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After coming
in sight of Bethlehem, we pass over a moderate valley amidst olive groves
and vinyards with occasional pomegranate and almond trees, and ascend the
hill at the west and of the village; and proceeding through its one street,
along which are various little shops and all sorts of people. We at length
come to the Church of the Nativity. It was created in the year 327 by the
Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, and is one of the oldest monuments
of Christian architecture in the world. It is supposed to cover the place
where our blessed Lord was born-------------------------------------------------------------
Dead Sea
We were four hours going to the Dead Sea. On some lofty hill, about
half-way there, we had a fine view of that wild and desolate region. Stretching
off on our right to the southeast, rugged, dreary and bare, is the “wilderness
of En-gedi.” Before us lying low in its bleak bordered back, is
the Sea of Death, now with dark shadow flitting over it, and then sparkling
with sun light gleaming through the clouds. Down to its eastern shore
come the dark, wall like mountains of Moab, stretching far to the North,
and bordering the vale of the Jordan.
The real tomb of Moses is among those mountains yonder, east of the Jordan,
“in a valley in the Land of Moab, over against Bethpeor; but no
man knoweth his sepulcher.”
About an hour before reaching the Dead Sea, we descended the steep hills
to the barren plain. --------------- Over the light-brown parched and
crusty plain, with scarcely and vestiges of vegetation, we are approaching
the northeaster shore of the Dead Sea. We reach the water’s edge
and dismount amidst pebbles of nearly all colors, many being black and
pitchy or bituminous, and dead branches of trees, which have come down
the Jordan, and been thrown upon the beach. What a strange place to stand
upon to look abroad and around from— and to silently meditate! Every
spot the age rests upon, near and far off, has some Scripture account
or scene connected with it; and what thrilling accounts and tremendous
scenes. Lift the curtain of history and what a succession of events come
and go— changeful,
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