True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-06-09
VOL. 4-NO. %.

With the blood of cjtizens--brother slew
brother--the granaries were set on fire.
famine wasted those whom the sword did
not stay. In the midst Of these civil
massacres, the Roman armies appeared
before the walls Of Jerusalem. Then for
a short time the rival factions united
against the common foe they were again
the gallant countrymen of David and
Joshua--they sailed forth and scattered
the eagles of Rome. But this triumph
was brief; the ferocity ofthe ill-iated Jews
soon again wasted itself on each others--
And Titus marched on--encamped his ar
mics close by the walls-and from the
heights the Roman general gazed with
awe on the strength and splendor Of the
city of Jehovah, s .ao-,t.
Let us here pause--and take, ourselves,
a mournfnl glance at Jerusalem, as II then
was. The city was fortified by triple
wall, save on one side, where it was pro-.
tected by deep and impossible ravines.-
These walls, of the most solid masonry.
were guarded by strong towers, opposite
to the loftiest of these towers Titus had
encamped. From the height Of that tower
the seminal might have seen stretched
below the whole of that fair territory Of
Judea, about to pass from the country men
Of David. Within these walls was the
palace Of tho kings-its roof Of cedar, it's
doors of the rarest marbles, its chambers
filled with the costliest tapestries, and
vessels Of gold and silver. Groves and
gardens cleaning with fountains, adorned
with statues of bronze, divided the courts
of the palace itself But high above all,
upon precipitous rock, rose the temple,
fortified and adorned by Solomon. This
temple was as strong without as citadel
within more adorned than palace. On
entering, you beheld porticos Of number
less columns Of porphyry, marble and
alabaster; gates odorned with gold and
silver, among which was the wonderful
gate called the Beautiful. Further on,
through vast arch, was the sacred portal
which admitted into the interior of the
temple itself--all sheeted over with gold,
and overhung by vine tree Of gold, the
branches Of which were us large as man.
, The roof Of the temple, even on the outside,
was set over with golden spikes, to pre-
vent the birds settling there and defiling
the holy dome. Alta distance, the whole
temple looked like a mountain Of snow,
fretted with golden pinnacles. But alas!
the veil Of that temple had been already
tent asunder by an inexpiable crime, and
the Lord of Hosts did not fight with Israel.
But the enemy is laundering at the wall.
All around the city rose immense machines,
from which Titus poured down mighty
fragments of rock, and showers of fire.
The walls gave way-the city was entered
the temple itself was stormed Famine
in the meanwhile had made such havoc,
that the besieged were more like spectres
than living men they devoured the belts
to their swords, the sandals to their feet.
Even nature itself so perished away, that
mother devoured her own infant fulfil.
/, ling the awful words of the warlike pro-
phet who had first led the Jews towards
the land of promise-"The tender and
delicate women amongst you, who would
not adventure to set the sole Of her foot
f! upon the ground for delicateness and ten
t derness-his eye shall be evil toward her
, young one and the children that she shall
bear, for she shall eat them for want Of all
things secretly in the siege and straitness
herewith thine enemy shall distress thee
in thy gates" Still, as if the foe and the
famine was not enough, citizens smote and
I murdered each other as they met in the
d way-false prophets ran bowling through
!, the street-every image Of despair COM
o pletes the ghastly picture of the fall Of
/. Jerusalem. And now the temple was set
: on fire, the Jews rushing through the
: flames to perish amidst its ruinA 1t was
q calm summer night-the 10th of Augusti
y the whole hill on which stood the temple
% was gigantic blaze Of fire--the roof o
l. cedar crashed--the golden pinacles of the
dome were like spikes of crimson fame -
re Through the lurid atmosphere all wal
% carnage and slaughter; the echoes o.
. shrieks and yells rang back from the Hill
- of Zion aud the Mount ofOlives. Amongst
: the smoking ruins, and over piles of the
= = dead, Titus planted the standard Of Rome
y Thus were fulfilled the last avenging pro
8 phecies-thus persisted Jerusalem. In thai
81 dreadful day, men still were living who
z might have heard the warning voice Of Hin
n they cruciied--'tVerily ! say unto yol
1t all, these things shall come upon this gen
Grafton. hM n Ieru
O salem. Jerusalem, thou that killest th,
prophets and stonest them that are sent :,
thee, behold you
house is left unto you desolate " Ant
= thus were the Hebrew people scattefe'
over the face OF the earth, retaining to thil
IN hour their mysterious identity--still Q liv,
~ ing proof Of those prophets they had scorn'
ID ed or slain still vainly awaiting tina
s. Messiah, whose divine mission was fulfil,
he led eighteen ceutures ago, upon the Mount
r Of Calvary. H