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PREFACE.

THE WELL IN THE VALLEY! What lovely and attractive pictures do these words present to the imagination! Let us portray one of them.

We behold a most agreeable landscape. Mountains to the North and South, enclose a valley whose land is highly cultivated, and covered with flocks and herds. It is watered by the river Litanus and several other streams, and is a delicious and enchanting country. With a balmy atmosphere and salubrious climate, it is the very place to induce a company of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem to tarry for a night. The fruit-bearing mulberry tree with its lofty branches and broad spreading leaves every where abounds. Interspersed among these are found the palm, the olive, the cedar, the oak, the fir, the sycamore, the chesnut, the willow and other trees which not only add graceful ornament to the landscape, but afford most refreshing shelter from the direct and injurious rays of a tropical sun; contribute essentially to the comfort, and even sustenance of the inhabitants by their abundant fruit; while by their juices they administer cooling and medicinal draughts. Many of these trees flower twice in the season, and bear fruit all the year round. Flowers also

grow in this valley in great profusion and variety. The meadows are adorned in succession by the blossoms of the different species of anemone ranunculus, crocus, tulip, narcissus, hyacinth, lily and violet. These, together with the iris, the almond tree, the cassia, the wild grape, the myrtle, the spikenard, and innumerable daffodils, crowfoots, and jessamines, form an enameled carpet which perfumes the air with the most grateful odors, and thus embalm while they perfect a scene replete with every thing that can gratify the eye, or charm the imagination.

Such was the valley of Baca, alluded to in Scripture, supposing it to refer to that plain (still called Bakaa) which lies in one of the most northern districts whence travellers were accustomed to journey to Jerusalem. This every Israelite was required to do thrice a year, to the three great feasts-the passover, pentecost, and that of tabernacles. These festivals could be celebrated only at Jerusalem which was the mother of all Israelites, the centre and source of all their religious solemnities, the bond of union, and the great leading type of that temple which is not made with hands eternal in the heavens. To prepare for this, all the types and shadows, the sacrifices and oblations of the Mosaic economy were instituted, the means of grace, and the pledge and foretaste of its celestial blessedness. There were then, as now, family religious services, and also public and united worship in the various Synagogues of the land. But these were not enough. To perpetuate the memory of the fundamental facts of their religion; to keep them steadfast in their profession; to hold forth the majesty of divine service and the glory of Israel and Israel's God; to imbue their minds with more profound knowledge and spiritual experience; to consolidate the bonds of peace by a unity of faith, hope

and joy; and above all to constitute special occasions of sacred fellowship and divine blessings; a personal attendance, implying a public profession and solemn communion, was required of all Israelites, three times every year.

It was in this way that believers, under the Old Testament economy of the church, proclaimed their spiritual oneness, not only as one visible church but as bound together in holy covenant and fellowship with Jehovah. This was the very heart and soul of the Mosaic religion. The great end and purpose of every thing about it was to open up the way through the sacrifice and mediation of a coming Saviour, for the restoration of guilty sinners to a sin pardoning God, so that they might find in Him the centre of their being, their only absolute and supreme good, the fountain of all excellence and blessedness, their only proper and satisfying rest,

And thus bring back,

Through the world's wilderness long wander'd man
Safe to eternal Paradise of rest.

To believing and spiritual minds, the dearest place on earth was the sanctuary of God, the courts of Jehovah, God's house. Heart and flesh,-every power and faculty of body and mind-longed for them. When away from them or prevented from repairing to them, such individuals envied the felicity of those who dwelt at Jerusalem, and even the little birds which found shelter and protection around the sacred precincts of God's altars. And while to unbelieving and pleasure seeking hearts the beauty of Baca's vale was more attractive than the dwellings of the Lord of Hosts, pious hearts only made it a highway along which to pass, and a well beside which to refresh themselves, while they eagerly pressed forward to appear before God in Zion.

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