and his own proceedings till he each end; and over it are suspended again joined Mr. Fisk. ACCOUNT OF JERUSALEM AND ITS VICI NITY, BY MR. PARSONS. MR Parsons states, generally, of the City, that it contains 11 Mosques, 5 Synagogues, and 20 Monasteries belonging to the different denominations of Christians. In reference to the account given by Mr. Parsons of the Holy Places, it is noticed by the Board When Mr. Parsons mentions the tra ditionary accounts, which are reported to all travellers, he is not to be understood as giving any opinion, with refe. rence to the reliance which may be placed on these traditions. Doubtless the identity of some places has been accurately preserved and transmitted, while that of others must remain incapable of proof. Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The gate fronts the south; and is strictly guarded by Turks without and Greeks within. No pilgrim, a subject of the Grand Seignior, can enter with out paying a "para"- -a trifle to be sure; but when multiplied by the hundreds of times at which each pilgrim enters in the course of three months, the amount becomes a large sum. To prevent confusion, it is necessary to observe the difference between the CHURCH of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Holy Sepulchre ITSELF-the one embracing all the apartments belong ing to the different denominations of Christians; the other being only a monument erected over the Tomb of our Saviour, and held in equal reverence by the various denominations of Christians who frequent it. The Tomb may be called the centre of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; near to which may be heard the prayers of Christians, in Ancient Greek, in Latin, Armenian, Arabic, and Syriac. The Entering the gate of the Church, the first object which attracted my attention was the Stone of Unction, venerated as the spot where the body of our Lord was anointed for burial. stone is thirty-one feet directly in front of the gate, and is eight feet in length, and two feet two inches in breadth. Several large candles are kept standing at several silver lamps. The pilgrims all bow; and, after making the sign of the cross, kiss the sacred stone. Leaving the Stone of Unction we were conducted to the Holy Sepulchre. It is distant from the Stone of Unction sixty-three feet, under the centre of a large dome. The monument erected over the tomb contains two apartments. In the first is the stone where, it is said, in the other, is the Holy Tomb. The the angel made his appearance to Mary: outside of the monument is 29 feet in length, 18 in breadth. I waited some time for the Pilgrims to withdraw. While standing there a Pilgrim entered; and, at the sight of the tomb, wept and sobbed as over the grave of a parent. Seventy-three feet from the Holy Se pulchre we came to the Chapel of Apparition, in which a few Catholics were engaged in Evening Service: the music, for softness and solemnity, exceeded any thing which I had heard in Asia. From this Chapel, we returned to the Holy Sepulchre; and, passing through the Greek Church, ascended Mount Calvary. It is sixteen feet above the level of the tomb. I stooped down to look into the hole in which, it is supposed, stood the Cross; below which is a fissure in the rock, made, it is believed, when Christ our Lord bowed his head and gave up the ghost. Miracle of the Holy Fire. Mr. Parsons visited the Church of the Sepulchre during the week of the Passover; and on the Easter Eve, witnessed the supposed Miracle of the Holy Fire. Some account of this scene will be found at p.389 of our Volume for 1820. Every apartment of the Church was crowded with Turks, Jews, Christians and people from every nation under heaven: they were assembled to witness the supposed miraculous descent of the Holy Spirit, under the similitude of FIRE. It is estimated, that at least 5000 people were present. The Governor of the City, and the Turks of rank, were there. A very convenient place was allotted me, to observe distinctly every ceremony. About twelve o'clock, we witnessed scenes of a very extraordinary nature, and highly derogatory to the Christian Profession. A body of Arab Christians Natives of Palestine, were admitted to perform their part in the duties of the Holy Week: they began by running round the Holy Sepulchre, with all the frantic airs of madmen-clapping their hands-throwing their caps into the air-cuffing one another's ears-walking half naked upon the shoulders of their companions-hallooing, or rather shriek. ing, to the utmost extent of their voices. This was the exhibition to five thousand people, who were in expectation of soon witnessing the descent of the Holy Fire. About one o'clock, the Turks entered the small apartment of the Holy Tomb, extinguished the lamps, closed the door, and set a watch. I was determined to enter myself the Holy Sepulchre with the Russian Consul, to see from what direction the fire proceeded but they replied, "The Turks will not give permission to strangers to enter." Shortly after, the principal Greek Priest entered the Holy Sepulchre, attended by the Armenian Patriarch, and also by the