, 1860-11-16
The Destruction Of Jerusalem

Recently, Sir Il. Bulwer Lytton delivered
lecture in Lincoln, which city he has for years
represented in Parliament, on the early history
Of Eastern nations. He gave an outline Of the
history Of the Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian,
Egyptian, Greek and Jewish nations, and closed
with the following powerful and dramatic des-
cription Of the destruction Of Jerusalem BY
Titus: .--,.,L
"Six years after the birth Of our Lord, Judea
and Samaria became Roman province, under
subordinate governors, the most famous Of
whom was Pontius Pilatc. These governors be-
came so oppressive that the Jews broke ont into
rebellion; and seventy years after Christ Jeru-
salem was finally besieged by Titus, afterwards
Emperor Of Rome. No tragedy on the stage
has the same scenes Of appalling terror as are
to be found in the history Of this siege. The city
itself was rent BY factions at the deadliest war
with each other-ali the elements Of civil hatred
had broke loose-the streets were slippery with
the blood Of citizens brother slew brother-the
granaTies were set on hro-lamine wasted those
whom the sword did not slay. In the midst Of
these civil massacres, the Roman armies appeared
before the walls Of Jerusalem. Then for short
time the rival factions united against the common
foe; they were again the gallant countrymen Of
David and Joshua-they sailed forth and scat
tered the eagles Of Rome. But this triumph
was brief; the ferocity Of the ill-fated Jews
soon again wasted itself on each other. And
Titus marched on--encamped his armies close
by the walls-and from the heights the Roman
general gazed with awe on the strength and splen-
dor Of the city Of Jehovah.
Let US here pause-and take, ourselves, .
mournful glance at Jerusalem, Is il then was
The city was fortified BY triple wall, save on
one side, where it was protected BY deep and
impossible ravines. These walls, OF the most
solid masonry, were guarded BY strong towers j
opposite to the lOfiest Of these towers Titus had
encamped. From the height Of that tower the
sentinel might have seen stretched below the
whole Of that fair territory Of Judea, about 70
pass from the countrymen Of David. Within
these walls was the palace Of the kings-its roof
Of cedar, its doors Of the rarest marbles, It's
chambers filed 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 aprecipitOus rock, rose
the temple, fortified aud adorned BY Solomon.
This temple was as strong without Is citadel
within more adorned than palace. On enter
ing, you beheld pOFtie0s Of numbeFless columns
Of porphyry, marble and alAbaster gates adorna
ed with gdld and silver, among which was, the
wonderful gate called the Beautiful. Further
on, through vast arch, was the sacred ortal
which ouultleu tulO tuo luNtTluI Ol Vic tctuptr
itself--all sheeted over with gold, and Overhung
by vine tree Of gold, the branches Of which
were as large as man. The roof Of the tenn
pie, even on the outside, was set over with gold
en- spikes TO prevent the birds settling there and
deflling the holy dome. Alta distanse, the who.e
temple looked like mount Of snow, frttted with
golden pinnacles But alasi the veil Of that TEN,
pie had been already rent asundeT BY an incx-
pinble crime, and the Lord Of Hosts did not fight
with Israel. But the enemy is laundering at
the wall All around the city arose immense
machinss, from which Titus pOmed downmighty
fragments Of rock, and showers Of fire. The
walls gave way-the city was entered--the tenn
pie itself was siormed. Famine, IN the mean
while, had made such hnvoc, that the besieged
were more like spectFes than living men; they
devoured the belts to their swords, the sandals
to their feet Even nature itself 50 perishod away,
that a mother devouFed her own infant; fulfill
ing the avid words Of the Waflke prophet who
had first led the Jews towards the land Of prom
Use: Tile Il nder and delicate woman amongst
you, who would not adventure to set the sole Of
her foot upon the ground for delicateness and
tenderness her 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 So.
creily in the siege and straitness HhereUith thine
enemy shall distress thee in Thy gates Still as
II the foe and the famine was not scourge enough,
citizens snlote and murdered each other IS they
met in the wAy-hlss prophets ran bowling
through the stFeets--evury image Of despair
completes the ghasty picture Of the tall q Je-
rusalem. And now the temple was set on fire,
the Jews rushing through the flames to perish
amidst It's ruins. twas calm summer night
The 10th Of August; the whole blu on which
stood The temple was one gigantic blaze Of fire.
al. ,,,.c, .od.r ol,o1-fha rnlf1nu nnnnnIaa
Of the dome were like spikes Of crimson flame.
Through the lurid atmosphere all was carnage
and slaughter; the echoes Of shrivks and yells
rang back from the Hin Of Zion and the Mount
Of Olives. Amongst the smoking ruins. ard
over piles Of the dead, Titus planted the STAN
dard Of Rome. Thus were fulfilled the last
avenging prophecies-thus persisted Jerusalem.
Ia that dreadful day, men still were living who
might have heard the warning voice Of Him they
crucifed-' Verify say unto you al. these things
shall come upon this generation. . Jeru-
salem, Jerusalem. thou that killest the prophets
and storest them that are sent 10 thee,
behold your house is left unto you desolate |.
And thus were the Hebrew people scattered
over the face Of the earth, still retaining to this
hour their mysterious idenity-stilla q living
proof Of those prophets they had seorned or
slain-Stll vainly awaiting that Messiah, whose
divine mission was fulfilled eighteen centuries
ago, upon the Mount Of Calvary"
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