mined to kill him, and he was advifed to take refuge in the Temple; but NEHEMIAH faid,

"Should fuch a man as I flee? Who is there, "being as I am, would go into the Temple to "fave his life? I will not go in."

After the walls were completely finifhed, as NEHEMIAH'S firft Commiffion extended only to the rebuilding of the walls, he was obliged to take a Journey back to Shushan, in order to obtain He entrusted the care of his government and the city to two of his Brothers during his abfence.

new one.

On NEHEMIAH's return to Jerufalem, he bufily employed himself in peopling and fortifying the city, and beautifying the new Temple. It was at this time Ezra gave his publick lectures from morning till noon, in the open ftreet, where he had caused a scaffold to be erected, and a high defk; in which he fat himself, and on each fide of him stood fix Priests to interpret what he said to the People.

Ezra read his Oration in Hebrew, and they explained it in the Chaldee, a language they had long been used to, and many of them knew no other.

All

All the abufes and diforders of the State, as far as his influence and authority reached, NEHEMIAH Zealonfly and diligently corrected. He now affembled all the People and made a contribution for carrying on the embellishments and adorning the Temple, and for the maintenance and fupport of its Service, and he fet them a Princely example, giving them himself a thoufand drams of Gold, fifty difhes, two hundred and fifty two veftments for the Priefts. In order to accommodate the Priefts and Levites, he built them houses near the Temple, and he cncouraged them, all he could, to a regular and devout fattendance on its fervices.

NEHEMIAH kept a Princely table, a fplendid Equipage, and a train of fervants, altogether at his own expence, exacting no tribute whatever. Thus with the highest credit, generofity, and honour, he completed the tenor of his Commiffion. NEHEMIAH had prefided as Governor twelve Years, and now according to his promise he returned back to the Court of Perfia. After five Years refidence at Shufhan, NEHEMIAH obtained, a grant to return to his Viceroy ship at Jerufalem, and he witnessed a very great depravity and corruption both in the Church and Commonwealth, they had profaned the Temple and neglected its

Services,

Services, they had broke their Sabbaths, and made the day, a day of traffick, and they followed their threshing and plowing, and ufual occupations on it.

NEHEMIAH affembled the Magiftrates and feverely reproved them, from fun-fet every Friday he shut up the city gates, and would not fuffer them to be opened till the Sabbath was over, he prevented hereby the Tyrians from bringing in their merchandizes, and they altogether defifted, the custom and practice henceforward was totally abolished.

Lectures and expofitions on the Pentateuch were daily given in Jerufalem, NEHEMIAH ftrenuously enforced the observance of the Mofaic Law throughout the Kingdom, they were at firft read in the streets and market-places, till Schools and Seminaries were formed, and Synagogues built for the purpose, thefe laft were not completely finished and occupied till after the death of this very amiable, pious, and good

man.

He thus carried on the Reformation both of Church and State. NEHEMIAH wrote himself this his own History and Book, and brings down the Tranfactions of the Jews to the Reign of

Darius Nothus, a Perfian King, who had changed his name to Ochus, and to about 422 Years before the birth of Our Saviour. He is believed to be the last Governor fent from Perfia. The Government of Judæa was afterwards maintained by the High Priefts till Alexander the Great totally destroyed the Perfian Empire.

It is no where recorded where NEHEMIAH died, Jofephus only fays, his death fell out after he was very far advanced in years.

This truly zealous and difinterested Patriot had his recompence in both Worlds, happy in the love of his people, in the fuccefs of his honeft labours, in recording his own hiftory, tranfmitting his name and reputation to all generations, a part of Holy Writ more honourable and durable than the Grecian Pillar, or the Roman Statue, his liberality, difinterestedness, courage, and induftry, his affectionate feelings and love of his Country will live there for ever.

ON THE BOOK OF

ESTHER.

1

THE

HE Jews, rescued from a general Massacre, to which they had been devoted by a haughty and imperious Lord, firft favourite in the Court of Perfia, a moft amiable and very beautiful Princefs, ESTHER, once a Jewish captive, but now Queen to Ahasuerus, by her intereft and influence with the King faved them, and a Jewish Festival, called Purim, or the Feaft of Lots, is annually fo lemnized in commemoration.

Mordecai,