Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
vourite queen , Esther , in compliance with a custom in Persia on such occasions , desired to prefer a request to the throne , which it was not usual to refuse . She therefore represented , in pathetic language , the continued desolation of her country , and requested that Ezra the scribe might be permitted to visit Jerusalem in with so
company many of the captive Jews as voluntarily chose to remove with him from thence ; and . that he mi ght be vested with full authority to regulate the reli gion and government of Judea . The request was complied with ; and Artaxerxes granted to Ezra a commission to this purpose , with powers to collect contributions from those that remained behind ,
either to beautify the temple or to provide for the expense of the daily sacrifices . . Ezra was a wise and learned man , well skilled in the scriptures , ancl perfectly competent to undertake the important duty of reforming the abuses which the Jewish religion had contracted during the Babylonish captivity , and restoring many important rites ancl observances , which otherwise were in clanger of being lost for ever .
Ezra held the government thirteen years , and during this period he placed their reli gion and laws on a firm and durable principle , which experience had shown to be capable of providing for the peace and happiness of the people , as well as securing the general welfare of the state . He collected and collated the Hebrew scriptures , digested them
into a systematic form , and read them periodicall y in the ears of the people . His wisdom ancl prudence procured him such a high degree of reputation , that many later writers have pronounced him to be one and the same with Malachi the prophet ; ancl the Jews generally affirmed , that the Scriptures being lost during the captivity , THE SACRED
ROLL -was delivered to Ezra by angels . But there is no foundation for this conceit . An ancient copy of the law mi ght possibly have been found at the rebuilding of the second temple , which would be exceedingly valuable to Ezra , yet it is scarcely to be doubted but there were many copiesat least of detached parts of the Sacred Writingsin
, , existence amongst the Jews at Bab ylon , to which Ezra hael access ; ancl his principal labours Avould be in collating and comparing the ancient and modern copies , written , as they must have been , in two different languages ; in making a regular distribution of the several canonical books , according to their respective nature and design ; ancl in trans-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
vourite queen , Esther , in compliance with a custom in Persia on such occasions , desired to prefer a request to the throne , which it was not usual to refuse . She therefore represented , in pathetic language , the continued desolation of her country , and requested that Ezra the scribe might be permitted to visit Jerusalem in with so
company many of the captive Jews as voluntarily chose to remove with him from thence ; and . that he mi ght be vested with full authority to regulate the reli gion and government of Judea . The request was complied with ; and Artaxerxes granted to Ezra a commission to this purpose , with powers to collect contributions from those that remained behind ,
either to beautify the temple or to provide for the expense of the daily sacrifices . . Ezra was a wise and learned man , well skilled in the scriptures , ancl perfectly competent to undertake the important duty of reforming the abuses which the Jewish religion had contracted during the Babylonish captivity , and restoring many important rites ancl observances , which otherwise were in clanger of being lost for ever .
Ezra held the government thirteen years , and during this period he placed their reli gion and laws on a firm and durable principle , which experience had shown to be capable of providing for the peace and happiness of the people , as well as securing the general welfare of the state . He collected and collated the Hebrew scriptures , digested them
into a systematic form , and read them periodicall y in the ears of the people . His wisdom ancl prudence procured him such a high degree of reputation , that many later writers have pronounced him to be one and the same with Malachi the prophet ; ancl the Jews generally affirmed , that the Scriptures being lost during the captivity , THE SACRED
ROLL -was delivered to Ezra by angels . But there is no foundation for this conceit . An ancient copy of the law mi ght possibly have been found at the rebuilding of the second temple , which would be exceedingly valuable to Ezra , yet it is scarcely to be doubted but there were many copiesat least of detached parts of the Sacred Writingsin
, , existence amongst the Jews at Bab ylon , to which Ezra hael access ; ancl his principal labours Avould be in collating and comparing the ancient and modern copies , written , as they must have been , in two different languages ; in making a regular distribution of the several canonical books , according to their respective nature and design ; ancl in trans-