The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-02-13
SINAI AND MOUNT or OLIVES.


y, ana destitute OF vcrlure, while the Mount of
owes Is remarkably beautiful and luXuriant; bur
uie sacred associations, (which notice will here
AFTER be takent render them peculiarly remarka-
ore , III the VIeWol the Christian traveller. Mounts
Ebei and Gerizim overhang the CITY of Sechem
near TO which are the plains Mamre the cave Of
Nacpclah, and the well of Samaria at which the
savior conversed with the Samaritan woman
and is ut the present day about in the same state
that 1t then was.
~ SEA OF eALILEE
This sheet Of water is known in various wri:
ungs under three different names: FIRST. that
which is here above mentioned, j. c., the Sea of
Galilee, called so from the fact of its waves
washing the shores of that division of the land
Of Palestine denominated Gaee and in the
Scriptures this title, as well as both the others
hereafter TO be mentioned, are given to it. 1t is
again called the Sea of Tberas because upon its
banks was bniIded the city of Tiberius dedicated
to that Emperor by Herod its founder The
third name by which it is known is, the Lake of
Gencsareth, from the town Of that name also up-
on its shores. The extent of this Lake, or Sea,
as it has been termed, is about miles in length
and in breadth. The town Of Liberals is now
the only one upon It's shores. The natural an.
pearancc of this lake is now much the same ms
in the days Of old Z; but its artificial appear
ance is greatly changed; for shhough in
the days of Christ and his apostles, the face of
the whole water was almost constantly enliVened
by boats and ships and various craft, 1t is now
deserted and lorsaken-and life, and animation,
and enterprise, seem TO have fed from its shores
Civil despolsm and religious intolerance have
done much to lay waste the land, and rob it of its
former beauty and fertility.
RIVER JORDAN.
This notable stream, celebrated no less for being
The scene of Chrst's baptism than the passage Of
the children Of Israel, in former days, goes ont
from the Sea of GaeC at its southern extremity
and cmptcs into the Red Sea. Though hy no
l. L
independently, still when considered us the larg-
est river in the land Of Palestine its importance
becomes more apparent. Its length is 100 miles
It's sources are about Cesarea, and formed by the
combination Of several little rills. The narrow
ness of the stream and shalownCss of its waters
lit being generally in condition to admit OF be-
ing torded,) has given rise to the infdc objection
oitentimcs urged that the miracle of the passage
over Jordan in fact miracle ut all because
the feat was no more than might have been both
easily and naturally performed. But the sacred
Scriptures, which leave nothing unexplained that
would he calculated TO ms.cRd the inquirer, sets
this point at rest in the parentlIec clause thrown
in 10y the sacred historian, in giving his account
or inns urIrucr1Uuo uCCrrrelTce. 9JUSnrTa says,
1 I'm. I5,l "For Jordan overfoweth all his banks
all the time of harvest" Thus saying, that al
though this river may in ordinary times be lorded
still ut this iuncturc the waters were in swollen
state, and forbade their passage without miracle
THE LION FROM THE SWELLING OF JORDAN.
The frequent alluson in the Scriptures to this
circumstance, is beautifully explained by the
fact, as it is TO he found even TO this day
The lion Of Asia is frequently to he met with ;
and without the animal is in Il state of hunger or
excitement one might pass Ivy him without fear
or danger During the hot seasons of tho year,
the lions,as well other animals, come from the
parched and arid deserts to lave in the cooling
waters of the Jordan, and make for themselves
dwelling places along its banks. Ordinarily, the
| hon is loose, disjointed looking animal with
! the tail dragging after him, the head bent down
and overshndowed by the disheveled mane, and
goes along with an awkward, irregular gait, very
unlike our ideas Of his malcsiic strides and terri
BILE appearance, Bot whom driven from his re-
treat by the swellings Of Jordan the lion becomes
another creature in appearance well as dcport
ment; for his fury is aroused with him, and his
roarngs may he heard for miles around. He
lashcs his sides with his TAIL andifre flashes from
his eye: his head stands erect, and his bristling
manc gives to his appearance afearul and terrific
aspect: then, literally, is the expression full of
force, Like lion from the swelling of Jordan -
and 20 this fact may be attributable the express
sion Of the apostle Peter, when he compares the
Arch Enemy of mankind to Il ''roaring lion, going
about seeking whom he may devour;" for at
such time the lion, driven from his den, makes
a war upon whatever living thing comes within
his reach. DEAD SEA.
The lake Asphaltes, or lake OF Sodom and
Gomorrah, rs it is perhaps better known 10y
the name OF the Dead Sea, Is III extent about Az
miles in length by | in breadth Three several
conjecurcs have been offered in solution of this
name: The first of which is, that it was denom-
mated the Dead Sea, because beneath its sluggish
waters lie the guilty Inhabitants Of the two devot-
ed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah another class
of people think, that it had its origin in the mo-
tonless condition OF its waters, which lie in duh,
inactive sluggishness only at times producing Il
heavy ground swell but the third belief is that
the name derived from the fact of no living
creatures ever having been found in its waters,
and likewise that no birds of prey fly over it,
neither do quadrupeds resort 10 its banks to battle
in its waters. To the shores of the Sea Of Gace
the lion, leopard, fox, camel, dromedary, buffalo,
sheep goat, gaelic, and shepherds dog, visit, to
enjoy It's cooling waves; mullitudes of fish may
he seen sporting in its waters, and all betokens
life and animation within. The density of this
water is much greater than any other known,
being completely saturated with rock salk, which
is found in great quantities upon its shores, and
btumen, which forms its bed and upon IFS sur
face substances will swim which would nme-