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OF ALL THE

COUNTRIES, KINGDOMS, NATIONS AND TRIBES OF MEN,
WITH ALL THE

VILLAGES, TOWNS, CITIES, PROVINCES, HILLS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS,
LAKES, SEAS, AND ISLANDS,

MENTIONED IN THE SACRED SCRIPTURES, OR APOCRYPHA,
INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE

RELIGION, GOVERNMENT, POPULATION, FULFILMENT OF PROPHECIES,
AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE

MOST IMPORTANT PLACES.

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Embellished with a new Map of the Principal Countries mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures.

Here through the flow'ry walks of Eden rove,
Court the soft breeze, or range the spicy grove;
There tread on hallowed ground, where angels trod,
And rev'rend Patriarchs talk'd as friends with Gon.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG.

No. 50, Cornhill.
1813.

5305

.658

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wIT.

BE it remembered, that on the ninth day of March, A. D. 1813, and in the thirty seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, Of the said District, has deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"Sacred Geography: or, a Gazetteer of the Bible. Containing, in alphabetical order, a geographical description of all the Countries, Kingdoms, Nations and Tribes of Men, with all the Villages, Towns, Cities, Provinces, Hills, Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, Seas, and Islands, mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures or Apocry. pha, including an account of the Religion, Government, Population, fulfilment of Prophecies, and present condition of the most important places. By Elijah Parish, D D. Minister of Byfield, Massachusetts. Embellished with a new Map of the principal countries mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures.

Here through the flowery walks of Eden rove,
Court the soft breeze, or range the spicy grove;

There tread on hallowed ground, where angels trod,
And rev'rend Patriarchs talk'd as friends with God."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, “An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also an act, intitled, "An act supplementary to an act intitled, an act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." WM. S. SHAW,

Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

PREFACE.

THE hour of retribution is rapidly approaching, when every literary attainment, however splendid in view of the world, which has not a religious influence, will appear more empty, than the bubble, glittering with the colors of the rainbow. Impressed with this awakening fact, the Christian Pastor is solicitous, that all his studies should enrich his sermons, for the spiritual benefit of those, who hear him. He also, deems it a privilege, to publish those results of his inquiries, which may extend his services beyond the limited sphere of his personal labors, which may, by the blessing of Heaven, continue his usefulness, after he slumbers in "the narrow house." Every literary production, which elucidates the Book of God, has such a tendency. This sacred volume is the luminous Star, directing all nations to the New Jerusalem. That author, then performs a religious service, who renders the meaning of the sacred writers more evident, or the reading of them more interesting or pleasant. How many thousands and thousands neglect the scriptures, never acquiring necessary knowledge of their contents, not because, they are infidels, not because, they are abandoned to vice, not because, they have any specific objection to them; but because, the Scriptures appear obscure, or unintelligible. "How can they understand, unless some man should guide them?" They read of Canaan and Mesopotamia, of Cush and Misraim, of Anakims and Ishmaelites; they search their Geographies, but find nothing to satisfy their inquiries. Is it strange then, that the sacred history should become dull, and tedious?

the

Not only the pleasure, but the confidence of the reader may be increased, by learning the character and situation of places. To il lustrate this, a multitude of instances might be mentioned. Had Egypt been a barren country, seven years of plenty would not have supplied seven years of famine. Had Arabia been a fertile land, no good reason could have been given for the rain of "angel's food." As the Red Sea and the Jordan lay in the march of Israel, we readily perceive, that their waters must have been divided.

In describing the ancient and modern state of many cities and nations, the writer, without stopping to moralize, spontaneously delineates the most exact fulfilment of prophecy. So unavoidable is this, 2054

JUN 26 1901

(RECAP)

10003

that even infidels have sometimes, unwillingly, promoted the cause of revelation. Volney's account of Jerusalem and Egypt confirms this. The opportunity of defending the banner of Christianity, has been a most pleasant circumstance attending this compilation.

Geography has claimed a place in various dictionaries of the Bible. Why then should it not occupy a separate volume? Who is satisfied with the scanty information, found in those works? To the lovers of sacred Geography may not a scripture Gazetteer be a mental banquet? A respectable and learned writer considers the present zeal to acquire a knowledge of Palestine, among "the signs" of the approaching millennium. He says, "The signs of the times all concur to teach us, that we are fast approaching towards the catastrophe of the great drama. We have seen Palestine, the predicted stage on which Antichrist, with his congregated vassals, is doomed to perish, brought forward in a remarkable manner to public notice."* And is it not natural to suppose that a country becoming so interesting to all the world,will be more known, before the grand catastrophe arrives. Soon will Christianity, long banished from the first temples of her residence, long banished from the thrones of the Cæsars, in sackcloth wandering in the wilderness, re-enter Palestine in triumph, raise the ruined walls of Jerusalem, rebuild the temple on Mount Zion, and sway the sceptre on the throne of David; yet scarcely any region of the globe is now so little known. Some Geographers of great eminence, silently pass by this country, as though it were involved in the odium of Christianity.

Though the compiler fondly hopes to afford pleasure and improvement to the lover of Sacred Geography; yet, so far is he from presuming, that this first essay is perfect, that he respectfully solicits any suggestions from his readers, which may improve the work. He determines, that no pains shall be wanting, if his life be spared, to render it as perfect as his abilities permit. This being designed for a useful family book, a large and fair type has been used, and some things of curious geographical speculation have been omitted, or transiently noticed. Generally, the various opinions of learned men have been stated, and the reader left to make his own decision, Consequently, in some instances, it may seem as if the compiler entertained different opinions on the same point.

Some may think the account of a few remarkable places too par ticular. Another person, may, perhaps, ponder on these scenes with

Dr. Buch, nan. See Christian Researches, published by S. T. Armstrong

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