speaking to one another. They receive the five books of Moses, although they have made some alterations in their copy of it, and therefore most of their religious rites are similar to those of the Jews.

17. They still most strictly observe the seventh day, or Saturday, not even kindling a fire. They have prayers in their houses Friday evening, and public prayers-morning, noon, and evening-in their synagogue on Saturday. Four times a year they still go up to Mount Gerizim to attend their great festivalsthe Passover, the day of Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the great day of Atonement. About one hundred and fifty of them remain in Sychar at the foot of Mount Gerizim, still clinging to their sacred heights, their religious ceremonies, and their hatred of the Jews.

18. In addition to these large sects there were the Herodians, rather a political than a religious sect. They were noted for their attachment to Herod, their sympathy in his plans, and for their embracing many of the idolatrous practices of the Romans; this is supposed to be the "leaven of Herod," against which Christ warned his disciples.

19. There was also a seditionary sect called Galileans, which arose about the time of Christ's birth, with one Judas of Upper Galilee as a leader. They opposed the Roman power, rising into an insurrection at the time of the taking of the census preparatory to taxing. The sedition was quelled, many of them being

destroyed. Pilate, at his trial, inquired if Christ was from Galilee, probably that he might make the insurrectionary character of this people a subject of accusation against him, or a reason for acceding to the importunate cry of the Jews to" crucify him."

CHAPTER IV.

SACRED AND CIVIL OFFICES.

1. WE shall next direct our attention to the sacred and civil officers and classes among the Jews, at the time of the Saviour.

I. The first we shall notice were the Levites.

2. The tribe of Levi was chosen to wait upon the worship in the tabernacle and in the temple, and the members of this tribe were afterward termed Levites. Before the building of the temple, as the tabernacle was movable, they were the bearers of it and of the sacred vessels, and attendants upon the priests.

3. After the temple was completed, they were not only employed about its precincts, but dispersed throughout the whole country, employed in offices of state, as well as of the temple. David made six thousand of them officers and judges. 1 Chron. xxxiii, 4. They were also the instructors of the people, and kept the public records and genealogies. In the temple they

were the treasurers; and prepared the shewbread and unleavened cakes for the morning and evening service. Others were the singers.

4. In David's time they numbered over thirty-eight thousand, twenty-four thousand of whom were appointed to attend constantly upon the temple, being divided into twenty-four courses like the priests, and one thousand serving at a time for a week; six thousand were made officers and judges, four thousand porters, and four thousand singers. They were to be twentyfive years of age when they entered, by consecration, into their office. They were supported by tithes. Besides, forty-eight cities, with their fields, pastures, and gardens, were given to them for their habitation. While they were at the temple they subsisted upon provisions kept in store there, and the daily offerings.

5. II. The priests. Of the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron was selected to receive more especial honor: they bore the title and discharged the important duties of the priest. They served immediately at the altar, prepared the victims, and offered the sacrifices.

6. Like the Levites, the priests were divided by David into twenty-four classes. One of these classes went up every week, (commencing sabbath morning,) in its turn, to Jerusalem, to attend upon the duties of the sacerdotal order. They drew lots for the different offices to be performed; as Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, drew the duty of burning incense before God. Some of the other duties

were to continue the fire upon the altar of burnt sacrifices; to keep the lamps burning upon the golden candlesticks in the sanctuary; baking the shew-bread, and offering it upon the golden altar, changing it every morning.

7. Every day, morning and evening, one priest, whose lot it was, brought into the sanctuary a smoking censer of incense, which he set upon a golden table, and which was only to be kindled with coals taken from the altar of burnt sacrifice.

8. This beautiful ceremony, significant of prayer, is worthy of remark. While the incense ascended, the priest and people without confessed and prayed; the fragrant cloud ascending was a symbolical assurance of the complacency with which God received their supplications. The fire producing acceptable incense, was kindled by the coals from the altar, where the lamb, the symbol of our Lord, was offered, and which consequently had been sprinkled with its blood.

9. In like manner, our prayer to be acceptable must always be offered up in the name and through the merits of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

10. Of the Levitical cities, thirteen were assigned to the priests, in addition to which they received tithes, and were allotted portions of the daily offerings.

11. III. Over all the priests was placed the high priest, whose office was esteemed peculiarly dignified, and whose influence and

power in the Jewish community were very great. To him alone was it permitted to enter the holy of holies, in the temple, and he had the supreme administration of sacred things.

12. He was also the president of the sanhedrim, and held the next rank to the king. The office was at first held for life, descending from the father to the eldest son. After the Assyrian captivity this order was interrupted. The princes of the Maccabeean family held it, together with the title of king. During, and after our Saviour's time, the right of succession and election was entirely disregarded, and the office was often sold to the highest bidder-to persons whose age, learning, and habits, entirely unfitted them for its solemn duties.

13. The dress of the ordinary priest was in nothing peculiar from others, except when he was engaged in the services of the altar. Of the garments then worn, these four kinds are enumerated in Exodus and Leviticus. (1.) Linen drawers. (2.) A linen tunic, which reached down to the ancles, fitting closely to the body, the sleeves being drawn tightly round the arms: it was without seam, and woven from the top throughout. Such a one was worn by Christ, for which the soldiers cast lots. (3.) A girdle. (4.) A tiara, which was originally a kind of pointed bonnet or turban, made of several rolls of linen cloth twisted round the head.

14. The high priest in addition to these had four peculiar to himself. (1.) The coat or robe of the ephod, which was made of blue wool;