his apostles. In their age Palestine became the birth- place of intellectual life and civil and religious liberty. From these liave since been developed all the scientific triumphs, all the social progress, and all the moral grandeur and glory of the civilized world. There was a fidness of prophetic meaning in the words of Isa- iah which is only now beginning to be rightly un- derstood and appreciated : " Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall re- buke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks" (ii, 3, 4).
Palestine is, by the peculiaritj^ of its situation, almost isolated. Connected physically with the great body of the Asiatic continent, it is yet separated from the habi- table parts of it by the arid desert of Arabia, which ex- tends from the eastern border of Syria to the banks of the Euphrates, a distance of nearly three hundred miles. Another desert, not altogether so wide nor so difficult, sweeps along the southern confines of Palestine, as a barrier against all Egyptian invaders, and in a great measure prevented communication with that nation. The Mediterranean completely shut out the western world. Thus on three of its sides — the east, the south, and the west — was Palestine isolated. Its only direct link of connection with the outer world was Syria on the north; and even there the lofty chains of Lebanon and Hermon confined the channel of communication to one narrow pass, the valley of Coele-Syria. " These," says Stanley, "were the natural fortifications of that vineyard which was ' hedged round about' with tower and trench, sea and desert, against the ' boars of the wood' and 'the beasts of the field'" {Sin, a?id Pal, p. 114).
It was not without a wise purpose that the Almighty located his chosen people in such a land. During a long course of ages they were designed to be the sole preservers of a true faith, and the sole guardians of a divine revelation. It was needful, therefore, to sepa- rate them geographically from tlie evil example and baleful influences of heathen nations; and by the muni- tions of nature to defend them, and that precious record of God's will committed to their custody, from all as- saults, physical as well as moral. It has been Avell said by a recent thoughtful writer, that "the more we learn of its relative position in regard to surrounding coun- tries, and of its own distinctive characteristics, the more clearly is the wisdom of heaven recognised in its special adaptation to the purposes for which it was chosen and consecrated" (Drew, Scripture Lands, p. 2). But when Judaism was at length developed into Christianity — when the grand scheme of redemption was removed by the sufferings and death of the divine Saviour in Pal- estine from the region of dim prophecy into that of history — then the religion of God was finally severed from its connection, hitherto necessary, with a specific country and a chosen people — it became the religion of mankind. Then Palestine ceased to be God's country, and Israel to be God's people. The isolation of the land hitherto preserved the true faith; the exclusive- ness of the people formed an effectual safeguard against the admission of the philosophical speculations and cor- rupt practices of other nations; but after the resurrec- tion of Christ, and the establishment of the pure, ra- tional, spiritual faith revealed in the N, T., such ma- terial defences were no longer requisite. They would have been even prejudicial to the truth. Palestine was the cradle of the religion of God ; on reaching full ma- turity, the cradle was no longer a fitting abode ; the world then became its home and sphere of action. At that transition period the position of Palestine appeared as if specially designed to favor and consummate the divine plan, by the ready access it afforded for the mes- sengers of truth to every kingdom of the known world. Before the establishment of Christianity, the sea had become the highway of nations. The Mediterranean,
PALESTINE
)52
PALESTINE
1. Zidtn.
2. Tyre.
3. Dan.
4. Tiberias.
5. Tabor.
6. Carmel.
7. Samaria.
8. Shechem.
9. Jerusalem.
10. Bethlehem,
11. Hebron. IS. Joppa.
X-^^K
Outline Map of Palestine, showing the natural featuics, wiili section of the .country from east to west.
hitherto a barrier, was now the easiest channel of eom- niunieation ; and from the shores of T'alcstine the Gos- pel of Jesus was wafted away to the populous shores and crowded cities of the cjreat nations of the West. It is thus that a careful study of the geographical po- sition, the physical aspect, and past history of Pales-
tine is calculated to throw clear light on the develop- ment of the divine plan of salvation, and to afford some little insight into the councils of Jehovah. (See be- low.)
Climate has a great influence upon man. That cli- mate which is best adapted to develop the physical
PALESTINE
553
PALESTINE
frame, to foster its powers, and to preserve them long- est in healthy and manly vigor, is the most conducive to pure morality and intellectual growth. Tlie heat of the tropics begets lassitude and luxurious effeminacy, while the cold of the arctic regions cramps the energies, and tends to check those lofty tiiglits of poetic genius which give such a charm and sweetness to human life. Situated about midway between the equator and the polar circle, Palestine enjoys one of the iinest climates in the world. Fresh sea-breezes temper the summer heats; the forests and abundant vegetation which once clothed the land diffused an agreeable moisture through the bright sunny atmosphere ; while the hills and moun- tains made active and constant exercise necessary, and thus gave strength and elasticity to the frame. Pal- estine has given to the world some of the most dis- tinguished examples of high poetic genius, of profound wisdom, of self-denying patriotism, of undaunted cour- age, and of bodily strength. The geographical position and physical structure of the land had much to do with this. God in his infinite wisdom and love placed his elect people in the very best position for the develop- ment of all that was great and good. Well might the Lord say by the mouth of his prophet, " What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" (Isa. v, 4). This position of Palestine, too, together with its great variety of surface, enabled it to produce that abundance and diversity of fruits which so greatly contributed to endear it to its proverbially patriotic inhabitants.