and had much influence and power; but they abused their authority to delude an ignorant people. They did not attempt to promote the practice of virtue, either by their precepts or their example; but indulged themselves in licentiousness; and taught others, that the whole of religion was comprised in observing the rites and ceremonies inculcated by their ancestors.

The heathen worship consisted of various rites, such as sacrifices with prayer, and other observances. Animals were universally offered, and human victims were sometimes immolated. The prayers of the Pagans were not unfrequently addressed to their gods, expressly for the purpose of obtaining the blessing of the heavenly powers upon immoral and infamous undertakings. Even the gods and goddesses whom they adored, as their characters and actions were commonly represented, exhibited to their deluded worshippers, examples rather of scandalous crimes, than of purity and virtue.

None of the various systems of the heathen religion appear to have been adapted to in

spire love and respect for virtue, or to promote its practice. There were stately temples, pompous ceremonies, expensive sacrifices, and magnificent festivals; but just notions of God, obedience to his moral laws, purity of heart, and sanctity of life, were not insisted upon as requisites in religious worship.

The doctrines of the immortality of the soul, and of a future state of rewards and punishments, were very partially received, in a form very vague and unsatisfactory; and the opinions maintained on this subject were more adapted to administer indulgence to vice, than support and encouragement to virtue.

The consequence of this wretched theology was, a universal corruption of manners, which exhibited itself in the most atrocious crimes. The sports of the gladiators, the grossest debauchery, the licentiousness of divorce, the custom of exposing infants, and other horrid practices, prove that the colours are not too dark, which the apostle Paul employs in drawing the character of the heathen nations. See Romans i. Ephesians vi. 17, &c.

When mankind had abandoned themselves to

the most atrocious crimes, and appeared to have lost almost all sense of moral obligation, God was graciously pleased to send his Son, to reform and save the world. "When the fulness of time was come," our Lord appeared upon earth, "a light to enlighten the gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel."

LETTER III.

Of the civil and religious State of the Jewish
Nation at the Time of Christ's Birth.

MY DEAR NIECES,

I will now give you an outline of the civil and religious state of the Hebrew nation, at the time of our Lord's advent.

Jerusalem had been taken by Pompey the Great, about seventy years before the birth of our Saviour. The Jews, at this period, were governed by Herod the Great, who received his kingdom from, and was himself tributary to the Romans. This prince was one of the greatest tyrants that ever disgraced humanity. After having destroyed all the descendants of the illustrious Asmonæan family, (who, from the time of Judas Maccabæus, had governed Judea for 129 years,) he began to exhibit a marked contempt for the religion and laws of the Jews. He abolished several of the ceremonies enjoined in the Mosaic code; and in

1

troduced some foreign customs, which were expressly forbidden by it. He built a mag

nificent theatre in the city of Jerusalem, and a spacious amphitheatre in the suburbs, where he instituted public games in honour of Augustus. From the beginning of his reign to the final destruction of the temple, the high priests were set up, and removed, at his pleasure, and that of his successors, or of the Romans. He attacked the authority of the grand Sanhedrim, which, by degrees, lost its power. He adopted, in his ordinary habits, Roman customs and usages; and, in his public capacity, was devoted and subservient to that mighty empire. Through his influence Roman luxury was introduced into Palestine, accompanied with all the vices of that licentious people. In a word, Judea groaned under all the corruption and misery which might be expected from a prince who, though a Jew in outward profession, was, in practice, a contemner of all laws, human and divine. The murder of the children of Bethlehem, recorded by the Evangelists, is a strong exemplification of his cruel and jealous temper.