lem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon King of Israel, had builded for Ashtaroth, the abomination of the Zidonians; and for Chemoth, the abomination of the Moabites; and for Milcolm, the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men. 2 Kings, xxiii. 13, 14.

439 Astarte, queen of heaven.

Astarte, or Diana, the fabled daughter of Jupiter and Latona, and sister to Apollo. She presided over night, and was called Phoebe or the moon: the goddess of hunting. The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes for to the queen of heaven. Jer. vii. 18.

444 That uxorius King.

Solomon, king of Israel, being determined to fulfil his father David's solemn injunction, of building a temple to the glory of God, communicated his intentions to the King of Tyre, requesting that he would provide him a person qualified to superintend the work, together with labourers and materials. Hiram complied with his wish; and this magnificent structure was prosecuted with eagerness, and, on being completed, was consecrated in the most solemn manner. In the life of Solomon, we see all that human wisdom can possibly do, towards enriching the mind or sanctifying the heart. In him it will appear, that the most vigorous intellect is incapable of resisting temptation. The greatest part of Solomon's

reign was truly glorious; but we now see him sullying his reputation, and at a period when it might have been reasonably thought, that the passions were subdued, and the principles of piety become habitual. His connexion with strange women disgraced the close of Solomon's life; and this lawless love drew him aside after the abominations of the heathen. If such a man as Solomon could not resist the blandishments of vice, when he had suffered his affections to be ensnared, with what diligence should young and inexperienced minds shun the company of the wanton, the dissolute, and the prophane.

446 Thammaz.

Secret and prophane rites, performed to this idol, which was death to relate. He said, turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the house of Jehovah, and behold there sat women weeping for Thummaz. 447 Lebanon.

A mountain in Syria, famous for cedar trees, one hundred and twenty miles from Jerusalem. 450 While smooth Adonis.

The following is from the pen of the late Mr. Mandrell, of this ancient piece of worship, and probably the first occasion of such a superstition. 'We came to a fair large river, doubtless the ancient river Adonis, so famous for the idolatrous rites performed here in lamentation of Adonis. We had the fortune to see, what may be supposed to be the occasion of that opinion which Lucian relates concerning this river, viz.: that this

C

stream, at certain seasons of the year, especially about the feast of Adonis, is of a bloody colour, which the heathens looked upon as proceeding from a kind of sympathy in the river, for the death of Adonis, who was killed by a wild boar in the mountains, out of which this stream issues. Something like this we saw actually come to pass; for the water was stained to a surprising redness; and as we observed in travelling, had discoloured the sea, a great way, into a reddish hue, occasioned, doubtless, by a sort of mimum or red earth, washed into the river by the violence of the rain, and not by any stain from Adonis's blood."

455 Ezekial saw.

And it came to pass, in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. Aud he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of mine head, and the spirit lift me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me, in the visions of God, to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate, that looketh toward the north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. Ezekial, viii. 1. 3.

the dark idolatries

of alienated Judah.

And he said unto me, go in and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw: and behold every form of creeping things and abominable beasts and all the idols

of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them, seventy men of the ancients of Israel; and in the midst of them, stood Jaazaniah, the son of Shaphan, with every man his censor in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then, said he unto me: Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

462 Dagon.

A god of the Syrians and Philistines, who gained great riches by fish, which they ascribed to this idol it was half man and half fish: it was the Neptune of the Greeks.

463 Azotus or Ashdad.

A sea-port town in Palestine, twenty-two miles from Jerusalem.

465 In Gath.

One of the chief cities of the Philistines, on the sea, thirty-four miles west of Jerusalem. 465 And Ascalon.

Another of the chief cities of the Philistines, thirty miles west of Jerusalem, famous for the Temple of Dagon. Saladin, in the holy war, laid it in ruins ; but Richard, king of England, repaired it. A. D. 1192

466 And Accaron.

A city on the south of Gath, built on unfruitful soil.

466 Gaza.

Here Sampson destroyed the Temple of Dagon,

a city of treasure, because Cambyses, king of Persia, sent those treasures which he had prepared for the Egyptian war.

467 Him followed Rimmon.

When my master goeth into the house of Rimmon, to worship there. 2 Kings, v. 18. An Assyrian goddess who held the pomegranate in her hands; the same as Pomona among the Romans; and worshipped, after her death, by the Egyptians, under the name of Isis.

468 Damascus.

West of Jerusalem. There Cain slew his brother, and where Adam and Eve dwelt after they were expelled from Paradise.

469 Of Abbana and Pharphar.

Are not Abbana and Pharphar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel. 2 Kings, v. 12.

And the king of Syria said; go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel, and he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. And Naaman said, shall there not then I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offerings nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord. 2 Kings v. 17.

472 Ahaz, his sottish Conqueror,

For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him; and he said, because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I