Abraham; the Land of Israel, from the Israelites; Judea, from Judah, the principal of the twelve tribes ; Palestine, from the Philistines, who inhabited the southwest part of it; and the Holy Land, from its being the scene of the greater part of the transactions recorded in the Bible, and particularly of the birth, life, miracles, and sufferings of our Savior.

2. It is also repeatedly called in the Bible simply The Land. The names which have in modern times, been most commonly applied to it, are the Holy Land and Palestine.

3. The Israelites esteemed this country as holy; and all other countries they regarded as profane, the very dust of which would contaminate one of their nation.

4. The face of the country is beautifully diversified with mountains, hills, valleys, and plains.

5. The climate is excellent; the cold seldom excessive ; the heat of summer is great, but mitigated by a periodical breeze.

6. Rain seldom falls here, except in the spring and autumn; but, the deficiency is, in a measure, supplied by abundant dews.

7. The Scriptures, in describing the fruitfulness of this country, characterize it as "a land flowing with milk aud honey."

8. In modern times, many parts of it have a desolate appearance, as the cultivation has generally been much neglected; but, where it has been well attended to, it is highly productive.

9. Under a wise and beneficent government," says a recent traveller, "the produce of the Holy Land would exceed all calculation. Its perennial harvest; the salubrity of its air; its limpid springs; its rivers, lakes, and matchless plains; its hills and vales; all these, added to the serenity of its climate, prove this land to be indeed a field which the Lord hath blessed.""

10. The Jor'dan, the celebrated river of Palestine, and the only considerable one in the country, is deep and rapid, but not wide. It rises near the foot of Mount Hermon; passes through lakes Merom and Gennesareth; and, after

2. What names have been commonly applied to it in modern times? 3. How did the Israelites regard this, and how other countries? 4. What is said of the face of the country? 5. What is said of the climate? 6. What respecting rain? 7. How do the Scriptures characterize this country? 8. What is its state in modern times? 9. What is said of it by a recent traveller? 10. What account is given of the Jordan ›

a southerly course of about 150 miles, flows into the Dead Sea.

11. Some of the other famous streams or rivulets of Pal estine are the Ar'non, Jub'bok, Be'sor. So'rek, and Ki'shon ; also Ce'dron, or Kid'ron, noted for passing by Jerusalem, and Belus, near Ptolema'is, from the sand of which glass is said to have been first made.

12. The Dead Seu, called also the Sea of Sodom, the Salt Sea, and Lake Asphalti'tes, is about 70 miles long, and from 10 to 18 broad.

13. It occupies the place where once stood the five cities of the plain, namely, Sod'om, Gomorrah, Ad'mah, Zebo 'im, and Zo'ar; the first four of which were destroyed by fire from heaven.

14. It is surrounded by majestic and dreary mountains; and its vicinity is barren and cheerless. The water is clear, but uncommonly salt and bitter.

15. The Sea of Galilee, called also the lake of Gennes'areth and the Sea of Tiberias, and, in the Old Testament, the Sea of Chin'nereth or Cin'neroth, is 17 miles long, and 6 broad.

16. This lake, which is celebrated in the gospel history, is environed by lofty eminences, and has a beautiful and picturesque appearance.

17. Our Savior passed much of his time, during his min istry, in the vicinity of this lake, and it was here that several of his disciples were employed, in the early part of their lives, as fishermen.

18. Mount Leb'anon, called by the Greeks and Latins Lib'anus, is a famous range of mountains on the north of Palestine. Its summits are almost always covered with

snow.

19. Lebanon is celebrated in Hebrew poetry, particularly for its magnificent cedars, some specimens of which still remain.

20. To the east of Lebanon is Anti-Lebanon or AntiLib'anus; and to the southeast is Mount Hermon, the summit of which is usually covered with snow.

11. What other famous streams are there? 12. What is the extent of the Dead Sea? 13. What place does it occupy?

14. What is further said of it? 15. What are the length and

breadth of the Sea of Galilee? 16. What is said of it? 17. What is mentioned respecting our Savior and his disciples in connection with this lake? 18. What is said of Mount Lebanon? 19. For what is Lebanon celebrated in Hebrew poetry? 20. What mountains lie east and southeast of Lebanon?

4. JUDEA comprised the territories which formerly be longed to the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and Dan : and it was distinguished particularly for containing the city of Jerusalem.

5. Jerusalem was styled by the Israelites the Holy City and the City of God, and was regarded as, in a peculiar sense, the dwelling-place of the Most High, as it contained the Temple, and was the centre of the Jewish worship.

6. It was built on four hills, Zi'on, Mori'ah, A'cra, and Beze'ta, which were almost surrounded by valleys, encompass ed by mountains.

7. Two small streams, branches of the brook Kid'ron or Ce'dron, flowed through the valleys, one on the east, and the other on the south, of the city.

8. Mount Zion, which was the most elevated of the hills, and on which the city of David was built, and also the palace of David, was the most southerly.

9. Mount Moriah, on which the Temple was erected, was to the east; and to the north were two other hills, less elevated.

10. After the building of the Temple, all the adult males of Israel were required to go to Jerusalem, three times a year, to keep the three great annual festivals; namely, the Passover, the Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

11. The first Temple was built by Solomon, and was an extensive and magnificent edifice, adorned with very costly ornaments of gold, and encompassed by spacious courts.

