SPOT OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION.

43

ever being convinced, before authorities of considerable weight; St. Augustine, St. Jerome, St. Paulina, Sulpicius Severus, the venerable Bede, all travellers, ancient and modern, assure us that this is a print of the foot of Jesus Christ. From an examination of this print, it has been concluded that our Saviour had his face towards the north, at the moment of his ascension, as if to renounce the south, involved in errors, and to call to the faith barbarians destined to overthrow the temples of false gods, to create new nations, and to plant, the standard of the cross on the walls of Jerusalem.

Several fathers of the church were of opinion, that Christ ascended to heaven, attended by the souls of the patriarchs and prophets, delivered by him from the chains of death: his mother, and one hundred and twenty disciples, witnessed his ascension. He stretched out his arms like Moses, says St. Gregory Nazianzen, and commended his disciples to his Father; he then crossed his almighty hands, holding them down over the heads of his beloved friends, in the same attitude that Jacob blessed his son Joseph: then rising from earth with inexpressible majesty, he slowly ascended towards the eternal mansions, till he was enveloped by a brilliant cloud.t

St. Helena caused a church to be erected on the spot where now stands the octagonal mosque. St. Jerome informs us that it was found impossible to cover in that part of the roof through which Christ pursued his heaven-ward route. The venerable Bede declares that in his time, on the eve of the Ascension, the Mount of Olives was all night seen covered with flames. Nothing obliges us to give

credit to these traditions, which I record merely in illustration of history and manners; but if Descartes and Newton had doubted of these miracles as philosophers, Racine and Milton would not have rejected them as poets.

Such is the gospel history explained by monuments. We have seen it commence at Bethlehem, proceed to the denouement at the mansion of Pilate, arrive at the catastrophe on Calvary, and conclude on the Mount of Olives. The very spot of the Ascension is not quite on the top of the Mount, but two or three hundred paces below its highest summit. Bossuet has comprised this whole history in a few pages, but those pages are sublime.

"Meanwhile, the jealousy of the Pharisees and priests hurries him on to an ignominious death; he is forsaken by his disciples, betrayed by one of them, and thrice denied by the first and most zealous of their number. Being accused before the council, he to the last pays respect to the sacerdotal office, and replies in precise terms to the high priest, who judicially interrogates him. The pontiff and the whole council condemn Jesus, because he declares that he is the Christ, the Son of God. He is delivered to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor: his innocence is acknowledged by his judge, who is induced by policy and interest to act against his conscience. The just is condemned to die; and the greatest of crimes gives occasion to the most perfect obedience that ever was. Jesus, though master over his own life and all things that exist, voluntarily consigns himself to the fury of wicked men, and offers this sacrifice which is to atone for mankind. When on the cross, he consults the prophets what he has yet left

CHRIST'S
'S PASSION AND DEATH.

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to do; he fulfils it, and at length says, It is finished!

"At these words, the whole face of things is changed in the world; the law ceases, types become obsolete, and sacrifices are abolished by a more perfect oblation. This done, Christ expires with a loud cry; all nature is convulsed; the Centurion who guards him, astonished at such a death, exclaims: Verily, this is the Son of God!-and the spectators return, smiting their breasts. On the third day he rises again; he appears to his disciples, who had forsaken him, and who obstinately refused to believe the account of his resurrection. They see him, they converse with him, they touch him, and are convinced.

"On this foundation, twelve sinners undertake to convert the whole world, which they find so hostile to the laws which they have to prescribe, and the truth which they have to announce to it. They are enjoined to begin with Jerusalem, and thence to proceed to all the world, to instruct all nations, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Jesus promises to be with them always, even unto the end of the world, and by this expression assures the perpetual duration of the ecclesiastical ministry. Having said this, he ascends to heaven in their presence."

We descended the Mount of Olives, and again mounting our horses, continued our excursion. We left the valley of Jehoshaphat behind us, and proceeded by a steep road to the northern angle of the city then turning to the west, and keeping along the wall that faces the north, we reached the grotto where Jeremiah composed his Lamentations. We were not far from the Sepulchres of the Kings,

but we relinquished our intention of seeing them that day, because it was too late; and returned to the gate of Jaffa, by which we had set out from Jerusalem. It was exactly seven o'clock when we arrived at the convent. Our excursion had lasted five hours. On foot, if you keep close to the walls, it takes scarcely an hour to make the circuit of Jerusalem.

CHAPTER III.

History of Jerusalem-Besieged and taken by Titus-New City built by Adrian-Taken by the Mahometans-Character of the Crusades-Jerusalem taken by the Crusaders and erected into a Kingdom Godfrey of Bouillon, the first King-His Successors Baldwin takes Jerusalem-Crusade of Louis IX.Account of the Kingdom of Jerusalem-Present state of the City-The Citadel-Street of the Bazar-The Jews' Quarter -Ancient Christian Hospital - The City Walls-GatesStreets-The Greek Convent-Visit to the Greek PatriarchThe Armenian Convent and Patriarch-Second visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre-Rencounter with two drunken Spahis.

On the 8th of October, at five in the morning, attended by Ali Aga, and Michael, the drogman, I commenced my survey of the interior of the city. Let us here pause, and take a rapid view of its history.

Jerusalem was founded in the year of the world 2023, by the royal priest Melchisedeck, who called it Salem, which signifies peace. At that time it occupied only the two hills of Moria and Acra.

Fifty years after its foundation it was taken by the Jebusites, the descendants of Jebus, a son of Canaan. They erected on Mount Sion a fortress, to which they gave the name of Jebus, their father. The whole city then received the appellation of Jerusalem, which signifies vision of peace. In Scripture it is always spoken of in very magnificent

terms.