Lazarus, after some consultation with his sisters, consented. What a happy family, thought I, is this! The sisters happy in each other’s love, the brother happy in theirs, all three united as one in the purest affection, and yet a fourth is added to the circie, whose love for the three is equal to theirs for him! Humble in station, poor, and depend- ent upon the labor of their hands for their daily bread, yet their household is one that kings might envy, and which no gold nor jewels could purchase. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 101 I left this blessed abode of fraternal friendship with regret, and felt that I should be perfectly happy if I could be admitted as a fifth link in the wreath of their mutual love. Even the Roman Centurion had been struck with the air of peace- ful repose reigning there, and spoke of it to me as we rode away. About noon we stopped ata caravansary, half the way to Jericho from Bethany. Here we over- took a friend of Rabbi Amos, the venerable and learned scholar and lawyer, Gamaliel. He was, he confessed, also riding to Jordan, to have an interview with the prophet, being persuaded to seek it on account of an extraordinary dream he had, which he repeated to his friend Rabbi Amos, but not in our hearing; but the effect upon my uncle excited a good deai of my curiosity to know what it was, but he has been studiously silent upon the subject. Accompanying the lawyer, Gamaliel, was a young man who was his disciple, and who went with him as a companion by the way. His name is Saul; and I noticed him par- ticularly, because I overheard the venerable lawyer say that he was the most remarkable young man who had ever sat at his feet to learn the mysteries of the law. This young law- disciple and Lazarus rode together, and talked long and earnestly by the way, the former think- ing that nothing but mischief would come of the uew prophet’s preaching, while the latter warmly defended him and his mission as divine. To their conversation the Roman Centurion listened with the closest attention, for Saul was learned in the Prophets, and drew richly from its stores 102 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. to prove that the true Messias can never be heralded by so mean a messenger as this preacher of repentance in the wilderness. Saul eloquently drew a gorgeous picture of Messias’ coming, and the splendor of his reign, and that angels and heavenly signs, and not a wild man of the wilder- ness, with water baptism, should prepare the way before him. At length, as the day closed, we came in sight of the walls and towers of Jericho, but succeeded in reaching the gates only after they were closed. But the presence of the young Centurion caused them to be immediately reopened, and we were admitted, with some hundreds, who having reached the gate after it was shut, now begged and received permission to enter in our company. The next day we proceeded to Gilgal alone, the road being perfectly safe, the courteous Roman having early the same morning issued from the gates, in haste to pursue the famous Barabbas, who had the last night attacked a car- avan within four leagues of Jordan, and taken much booty, as well as slain many men. ‘‘T now write to thee beneath the roof of the summer residence of Rabbi Amos. To-morrow early,’’ says a passage which I copy from my journal, written there, ‘‘we are going to Betha- bara, a little village beyond Jordan, but on its banks, near which we learn John is now baptiz- ing, he being no longer at the ford of Jordan, where my cousin Mary’s betrothed, John, found him, and was baptized of him a few weeks ago. Lazarus has gone on with Saul, and the learned Gamaliel, with many lawyers and doctors in com- PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 103 pany, who desire to see and hear this prophet of the wilderness. ’”’ Indeed, dear father, the advent of a prophet is of so rare an occurrence among us, that the bare: idea that John the Baptizer may be a true prophet of God has moved the great heart of Israel, and stirred up curiosity, hope, and marvel, in the highest degree ever known in the land. ‘There seems to be but one subject, and but one thought. Every man says to hisneighbor: ‘‘Have you séen or heard the new prophet? Is he Messias, or is he Elias ?’’ My next letter will give you a narration, my dear father, of what I witnessed at Bethabara, and will, perhaps, more deeply interest you than anything I have yet written. That the hope of Israel may not be long de- ferred, and that we may receive the Messias, when he cometh, in humble faith, in honor, and in leve, in the prayer of Your affectionate daughter, ADINA. 104 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. LETTER IX. My Dear Faruer: In these letters to you which give an account of my excursion with Rabbi Amos to the Jordan, I hope you will pardon the details which I enter into, for it is my earnest desire that you should see everything with my eyes, as if you had been present with me; in order that you may, though absent, be able to judge as if you had been an eye-witness of the remarkable events of which I have undertaken to give you a complete history. I know that your liberal mind, and your sense of equity and jus- tice, will lead you to read all I have to write before you take upon you to make a reply to the facts which, with filial love and reverence, J present to your consideration. After Rabbi Amos had reached the house in the wheatfields of Gilgal, where he intended to take up his sojourn for the two weeks of harvest, and had directed his servants what to do, he kindly told us that he was ready to accompany my cousin Mary and myself to the Jordan, to hear the prophet. It was with no little gratifica- tion, therefore, that my cousin and myself once more mounted our mules, and proceeded toward the place where we heard the prophet was baptiz- ing. But we had not ridden a great way from the house when we overtook two men on foot, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 105 with staves in their hands and wallets upon their shoulders. As we passed, one of them raised his cap with respect to Rabbi Amos, who, from his rank as a priest, and his venerable appearance, always commands the homage of all men. ‘“Whither goest thou at such a pace, friend Matthew?’’ said Rabbi Amos, returning his salute; for he seemed to know him. ‘‘Canst thou leave thy tax-gathering these busy times to go into the wilderness ?’’ The person, who was a man of stout figure, with dark hair and beard, and a look of intelli- gence, but whose costume was plain and ill-worn, smiled, and answered: *“‘TIf a man would find thy payers of tribute nowadays, good master, he must not stay at home, forsooth, but go into the wilderness of Jordan where all men have gone. Verily, this new prophet emptieth our towns, and we publi- cans must remain idle in our seat of customs, or go with the tide.’’ ‘““Thy words are near the truth, friend Mat- thew,’’ answered my uncle; ‘‘but hast thou no other motive in thy heart than looking after thy Roman coins, in taking this journey from Jeri- cho ?”’ *‘T have curiosity to see a man whom multi- tudes resort to from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from all Judea, and from beyond Jordan. ”’ **And thinkest thou,’’ continued my uncle, as the two men walked along by the side of his mule, ‘‘thinkest thou this prophet is a true son of the prophets ?”’ 106 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ‘‘He works no miracles, unless, indeed, the power of his preaching be a miracle,’’ answered Matthew. ‘“This man is an impostor. There can be no prophet unless he prove his mission by miracles,’’ suddenly said the companion of Matthew, speak~ ing up abruptly in a sharp and unpleasing voice. Now neither Mary nor I liked the face of this man from the first. He was of good height, he was well featured, and his attire was rich; but he had a haughty air, combined with a cringing deference to Rabbi Amos, that made me think he must be a hypocrite. He smiled with his mouth and teeth, but at the same time looked sinister out of hiseyes. Hehadan air of humility which seemed to me to be put on to conceal the pride and wickedness of his character. He looked like a man who could artfully deceive to gain his self- ish ends, and who would kneel to you to overturn you. The sound of his voice confirmed my first impression of him. Upon his speaking, Rabbi Amos fixed his eyes upon him, as if he did not like the manner of his breaking in upon the con- versation, and then mildly replied: ‘““Moses performed no miracles. Aaron, or Aaron’s rod was the instrument whereby these were done before Pharaoh. This prophet may be as Aaron to the great Prophet he foretelleth. What is thy companion’s name, friend Matthew ?’’ he asked aside, as the other walked on ahead. ‘*His name is Judas, called Iscariot. He hath been engaged by me to bear the moneys I collect in the country villages; and as we are to gather taxes both at Gilgal and Bethabara, he cometh with me.”’ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE cF DAYID. 107 We now came in sight of the Jordan, but could discover no crowd upon its banks. While we were wondering at not beholding any signs of the multitude, we met a stranger who was riding a horse, and coming from the northward, who, seeing us apparently in perplexity, inquired with courtesy if we were not seeking John the prophet. Upon Rabbi Amos replying in the affirmative, the horseman informed us that he had removed up the river, some two hours’ ride, and was then baptizing at the little village of Bethabara, on the east bank of Jordan; and he added that not less than eight thousand people must be throng- ing the shore. ‘*Dost thou know this stranger?’’ asked of Matthew Rabbi Amos, who had _ gratefully thanked him for his intelligence, looking back after him as herodeon. ‘‘I saw thee salute him.”’ ‘‘He is an officer of Herod the Tetrarch’s household,’’ was the response, ‘‘a Hebrew of great wealth, and he payeth more tribute-money to the emperor from his lands than any Israelite between Jericho and Jerusalem.’’ At length, dear father, after hastening the speed of our mules, and riding pleasantly for two hours along the verdant banks of Jordan, we came in sight of a square tower of stone, peering above the trees which marked the site of the vil- lage of Bethabara. ‘‘That tower,’’ said Rabbi Amos, ‘‘stands over a cave in which Elijah long dwelt, and in which Isaiah at one time concealed himself from his enemies. It is now called the ‘Tower of Elijah.’ From the summit of yonder hill, at the left, the prophet was caught up, and 108 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID ascended to heaven upon the chariot of fire; and near where you see the single rock, Elisha divided Jordan with the fallen mantle left him by the ascending prophet of God.”’ All these places, with many others which the intelligent Rabbi Amos pointed out to us. were very interesting to me, for nothing commands my attention so profoundly as allusions to the scenes of the olden days of the prophets and kings of Israel. While my eyes were fixed upon the hill, and my imagination presented to me Elijah upon the chariot of heaven, disappearing amid the clouds, there was an opening in the wood before us, and all at once we beheld a scene that made my heart cease to beat, it was so new and wonderful. At that place the river takes a broad curve, and the opposite village of Betha- bara lies in the hollow of it, forming the center of half a circle. This wide curving shore was alive with the human heads that filled it. Nota place could be seen where some one did not stand. And of this vast multitude every eye was concentrated upon the prophet, as from the cres- cent tiers of the amphitheater in Alexandria all gaze at once upon the scenes passing in the arena. He was standing on the opposite shore (for Jordan here was very narrow, and can be forded), on the verge of the water, addressing the countless assembly that stood opposite and half-encircling him. Near him, behind, and on either side, sat his disciples, at least a hundred in number, chiefly young men. Behind rose the Tower of Elijah, and receding further from the shore lay the sweet village of Bethabara, with its green gardens and snow-white walls. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 109 The clear voice of the youthful prophet of the wilderness fell distinctly on our ears, so great was the stillness of the vast audience. We could not approach very near on our mules, and dis- mounting on the outskirts of the throng, we left them with the two servants, and on foot drew as near to the place where the prophet stood as we could. Many of the people, seeing and recogniz- ing Rabbi Amos, made way for him, so that at length we stood directly opposite the speaker, with a full view of him, so that we could hear every word. To my surprise I saw John, the cousin of Mary, standing close to the prophet, and listening with the deepest and most reverent attention to every word he uttered. Thesubject of the prophet’s discourse was as before, and as always, the coming of the Messias. Oh, that I could give you my dear father the faintest idea of the power and eloquence of his words! ““There is no remission of sin without shedding of blood,’’ he said earnestly. ‘‘The baptism of water with which I baptize you is unto repent- ance; but there must be blood outpoured ere sin can be washed away! Do you ask me if the blood of bulls and goats take not away sin? I answer and say unto you that the Lord hath said that he delighteth not in these rivers of blood.’’ **For what, then, great prophet,’’ asked one of the chief Levites who stood near us, ‘‘for what then are the sacrifices ordained by the Law of Moses? For what then thealtar and the Temple, and the daily sacrifice of the Lamb ?”’’ *‘For what,’’ repeated the prophet, with his eyes beaming with the earnest light of inspira< 110 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. tion, ‘‘for what but as types and shadows of the true blood—of the real and true sacrifice ap- pointed by God from the foundation of the world! Think ye Ican slay the lamb of my flock for the sin of my soul? If God demands thy life, shall he accept the life of a brute? Nay, men of Israel, the day has come when your eyes shall be opened. ‘The hour is at hand when the true meaning of the daily sacrifice shall be under- stood. Lo! the Messiah cometh, and ye shall see and believe!’’ There now came several persons toward him who desired baptism. While he was baptizing these persons, both men and women, I saw appear on the little mound near the tower from which Rabbi Amos had said Elijah ascended, Lazarus, the brother of Martha, accompanied by a man of about his own years, of an indescribable dignity and grace of aspect, combined with an air of benevolence and peace that at once attracted me. **It must be the friend of Lazarus,’’ said Mary to me; for she had discovered them at the same time. ‘‘See with what calm serenity he gazes upon the multitude, yet retiring in his manner as if he shrank from the common eye!’’ He was wrapped in avesture of dark blue cloth, which was folded about his form; his head was bare, and his dark hair flowed down about his shoulders. He seemed so unlike all other men, in a certain majesty united with sweetness that marked his whole air, that I could not withdraw my gaze from him. The prophet at the same moment rested his eyes upon him, and as he did so I saw a change PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 111] eome over his face, as if he had seen an angel. His eyes shone with unearthly brilliancy, his lips parted as if he would speak, yet had lost the power; and then with his right hand stretched forth toward the noble stranger, he stood for a moment like a statue. Alleyes followed his, and the direction of his stretched-out arm. Sud- denly he exclaimed, and oh, how like the trumpet of Horeb his voice rang: **Behold!’’ There was not aface in that vast multitude that was not directed toward the little eminence, where Lazarus, evidently amazed at the attitude and words of the prophet, and the gaze of all that way, stood by his friend. *“*Ye have asked wherefore is slain the daily lamb,’’ continued the prophet. ‘‘The day has come when the lamb of sacrifice, which can take away no sin, shall cease. Behold!’’ and here he stretched forth both arms toward the dignified stranger: ‘‘Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. He it is who, com- ing after me, is preferred before me. He itis to whom I bear witness as the Messiah, the Son of the Highest! There stands the Christ of God! Behold the only true Lamb, whose blood can wash away the iniquities of us all! He hath stood among you—He hath walked your streets —He hath sat in your homes, and I knew him not, till I now behold above Him the sign of the Messiah, and therefore know I that it is He who is to redeem Israel!’’ When the prophet had thus spoken in a voice that thrilled to every bosom, we beheld the august 112 . PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. stranger advance toward the prophet. He moved on alone. Lazarus had fallen prostrate on his face when he heard that it was the Messiah with whom he had thus been on terms of friendship. As he continued to come forward, all was expec- tation in the immense multitude. The mass of heads swayed this way and that to get a sight of his face, which I could see was serene, but pale and earnest. John, the cousin of Mary, seeing him approach, lowly knelt, and bowed his head in reverential awe and love. Those who stood between him and the prophet moved apart and left an open path for him to the waterside. He walked at a slow and even pace, with an air of humility veiling the native dignity of his kingly port. The prophet, on seeing him come near, re- garded Him, as it seemed to me, with more awe than all others. ‘‘What wouldst thou of thy servant, oh, Mes- siah, Prophet of God, mighty to save?’’ he said, in tremulous tones, as the Messiah came even some paces into the water toward him. *“To be baptized of thee,’’ answered the Christ in a still quiet voice that was heard to the remot- est bounds of the crowd. Never, oh, never shall I forget the sounds of that voice as it fell upon my ears! ““T have need to be baptized of Thee, and com- ast Thov 40 me?’’ answered the prophet, with the lowliest humility and awe of manner, and with looks expressive of his amazement ‘It becometh us to fulfill all righteousness, ”’ answered Messiah mildly; and when He had said PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 113 this, the prophet, though still with a manner of doubt, and with the holiest reverence, adminis- tered unto Him, in the sight of all the people, the same baptism which he had administered to his disciples. And now, my dear father, comes to be related the most extraordinary thing that ever took place an Israel, and before human eyes, and which it must be clear to you bears unquestionable testi- mony that Jesus of Nazareth, the noble stranger baptized in Jordan, and to whom John bore wit- ness, is truly Messias, the Son of God. No sooner did the baptized stranger go up out of the water, than there was heard above all our heads a noise of rolling thunder, although the sky was cloudless; and when we looked up we beheld a dazzling light, though it was noonday, brighter than the sun; and from the midst of ‘this celestial splendor there darted with arrowy velocity a ray of light which descended upon the head of the Christ. Some of the people said it thundered; and others that it lightened; but judge the amazement and admiration of all, and the dread awe that shook every soul, when, amid the glory above his head, was seen the form of a dove of fire, with outspread wings overshadowing Him, as it were, and from the heavens what was supposed to be thunder, shaped itself into the --voice of God, which uttered these words in the hearing of every ear: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.’”’ At hearing these words a great part of the amoultitude fell on their faces. Every cheek was 114 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. pale, aud éach man gazed on his neighbor in wonder and feaz. When the majestic, yet terri- ble voice had given utterance to these words, the light disappeared, the dove reascended to the skies, and was lost to the sight; and Messias, who alone seemed unmoved and calm amid all this awful scene, went up from the river and dis- appeared suddenly from my earnest gaze. At length, when men came a little to themselves, and would gaze on Him whom all knew now to be the Christ, no one could find Him, so effectually had he withdrawn himself from their homage. Your aftectionate ADINA. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 1i5 LETTER X. My Dear Farner: I will commence this letter by asking your dispassionate perusal of my pre- ceding epistle, and entreating you not to let any prejudice unworthy of the wisdom and liberality by which you are distinguished among men, lead you to reject, without examination, belief of the events which have formed the subject of my recent letters to you, and to close your mind to the convictions to which they may give rise. Please, my honored and beloved father, please to consider impartially the things of which I have written, the preaching of John, and his baptism of Jesus, whom, before ten thousand people he declared to be Messias, to whom he bore witness, and how the voice of God, as audible in the ears of all as that which shook Horeb, proclaimed from heaven that he was ‘‘His beloved son!’’ Think of all this, and ask yourself seriously, ‘‘Is not this the Christ ?’’ This question need not pass far on its way ere it finds a response from my lips and heart: ‘‘ Yes, it is the Christ, and I will believe in Him!’’ I can see your face, my dear father, change its expression of mild benignity, as you read this confession from my pen! Ican see youlook both displeased and grieved. But you have no reason to fear that I shall do or believe aught that will 116 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. bring shame on your gray hairs, or your name. If thou art a Jew, and proud of being descended from the lineage of the Patriarchs who walked / with the Lord, I am also equally proud of my nation and of my faith. In believing Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messias of God, I do not make myself less a Jewess; but, without believing it, my dear father, I could not be completely a Jewess. Has not the Messias of our nation been the burden of Judah’s prayer, and of Israel’s hope, for ages? Does not the belief that Messias cometh, constitute one of the great characteris- tics of the Jewish race? Do the Gentiles look for the Christ? If not, then, and we alone look for him, and every mother in Israel hopes trem- blingly, with joy and doubt, that he may be found in her first-born son, is it that I am less a Jewess, or rather that Iam only a true Jewess, when I believe Jesus to be the Messias, seeing in Him all that a Messias could bring, even the voice of God in testimony of His Mission? But I sincerely trust, my dear father, that Iam de- fending my belief unnecessarily, and that when you come to read and compare, and examine well, you will rejoice with me that God has remem- bered Israel, and that He is about to take away her reproach among the nations. I shall wait for your next parcel of letters with the deepest solicitude, in order that I may know what your decision is in reference to these ex- traordinary things which are coming to pass. You will not hear them only from my letters, dear father, for the report of these wonders is broadcast over the land, and men who witnessed PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 11? the baptism of Jesus, will, no doubt, report in Egypt what then took place, especially the voice of God rolling like articulate thunder along the cloudless sky, and the descent of the fiery dove upon the head of the new Prophet. Merchants of Damascus and of Cairo were present, leaving their trains of camels a little way off; and Arab horsemen sat in their saddles on the outside of the crowd; while Roman soldiers, strangers from Persia and Edom, and even the merchants from Media, with numerous people, Gentiles as well as Jews, were seen mingled with the multitude. This thing, therefore, was not done in a corner. The voice I plainly heard, and understood every word! It seemed to me to come from the far blue depths of heaven at an immeasurable dis- tance, but with the clearness of a trumpet, and the sonorous majesty of thunder. But the light which descended was the most dazzling that human eyes ever encountered; and though when descending with the velocity of lightning, it seemed like a lance of fire, yet, upon reaching the bared head of Jesus, as He came forth out of the water, it assumed, as I before stated, the shape of a dove; and, resting upon Him, over- shadowed Him with its wings of light, and cast over his whole person a glittering splendor, like the sun. This lasted for full a minute, so that all eyes beheld it, and then came the voice from heaven! The brilliancy of the light from the dove was so resplendent that I could not behold it; and when I looked again it had disappeared ; but a halo of softened luster shone still around the head of Jesus, and his face, like that of 118 FRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Moses, emitted rays of glory. While thousands either stood stupefied, or fell upon their faces in adoration and fear, He withdrew himself from the multitude, no one knew how, save two per- sons, whose eyes never wandered from him. These were the cousin of Mary, John, and Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. The people, after recovering a little from their amazement and awe, were looking for Him, and inquiring whither he had gone, some gazing into the water, some toward the wilderness, some even gazing upward into heaven, of which I was one, as if they expected to behold Him ascending upon a chariot of dazzling clouds toward the throne of his God and Father, who had acknowl- edged dim to be his Son. The general impres- sion was, that He was taken up into heaven; and some wept that a Prophet was sent to be taken so soon; while others rejoiced that the Lord had not forgotten to be gracious unto the house of Israel; some doubted, and called it magic and sorcery; and others, who were doubtless filled with their own wickedness, mocked, and said the voice was thunder, and the light lightning. But here they were disputed against, for said, hun- dreds, ‘‘there is no cloud in the sky, then whence could come thunder and lightning?’’ But the majority believed and greatly rejoiced at what they had seen and heard. The prophet John, of Jordan, appeared to me to be more surprised at what had taken place than any others. He looked constantly around for Jesus, and then, with his hands clasped together and uplifted, gazed heavenward, as if satisfied, with the thou- PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 119 sands around him, that he had been received up into heaven. The excitement which the sudden disappear- ance of Jesus produced, led to a universal sepa- ration of the multitude, who dispersed in all directions, some to seek for Him, some to spread the news of what they had seen, and all forget- ting John, whom they had hitherto followed, in the greater splendor of the new Prophet, whose advent had been so remarkably accompanied by fire and a voice from the sky. Rabbi Amos and our party remained standing near the water, for he did not wish us to be lost in the retiring throngs, and he desired to speak with John, who stood alone in the midst of the water, precisely where he had baptized Jesus. Not one of his disciples remained with him. Rabbi Amos drew near, and said to him: ‘Holy prophet, knowest thou what man, if man he may be called, was just baptized by thee?’’ The prophet, whose eyes had been steadfastly raised all the while, bent his looks with tearful tenderness upon Rabbi Amos, and said plain- tively and touchingly: ‘‘This is He of whom I said—After me cometh aman which is preferred before me, for He was before me. And I knew Him not; but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me ‘Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same is He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost.’ And I saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and I saw and bear record this is the Son of God!’’ 120 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. \ *“And whither, oh, holy prophet of Jordan,™ asked Rabbi Amos, with deep and sacred inter- est, ‘‘whither has He departed ?’’ ‘“That I know not! He must increase and E must decrease, whether He remaineth on earth, or be taken up into heaven! My mission is now drawing to its close: for He to whom I have borne witness is come.’’ ‘“And is He come to depart so soon forever ?’* I asked, with deep interest; ‘‘shall we behold Him no more?’’ ‘‘The hidden things belong to God. I know not whence He came, for I knew Him not until the Spirit descended and abode upon Him, nor whither He goeth. Ye have heard my testimony that this is the Messias, the Christ, the Son of God!’’ Thus speaking, he turned and walked out of the water on the side toward Bethabara, and dis- appeared among the trees that fringed the bank. I now looked in the face of Rabbi Amos, upon whose arm Mary was tearfully leaning, stilh under the influence of the terror which the scenes. she had been a spectator of had produced in her soul. His face was grave and thoughtful. E said, ‘‘Uncle, dost thou believe all that thou hast. seen and heard ?”’ **T know not. what to say,’’ he answered, ‘‘only that the things which I have beheld this day are evidences that God has not forgotten his people Israel!’’ He said no more. We left the banks of the Jordan in silence and awe, and remounting: our mules, which the two Gibeonite slaves held for us in waiting under a palm tree not far off, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. T2E we returned toward my uncle’s house at Gilgal. On the way we constantly passed crowds of peo- ple who were riding and walking; and all were in high talk about what had taken place at the river. The impression seemed to be that Jesus had gone up into heaven. But, my dear father, it is with deep joy that IE am able to tell you that this wonderful person is still on the earth, and doubtless permitted to remain for some great purpose. I stated that my cousin John, and Lazarus, the Secretary ot the Scribes, had kept their eyes upon Him from the first, and that they had seen Him pass dowm the river, where some projecting and overhang- ing trees hid Him at once from view. Though they often lost sight of Him, they yet followed Him by the print of His sandals in the wet sand of the shore; and at length came in view of Him as He was leaving the river bank and going toward the desert between two hills which hid Him from their eyes. But one of the young men said to the other, while: both were burning with wonder and love: *‘Let us not fail to overtake Him, and follow Him whithersoever He goeth; for with Him must be the well of life, as He is the highly favored of God.”’ So they went on; but though they moved om rapidly, they next saw Him far distant, crossing the arid plain that stretches south toward Jericho and the desert. They ran very swiftly, and at length overtook Him, calling ‘‘Master, good master, stay for us, for we would follow and jearn of thee!’’ 122 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. He stopped, and turned upon them a look so pale, and marred with sadness and anguish, that they both stood still and gazed on Him with amazement at such a change. The glory of his beauty had passed way, and the beaming splen- dor which shone from his countenance was wholly gone. The expression of unutterable sorrow that remained pierced them to the heart. Lazarus, who had been so long his bosom friend, wept aloud. ‘‘Weep not! thou shalt see me another day, my friends,’’ He said. ‘‘I go now to the wilderness in obedience to the Spirit which guideth me thither. Thou shalt, after a time, behold me again. It is expedient that I go whither I go.”’ ***Nay, but we will go with thee,’’ said Laza- rus, earnestly. ‘‘If thou art to endure evil, we will be with thee.’’ ‘“There must be none to help. There must be none to uphold,’’ He said firmly but sadly. ‘“‘I must tread the wine press of temptation alone!’’ He then left them, waving his hand for them to go back, which they did sorrowfully, wonder- ing what his words meant, and wherefore it was needful for Him to go into the desert, where cer- tain mysterious trials seemed to wait for Him; and they wondered most of all at the change in his countenance, which from being lustrous with celestial light was now, said Lazarus, ‘‘marred more than thesons of men.’’ From time to time the two young men looked backward to watch the receding figure of the Christ, till they no longer distinguished Him in the distance of the desert, toward which He steadfastly kept his face. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 123 The two friends then came to the house of Rabbi Amos at Gilgal the same night, and there Lazarus made known to us what I have just re- lated. It affected us all deeply; and we sat together late at night upon the porch under the fig trees, talking of Jesus, and the things that had transpired concerning Him that day; and though we all rejoiced that He was on earth, we wept to think that He was driven by some destiny unknown and unfathomable by us, to dwell alone in the wilderness. Now, my dear father, how wonderful is all this! That a great Prophet is among us, cannot be denied. The sun of John the Baptizer’s fame dwindles into a star before this Son of God! That He will draw all men unto Him, even into the wilderness, if He takes up his abode there, eannot be questioned. But all is mystery, awe, curiosity, wonder, and excitement just now. No one has settled upon any opinion as to what will be the end of these things. Rabbi Amos advises all persons to wait patiently the issue, for if God has sént a Prophet, He must have a mis- sion which in due time He will come forth from the wilderness to deliver. In my next I may be able to write you something further touching the development of that which, remains so much enveloped in mystery. May the God of our father’s house come forth indeed from the heavens for the salvation of His People. Your devoted and loving ADINA. g24 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. LETTER Xt. My Dear Faruer In my last letter to you: I spoke of our return from Jordan to Gilgal, to the country-house in the wheatfields of Peniel, where Rabbi Amos sojourns during the two weeks of harvest. At the house were assembled not only John, the cousin of Mary, and the noble Lazarus, but also Gamaliel, and Saul his disciple, of whom I have before spoken, who were invited to partake of my uncle’s hospitality for the night; besides, the court of the dwelling was thronged with strangers, and the common people, who, being far from their homes, and without food, had freely been invited to lodgings and food by the hospitable priest. As we sat up late conversing upon the remark- able events of the day, an observation made by John, when speaking of the change in the face of Jesus, that ‘‘His visage was marred more than the sons of men,’’ led the venerable Gamaliel to say to us: “Those are the words of Esaias, and are truly spoken of Messias, when He shall come.’’ ‘“‘Let us consult Hsaias, then, and see what further he hath said,’’ cried Rabbi Amos. ‘‘Mary, bring hither the roll of the Prophets. ’’ My cousin Mary returned, and placed it ona small stand before him, for, as I said in my last, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAYID. 125 we were all seated in the porch, where the even- ing breeze was cool. A lamp then being brought, I held it above the roll of parchmeni, while my uncle found the part of the Prophet te which the words belonged. **Read aloud, worthy Rabbi,’’ said the philos- opher Gamaliel, ‘‘we will all listen; for though I do not believe this young man who was to-day baptized is Messias and Christ, who is to restore all things to us, yet I am prepared to reverence’ Him as a Prophet.’’ ‘*And,’’ answered Rabbi Amos, ‘‘if we find the prophecies do meet in him which we look for to meet in Messias when He cometh, wilt thou believe, venerable father ?’’ **T will believe and reverently adore,’’ answered the sage, bowing his head till his flowing white beard touched his knees. **Read, Adina, for thy eyes are young,’’ said my uncle; and obedient, though embarrassed before such an audience, I read as follows: ‘*Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee, His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’’ ‘“How completely,’’ said John, ‘‘these words describe his appearance on the verge of the desert.’ ‘“But,’’ said Saul, Gamaliel’s disciple, ‘‘if this be prophesied of the Christ, then we are to have a Christ of dishonor, and not one of honor and glory. Read one part that you have omitted, and you will see that there are words that import 126 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. a higher condition than that of this unknown person whom John the Baptizer himself con- fessed he did not know, nor ever beheld before. ”’ I read on as follows: ‘‘Behold my servant shall be exalted and extolied, and be very high. He shall sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him. He shall lift up his hand to the Gentiles, and set up his standard to the people. Kings shall bow down to Him with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of his feet!’’ ‘‘There! such is our Messias,’’ exclaimed Saul. ‘*Yes, it is a Christ of power and dominion who is to redeem Israel,’’ added Gamaliel; ‘‘not an unknown young man, scarcely thirty years of age, who came from whence no one knoweth, and hath gone as he came. As for the Christ, we shall know whence He cometh!’’ At hearing this great and good man thus dis- course, dear father, my heart sank within me; for I could not but confess that these prophesies of honor could not apply to the humble person John had baptized; for Lazarus had already told us that his friend Jesus was of humble birth, a carpenter’s son, and his mother a widow; that he had known him from boyhood, but known him only to love him. I now looked toward him, but I took courage when I saw that the words of Gamaliel did not in the least dim the light of his faith and confidence, which sparkled in his eyes, that his friend Jesus was truly Messias of God. But my eye fell on what follows, and as I read it I gained more confidence: ‘‘He hath no form nor comeliness: and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him.’’ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 127 ‘“TIf the first part of this prophecy,’’ said Lazarus, his fine eyes lighting up, as he looked at Saul, “‘be of the Christ, as you have confessed, then is this last of him; and the fact that you reject him, is but the fulfillment of this part of the prophecy.’’ Hereupon arose a very warm discussion be- tween Gamaliel and Saul on one side, and Rabbi Amos, John, and Lazarus, on the other, the former contending that the prophecies referred to two distinct Christs, one of whom was to be lowly and a sufferer, and the other honorable and a conqueror; while the latter maintained that the seemingly opposite predictions referred to but one Christ in two different periods and circum- stances of his life. ‘*But let this be as it may,’’ said John, after the arguments on both sides had been exhausted, ‘‘how will you, O Gamaliel, and you, Saul, get over the extraordinary voice and fiery appearance which distinguished the baptism ?’’ “That must have been a phenomenon of nature, or done by the art of a Babylonish sor- cerer, whom I saw in the multitude,’’ answered the philosopher. ‘Did you not hear the words?’’ asked Rabbi Amos. **Yes, rabbi; nevertheless, they may have been thrown into the air from the lungs of the sor- cerer; for they do marvelous things.’’ ‘*Would you suppose that a sorcerer would be disposed to appiy the sacred words of the Lord?’’ asked John earnestly. 128 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. *“By no means,’’ he answered reverently. “*¥f Rabbi Amos will allow me, I will show you the very words in King David’s prophecies of Messias. ’’ All looked with interest on John, as he took from his mantle a roll of the Psalms. He read as follows, looking at Gamaliel: ‘“Wk-- do the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed? I will declare the decree. The Lord hath said unto me, ‘Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.’ ”’ Upon hearing this read, Gamaliel was thought- ful. Rabbi Amos said: ‘‘Of a truth, we Jews believe these words to be spoken to our Christ by the Lord Jehovah. Have we not heard this prophecy fulfilled this very day in our ears?’’ ‘It is extraordinary,’’ answered Gamaliel. ‘‘I will search the scriptures when I reach Jerusa- lem, to see if these things be so.”’ **And the light in the form of a dove! Dost thou find an explanation for that?’’ asked Rabbi Amos. | ““No,’’ answered he; ‘‘and I will withhold all further opinion for the present. ’’ ““It becomes you, O Gamaliel,’’ said Rabbi Amos, ‘‘who art a father and teacher in Israel, to know whether these things be so, that thou may- est teach thy disciples. ’’ ‘“But,’’ said Saul with some vehemence, ‘‘listen while I read some prophecies also.’’ And he unrolled a book of the Prophets and read these words: “< «Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 129 littie among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been ever of old, from everlasting.’ Now, you will confess, Rabbi Amos,’’ he added, with a look of triumph, ‘‘that this refers to our expected Messias. ”’ ‘*Without doubt,’’ answered my uncle— ul 8S Ss pee aoe ‘*Wait,’’ said Saul, ‘‘until I read you another prophecy: ‘I have made a covenant with David, Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch.’ Now you will all admit, brethren, that these prophecies refer to Messias. He is therefore to come of the lineage of David, and he is to be born in Bethlehem. Show me that this Jesus, the Nazarene, fulfills both conditions in his own person, and I will prepare to believe in him.’’ This was said haughtily, and with the air of one who cannot be answered. But immediately Lazarus rose to his feet and said: ‘‘Although I did not before know of this prophecy, that Christ was to be born in Bethle- hem, yet I am overjoyed to find the fact respect- ing Jesus fulfills it. He was born in Bethlehem of Judah. This I have known some years; and 4 Here, while my heart was bounding with joy, Gamaliel said sternly, ‘‘I thought this man was born in Nazareth ?’’ 130 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. *“He has lived,’’ answered Lazarus, ‘‘in Naz- areth from childhood only. During the days when Cesar Augustus issued a decree that all the world should be taxed, his mother, and Joseph her husband went up to the city of David to be taxed, which is Bethlehem, and there Jesus was born, as I have often heard from her lips. But it is on the records in the proper office of the Temple, and can be referred to there.’’ ‘‘Admitting, then, that he was born in Bethle- hem,’’ said Saul, who appeared to be much given to argument, ‘‘you have to prove his lineage from David’s line.’’ ‘Wherefore did his parents go to Bethlehem, David’s city, unless they were of his royal line?’’ asked Rabbi Amos; ‘‘for none went to any other city to be taxed than that of their own family. The fact that they went there is strong evidence that they were of David’s house.’’ *‘Every one born in the city of David,’’ re- marked Gamaliel, ‘‘is not of necessity of David’s house; but it is surprising if this Jesus was born in Bethlehem.’’ ‘*But may not his lineage be ascertained with- out a doubt from the records of the tribes, and of their families, kept by the command of the law in the Temple?’’ I asked of my uncle. ‘“Without question. These books of the gen- erations of our people are to be relied on,’’ he answered. “*In fact,’’ said Gamaliel, “‘they are kept with the greatest accuracy, and so ordained by God, for the very reason that when Messias cometh we mav know whether he who claims to be such be PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 131 of the house of David or no. I will examine the book of the Generations, and see if his mother and father come of the stock and see of David.’’ ‘‘And if you find that they do,’’ asked John, with emotion, ‘‘can you doubt any longer whether Jesus be the Christ? Will not the fact of his being born in Bethlehem, and of the line- age of David, not to speak of the witness of God’s own audible voice, heard by our ears this day— will not these facts lead you to believe that he is the Christ ?’’ ‘“They will prevent me from actually rejecting him,’’ answered the cold philosopher. ‘‘But every child born in Bethlehem, and of the house of David, and there are many in Judah, fulfills, so far, the conditions of these two prophecies; they are not therefore Messias.’”’ *“What more can you ask for?’’ asked Mary, with feeling,for she as strongly believed that Jesus was the Christ as I did, and she was pained by so many doubts, and such subtlety of objection from those who were so learned in the Prophets. But men reason and reason, while women simply believe. ‘*Miracles?’’ answered the disciple of Gamaliel, and glancing at the face of his master inquir- ingly. ‘Yes, miracles,’’ answered the sage. ‘‘The Messiah is to heal the sick by a word, restore sight to the blind, cast out devils, and raise even — the dead.’’ And here he desired Saul to read the particular prophecy giving the power of miracles to the Christ. ‘If he restore the blind and raise the dead, I will doubt no longer,’’ answered Saul. > 132 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. There was at this moment an interruption caused by a noisy dispute in the court among some of John the Baptist’s disciples, some of whom were disposed to acknowledge fully the superiority of Jesus; while others, still indulg- ing the full fervor of their first conversion, stoutly contended for the transcendent greatness of him whom they regarded as their own Prophet. Rabbi Amos, as host, went out to put an end to these disputings, when Gamaliel retired to his chamber, and the conversation was not renewed. Thus you see, my dear father, that even on the very day of these events by eye-witnesses them- selves, there is much difference of opinion con- cerning who Jesus is; and therefore I do not expect you, who are so remote from the scene, and who know them only by report, to believe all at once, as I myself do. Will you write me and tell me what view you take of all this subject, and what can be brought from the Scriptures to prove that Messias has not yet come? The next morning early the people departed from the court where they had lodged; and when the sun was about an hour high we also took saddle and rode to Jericho, where we passed the day with Miriam, the daughter of Joel, who was cousin to my mother. We found them in very creat affliction, and they could not be comforted by any consolations which we could administer. It seems that her daughter Marah, or Mary, as they call her, had been so unfortunate, from her extraordinary beauty, as to attract the notice of Aimilius Lepidus, the Prefect of the Legion, who did honorably, though a Roman, and one of our PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 133 conquerors, ask her in marriage of her parents. But they, being Hebrews, could not consent to such a union with a Gentile, and kept her with great strictness, so that he might never behold her again. But Marah, being very much devoted to the love of the noble Roman, and he being also attached to her, they met by stratagem, and she fled with him to the town of Magdala, where he has a villa. She is therefore lost forever to the faith of her fathers by this simple flight with a Gentile lover who, though he marry her accord- ing to the Roman laws, doth not make her an honorable wife according to our own. ‘This event was the cause of our finding the house of Miriam a house of mourning. It has produced great indignation among the Jews against the Romans. Mary was, I am told, the most beauti- ful maiden of the tribe of Benjamin, with golden brown hair that flowed to her very feet, and she was beloved by all who knew her. Thus am I disappointed in seeing her, as I hoped to have done; and the pearl armlet which you wished me to bestow upon her I still retain in my pos- session, a sorrowful memorial of the loved and lost. Lazarus has returned to Bethany, where his occupation demands his attendance; but his friend John remained with us, having agreed with Lazarus that he would go into the desert and not give up his search for the Divine Prophet Jesus until he had found him, for both young men feel as sad as if they had lost a beloved and honored brother. Your daughter, ADINA. 134 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. LETTER XII. My Dear Faruer: How shall I thank you for your forbearance with me, and your kind answers to all my letters, filled as they are with so many inquiries and opinions, which must surprise, and perhaps, displease you. You say that you have read all that I have written with impartiality, and that you do not marvel that ‘‘one whom you are pleased to call so imaginative and full of sen- sibility as myself, should be affected by what has passed under my observation in Judea.’’ You nevertheless refuse, on your part, my dear father, to listen, with the least proximation to belief, to the extraordinary recital I have given you. - You are pleased to question the reality of the voice at Jordan, and the presence of the dove of fire, and to refer it, as many others try to do who actually witnessed it, to an illusion of the senses. You are willing to admit that Jesus may be born at Bethlehem, for many whom you know ‘‘who are not prophets, neither sons of prophets, were born there.’’ You are willing to admit that he ‘‘may be of the lineage of David, for David’s descend- ants are as numerous as they are poor and obscure, yet they are not Messias, nor pretend to be Christs.’’ You are content with doubting the accuracy of the memory of the mother of PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 135 Lazarus, as to the scene in the Temple, though acknowledging you have often seen both Simeon and Anna in the Temple, and about the time stated by her. But your main objection to re- ceiving John’s evidence that this is the Christ is, ‘‘that he is poor, of humble station, destitute of influence, received baptism of a man, when the Messias was to be the baptized of God.’’ *“Who,’’ you ask, ‘‘of the wise and the venerated and the learned and the aged, with years and experience; who of the doctors and lawyers and priests; who of the Scribes, and who of the Pharisees, and of the great men of Israel, are to unite in acknowledging as Him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write, as the central sun around which ali the dazzling prophecies of Esaias revolve; as the end and crown of the law; as the Lion of the tribe of Judah; as the Shiloh of the nations; as the Wonderful, the Counselor, the mighty God and the Prince of Peace; as the glory of Israel, and the Joy of the whole Earth —an obscure young man of thirty, unlearned in letters, the son of a carpenter, a citizen of Naza- reth, a city proverbially mean, without name, character, power, rank, wealth, influence, or talents, and the last that was heard of whom was that he had fled into the desert.’’ You add, dear father, that this mere enumeration of what the true Christ ought to be, with the enumeration of what is wanting in this man, should be sufficient to convince me that I have given my sympathies and faith to one who has no claim to them. You say further that ‘‘you do not call my Messias an impostor, because so far as you can learn, he has 136 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. professed nothing, proclaimed nothing, declared nothing, respecting himself. In silence he ap- peared, and in silence disappeared, none know- ing whence or whither;’’ and you close your review of my history by saying that ‘‘you shall wait for further development before you can give the subject your serious consideration. ”’ In your next letter, where you again allude to the theme, you say that if this prophet reap- pears, and from his own lips declares himself sent from God, and by an appeal to undisputed miracles gives proof of his divine mission, declar- ing himself to be the Christ, you will then believe in Him, provided the whole of the prophecies can be shown to meet in his person. On this ground, Iam willing that the issue should be met, dearest father; and you add, with your usual candor, ‘‘that you will not hesitate to acknowledge as the Christ a man who fulfills all prophecy in his own person, though he come in a state and condition contrary to your precon- ceived notions of the character of the Messias; for that it would be safer for you to question the correctness of your own interpretation of the Messiac prophecies hitherto, than the identity of one in whom, without question, do meet all the golden threads of the predictions relating to the Christ.’’ Here I am content, my dear father, to let it remain, being fully persuaded that though this humble young man, Jesus, hath come lowly and obscure, yet He will prove him- — self to the world that He is the true Messias, Christ of God. , Now, my dear father, let me resume the inter- PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 137 esting subject, of which my letters have been so full; and, moreover, as you have desire me still to keep you informed of all that transpires touch- ing Jesus of Nazareth, and as no theme upon which i can write is so pleasing to me, I will narrate all that I have heard since I last wrote te you. It is now eight weeks since our return from Gilgal. For five weeks after we reached Jerusa- lem, we heard nothing of Jesus until John re- appeared. He and Lazarus came into the city together, and to the house of Rabbi Amos. Our first inquiry was: ‘“Have you seen him? Have you heard any- thing from him ?’’ *‘John has seen him,’’ answered Lazarus seri- ously; ‘‘ask him and he will tell you all.’’ We looked at John, who sat sad and pensive, as 1f he were dwelling in his mind upon some painful, yet tender sorrow. The eyes of my Cousin Mary, which always caught their luster from his, were shaded with an inquiring look of sympathy and solicitude. ‘““You are not well, I fear,’’ she said, placing her fair hand upon his white brow, and putting back the hair from his temples. ‘‘You have been long away, and are weary and ill.’’ ‘‘Weary, Mary? I shall never complain of weariness again, after what I have beheld.”’ **What have you seen?’’ Lasked. ‘‘Jesus in the desert; and when I remember him there, I shall forget to smile more.’’ **You found him, then?’’ I eagerly asked. **Yes, after days of painful search. I found 138 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. him in the very center of the desert of Ashes, where foot of man had never trod before. I saw him upon his knees, and heard his voice in prayer. I laid down the sack of bread and fishes, and the skin of water I had brought with me to succor him, and with awe drew near where He stood. ’”’ | ‘“How did you find him there?’’ I asked, with that painful interest which exacts all details. ‘‘By his footsteps in the sand and ashes. I saw where He sat down to rest, and where two nights He reposed upon the ground. | I expected to find him perished, but each day I discovered his progressing footsteps and followed them. As I now drew near him, I heard him groan in spirit, and He seemed to be borne down to the earth by some mortal agony. He seemed to be talking to some invisible evil beings who assailed him. *< ‘Master, good Master,’ I said, ‘I have brought thee food and water. Pardon me if I have in- truded upon thy awful loneliness, which is sacred to some deep grief; but I weep with thee for thy woes, and in all thy afflictions I am afflicted. Kat, that thou mayest have strength to endure thy mysterious sufferings.’ ‘He turned his pale countenance full upon me, and extended toward ma his emaciated hands, while He smiled faintly. and blessed me and said: ** “Son, thou art very dear tome. Thou shalt one day be afflicted for me, but not now, and understand wherefore I am now a sufferer in the desert.’ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 139 ** ‘Let me remain with thee, Divine Messias,’ I said. ***Thou believest, then, that I am He?’ he answered, regarding me with love. . **T replied by casting myself at his desert- parched feet, and bathing them with my tears. He raised me, and said, ‘Go thy way presently. When the time of my fasting and temptation is past, I will see thee again.’ ** “Nay, I will not leave thee,’ I asserted. ‘* ‘Tf thou lovest me, John, thou wilt obey me,’ he answered, with a tone of gentle reproof. ***But thou wilt first eat of the bread I have brought, and drink of the water,’ I entreated. ** “Thou knowest not what temptation thou art offering to me,’ he replied sadly. ‘Thou hast not enough for thine own needs. Go, and leave me to gain the victory over Satan, for which I was led by the Spirit thither!’ *‘T once more cast myself at his feet, and He lifted me up, kissed me, and sent me away. You would not have known him. Worn to a skeleton by long abstinence, weak through suffering, He looked but the shadow of himself. He could not have lived if there had not been a divine power within to sustain him. His existence so long, for He had been at the desert five weeks without food when I found him, was a miracle, proving the power of God to be in him!”’ “For what mighty work among men is God preparing him?’’ said Rabbi Amos, with emo- tion. ‘‘Surely He is a Prophet come from God.’’ ‘“Think you He is still alive?’’ I asked, with anxious fears. 140 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. **Yes,’’ answered John; ‘‘I am come to tell you He was sustained through all, and after forty days He came forth from the wilderness, and sud- denly presented himself on the banks of Jordan, among John’s disciples. I was standing near John, discoursing of the Christ, and marveling when his exile to the desert would terminate, when the Prophet, lifting up his eyes, cried with a loud voice full of joy: ** ‘Behold the Lamb of God, upon whom the Spirit descended! He hath come forth from the furnace, like gold seven times tried in the fire! He it is who taketh away the sins of the world.’ ‘‘T turned, and beheld Jesus advancing. He was pale, and wore an expression of gentle, un- complaining suffering on his benign counte- nance. His calm, chastened, dignified aspect, the serene composure and peace of his looks, awed me, while they caused me to love him. I hastened to meet him, and was kneeling in joy at his feet, when He embraced me as a brother, and said, ‘Faithful, and full of love, wilt thou follow me?’ ‘**Withersoever thou goest,’ I answered. ‘Where dwellest thou, Divine Master?’ then asked one of John’s disciples, Andrew by name, who was with me. ““ ‘Come and see,’ he answered; and we went after him with joy unutterable that we had at length found him.’’ ‘“What passed between him and the Baptizer,’”’ asked Rabbi Amos, ‘‘at the river side on this meeting ?”’ “Not a word. They met and parted like PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 141 strangers, John going away across Jordan into the wilderness, as Jesus entered the village of Bethabara; and approaching the house of a widow, where he abode, He went in and we fol- lowed him, and took up our abode with him. Oh, how shall I be able to make known by words,’’ added John, ‘‘the sweet expression of his discourse? In one day, in his presence, I grew wise; his words filled the soul hke new wine, and made the heart glad. The next day He wished to go into Galilee, and so to Nazareth, where his mother dwelleth; and as I had made up my mind to follow him as his disciple hence- forth, I have only come hither to make knewn my purpose to Mary, to arrange my affairs in the city. ‘lo-morrow I leave again, to join this, my dear Lord, at Cana of Galilee.’’ *““Oh, happy, and to be envied, friend and brother,’’ said Lazarus. How gladly would I go also and be one of his disciples! but the care of my mother and sisters cometh upon me, and I must deny myself the happiness of being ever near this divine man, and listening to the heavenly wisdom that flows from his lips. How blind I have been not to have discovered, under his gentle and loving character and unobtrusive wisdom, the Messias. ‘Truly, he was among us, and we knew him not.’’ ‘*Canst thou divine at all his purpose?’’ asked Rabbi Amos of John, ‘‘whether he intends to found a school of wisdom, to preach like the prophets, to reign like David, or to conquer like his warrior namesake, Joshua!’’ **I know not, save that he said he came to 142 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. redeem that which was lost, and to establish a {?? kingdom that shall have no end! Upon hearing this, all. our hearts bounded with hope and confidence in him, and we altogether burst forth into a voice of thanksgiving, and sang this hymn of praise: ‘*O sing unto the Lord a new song: for He hath done marvelous things: his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten the victory. “The Lord hath made known his salvation: his right- eousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. ** He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. ‘“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing his praise. “Sing unto the Lord with the harp: with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. ‘‘With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. “‘Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. ‘* Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. ‘Before the Lord; for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness ‘shall He judge the world, and the people with equity:” There was this morning no little excitement produced among the Chief Priests by a formal inquiry sent by Pilate to Caiaphas the High Priest, asking whether this new prophet was to be acknowledged by them as their Messiah, ‘‘for if he is to be, it will be my duty,’’ said the gov- ernor, ‘‘to place him under arrest, inasmuch as we understand the Jewish Messias is to declare himself king!’’ Upon this, there was a tumultu- ous assembling together of the priests in the PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 143 porch of the Temple, and with many invectives they agreed to send answer to Pilate that they did not acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ. They were led to this the more urgently, inasmuch as they feared an arrest of Jesus would give the Romans occasion for arresting other Jews, and so bring on the nation great troubles; just as, a few years ago, when a certain impostor rose up and called himself the Christ, the Romans were not satisfied with taking and destroying him, but they punished with fines every city in Judah. ‘Therefore the priests both denied to the Procurator any knowledge of Jesus, and entreated him not te pay any attention to him, till indeed he shoul find that he openly took the lead of armed m#u. What Pilate will conclude to do, I know net. Rabbi Amos informed us that the Procurstor had got some news by a courier that mornirg, that Jesus, on his way to Cana, had been “ollowed by full a thousand people, who, havirg recognized him as having seen him bap- tized of John in Jordan, hailed him as the Christ. Thus, you see my dear father, that this divine percon is already taking hold of the hearts of the people, and arousing the jealousy of our enemies. Be assured that the day will come when He will lift up his standard to the Gentiles, and draw all men unto Him. The developments of his power are daily taking place; and although He has yet performed no such miracle as would be deemed by you a test of his divine mission, yet Ihave no doubt that in due time He will give this proof, end all other needful manifestations, that He is the Christ of God. Your loving, ADINA. 144 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. LETTER XII. My Dear Farner: I have received your last letter by the Cairo merchant, Heber, the son of Malchial, and having read it to Rabbi Amos, he said, after careful reflection thereupon, that he could not agree with you in your opinion touch- ing the undimmed glory of Messiah, viz: ‘‘that he is to come as a King, and Mighty Leader of Hosts, and reign and prosper, and rule the earth, King of the kings of the earth.’’ He desires me to ask you what is meant by ‘‘Messias being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,’’ as prophesied of him; and how you interpret, dear father, other than as referring to a violent end, the words of the wise Daniel, ‘‘And after three- score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself?’’ Uncle also desires me to ask you to examine into the time named by Daniel, when Messiah the Prince is to come, and take note that we live in the day of the close of the threescore and two weeks, whereof the prophet writeth and saith, ‘‘ Know, therefore, and under- stand, thatfrom the going forth of the command- ment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks.’’ Rabbi Amos says, the time for the appearing of Christ is come, as all must confess who read the Prophets; and the PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 145 only reason that Jesus is not believed to be he, is that he comes in poverty and humility, fast- ing and suffering. But, my dear father, may it not be ordained that He shall come in lowliness and end in power? Oh, that you could have the faith in Jesus of Nazareth, that He is Messias, that I have, dearest and most honored father! Since I last wrote you, my faith has been con- firmed by the testimony which in one of your letters you demanded. You said, ‘‘let me hear that he has done an authentic miracle in attesta- tion of the divinity of his mission, such a miracle as was prophesied Messias shall do, as healing the sick by a word, restoring the blind to sight, and raising the dead, and I will prepare to believe in him.”’ A miracle He has performed, dear father, and one the genuineness of which is not disputed by any one. Ican give you the particulars best by extracting from a letter written by John to Mary, afew days after his departure to join Jesus at Nazareth; for John has joined himself to him, and become his disciple. ‘‘Upon reaching Nazareth,’’ says the letter, ‘‘I was guided to the humble dwelling occupied by the mother of Jesus, by a large concourse of peo- ple gathered about it, of whom inquiring, I learned that it was to see the new Prophet they had assembled. ‘What new prophet?’ I asked, wishing to know what the multitude thought of Jesus. ** “The One John of the wilderness foretold,’ answered one. ** *They say he is Messias,’ replied another. 146 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ** ‘He is the Christ,’ boldly asserted a third. ‘*‘Hereupon, a Levite standing by said scorn: fully, ‘Does Christ come out of Galilee? You read the prophets to little purpose, if you see therein any Christ prophesied to come out of Nazareth of Galilee.’ Hereupon, seeing the faith of many staggered, I said, ‘Brethren, Christ is truly of Bethlehem; and verily Jesus, though He dwelleth in this place, was born in Bethlehem.’ ‘Thou canst not prove it, man,’ said the Le ite, angrily. ‘The stranger speaketh truly.’ spoke up both an old man and a gray-haired woman in the crowd; ‘we know that ke was not born here, and that when his parents moved here, when he was an infant, they then said he was born in Bethlehem. We all remember this well.’ ‘“Hereupon, the Levite, seeing that he had not the people with him, passed on his way, while I went to the door of the house where Jesus dwelt with his mother. There were two doors, one of which led into a workshop, where I noticed the bench and tools of the occupation at which he had toiled to support himself and his mother. This sight made me half-question whether he who was an humble artisan, whose tools and shop I saw before me, could in truth be the Christ of God, the Prince Messias whom all the patriarchs and prophets looked forward to with the eye of faith, desiring to see his day! and it required the recalling of the wonderful scenes of his bap- tism, the holy dove and voice of God, and his miraculous preservation in the wilderness, to revive my assurance; but when, as I entered the dwelling, I saw him standing, teaching those who PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 147 hung on his lips, and listened to his calm voice, and heard the sublime wisdom of his instruc- tions, beheld the dignity of his aspect, and the heavenly benignity of his manner, I forgot the carpenter, I forgot the man, and seemed to behold in Him only Messiah the Prince, the Son of God. ‘Upon beholding me, he extended his hand, and received me graciously, and said, pointing to five men who stood near him, regarding him with mingled love and reverence, ‘These are thy brethren, who have also come out of the world to follow me.’ “Of these, one was Andrew, who was, as well as myself, John’s disciple, and we were talking with him when Jesus came forth out. of the wil- derness. Another was Andrew’s brother, whose name is Simon, who hearing his brother speak of Jesus as the Christ, had gone with him .to see him; and had no sooner beheld him than he joined himself to him; and Jesus, from the firm- ness and immovable zeal of his character, which He seemed to understand, called him also Peter, or Stone. The fourth disciple was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. His name was Philip, and he followed Jesus from having been prepared by John the Baptist to receive him. He was, however, so overjoyed at finding the Christ, that he ran to the house of his brother Nathaniel, and finding him in his garden, beneath a fig tree, at prayer, exclaimed, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, the Messias of God!’ ‘Where is He, that I may behold Him?’ asked his brother, ris- 148 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ing. ‘It is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,’ Philip answered. Upon hearing this answer, the countenance of Nathaniel fell, and he replied, ‘Can there any good thing come out of Naza- reth?’ ‘Come thou and see for thyself,’ answered Philip. Nathaniel then went with him where Jesus was. When Jesus saw him approaching, He said to those about him, ‘Behold an Israelite, indeed, in whom there is no guile!’ ‘Whence knowest thou me?’ asked Nathaniel, with sur- prise, for he had heard the words which were spoken. Jesus answered, and said, ‘Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.’ Upon hearing this, Nathaniel, who knew that he was all alone in his garden, and unseen at prayer, when his brother came, regarded the serene face of Jesus steadfastly, and then, as if he beheld therein the expression of divinity, he cried before all the people, ‘Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!’ Jesus looked upon him as if pleased at his confession, and said, ‘Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels ot God ascend- ing and descending upon the Son of Man.’ “These four, Andrew and Peter, Philip and Nathaniel, were then present in the house with him; and, to my surprise and joy, with them stood my own brother James, whom Jesus had seen on the lake in his boat, and called him, when James left all and followed him. Thus we were six disciples in all, bound to him by ties of PRiNCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 149 eonfidence and love. The mother of Jesus, a noble and matronly woman, still beautiful, and with a face of the holiest serenity, was present, and gazed with love and tenderness upon her Son, listening to his words, as if she also would learn of him that wisdom which hath descended upon him from above. The next day James and I went to the sea of Tiberias, but two hours dis- tant, to see our father Zebedee, and transfer our interests to him; and, during the afternoon, Jesus passed near the shore on his way to Cana, when, calling us, we left our ships with our father and joined him. His mother and many of her kinsfolk were of the company, all going to @ marriage of the cousin of the family. Upon our arrival at Cana we were ushered into the guest-chamber, and Jesus, in particular, was re- ceived with marked respect by the Hebrew master of the house though he was an officer in the serv- ice of the Romans. We here met Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptizer, who is a relative: of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The meeting between them was very touching. ** “Ah,” said the mother of the prophet, as she looked upon Jesus, who was talking with the governor of the feast, ‘how blessed art thou, O Mary, to have thy son ever with thee! whileI am @ mother, and yet no mother. The son whom God gave me He hath taken from me to be his prophet, and he is to me as if he were dead! Since his twelfth year he has been in the wilder- ness, knowing no man, until six months ago he oe forth to proclaim the advent of thy holy on 150 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ‘‘The marriage feast at length commenced The wine which should have come from Damas- cus had not arrived, the caravan having been delayed by the insurrection near Cesarea. ‘The guests had therefore but little wine, and the chief ruler of the town presiding at the feast, seeing that the wine had given out, bade the servants to place more upon the board. The mother of Jesus, who knew that the wine was out, turning to him, said, ‘They have no wine!’ for it seems that she knew the power that was within him, though he had not yet manifested it openly. I sat next to him, and heard her when she whis- pered to Jesus. He looked grave, and said with a slight tone of respectful reproof, and applying to her that title which we in Judea believe most honorable of all others, ‘Woman,’ he said, ‘what have I to do with thy private requests for the exercise of my power? You wish me to perform a miracle before this noble company, that they may behold and believe on me. Mine hour for manifesting my glory to men is not yet come, nevertheless, in obedience to thy wish, my honored mother, I will do what thou desirest me to do.’ ‘‘She then thanked him with deep emotion, and turned to the servants and beckoned to them, while her cheek borrowed a rich color from her hidden joy, and her eyes kindled with the feel- ings of a mother about to see her son display powers such as only come by the gift of God, and which were to seal Him as a Prophet, before the eyes of Jew and Gentile. For myself, Mary, not anticipating, or suspecting what was to take PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 151 place, I regarded the nervous emotions of the joyful mother with marvel. When two or three of the servants approached, she said to them: ** “Whatsoever He saith to you, do it.’ ‘““They then fixed their regards upon him, awaiting his commands, as little suspecting what they would be as I did. ‘The face of Jesus, ever calm and dignified, now seemed to express a cer- tain consciousness of power within that awed me. Casting his eyes upon several stvuwe vases, which stood by the door empty, he said to them: ** *F ill the waterpots with water.’ *RINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 159 him as my Lord, and love him even as my brother. So we allfeel toward him. His engag- ing manners, his patience with our ignorance, his forbearance with our grossness, his ready excuses for us when we are in fault, ere we have time to exculpate ourselves, all have bound us to him with ties that can never be sundered. When [ next write to you,’’ continues John, ‘‘I will relate to you, so far as they are understood by me and my fellow-disciples, the things which he reveals respecting himself and the object of his mission on earth. Some things, however, are not com- prehended by us, but he promises that we shall by and by understand what now appears obscure to us.’”’ Such, my dear father, is the tenor of the letters which my Cousin Mary receives from John, the disciple of Jesus. They are all filled with ac- counts of his miracles, of his teachings, and of his journeyings. When we shall see Jesus at Jerusalem I shall be able from personal observa- tion to write to you more particularly concerning his doctrines and miracles. That He is the Christ, thousands now believe; for they asl, very naturally, how could he do these things unless God were with him? What is also of im- portance, it has been proven by the results of the examination made by some of the scribes of the Temple that he was truly born in Bethlehem, and that both his mother Mary, and Joseph her husband, are lineally descended of the house of David. Moreover, Phineas, the venerable priest, whom you know, hath borne testimony to the fact that when Jesus was an infant, during the 160 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. reign of the elder Herod, there arrived in Jerusa- iem three eminent princes, men of wisdom and rearning. One of these came from Persia; one from the Grecian province of Media; and one from Arabia, and brought with them gifts of gold and spices, and were attended by retinues. These three princes reached Jerusalem the same day by three different ways, and entered by three different gates, each unknowing the other’s presence or object till they met in the city before Herod’s palace. One represented himself de- scended from Shem, another from Japhet, the third from Ham! The king hearing that these three strangers had arrived in Jerusalem, sent to know wherefore they had honored his kingdom with a visit. ‘‘They answered,’’ says Phineas, as he yesterday related the narrative in the pres- ence of Caiaphas, and many of the rulers and Pharisees, ‘‘ ‘that they came to do homage to the young Prince, who was born king of the Jews.’ And when Herod asked what prince they spoke of, they answered, ‘we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him!’ ”’ ** “How know you the star you have seen indi- cates the birth of a Prince of Judea?’ demanded King Herod, greatly troubled at what he heard. ** *It had a motion toward this city,’ they an- swered, ‘and we have been led by a heavenly impulse to follow it, and lo, it has led us to Jerusalem, over which, were it now night, you would see it suspended, burning with the glory of a planet; and it hath been revealed to us that it is the star of the birth of one who is to reign King of Judah! Tell us therefore, oh king, where PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 16% this august Prince is now to be found, that we may worship him!’ ‘*Hereupon,’’ says Phineas, “‘the king issued an edict for all the chief priests and scribes of the people to assemble in the council chamber of his palace. He then addressed them: ** “Ye to whom is given the care of the Books of the Law and of the Prophets, whose study they are, and in whom lies the skill to interpret the prophecies, search therein, and tell me truly where the Christ is to be born. Behold here present these august and wise men who have come from afar to do Him homage; nay, more, as they aver, to worship Him as God. Let us have the courtesy to give them the answer that they seek, and let us not be found more ignorant of these things than those who dwell in other lands!’ *‘Several of the Chief Priests then rose and said, ‘It is known, oh, king, to all who are Jews, and who read the Prophets, that Messias cometh of the house of David, of the town of Bethlehem :’ for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not least among the Princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel!’ “This question being thus decided,’’ continued Phineas, ‘‘Herod dismissed the council, and retir- ing to his own private room, sent to the three princes of the East to inquire of them what time the star appeared. And when they had named the very day and hour on which they had first seen it, he was thereby enabled to arrive at the 162 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. probable age of the infant. He then said to them: “«You have my permission, noble strangers, to go to Bethlehem, and search for the young child; and when ye haye found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also; for itis but meet that we should pay all possible honors to a Prince of our realm, whose birth is heralded in so unusual a manner, and to worship whom even the East sends forth her wise men.’ They then left the presence of Herod, and it being dark when they left the palace, they were overjoyed to behold the star which they saw in the East, going before them. They followed it until it left Jerusalem by the Bethlehem gate, and it led them on to the town of Bethlehem, and stopped above an humble dwelling therein. When they were come into the house, they saw a ray of the star resting upon the head of an infant in the arms of its mother Mary, the wife of Joseph. They at once acknowledged and hailed him as Prince and King of Israel, and falling down worshiped him; and opening their treas- ures they presented unto him gold, frankincense, and myrrh, gifts that are offered on the altar to God alone!’’ When Phineas was asked by Caiaphas how he knew this fact, he answered that he, himself, prompted by curiosity to see the Prince they had come to worship, had followed them out of the palace of Herod, out of the gate, and even into Bethlehem, and witnessed their prostrations and offerings to the infant child of Mary. ‘‘And,’’ he added, ‘‘if this be doubted, there are PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 163 many Jews now living in Jerusalem, and a cer- tain Hebrew captain, now stricken in years, who can testify to the slaughter, by Herod’s com- mand, of the infants of Bethlehem; for this cap- tain Jeremias led on the soldiers. ”’ **And wherefore this slaughter?’’ asked Caia- phas. ‘‘It is not on record.’’ ‘*Kings do not record their deeds of violenge,’’ answered Phineas. ‘‘Herod kept it hushed up when he found that he gained nothing by it but hatred. He slew them in order that the infant Jesus might be destroyed among them; for the three wise men, instead of returning through Jerusalem to their own country, and informing him where they had found the child, departed by another way; and when Herod found that they were gone, he became so enraged that he sent out a party of troops, under Jeremias their cap- tain, who now liveth to testify, ordering them to slay every child under two years of age in Beth- lehem, hoping, as I have said, to kill the infant Jesus among thenumber. Butthe child escaped, doubtless by God’s powerful protection; and his fame in his manhood this day fills the ears of all Israel. The adoration of these three men, who were sons of Shem, Ham, and Japhet, represents the homage of the whole race of mankind that shall yet be paid to Him!”’ **Dost thou believe in him also?’’ asked Caia- phas, with angry surprise, looking sternly on Phineas. **I will first see, and hear him speak; and if he Peo to me to be Messias, I will gladly worship im.”’ 164 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ‘‘Hereupon,’’ said Rabbi Amos, who gave ms the details of the foregoing interview betweer Caiaphas and Phineas, ‘“‘there arose a great uproar, some crying that Jesus was the Christ, and others that Phineas should be stoned to death.’’ Thus you see, my dear father, how the evi- dence increases in value and importance, proving Jesus to be the Messiah. His very cradle bears testimony to his divine character; and surely do his miracles now confirm the pledge given by the remarkable circumstances attending his child- hood. The captain Jeremias, now a gray-headed old soldier, having been called upon, testifies that he obeyed such an order of Herod, and that it was given within three days after the three Princes of the East quitted Jerusalem for Beth- lehem. Now, my dear father, let me sum up the evidences that Jesus is the Messiah. First, his presentation in the Temple, when holy Simeon and Anna worshipped and prophesied of him. Secondly, the star which led the wise men to Bethlehem. Thirdly, their adoration of him in his cradle. Fourthly, the testimony of John the Baptist. Fifthly, the voice of God at his bap- tism. Sixthly, the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him in the form of a dove. Seventhly, his miracle at Cana of Galilee. And lastly, the glit- tering coronet of miracles that now encircles his brow, shedding a light and glory upon his path that blinds and dazzles the eye steadfastly to behold. Tell me, dear father, is not this the Christ? Your affectionate and loving ADINA. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 165 LETTER XV. My Dear Farner: The inquiry you made in your last letter, ‘‘What hath become of John of Jordan, since the fame of Jesus hath so far eclipsed his own?’’ I can answer, but with sad- ness. Your inquiry seems to infer that he would feel envious of the power and the miracles that distinguish his Successor. But on the contrary, John always plainly declared in his preaching that ‘She was not worthy to unloose the shoe latchet of Him who was to come after him;’’ and he distinctly said many times to all, that ‘‘He to whom I bear witness must increase, but I must decrease!’ The mission on which John came terminated when Jesus came. Soon afterward he left the wilderness and entered Jericho, where Herod was then dwelling. Here he preached in the public places and in the market, and on the very steps of the palace, that God’s judgments were coming upon the earth, and that men must by repentance appease his wrath; and that Christ would be the Judge of men! Now while he was thus speaking to the people, and the officers and soldiers of the Tetrarch’s guard, Herod himself came forth upon the balcony to listen, for he had heard much of John, and had long a desire to hear him. The prophet no sooner beheld him than he boldly addressed him, and sternly reproved 166 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. him for the sin of having married the widow of his brother Philip contrary to law. Now Herod, it is said, did not show resentment at this plain dealing, and inviting the phophet into his hall talked much with him, and in parting offered him gifts, which John refused to touch. The next day he sent for him again to ask him some questions touching the Messias whom he preached. Now Herodia, when it was reported to her how that the prophet had publicly spoken against her marriage with Herod, became very angry; and when she found that John was still favored by her husband, she sent for Herod, and said that ‘‘if he would please her he must throw the prophet of Jordan into prison.’’ Herod would have excused him, asserting that he was a man of God; but Herodia only the more vehe- mently insisted that he should be cast into prison. At length Herod yielded, against his own will, and gave orders for the arrest of the prophet, who the same night was thrown into the ward of the castle. When this intelligence reached the followers of John, it created great sorrow; and many went to see him and talk with him. But he told them they must think of him no longer; that his short stay was drawing to its close; but that they must turn their eyes toward the Christ the Sun of Righteousness, whose rising was unto an everlasting day. ‘‘Said I not unto ye,’’ he asked of them, ‘‘He must increase and I must decrease???’ For some weeks this holy man, whose only offense was that he had the courage to reprove sin in high places, remained in prison, while Herod each day sought to find some excuse PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 167 for releasing him without displeasing Herodia, of whose anger he stood in great fear, he being an abject slave to his love for her. At length the birthday of Herod arrived, and he conveyed word to John that in honor of the day he would send and fetch him out of prison, so soon as he should obtain the consent of his wife, which he believed she would accord to him on such an anniversary. Now, after the feast, Philippa, the daughter of Herodia and of her former husband Philip, came in and danced before Herod; and being beautiful in person and full of grace in every motion, she so pleased her stepfather that he made oath, having drunk much wine with his guests, that he would give her whatever she would ask, were it the half of his kingdom. Her mother then called to her, and whispered to her imperatively. ““Give me,’’ said the maiden, turning toward Herod, asking what her mother had commanded, *‘the head now of John Baptist in a charger.”’ The king no sooner heard this request than he turned pale, and said fiercely: *“Thy mother hath been tampering with thine ears, girl.’’ Herodia, however, betrayed no con- fusion, but sat unconcerned. Herod, it is said by those who were present, hesitated a long time, and at length said: ‘‘Ask half of my kingdom and I will give it thee; but let me not shed blood on my birthday.’’ **Wilt thou falsify thine oath?’’ asked his wife, scornfully. “For mine oath’s sake, and for these who have heard it, I will grant thy desire,’’ he at length 168 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. answered, with a sigh of regret and self- reproach. He then turned to the captain of the guard, and commanded him to slay John Baptist in prison, and bring presently there his head upon a charger. At the end of a quarter of an hour, which was passed by Herod in great excitement, walking up and down the floor, and by his guests in silent expectation, the door opened, and the captain of the guard entered, followed by the executioner, who carried a brazen platter upon which lay the gory head of the eloquent forerunner of Christ. ‘‘Give it to her!’’ cried Herod sternly, waving him toward the beautiful but cruel and heartless maiden, who stood near the inner door. The executioner placed the charger in her hands; and, without turning pale, but with a smile of triumph, she bore it to her mother, who had retired to an inner chamber. It is said that no sooner did she behold it than she spat in the face, and setting it up before her, reviled it. His disciples, when they heard of his death, came to Herod and asked the body of John, and taking it away, buried it; but when they would have asked the head also of Herodia, she answered that ‘‘she had given it to her dogs to devour!’’ So ter- rible can be the revenge of a woman who fears not God! All the disciples of the murdered prophet then went where Jesus was preaching and healing, and told him what had been done to John. ‘“When Jesus heard of the death of John he was very sorrowful,’’ writes John, his disciple, to Mary, ‘‘and went away into a desert place apart, PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 169 in order to mourn over the fate of his bold and holy forerunner.’’ In the meanwhile, the dis- ciples of John Baptist, believing that the murder of their prophet was but the first blow of a gen- eral slaughter, fled into the deserts, and sought Jesus to protect and counsel them. At length he found himself surrounded by a great multitude, who had fled from the cities, chiefly of John’s disciples, beside many who came to hear him preach, and be healed of him. The place was a desert, and far from any town. Forgetful of all else, save following Jesus, they were without food. ‘‘Which,’’ says John, writing to Rabbi Amos, ‘‘we who were his disciples seeing, sug- gested that Jesus should send them away to the villages to buy themselves victuals. But Jesus answered us and said quietly: “< «They need not go away—give ye them to eat.” ‘““And Simon said, ‘Master, where can we get bread for so many? ‘Thereis verily here an army - to be fed, and we have among us but five loaves and two small fishes.’ Upon hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is enough; bring them hither to me.’ **We collected the bread and fishes, and I, my- self, laid them upon a rock before Jesus. He then said to us, ‘Command the multitude to sit: down on the grass.” And when they were all seated he took the five loaves, and laying his hands upon them and upon the two fishes, he looked up to heaven and blessed them; and then breaking them into fragments, he gave them to us his disciples, and bade us distribute to the peo- ple. As often as we would return for more, we 170 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF PA. /ID. found the loaves and the fishes undiminishe@, and I saw with wonder how when he would break off a piece of one of the fishes, or of a loaf, the same part would immediately be seen thereon as if it had not been separated; and in this manner he continued to break and distribute to us for nearly an hour, until all ate as much as they would, and were filled; and when no one de- manded more, and he ceased to break, he com- manded us to gather up the fragments which lay by his side, which he had piled up about him as rapidly as he broke them off, and they were twelve baskets full over and above what was needed. The number that were thus miracu- lously fed was about five thousand men, beside nearly an equal number of women and children. And this mighty Prophet, who could thus feed an army, voluntarily suffered forty days and nights the pangs of hunger in the desert! He seems both a man in suffering, and a God in creating !’’ This wonderful miracle, my dear father, is one that has too many witnesses to be denied. He who could feed five thousand could feed all men! Must not He then, whe could feed all mankina, be divine? Surely, this must be the Son of God! Tf I should mention to you all the miracles which have been done by him, I should fill many let- ters. Nota day passes that we do not hear of some more oxtraordinary exhibition of his power than the preceding. Every morning, when men meet in the market-places, or in the courts of the Temple, the first inquiry is, ‘‘ What new wonder has he performed? Have you heard of another PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Ut miracle of this mighty Prophet?’’ Indeed, so great is the interest here felt to see Jesus and witness his miracles, that where one went to hear John preach in the wilderness of Jordan, ten go to see Christ in Galilee. The priests alone are offended, and speak evil of him through envy. They say that he draws off people from the sacri- fices; that he is preaching another law than that of Moses; that he eats with sinners; that he enters the houses of Samaritans; and that he loveth Galilee rather than Jerusalem, which they contend is an evidence that he is not the Christ who was ‘‘to come to the Temple and send forth his law from Jerusalem. ’’ They even have gone so far as to assert that he performs his miracles by magic, and the aid of Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. ‘‘If we suffer him to take men’s minds as he doth,’’ said Caiaphas to Rabbi Amos yesterday, when he heard that Jesus had walked on the sea to join his disciples in their ship, and stilled a tempest with a word, ‘‘the worship in the Temple will be at an end, and the sacrifice will cease. He draweth all men unto him.”’ Herod having, as I have said, slain John, and hearing soon after of the fame of Jesus, said to Herodia: ‘‘This is John Baptist risen from the dead, and therefore do mighty works show forth themselves in him.”’ **lf he rise from the dead threescore and ten times, I will as many times have his head,’’ an- swered Herodia; whereupon Herod privately sent to Jesus, supposing him to be John Baptist, to keep in the parts of Galilee where he was. The 172 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Levites and Scribes of the city contend that he is Elias, who it is prophesied must come and restore all things before Messias. Others believe that he is Isaiah, or Jeremiah, raised from the dead; and some say one thing, and others another thing. They are willing to believe Jesus to be everything but that which he is, viz., the true Christ, Son of the Highest. You have asked, dear father, in your letter, ‘“Where is Elias, who is to precede Messias, ac- cording to the Prophet Malachi?’’ This question Jesus himself has answered, says John, when some rabbis put it to him. He answered them thus: ‘‘Flias has come already, and ye have done unto him whatsoever ye listed. ’’ ‘“Dost thou speak of John the Baptist?’’ asked . those about him, when they heard this. ‘John came in the spirit and power of Elias, and therefore was he thus called by the prophet, ’’ was the answer of Jesus. I have written to you mainly of the miracles of Jesus, dear father, as being evidences conclusive of his divine power and authority to teach and restore Israel. I have said little of his teaching, as I have not yet heard him; but I have heard those who have listened to him repeat much that he hastaughtthem. Such words of wisdom, such pureness of teaching, such holy precepts, and divine instruction, never fell from the lips of man. Oh, when shall I be so blessed as to hear his voice, and hang on the eloquence of his lips! I envy all who have heard him speak. I did not tell you that beside the six disciples PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 1%3 whom I have named, he has chosen six others, which twelve he keeps near his person as his more favored followers, and whom he daily in- structs in the doctrines he came down from heaven to teach. Of the thousands who never weary going from place to place in his train, he has selected seventy men, whom he has dis- patched by twos into every city and village of Judea, commanding them to proclaim the king- dom of God as at hand, and that the time when men everywhere should repent and turn to God, had come. Thus you see, my dear father, that the solitary and unknown young man, who was baptized not @ year since in Jordan, is now wielding more infiuence in the land than the Roman Procurator Pilate, or Herod. Nay, not many days since, after he had fed another multitude by a miracle, the people would have made him a king by force; but he withdrew from the press, and retired into a mountain alone, to escape this honor. There- fore, dear father, he is no ambitious leader. His kingdom, if he is to be a king, is not to be re- ceived as the gift of men. Yet that he will bea king is as certain as that he is the Christ; for the prophecy says that Messias ‘‘shall sit upon the throne of his father David.’? Who can look into the future and behold the limit of his glory? Already by faith I see him crowned by the same mighty God who proclaimed from heaven that he was his beloved Son, crowned King of kings and Lords of lords; with his throne upon Mount Zion, and the nations of the earth tributary to his scepter of righteousness, and illimitable 174 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. dominion. MHeis the Stone cut out of a rock without hands, that shall fill the whole earth. You may charge me with being enthusiastic, my dear father; but if Jesus be the Christ, earth has no language that can express the splendor of his reign. It is now commonly reported that he will be here at the Passover. Ishall then behold him, and like the wise men, I shall worship him with mingled awe and love. I will again write you, dear father, after I see and hear him. ‘Till then, believe me your affectionate daughter, ADINA. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 175 LETTER XVI. My Dear Farner: While I write, the city is agitated like a tumultuous sea. The loud mur- murs of the multitudes in the streets, and even in the distant market-place, reach my startled ears. A cohort of Roman cavalry has just thundered past toward the Temple, where the uproar is greatest; for a rumor of an insurrection begun among the people, has come to Pilate the Procu- rator. But this is no insurrection against the Roman authority, dear father; alas, our people, who were once God’s people and the masters of the East, are now too servile and submissive to their pagan masters, the Romans, to lift up a finger to remove their degrading yoke! Would that it were a movement for the liberties of Judea! The occasion of the tumult, which seems to increase each moment, is an extraordinary act of power on the part of the new prophet, Jesus, that name become, by means of my pen, so famil- iar to you—a name at which, I can say without enthusiasm, every knee will yet bow, both of Jew and Gentile! I will relate to you the circum- stances; for this act of power from him is another proof of his divine mission. In my last letter, dear father, I stated that it was commonly reported that this wonderful man would be up to the Passover, and that ali men 176 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. were talking of the approaching event, and really thinking more of his presence here than of the Passover itself. Nay, it was said that many who would not otherwise be in Jerusalem, would come hither in order to see him, and to witness some new miracle; and to-day Rabbi Amos says the number of strangers in the city is hitherto unpre- cedented. Yesterday my Cousin John came unexpectedly into the hall of the fountain, in the rear of the house, where we were all seated in the cool of the vines, with which Mary’s taste has covered a wall of trellis-work. Uncle Amos was in the act of reading to us from the Prophet Jeremiah, a phophecy relating to the Messias that is to come (nay, that is come, dear father), when John ap- peared. Mary’s blushes welcomed him, and showed how dear he was to her. Uncle Amos embraced and kissed him and seated him by us, and called for a slave to bathe his feet, for he was dusty and travel-worn. From him we learned that his beloved master, Jesus, had reached Bethany, and was reposing from his fatigues at the hospitable though humble house of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. When we heard this, we were all very glad; and Uncle Amos particularly seemed to experience the deepest satisfaction. **If he comes into Jerusalem,’’ said he, warmly, ‘‘he shall be my guest. Bid him to my roof, O John, that my household may be blessed in havy- ing a Prophet of God step across its threshold. ’”’ ““Oh, by all means do not forget to ask him to remain through the Passover with us ’’ exclaimed Mary, earnestly looking up into the young dis- PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. By dy ciple’s face, and laying her hand confidingly upon his wrist. ‘I will tell my beloved Master thy wish, Rabbi Amos,’’ answered John. ‘‘Doubtiless, as he has no home, nor friends in the city, he will remain under your roof.”’ **Say not no friends!’’ I exclaimed. ‘‘We are all his friends here, and fain would be his dis- ciples. ”’ ‘“What! Rabbi Amos also?’’ cried John, with a glance of pleasurable surprise at the venerable Priest of God. **Yes, Iam ready, after all that I have heard and seen, Iam ready to confess him a Prophet sent from God.”’ ‘Yes, he is more than a prophet, O, Rabbi Amos!’’ answered John. ‘‘Never prophet did the works Jesus does. It seems that all power is at his command. If you witnessed what I wit- ness daily, as he traverses Judea, you would say that he was Jehovah descended to earth in human form!’’ ‘‘Nay, do not blaspheme, young man,’’ said Rabbi Amos, with some severity of reproof. John bowed his head in reverence to the rebuke of the Rabbi, but nevertheless answered respectfully and firmly, ‘‘Never man did like him. If he be not God in the flesh, he is an angel in fiesh invested with divine power.’’ *“If he be the Messiah,’’ I said, ‘‘he cannot be an angel; for are not the prophecies clear that Messias shall be ‘a man of sorrows?’ Is he not to be ‘the seed of the woman?’ a man and not an angel ?’’ 178 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. € ‘*Yes,’’ answered John, ‘‘you remember well the prophecies. I firmly believe Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of God. Yet, what he is more than man, what he is less than God, is incompre- hensible to me and to my fellow disciples. We wonder, love, and adore! At one moment we feel like embracing him into our arms as a brother dearly beloved; at another, we are ready so fall at his feet and worship him! I have seen him weep at beholding the miseries of the diseased wretches which were dragged into his presence, and then with a touch—with a word, heal them: and they would stand before him in the purity and beauty of health and strong manhood! I have seen him with a voice of command, as never man spake, expel devils from those who were possessed by them; and I have heard the devils submissively beg not to be sent to their own place, but to be permitted by him to remain roaming still in the air and on the earth, until the hour of their final sentence shall proceed from the lips of God. Even the devils are thus subject unto him, so mighty is his power; and all diseases disappear before his eye like the foul air of the fens before the beams of the morning sun!’’ ‘‘And yet,’’ said Nicodemus, a rich Pharisee who entered as John was first speaking, and listened without interrupting, for it is his wont to come in and out as he will, being a friend of my uncle, ‘‘and yet, young man, I heard you say that Jesus, of whom you and all men relate such mighty deeds, has remained at Bethany te recover from his fatigue. How can a man who holds all sickness in his power be subject to mere PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 1%9 weariness of body? I would say unto him, Physician, heal thyself!’’ This was spoken with a tone of incredulity by his learned ruler of the Jews; and stroking his snowy beard, he waited of John a reply; for like many of the chief men, nay, most of them, it was hard to believe all he heard of Jesus; for as yet he had not seen him; nor would he be likely to visit him were he to come into the city, in order to see for himself, lest his popularity among the Jews be diminished; for he is a man of re- markable ambition, and aims one day to be the chief governor of the people; therefore, though he should really be convinced that Jesus is the Messias, I fear he would not have candor enough, for fear of the Jews, to confess it. Such is my opinion of my uncle’s friend, the rich and power- ful Pharisee. But John answered him and said: **So far as I can learn the character and power of Jesus, his power over diseases is not for his own good, but for the benefit of the multitude. He uses his power to work miracles to do good to others from love and compassion, and to show forth the divine power in him. His miracles are used only as the proofs of his Messiahship. Being a man with this divine power dwelling in him for us, he is subject to infirmities as a man; he hungers, thirsts, wearies, suffers, as a man. I have seen him heal a nobleman’s son and restore him to strength and activity by a word, and the next moment seat himself, supporting his aching head upon his hand, looking pale and languid, and without strength; for his labors of love are vast, and he is often overcome by tkem, those 180 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. who follow him to be healed not giving him time to repose at night. Once, Simon Peter, seeing him ready to sink with very weariness, after heal- ing all day, asked him and said: ‘Master, thou givest strength to others, why suffer thyself, when all health and strength are in thee, as in a living well, to be weary!’ ** *¥t is not mine to escape human infirmities by any power my Father hath bestowed upon me for the good of men. It behooves me to suffer all things. ‘Through suffering only can I draw all men after me!’ ”’ John said this so sadly, as if he were repeating the very tones in which Jesus had spoken it, that we all remained silent for a few moments. I felt tears fill my eyes, and I was glad to see that the proud Pharisee, Nicodemus, ‘looked moved. After a full minute’s serious pause, he said: ‘‘This man is doubtless no common prophet. When he comes into the city I shall be glad to hear from his own mouth his doctrines, and to witness some potent miracle.’’ ‘‘Surely,’’ said Amos, ‘‘if he be in truth a prophet, we ought not to reject him. We ought to examine fairly his claims to be sent from God to our people.”’ ‘‘Certainly,’’ answered Nicodemus. ‘‘We Pharisees are ready to give him a fair hearing. It would seem that by coming to Jerusalem from the provinces, where hitherto he has been preach- ing and doing miracles, he means to challenge the whole people to acknowledge him as a prophet. ’”’ ‘““Prophet he is, without doubt,’’ answered PRINCE OF THE HOUS® OF DAVID. 181 Amos. ‘‘Itis not the question now whether he be a prophet or not, for the hundreds he has healed are living witnesses that he has the spirit and power of the old prophets, and is truly a prophet. The question that remains is, whether he be the Messiah, or not?’’ Nicodemus slowly and negatively shook his head, and then answered: ‘*Messias cometh not out of Galilee.’’ **He will prove himself to be Messias with power,’ answered my Cousin John, with zeal. ‘“When you hear him speak, Rabbi Nicodemus, the grace of his lips, and the depths of his wis- dom, will charm you into belief; and without miracles you will acknowledge that He is the Christ. ’”’ At this moment a sudden, wild, joyful cry from Mary, thrilled our nerves, and, looking toward the door, we saw her folded in the arms of a young man whom I had never seen before. My surprise had not time to form itself into any defi- nite opinion of what I saw, when I beheld the young man, who was exceeding handsome, and the picture of health, after kissing the clinging Mary upon her cheeks, leave her to throw himself into the arms of Rabbi Amos, crying: *“My father, my dear father!’’ My uncle, who had stood amazed, and wonder- ingly gazing on him,as if he could not believe what his eyes beheld, now burst into profound expres- sions of grateful joy, and as he clasped the young stranger to his heart, fell upon his neck and wept, with scarcely power to articulate the words: 182 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ‘“My son! my son! Lost, but found again! This is the Lord’s doing, and is marvelous in our eyes.’’ John also embraced the newcomer, while the Ruler stood silent with wonder. Who the young man was whose arrival was producing such emo- tion, and why he should be hailed as a son by my Uncle Amos, I had noidea; and while I was look- ing bewildered upon the scene, Mary ran and said to me, with tears of gladness shining in her dark fine eyes: “It is Benjamin, my lost brother, beloved Adina!’’ *‘T did not know you had a brother,’’ I an- swered in surprise. ‘“We have long regarded him as dead,’’ she replied, with mingled emotions. ‘‘Seven years ago he became lunatic, and fled to the tombs without the city, where he has long dwelt with many others who were possessed with devils. For years he has been a madman, and has neither spoken to nor known us, and we have tried to forget that he lived, since to remember it made us miserable, without hope of his restoration. But oh, now behold him! It seems a vision! See how manly, noble, like himself he is, with the same sweet smile and smiling eyes.”’ She then fiew to take him by the hand and lead him toward me, all eyes being fixed upon him, as if he had been a spirit. When he saw their wondering gaze, he said: ‘*TIt is I, both son and brother to those dearest to me. Iam in my right mind, and well.”’ ‘‘Who has effected this change, so extraordi- PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 183 wary, oh, my son?’’ inquired Rabbi Amos, with trembling lips, and keeping his hand on Ben- jamin’s shoulder, as if he feared he would vanish away. **It was Jesus, the Prophet of the Highest,’ answered he, with solemn gratitude. *‘Jesus!’’ we all exclaimed in one voice. **T could have said so,’’ answered Cousin John, calmly. ‘‘I needed not to ask who had effected this great work upon him. Nicodemus, thou knowest this young man well! thou hast known him in childhood, and beheld him in the mad- ness of his lunacy, among the tombs. Dost thou doubt now, whether Jesus be the very Christ ?’’ Nicodemus made no reply; but I saw from the expression of his face that he believed. ‘“How was this thing done to thee, young man?’’ he asked, with a deep interest and visible emotion. ‘*Il was wandering near Bethany this morn- ing,’’ answered the lost and restored one, with modesty and feeling, ‘‘when I beheld a crowd which I madly followed. As I drew near, I beheld in their midst a man, whem I had no sooner cast my eyes upon than I felt seize me an ungovernable propensity to destroy him. The same fury possessed seven others, my comrades in madness, and together, with one mind and will, we rushed upon him, with great stones and knives in our hands. The crowd gave way and fell back aghast, and called him to save himself. But he moved not, but, left alone in a wide space, stood calmly awaiting us. We were within afew feet of him, and I was nearest, ready to strike 184 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. him to the earth, when he quietly lifted one finger, and said ‘‘Peace!’’ We stood immovable, without power to stir a foot, while our rage and hatred increased with our inability to harm him. We howled and foamed at the mouth before him, for we then knew that He was the Son of God, come to destroy us. “* “Come out of the men, and depart quickly!’ he said, in atone of command as if to us, but really to the demons within us. At this word 1 fell at his feet in a dreadful convulsion, and my whole body writhed as if it had been wrestling with an invisible demon. Jesus then stooped and laid his hand upon my brow, and said, ‘Son, arise! ‘Thou are made whole!’ **At these words a black cloud seemed to be lifted from my mind, and to disappear; the glory of anew existence appeared to dawn upon my soul, while his voice melted my heart within me. Bursting into tears, the first I have shed for seven years, I fell at his feet and kissed them, and em- braced them, wholly overcome with a new sense of peace, and of inward happiness unspeakable. *“*Go thy way, and fear God, that thou fall not a second time into this captivity to Satan!’ he said, raising me to my feet. I then followed him, rejoicing and blessing God, until he entered the house of a Centurion, near Bethany, when I hastened hither, to gladden your hearts with the sight of me restored to my right mind.”’ When Benjamin had done speaking, we all gave glory to God, who had given him back to us, and who had sent so great a prophet among men. As Nicodemus took his leave, I overheard PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 185 him, congratulating the happy father, say, that he should embrace the first opportunity to have an interview with Jesus; and when my uncle told him that he hoped to entertain the mighty Prophet as his guest, the Ruler desired permis- sion to visit him here upon his arrival, ‘‘but secretly,’’ I heard him add, in Rabbi Amos’ ear, as he took his leave. I commenced this letter, dearest father, by an allusion to a great commotion which is agitating the whole city, and which was caused by an act of powcr on the part of the Prophet Jesus, who this morning, two hours ago, entered the city, and proceeded at once to the Temple, followed through the streets by an innumerable multitude, such as was never known in Jerusalem before. But as I have taken up so much of this letter in relating what passed yesterday in the hall of the Fountain, I will leave the account of the tumult, the voices of which are still to be heard, for my next letter, which I shall write this evening; for now that all events are so interesting connected with the great Prophet, Christ, I shall write to you almost daily, that I may keep you advised of all things that come to pass, even as you desired me to do. This request, dear father, filled me with joy. It was an assurance to me that you have begun to take an interest in these wonderful things concerning Messias, and it leads me secretly to hope that you may yet believe in Him, and accept Him as the Anointed One of God, which without doubt he is, as both his words and his mighty works do testify. When I get a package of letters made up, I 186 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. shall send them by Israel Ben Judah, with the caravan that leaves eight days after the Passover. May the God of our Fathers be with you, and bless you, and all the holy people of the Promise. Your loving daughter, ADINA. PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 187 LETTER XVII. My Drar Farner: The last letter which I sent to you, was written during an extraordinary tumult which prevailed in the city, an account of which I promised to give you in the present one. Iwill doso now. When, on the morning of the Passover, it was noised abroad that the Prophet of Galilee was entering the city by the gate of Jericho, the whole city was stirred, and from houses and shops poured forth crowds which turned their steps in that direction. Mary and I went upon the housetop, hoping to see something; but far and near was visible only asea of heads, from which a deep murmuring arose, like the ceaseless voice of the ocean chafing upon a rocky shore. The top of the gateway was visible from the place where we stood; but it was black with the people who had crowded upon it to look down. ‘There was heard, at length, an immense shout, as of one voice, which was fol- lowed by a swaying and onward pressure of the crowds. ‘