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Entering the mountainous region, we found the county Hilly, rocky, and
rough, all the way to Jerusalem.--
---We were now, on each successive mountaintop hoping to catch a glimpse
of the City of the Great King – the city we had long desired to
see. Crowning an eminence on
our left, we saw a white wely or tomb. It was Maizpheth, and the tomb
of Samuel. Near this is Ehenzen, where the prophet placed the memorial
stone, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”!
Anxious to get sight of the sacred city, I hastened on in advance, and
overtook another party of Americans and English just as we got a glimpse
of a hill whose slope was dotted with olive trees and whose summit was
crowned with a cluster of buildings, one of which looked like a church
with a spire. “The Mount of Olives!” we exclaimed, and such
it was. A moment after, as we advanced, we saw domes and minarets intervening,
and then the massive walls and gates of a city not more than half a mile
distant. O, sacred hour! Moment never to be forgotten! A blessed memorial
day! when
at half-past three o’clock in the afternoon, my eyes were actually
resting upon Jerusalem and Olives! What wonderful assertions do these
names and places awaken! And what powerful and tearful emotions thrilled
my heart as now they were really before me!
Such a moment, such soul thoughts and feelings, cannot be described. I
dismounted, sat down by an old wall, and with these sacred objects before
me, read from my pocket Bible portion of the Psalms and of the New Testament,
referring so hautifully, tenderly, and gloriously to this city of Mount
Zion and of God. Our party came up and presently entering the Jaffa Bethlehem
gate, we began to realize the fulfillment of the beautiful passage we
had so often repeated: “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O
Jerusalem!”
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