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a fpoil, all that Spoiled her were fatisfied. Afword was upon her treasures, and they were robbed". Here Cræfus gave an exact account of his riches, and furrendered all his vast poffeffions to Cyrus. Thus the treasures of darkness, and hidden treasure of fecret places were given to him by the God of Ifrael, who called him by his name°.

Soon after the taking of Babylon, Cyrus published a Decree, acknowledging that "the Lord God of heaven had given him all the kingdoms of the earth," and had appointed him to build the Temple at Jerufalem; and there

n Jerem. 1. 10.

• Boffuet's Univerfal Hiftory, p. 442, 443. Prideaux, vol. i. p. 92, 93. Uffer Annales, tom. i. p. 144. Xenophon's Cyropædia, lib. vii. Herodoti lib. i. c. 190, 191. Jerem. 1. li. 32, 36, &c. Dan. v. Berofus quoted by Jofephus contra Apion. lib. i. c. 20. Eufebii Præp. Evang. 1. ix. c. 40.

P Xenophon gives the following lift of the nations conquered by Cyrus. The Syrians, Affyrians, Arabians, Cappadocians, both the Phrygians, Lydians, Carians, Phoenicians, and Babylonians. He moreover reigned over the Bactrians, Indians, Cilicians, the Sacæ, Paphlagones, and Mariandyni. Cyrop. lib. i. p. 4.

"Thus faith Cyrus, king of Perfia, All the Kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and be hath charged me to build him an houfe in Jerufalem,

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therefore commanding all the people of Ifrael "to go up to Jerufalem, and build the house of the Lord God of Ifrael." Jofephus fays, that Cyrus was fhewn the Prophecy of Ifaiah, wherein his name was exprefsly mentioned. It is probable that Daniel, who had obtained the highest reputation in the court of Babylon for his piety, and extraordinary wisdom, had not only fhewn to the king the Prophecies of Ifaiah and Jeremiah, but had related to him the wonderful hiftory of the people, "for whose fake he had been girded" with the fword of victory. It is evident from the remarkable words of the Decree (" he is the God") that the mind of Cyrus was fufficiently enlightened to understand, that there was but one Supreme God-He whom the Jews worshipped, and who fpake in those

which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up." 2 Chron. xxxvi. 23.

"Thus faith Cyrus, king of Perfia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an houfe at Jerufalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerufalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Ifrael (he is the God) which is in Jerufa lem." Ezra i. 2, 3.

9 Jofephus, Ant. Jud. lib. xi. c. I.

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holy books which were shewn him; though the opinions and habits, which prevailed in the Heathen world concerning the different gods which prefided over different nations, might induce him to confider a fpecies of inferior worship as allowable. The 70 years, predicted by the Prophets for the continuance of the captivity, were now accomplished. The captives were set free, and the precious veffels of gold and of filver, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerufalem, and had placed in the houfe of his gods, were reftored by the munificent conqueror of the Eaft, to the people whom he fent to their own land, by the efpecial direction of their God.

Thus did Cyrus, "the fhepherd of the Lord, fubdue nations before him, and perform all the pleasure of the Lord,” by whom he had been named more than 100 years before his birth, as the inftrument which should execute the designs of his Providence. Exactly at the time, and exactly in the manner predicted, he conquered the vaft Affyrian Empire, and restored the people of Ifrael to their own land, where they again inhabited Jerufalem, built the cities of Judah, and raised up the decayed places thereof. The house of God

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was builded, and the daily facrifices were renewed.

Thus were the people re-established in their own land at the expiration of the allotted punishment for the tranfgreffion of that Law, which was ordained to continue till the Lord should raise up a Prophet "like unto Moses." And thus the partial dispersion of the people deftined to preserve the promises of God, became the means of spreading the knowledge of the moft High among the nations of the Eaft, preparatory to the coming of the Meffiah, to whom all nations were to be gathered.

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CLASS

CLASS I.

CHAPTER THE SIXTH.

The Deftruction and defolate State of Babylon confidered as an awful Example of the Judgments of God upon the Enemies of his People.

THE Prophets point out various reasons, on

account of which the Affyrians were made the fignal objects of Divine Displeasure. Nebuchadnezzar was remarkable for exceffive pride, and the most grofs and intolerant idolatry, notwithstanding the certain information he received from his Jewish captives concerning the true God. Belfhazzar his fucceffor, equally well acquainted with the true religion, and a witness of the awful punishment which had been inflicted upon Nebuchadnezzar, preferred his falfe deities to Jehovah, the God of Ifrael, and profaned at his riotous feafts the confecrated veffels of the

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