Syrian Patriarch. The Greek Priest, however, entered the SECOND apartment unattended. Every eye was fixed, as the time approached. As we stood waiting, suddenly there darted from the Sepulchre a flaming torch, which was carried almost instantaneously to a distant part of the assembly. I stood among the first to receive the fire, and to prove that, as to its power of burning, it contained no extraordinary qualities. The zeal of the Pilgrims to get a part of the fire before the superior qualities departed, (as, they say, it burns like other fire in a few minutes,) endangered the lives of many: several were well nigh crushed to death. Some lighted candles-others, tow-with a view to preserve a part of its influence. Some held their faces in the blaze, saying, "It does not burn." Others said, "Now, Lord, I believe! forgive my former unbelief." After this, the Pilgrims retired, abundantly satisfied with what they had seen and heard. I have thought it rather strange, that the Greeks, when urging upon me the evidence of the superiority of their religion, have never mentioned the Miracle of the Holy Fire. He adds The number of Pilgrims present at this Passover may be thus stated: 1200 Greeks, 1400 Armenians, 70 Copts, 20 Syrians, 15 Catholics, one Abyssinian: Total 2706. I was often led to hope, that the Holy Church will soon be consecrated entirely to the promotion of true piety among all classes of Christians. What an opportunity it will afford, to those who have the spirit which Peter possessed on the Day of Pentecost; and who will boldly proceed to open and allege the Scriptures, and to lead thousands, by a bless ing from above, to cry, Men and Brethren, what shall we do? If I am not greatly deceived, I behold, even now, the dawning of that glorious day. May all, who love the gates of Zion, hold not their peace, till the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth! Environs of Jerusalem. Leaving the City by the Damascus Gate, and turning eastward, we passed near to the cave, in which, tradition says, Jeremiah wrote his Lamentations, All ye that pass by, behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. The cave is large, and is held in high veneration. Passing the north-east corner of the city, we descended to the brook Kedron. The bed of the stream was perfectly dry, notwithstanding the great rains. On our left, saw the church erected over the grave of the Virgin Mary; on our right, the Garden of Gethsemane. St. John has marked the site of the Garden very particularly: He went forth with his disciples OVER the brook Kedron. There is but one spot over the brook Kedron convenient for a garden. This garden has been consecrated by the many prayers, and by the blood, of our Divine Saviour: For Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. It is still occupied as a garden, and contains several large olive trees. In fifteen or twenty minutes, reached the summit of the Mount of Olives. Here we had a delightful view of the City, and also of the Dead Sea. Perhaps no place in the world commands a finer prospect, or is associated with events more sacred and sublime. David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had kis head covered, and he went barefoot. On the east side of it, our Blessed Saviour raised Lazarus from the grave; and, on the west, He endured the agony of Gethsemane. Here, He beheld the City, 1822.3 MEDITERRANEAN. and wept over it. From this Mount, He was at one time conducted to Jerusalem with shoutings of Hosanna to the Son of David; and, at another, with the cry of Crucify him! crucify him! From this spot, He gave his last commission-Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel; and then ascended, and sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Descending the Mount of Olives, we passed into the valley of Jehoshaphat, to the Pool of Siloam, Here the blind man, at the command of Jesus, washed and returned seeing. The pool is at the foot of Mount Moriah, on the south side: we descended a handsome flight of steps to the water. It is visited, every day, by Pilgrims of every deno mination. I perceived nothing unusual in the taste of the water. The field of blood, purchased with thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, is a little south of It Siloam, on the brook of Gihon. contains many apartments for the dead; as it was originally appropriated to the burial of strangers. From Siloam, directing our course southward, we came to the tree, where, it is said, Isaiah was sawn asunder for his faithful exhortations and reproofs. The tree is securely guarded by a high wall, to prevent the injuries which it would receive from Pilgrims. From this place we began to ascend Mount Zion. We passed through fields of grain, which reminded us, at every step, of the awful prediction-Mount Zion shall be plowed like a field. On the summit is a Mosque, erected over the tombs of David and of the Kings of Israel; and an Armenian Church, said to be the ruins of the house of Caiaphas, Mount Zion, on the High Priest. three sides, is strongly fortified by nature: this agrees precisely with the description given of it in Scripture: Nevertheless, David took the STRONG HOLD of Zion, the same is the city of David. At the foot of it, on the west, are the ruins of the Pool of Beersheba; on the south, the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, called also Tophet, and the valley of slaughter: Jer. xix, 6: here, the children of Israel caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, 2 Kings xxiii. 