nezzar, and was afterwards carried with his disciple Baruch into Egypt, where he was put to death. The Chronicle of Alexandria relates, that the Egyptians were incensed against him on account of his predictions concerning their kingdom; but that Alexander the Great, hearing what he had foretold concerning himself, vifited the place of his burial, and ordered this Prophet's urn to be removed to Alexandria, where he built a magnificent monument to his memory. Conftantine the Great afterwards erected a tomb to his memory near Jerufalem, at the place where it was fuppofed he ufually refided: but as Ptolemy received the former account as genuine, it is far more probable that he died in Egypt.

Daniel was a defcendant of the kings of Judah; he was carried captive to Babylon in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, B. C. 602, Y. W. 3398, when he was about 18 years of age. His illuftrious birth, various accomplishments, and confummate wisdom, raised him to the highest honours, firft in the Babylonian, and afterwards in the Perfian court. He publicly profeffed and practifed the worship of his God, in defiance of every danger, and boldly predicted his fearful

fearful judgments to two of the most powerful and haughty tyrants of the earth, when called upon to explain the figns which they confeffed to be fent from heaven. Daniel contributed much towards fpreading the know ledge of God among the Gentile nations, both during his life, which was extended to a great length, and by the number of his predictions relating to them, which foon became generally known, and fome of which were foon fulfilled. It is generally believed he died at Sufa, the capital of Perfia, where he had built a moft magnificent edifice, mentioned by Jofephus, as a fepulchre for the Perfian and Parthian kings.

Malachi lived about 400 years before the birth of Chrift. His name, which fignifies his Angel or Messenger, like that of Isaiah, alludes to the principal fubject of his Prophecy. This Prophet faw the fecond Temple completed, and the facred rites of worship reeftablished after the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, and clofed the feries of Prophets which had been continued from the time of Mofes, with the promise of another meffenger, who fhould immediately precede the long-expected Meffiah,

It

It must not be imagined that the Prophets were always under the influence of the divine Spirit, or exempt from the common frailties and infirmities of human nature;—but it may be affirmed, that there was not one in this long series of 1000 years, whose charac ter does not justly command our veneration. Piety, obedience to the commands of God, indifference to the pleasures and fufferings of this life, as far as they related to themselves, united with the keeneft fenfibility to the mifery or the happiness of their country, and the most ardent and active zeal in executing the facred but often painful duties of their office, appear eminently, though not equally confpicuous in them all. They were the established oracles of their country, and confulted upon all occafions when it was neceffary to collect the divine will on any civil or religious queftion and we hear of no fchifms or divifions while they flourished. They even condefcended to inform the people of common concerns in trivial cafes, in order to preclude them from all pretence or excuse for reforting to idolatrous practices and heathen divinations; and they were always furnished with fome prefcribed mode of confulting God, or obtained revelation by prayer. Sometimes the Holy Spirit fuggested the

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matter and not the words to the Prophetsfometimes by an audible voice dictated every word and exprcffion- fometimes the Prophets were left to defcribe in their own language the hieroglyphical dreams and vifione, which they beheld; and hence is the style of every Prophet more or lefs perfpicuous, according to the nature and clearness of the Revelation imparted to him, and likewise characterized with peculiar difcriminations refulting from education, and particular intercourfe and habits of life. But fometimes they were inftructed in the very expreffions they fhould use; and when writing under the influence of that inspiration, they understood not always the full importance and extent of them; writing for the advantage of those that were to come after, and to furnish evidence in fupport of a future dispensation, they might not perceive the full scope, nor foresee diftinctly the fpiritual accomplishment of the Prophecies they recorded."

We find them conftantly appealing to well known facts, for the fulfilment of many of their predictions, and perfectly confiftent in their communications of the divine will. As

VOL. I.

Gray's Key, p. 329, &c.

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their

their number increased, the truth of their de clarations was established by the course of events; and there was an accumulation of evidence to prove, that, in the emphatic language of Scripture, Holy men fpake as they were taught of God." Influenced by the guidance of the fame fpirit, they united in the most perfect harmony of defign; they delivered the fame precepts to be observed, the fame punishments to be avoided, and the fame bleffings to be hoped for. Confidered separately, every one of them was a burning and a fhining light, ordained to beam upon the dark generation, in which he lived: and, confidered collectively, they form one bright and glorious affemblage, to enlighten and imprefs the world with admiration of the power, the wisdom, and the goodness of God.

The writings of but few of these numerous Prophets have 'been preferved in the Jewish Canon. Some of the earlier Prophets feem, indeed, to have been appointed for the peculiar fervice of the Children of Ifrael, and as the means of preserving them diftinct from other nations but the later Prophets were to be of more general and extenfive service, as they approached nearer to that great event,