The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1858-05-07
Layard's Confirmation Of Scripture.


ruins Of Aineveh. we doubt whether the
public mind in general is fully awarc Of the
nature and extent OF the con affirmation winch
they bring 10 the truth Of scripture history.
II may be useful here to set out in the brief
est form, specimen OF some Of the general
results Of these discoveries.
They show, in nformity with the tenor
Of scripture, that the earliest ages were not,
as many think. bsrbarous ages; but that the
race Of men. originally enlightened from q
divine source, had, al first. high degree Of
general knowledge, xhch they gradually
lost through their detection to idola,ry. III
has been demonstrated BY these excavations
not only tina. high state OF the arts existed
in Nineveh thousand years before Christ;
but also, that in the earliest ages OF that
city, dating but few centuries from the
flood, their sculptures were the best. In this
remarkable result the Egyptian and Assyrian
antiquities also agree.
It's also proved, contrary to the general
that idolatry was introduced
when men had better knowledge OF the
true Gcd than afterwards prevailed; that it
did not grow up as religion OF nature, by
the inc ffectual attempts Of men TO find the
true God; but i was Introduced as an expe-
dent Of men in order 10 obscure what know
ledge Of God they possessed. because they
did not like 10 retain God in their knowledge.
This is shown in the fact that the earliest
representations Of God found in these sculp-
lures are the best, and mmeasurably exceed
anything Of the kind existing 10 after ages; ;
especially in their approach to the true idea
Of God. So that idoIatry came In not for
want Of light. but by an abuse Of light
Men. knowing God. and yet not willing 70
gl,rify him as God. became vain 10 their
imagina,ions, and their foolish hearts were
darkened.
The scripture accounts Of the great anti
quiiy OF Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire
agree with these records dug out OF the ruins
Of Nineveh. The scriptures date the build.
ing OF the city not long after the Good; and
the fact that the same marble materials have
been used in successive structures, and that
ancient buildings have been placed on the
ruins Of those still more ancient, and other
indications, the conclusion il
made clear, that The city bad all'he antiquity
which the scriptures ascribe TO il.
These monuments ilso bear upon them
the record OF the fuliIIment OF prophecy --
Nahum p,ophecied sha: the city would be
pIundered of all ils treasures, so that none
would be eft. Layard has found in all his
excavations nothing in the form Of gold or
silver; q fact which Is remarkable, il the
city had not been thoroughly plundered be-
fore il was burned. The prophet foretoId
that the invaders would obtain easy access
10 some portions Of the city: and that wher-
ever the inhabitants should resort 10 the
strong holds, these would be burnt. Now
the ruins show just this result; that some
parts OF the city were destroyed BY fire and
others escaped.
But more striking confirmation is found
in the fact that inscriptions. on the ruins oil
one or the palaces, gives the records Of the
military career Of Sennach erIb, with just
such q series Of conquests, and just sucll
Boosting Of them, as the scriptures ascribe
10 him. For instance, the Bible tells US that
iiezekiah rebelled against the King Of Assy-
ria; that in the fourteenth year Of Hezeki-
abs reign. Sennacherib came up against all
the fenced cities Of Jodah, and took from
Hszekiah three hundred talents Of silver
and thirty Of gold. Now compare this with
the historical inscription on Sennacharib's
palace: because Hezekiah, King Of Judah,
did not submit 10 my yoke, | took, and plum
dered, for.y-six Of his strong fenced cities
and innumcrable smaller towns, but left
him Jerusalem his capital city; and bccsuse
Hezekiah still refused TO pay homage, At
tucked and carried off the whole population
which dwell ar ound jerusalem, with thirty
talents Of gold and eight hundred talents Of
silver" This agrees with the Bible account
except 10 respect TO the quantity Of silver;
AZ 10 this, the one account may describe
what was delivered By Hezekiah, and the
~ 49, ~~el...s .C IL