taught that God rewarded his worshippers with external prosperity, in proportion to their devotional zeal. During the Feast of Tabernacles, prayers were offered for all people in the world, and seventy bullocks were sacrificed for the seventy nations, which Jews supposed comprised all the inhabitants of the earth. They were designated by the common term Gentiles, which simply means the nations. From the time of Joshua to the captivity in Babylon, the people neglected to live in booths during this festival, though Moses expressly enjoined it; but after their return from exile, Ezra restored the ancient usage.

Jews, in common with most Asiatic nations, believed that the world was created in autumn; therefore they dated their year from that time. On the day of the first new moon of the year, they held a new year's festival, called the Feast of Trumpets. No man was allowed to require work from his labourers on that day; and the provisions for food were more abundant than usual. It was customary to serve up a ram's head, in memory of the ram slain instead of Isaac. At sunrise, they offered thanks, saying: "Blessed be God who has hitherto preserved us in life, and brought us unto this time." Then the priests began to blow trumpets, and continued blowing them by turns, until sunset.

Every new moon was observed as a festival. Men were stationed on all the heights and watch-towers, to announce when the moon began to show itself above the horizon. As soon as the high priest heard the tidings, he said: "The new moon is hallowed;" and the Sanhedrim, who were assembled for the occasion, replied: "It is hallowed." Fires were kindled on all the hills, and messengers sent in every direction, to remind people that the Feast of the New Moon must be celebrated. At such times, in addition to the sacrifices daily offered in the temple, they slaugh tered two bulls, seven lambs, and a kid, for sin-offerings.

Nine days after the Festival of Trumpets, they observed a very severe national fast, called the Great Day of Expiation. During this interval of nine days, they prepared VOL. II.-3

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for expiation by applying themselves to works of piety and alms-giving with uncommon diligence. The very devout often rose at midnight, and went to the synagogues to pray till morning dawned. Seven days previous to the fast, the High Priest was escorted to the temple by the Sanhedrim and a band of priests, that he might live there, apart from his wife, away from the world, and out of danger of contamination by anything unclean. He took a substitute with him, to be duly prepared, in case any sudden disease, or accident, should render him unfit for the holy office of atonement. Both of them were sprinkled with the ashes of the red heifer, lest they had in some way contracted pollution unawares. The High Priest watched all the night previous. When the day dawned, he laid aside the rich dress, which he wore in the sanc tuary on all other occasions, performed prescribed ablutions, and clothed himself in pure white linen. The people assembled at the temple as soon as it was light, and a young bullock was brought to him, as a sin-offering for the descendants of Aaron. He laid his hands on the head of the beast, and said: "O Lord, I have sinned, done perversely, and transgressed before thee, I and my house. O Lord, expiate the sins, perversities, and transgressions, whereby I have sinned, done perversely, and transgressed, I and my house." Then two goats, of equal colour, size, and price, were brought to him as a sin-offering for all the people. One of them was to be sacrificed to the Lord, the other was for a scape-goat. The goat for the Lord was chosen by drawing lots from an urn. The bullock and the goat were sacrificed, and the blood sprinkled on the holy of holies, the altar, and the sanctuary. A long piece of scarlet was tied to the other goat. The High Priest laid his hands on the head of the animal, and said: "O Lord, thy people, the house of Israel, have sinned, done perversely, and transgressed before thee. I beseech thee, O Lord, to expiate the sins, perversities, and transgressions, which the house of Israel have sinned, done perversely, and transgressed before thee. As it is written in

the Law of Moses, thy servant: for on this day he will expiate for you, to purge you from all your sins, that you may be clean before Jehovah." This was the only occasion on which the name of Jehovah was ever uttered, and then only by the High Priest. As soon as the priests and people heard it, they prostrated themselves to the ground, saying: "Blessed be the name of his glorious kingdom for ever and ever." The goat was carried with all speed to a wilderness ten miles from Jerusalem, and being led to the top of a precipice, was thrown off, with all the sins of the people on his head. The men who performed this office were considered unclean for the remainder of the day, and went through ceremonies of purification before they approached any sacred place. When the sacrifices were finished, the High Priest took coals from the altar, placed incense upon them, and went into the holy of holies to burn incense before the Lord. This was the only day when he entered that apartment, which no other human foot was allowed to touch. He went in four times. Once to burn incense, once to sprinkle the blood of the bullock, once to sprinkle the blood of the goat, and a fourth time, to bring out the censer in which incense was burning. If he entered it a fifth time, Jewish writers say he died for his presumption. By his prayers and sacrifices on this important Day of Expiation, the whole nation believed God was reconciled to them, and all their sins forgiven.

There were innumerable other observances and ceremonies attending birth, marriage, death, and all the most interesting events of life. In addition to prescribed sacrifices and oblations, there were many voluntary ones, to avert calamities, or express gratitude for good fortune. In the Hebrew language the same word denoted peace and prosperity; therefore offerings of thanksgiving were called peace-offerings. When a man was too poor to offer beasts or birds, the priests accepted an oblation of flour, in lieu of more expensive donations.

The character and mission of the prophets differed essentially from that of the priests. The priesthood rarely

the Law of Moses, thy servant: for on this day he will expiate for you, to purge you from all your sins, that you may be clean before Jehovah." This was the only occaion on which the name of Jehovah was ever uttered, and then only by the High Priest. As soon as the priests and people heard it, they prostrated themselves to the ground, saying: "Blessed be the name of his glorious kingdom for ever and ever." The goat was carried with all speed to a wilderness ten miles from Jerusalem, and being led to the top of a precipice, was thrown off, with all the sins of the people on his head. The men who performed this office were considered unclean for the remainder of the day, and went through ceremonies of purification before they approached any sacred place. When the sacrifices were finished, the High Priest took coals from the altar, placed incense upon them, and wen he holy of holies to burn incense before the Lord s the when he entered that apartm foot was allowed to touch.