the Altar and the Temple which had been car ried away to Babylon, and unwifely brought out to grace the Tables of Belshazzer. Zerubbabel, a prince of Judah, was nominated as Viceroy, and appointed their Chief Magiftrate, Leader, and Governor. They went out near fifty thoufand fouls. During the Captivity the Polity of the Jews had been in fad distraction, and as their Religion was much unobferved, it was also at Babylon much corrupted.

Immediately on the publication of the Edi&t the Chiefs of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin affembled at Babylon, with the Priests and Levites, and as many, as retaining a love for their Country, and a zeal for the honour of their God, were difpofed to return to that once happy land, and now came and fignified their intention to go. The Wealthy among them, and many who had formed connexions, and were engaged in traffick, or had acquired places and employments, chofe rather to stay, and contented themfelves with raifing a large contribution to fupply their Brethren with what they could fpare of Gold, Silver, and Valuables for the Temple.

Zerubbabel, a Prince of the Blood-royal, grandfon of Jehoiakim, and Jefhua the High

Prieft headed the Party. They had many meetings, concerted their plans, accepted the liberal donations, and fet forward on their Jonrney.

It was forefeeing this return and Journey of the Ifraelites, Ifaiah compofed that highly eloquent and triumphal Ode recorded in the Fourteenth Chapter of that prophet. A Burft of Joy on their release, and the Revolution and viciffitude taking place.

Each Tribe on their arrival in Judæa looked out for his own Patrimony, fenced off their grounds, rebuilt their houses, the eftates of their fathers, manured their lands, and they had lain deftitute and fallow two and fifty years. Zerubbabel, Jeshua the High Prieft, and a numerous body of Priests and Levites, with a large Party, proceeded on to Jerufalem, and as foon as ever they could be accommodated and lodged, the Governor called together the Heads of all the families, formed his Sanhedrim, or grand Council, and instantly set about re-establishing the Jewish Commonwealth in Church and State. By the firft Decree of the Governor and Council; a free will-offering was levied from every individual Perfon according to his Circumftances; and though they were so poor, what was now brought

in, together with the Gifts of the richer Brethren they left behind, amounted to £.75,500. Upon this ftock they began their Work, the Priefts, Levites, Singers, and Officers of the Temple, fettled themselves as well as they could in or near Jerufalem, the greater part difperfed themfelves about the Cities and Country where they had formerly lived, and the very first business was, to rebuild the Altar for burnt-offerings, and offer up daily the morning and evening Sacrifice. At the four corners of the Altar, were four small Pillars, each a cubit in height, and these were called the Horns of the Altar, A whole year was now employed in collecting Materials and Workmen, contracting with Carpenters, Mafons, and Overfeers, and they fent to Tyre and Sidon for Cedars, as Cyrus had directed them. In the fecond Month of the fecond Year, the foundation of the Temple was laid with great folemnity. Zerubbabel their Governor, Jefhua their High Prieft, the Council, Heads, and whole Congregation, were all present while the firft ftone was laid. The Trumpeters blew the Trumpets, a large Band of Mufic played, and the Voices all ftruck up

Praife ye the Lord! Sing aloud unto God! and all the People fhouted."

Many

Many were the interruptions to the Building, great the Oppofition and Difficulties they met with, powerful enemies endeavoured to put a ftop to the Work, and it ftood ftill for years; at length, under the eye and daily attendance of three Prophets, their many fignal and promifing encouragements, and immenfe gifts from the Court of Perfia, it was finifhed, but not till the foundation had been laid twenty years. The Dedication of it was celebrated by the Priefts, Levites, and all Ifrael, with great Joy and high Solemnity, and they offered up a hundred Bullocks, two hundred Rams, four hundred Lambs, and for a fin-offering for all Ifrael, twelve He goats according to the Number of the Tribes of Ifrael.

The return to Jerufalem commences the Book of Ezra, and it informs you of the three Worthies God raised up for his people. ZERUBBABEL, who built the Temple and the Altar; EZRA, who reformed their Religion; and N HEMIAH, who built the walls of the City.

The hiftory of ZERUBBABEL is recorded in the first Six Chapters of this Book, and EZRA himfelf is the fubject of the four last.

It contains a period of one hundred and fortyfix years, and the Acts thereof were accomplished during the Reigns of fix fucceffive Perfian Monarchs: Cyrus, Darius, Ahafuerus, Artaxerxes, Darius the Second, and a Second Artaxerxes. Seventy-nine years after their establishment, by the interest of Efther, who on the depofition of Vashti, was afterwards Queen to Ahafuerus*, Ezra, the fon of Seraiah, a very learned Jew of the house of Aaron, obtained a full Commiffion from Artaxerxes to fucceed Zerubbabel, the prefent Viceroy, and return to Jerufalem, with as many of his Nation, now refiding at Shufhan or Babylon, as were willing to go with him, and there to regulate and reform all matters of ftate, and restore the worship of God among the Jews in the City of Jerufalem.

The high reputation of Ezra in the Court of Perfia may be judged of by the Commiffion itfelf, it ran thus:

"Artaxerxes, King of Kings, unto EZRA, "Prieft of the Law of the God of Heaven

Peace. It is our decree, whofoever of you "be defirous of returning to Jerufalem, be per "mitted to go fafely thither," &c. &c.

• Ahasuerus means Prince, Head, or Chief.