10; and, in this place, Jeremiah denounced the dreadful curse-Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which, whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. On the south side of Mount Zion are the ruins of the old wall, supposed to be the one repaired by Nehemiah. Here may be seen, to the best advantage, the site of Solomon's Temple, the Mount of Olives, and the plains and mountains of Judea. This delightful prospect, in connexion with its spiritual privileges, led David to sing, Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion. Bethany. Bethany is about two miles east of Jerusalem, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, on the east side: Now Bethany was nigh to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off. We came to the grave of Lazarus: It was a cave, saith St. John, A Turk, who and a stone lay upon it. seemed to have charge of the sepulchre, for a few " paras gave us lighted tapers and permission to enter. We descended 28 stone steps, where we found a small room about eight feet square. On the east and west sides, are tombs cut in the solid rock. Probably Jesus our Lord stood here, and cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! Bethlehem. Rode two miles, through a beautiful plain, called the valley of Rephaim. Here David obtained a memorable victory over the Philistines, being encou raged by the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees. Passed the Convent of Elijah, where reside about twenty Greeks. Near it is shewn a rock, on which, tradition says, Elijah slept, when fleeing from the wrath of Ahab. Here we had a distinct view, at the same moment, of the three most important places on the globe. Bethlehem, where the Saviour was born; Jerusalem, where he was crucified; and the Mount of Olives, whence he ascended to heaven. Bethlehem, at this distance, assumes an appearance of splendour far beyond that which it actually possesses. The Monastery, erected over the manger, stands a little east of the village. Still further eastward, we saw the valley where the shepherds heard the angels sing, Glory to God in the highest From the Convent of Elijah the road became uneven and stony. We passed near the Sepulchre of Rachel: And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. To the Hill Bethlehem, every Chris tian must feel a peculiar attachment the native place of David, the king of Israel, a man after God's own heart; and of the Second David, the Lord from heaven. Here, the Wise Men of the East laid their offerings at the feet of the Infant Saviour; and here was heard a choir of angels singing, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will toward men. In Bethlehem Village there are, it is said, 1500 Catholics, 1000 Greeks, a few Armenians, and a few Turks. The Catholics, Armenians, and Greeks, have each of them a Monastery. On our return, saw the village of Rama on our left: In Rama was there a voice heard, 'lamentation and weeping and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Reflections on the Sacred Places. Mr. Parsons makes some sensible distinctions on the subject of the Sacred Places, in a Letter written to a friend from Jerusalem, dated May 5, 1821 - After a residence of about three months in this Sacred City, I can say, that, in one respect, it differs from any other place that I ever visited-there is no such thing as being satiated by viewing objects everywhere presented to the eye. The sight of Smyrna, of Perga mos, of Patmos, awakened the tenderest sensibilities; but the feelings were in a measure momentary. It is not so with Jerusalem. I now go to Mount Calvary-walk in the Garden of Gethsemane-stand upon the heights of Zion-ascend the Mount of Olives-drink of the waters of Siloam, with greater pleasure, than I did on the first day of my arrival. Indeed there are so many subjects presented to the mind-such as the devout anthems of David; the dedicatory prayer of Solomon, when he kneeled, and spread out his hands to God, and consecrated a Temple, which became the glory of the church, the wonder of the world; the exalted strains of Isaiah, when he saw the day of Christ and rejoiced; the zeal, patriotism, and piety of Ezra and Nehemiah, when they reared the tabernacle of David amid the op-. position of the world; and, what is infinitely more, the benovelence, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Divine Redeemer-that the pleasure must be increased upon every examination. But what is rather remarkable, this view of the subject destroys all curiosity to see PARTICULAR OBJECTS venerated by the ignorant multitude. You are here shown the pillar, to which our Saviour was bound to be scourged-the arch, upon which Pilate cried, Behold the man!