ple that God alone could have been the author of it; and, in the operation of second causes, led them to abandon the place thus marked by the divine displeasure, and to scatter themselves over the face of the earth. Nimrod, however, more daring and audacious than the rest, having cast off the fear of God, afterwards encompassed the tower with walls, and having drawn thither his companions and confederates, and subdued all around who ventured to oppose him, here laid the foundation of his empire. But though Babylon was the capital of the couutry in which it was situated, he did not limit his authority to that spot, for Ereh, and Accad, and Calneh, are also mentioned in Scripture as cities lying in the same province; that is, in the land of Shinar.wo ad

From this country Nimrod went into Ashurs or Assyria, and built Nineveh The Scriptures say, that "out of that land went føith Ashurand builded Nineveh But this isunderstood by most historians to imply that Nimrod:wens forth out of that land to Ashur and built Nine veh; for Moses is here speaking of the descendants of Ham, and not of those of Shem, who had a

son called Ashur. The country of Assyria also is described by the prophet Micah, by the particular character of being the land of Nimrod,

66

they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof; thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian." The name is supposed to have been derived originally from Ashur the son of Shem, who had doubtless settled himself and family in that country, but had been driven thence by the royal usurper.

The conqueror having made himself master of the provinces of Ashur, filled them with cities. "He built Nineveh, and the city Reheboth and Calah, and Resen, between Nineveh and Calah the same is a great city." Nineveh, which was larger in extent and more magnificent than the rest, was called after the name of his son Ninus, and designed to immortalize his memory. The son, from sentiments doubtless of filial gratitude, sought in return to immortalize the memory of his father; and from an impious admiration of power, accomplishments, and extraordinary achievements, he himself worshipped Nimrod as a god, and by

bis example and persuasions, induced other nas tions to pay to this first king, and lord of the earth, those divine honours which are due only to the King of kings, and Lord of lords. For it appears evident from history, that Baal-which signifies Lord-or Belus, the God of the Babylonians, the first mortal whom the nations deified for what they falsely imagined great actions, →was Nimrod, the descendant of Ham, and great grandson of Noah, the preacher of righteousness.

How greatly mistaken men are in their admiration of each other, and in their expression of it, is abundantly evident from this circumstance. For Baal, the abomination of the Assyrians, has not only been hateful to God, and destructive to men in all generations, but the very scourge and pestilence of his own idolatrous worshippers. Whether we consider the abhorred and inhuman rites of his devotees, or the misery which he brought upon the Israelites whenever they were so infatuated as to adore him in their high places or whether we consider the fate of his own priesthood even in the land of Palestine: The history of the house of Ahab,-the prayers of Elijah,the

deeds of Jehu, the captivity of Israel and Judah,-all bear testimony to the truth of that denunciation, "Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols;" and of the irrevocable claim of supreme homage made by Jehovah," Thou shalt have no other Gods before me."

The sacred historian, in delineating the characters of Nimrod and Abraham, has placed before. us in strong relief, two human beings of the most opposite principles and practice. In the man of the world, we behold all those characteristics which distinguish his species in every age, and in every country. In the boldness and audacity, the ambition and policy of Nimrod, his love of power, of aggrandizement, and magnificence,—we see those objects of mortal admiration, envy and desire, common to all the unregenerate who rise to any distinction among their fellows. In the humility, faith, piety, and devotion of Abraham, in his uprightness and integrity, we trace the features of all that is venerable and great in human character, and pleasing in the sight of God. These two individuals, so opposed to each other

in what constitutes at once the motives of action and the conduct of men, are represented as the two first and chief citizens of two rival states: The one seeking the honour which comes from God only; the other living to self alone, ambitious only of temporal honours, and in his search after earthly glory daring to contemn God himself.

After the death of Nimrod, Ninus who succeeded him, desirous of enlarging his territories, selected troops and officers capable of promoting his designs. And having received succours from his neighbours the Arabians, he soon after took the field, and in the space of seventeen years he extended his conquests from Egypt, as far as India and Bactriana, which he did not then venture to attack.

On his return from these wars it is said he built Nineveh on the eastern banks of the Tigris; but it is probable he did no more than enlarge the city, and finish the works which his father had begun. His ambition was to render Nineveh the noblest city in the world, and not to leave it in the power of any who should succeed C