12. In the innermost part of the Temple was the Sanctu ary, including the Holy of Holies, so called because it contained the Ark of the Covenant.

13. Into this most holy place, none but the high priest was permited to enter; and he only once a year, on the great day of atonement.

14. The second Temple, which was built by Zerub'babel, after the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, was much inferior to that of Solomon.

15. Herod began to repair or rebuild the Temple 16 years

4. What did Judea comprise?

5. What is said of Jerusalem? 6. What of its situation? 7. What streams flowed through the valleys? 8. What is said of Mount Zion? 9. What of Mount Moriah? 10. At what three festivals were all the adult males required to be at Jerusalem?

11 What is said of the first Temple? 12. What was there in the innermost part of it? 13. Who was permitted to enter into the Holy of Holies? 14. By whom was the second Temple built? 15. When did Herod begin to repair or rebuild the Temple?

before the birth of Christ, and rendered it extremely magnificent.

16. Near the Temple was the pool of Bethes'da; and on the northwest was the castle or fortress of Anto'nia, in which a Roman legion was quartered.

17. On the vest side of the city, and just without the walls, was Calvary, a little hill, where our Lord was crucified. 18. To the south of the city was Gehen'na, or the Valley of Hinnom, where the Israelites sacrificed their children to the image of Moloch.

19. In the Valley of Jehosh'aphat, to the east of the city, were the fountain or pool of Siloam or Siloah, and also the Garden of Gethsem'ane, where our Savior was betrayed.

20. To the east of the valley of Jehoshaphat was the Mount of Olives or Mount Olivet, so elevated as to afford a fine view of the city and temple.

21. The modern city of Jerusalem is built chiefly on Mount Moriah, and is much visited by pilgrims.

22. To the east of Jerusalem was Beth'pha-ge; and still farther, Beth'any, famous for the residence of Mary and Martha, for the raising of Laz'arus, and for the ascension of our Savior.

23. Bethlehem is memorable as the birthplace of our Savior; Em'muus, for his conversation with two of his disciples after his resurrection.

24. Jericho, famous in the history of the Old Testament, is frequently mentioned in the New, and was the residence of Zacche'us.

25. Arimathe'a is noted as the residence of Joseph, who begged of Pilate the body of Jesus; Lyd'da, for the cure of E'neas, by Peter.

CHAPTER VII.

Samaria: Galilee: Perca.

1 The country or province of SAMARIA derived its namne from the city of Samaria, which was the capital of the 16. Where were the pool of Bethesda and the castle of Antonia? 17. Where was Calvary? 18. Where was Gehenna or the Valley of Hinnom? 19. The Pool of Siloam and the garden of Gethsemane? 20. The Mount of Olives?

21 What is said of the modern city? 22. Bethphage and Bethany? 23. Bethlehem and Eminaus? 24. Jericho 25. Arimathea and Lydda?

CHAPTER VII.1. What is said of the country or province of Sa.naria

kingdom of Israel; and it comprised the territory which belonged to the tribe of Ephraim and half of Manasseh.

2. After the captivity of the Ten Tribes by Shalmane'ser, this country was repeopled by colonists from Assyria, and such Israelites as remained or afterwards returned; and this mixed race of people were called Samar'itans.

3. They adopted the Law of Moses, and regarded the Pentateuch as a book of divine authority; but rejected the rest of the Old Testament.

4. They built a temple on Mount Ger'izim, where they celebrated their worship, instead of going to Jerusalem.

5. The greatest aversion existed between the Jews and Samaritans; and the two nations had no friendly intercourse with each other.

6. Our Savior spent but little time, during his ministry, in Samaria; though he repeatedly passed through the couutry, in journeying from Galilee to Judea.

7. Sy'char, called in the Old Testament She'chem and Si'chem, now Napolose, became the metropolis of the Sa maritans, after the destruction of the city of Samaria.

8. Near Sychar was Jacob's Well, memorable for our Savior's conversation with the woman of Samaria.

9. In the vicinity was Mount Ger'izim, on which the Sa maritan temple was built, and to which allusion is made in the remark of the woman of Samaria, "Our fathers wor shipped in this mountain."

10. Cæsare'a, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean, was the seat of the Roman procurators, or governors, of

Palestine.

11. In this city Herod Agrippa was smitten with a fatal disease, as related in Acts xii.; here St. Peter converted Cornelius, the centurion; and here St. Paul defended himself before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, before he sailed to Rome.

12. Joppa, now Jaffa, is famous as the port of Jerusalem, and for being the place where Peter restored Dorcas to life.

13. Antipatris, a town built by Herod, is mentioned in the history of St. Paul; E'non and Sa'lim, near the Jordan, were the places where John baptized.

2. Who were the Samaritans? and what was their origin?
3. What their religion? 4. Where did they build a temple?
5. How did the Jews and Samaritans regard each other?

6. Did our Savior pass much time in Samaria? 7. What is said of Sychar? 8. For what is Jacob's Well memorable ?

9. What is said of Mount Gerizim? 10. What of Cæsarea? 11. What even's took place in this city? 12. What is said of Joppa. 13. What of Antipatris, Enon, and Salim ?