-the very door, at which Peter knocked, when the angel led him from the prison; and a thousand other places of great veneration. All this is folly; and calculated to disgust enlightened travellers, and give strength to infidelity. But, that this city was for many ages the great capital of the Church of the Living God; that it has been honoured by the presence of David, of the Prophets, of Gabriel, and of God himself in human flesh; that the Gospel has been preached here with power and with wonderful success, and a multitude from this city conducted to the heavenly world-is TRUTH, upon which the mind may rest without the possibility of deception. And this is enough to satisfy the most enlarged and benevolent minds. We extract from his journal, one or two specimens of the manner in which Mr. Parsons improved the associations, which circumstances called to his recollection. Of the morning after his arrival, he says― At an early hour, I was reminded, by the crowing of a cock, of Peter, who denied his Lord and Master. In view of so affecting a subject, I could only say-Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Of the next day, he writes The day passed with great tranquillity. At three o'clock, I went to the Greek Church, and heard the selections read from the Psalms of David. In this city, the pious Psalmist breathed out his soul to HIS God, and to our God. Here, he wept for sinners: Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. His prayers are registered in Heaven, and will be had in everlasting remembrance. PROCEEDINGS OF MR. PARSONS. Intercourse with Procopius. On first entering Jerusalem, says Mr. Parsons Soon after passing the gate, we turned to the north; and, in a few minutes, arrived at the house of Procopius, to whom I had Letters of Introduction. The servant informed us, that he was in the Church, for Evening Prayers. I hastened thither, to unite with the professed followers of Christ upon Mount Calvary, and to render thanks to God for the happy termination of my voyage to the Holy City. The Church is but a-few steps from the place, where, it is supposed, stood the Cross. On entering, I was not a little surprised to find it so richly and neatly furnished. It is called the Church of St. Constantine; and is the place to which all the Greek Bishops, five in number, with their numerous attendants, resort for Morning and Evening Service. Every thing was conducted with a pleasing stillness and regularity, becoming so holy a place. After a Service of thirty minutes, I returned, and presented my Letters to Procopius. Conversation was directed to the exertions which the Protestants are making to promote the diffusion of the Holy Scriptures. They replied; "We believe the Protestants to be our friends." In a few moments, I was conducted to the room, which had been put in readiness for me, by the request of the Russian Consul. It is near to the Holy Sepulchre, and contains many convenient apartments. My trunks had arrived in safety. In the evening we read from the Greek Testament the account of our Saviour's sufferings and death; and endeavoured to consecrate our rooms to Him, who here gave his life for the world. Within one hundred feet of my room reside Five Bishops; viz. those of Petrea, of Nazareth, of Gaza, of Lydda, and of Philadelphia. Procopius, who is known to our Readers, bade Mr. Parsons welcome to all the privileges of the Monastery, and rendered him every aid in his power. Greeks. The following Bishoprics belong to the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem: 1. Petrea (beyond the Jordan): the Bishop resides in Jerusalem: one church. 2. Nazareth: the Bishop resides in Jerusalem: one church. 12. 13. Mount Tabor: one church: without a Bishop. Mount Sinai (near the Red Sea): one church: with a Bishop residing in Constantinople. Of Mr. Parsons's intercourse with Greek Christians, we find the following notices : Conversed a long time with a Priest, respecting the nature of the New Birth. He said it was baptism. "When chil. dren are baptised, they are renewed, as it respects Adam's transgression; but if they afterward sin, they must be punished." This, so far as I can learn, is the prevailing sentiment among the Greeks. They can give no other account of the New Heart. While reading the Holy Scriptures with a Priest, inquiries were made respecting the many mansions in heaven. He said they were all for Greeks, but one has a higher station than another. Catholics, Armenians, Protes- _ tants, not one of them can enter heaven; for they are not baptised." 66 "The Greeks believe," said a Priest, "that neither the righteous, nor the wicked, immediately after death pass into glory, or are sent to punishment. Both rest like prisoners to the day of trial." the Scriptures. The Priests encourage Persons come to my room to read me in this employment. If, then, a Missionary can reside here with no other employment than to read the Scriptures with Pilgrims, not uttering a word respecting Catholics, Greeks, or Turks, a great work might be accomplished a work, which would impart infinite joy to the friends of this Mission, and guide many souls to eternal |