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dence; and that they may not fall, I will give them in charge to my angels. I will perform many miracles for them, which shall testify my omnipotence before the nations. And the works of God were in conformity with his words. His people were enslaved, and he raised them up deliverers; they were strangers in a strange land, when he brought them forth from Egypt and gave them a home and country. They suffered hunger, and he gave them great plenty; they were thirsty, and the waters gushed forth from the rocks, obedient to his voice. Multitudes of enemies assailed them, and the wrath of God dissipated their numbers like a cloud. Weeping, they hung their melodious harps on the wil lows of Babylon; and he redeemed them from this sad captivity, and they again beheld Jerusalem the holy, predestined and beautiful. He gave them incorruptible judges, who ruled them with peace and justice, and kings who feared God, and were reputed prudent, good, and wise. He sent them prophets, who unveiled his high designs, and showed them things present and future. Yet this carnal and cruel people forgot his miracles, rejected his counsels, abandoned his temple, broke forth into blasphemies, fell into idolatry, outraged his incommunicable name, beheaded his holy prophets, and excited tumults and revolts.

In the mean time the seventy prophetical weeks of Daniel were accomplished; and he who was to come came; sent by the Father for the redemption of the world and the consolation of nations. This people, seeing him so poor, meek, and humble, despised his humility, outraged his poverty, scorned his gentleness, and were scandalized. They clothed him with garments of derision, and, secretly impelled by the demons of hell,