than ever, he exclaimed, " Wo, wo to this city, this temple, and this people!" And he then added, [for the first time for the seven years,] "Wo, wo to myself!" The words were no sooner uttered, than a stone from a Roman machine without the walls, struck him dead on the spot!
Such were the signs in the heavens and in the earth, which just preceded the destruction of Jerusalem. Several of them are recorded by Tacitus as well as by Josephus. The veracity of Josephus as a historian is probably allowed by all. Scaliger affirms that he deserves more credit as a writer than all the Greek and Roman
historians put together.
From the conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey, sixty years before Christ, the Jews repeatedly had exhibited a most rebellious spirit against the Romans. The Jews had basely said to Pilate concerning Christ, "If thou
let this man go, thou art not a friend to Cæsar " But the fact was, they persecuted Christ because he would not erect a temporal throne in opposition to Cæsar. Any impostor who seemed prepared to do this, they
were ready to follow; and were ready to improve every apparent occasion to evince their decided hostility to the Romans. And they hardly needed a prophet's eye to discern that this spirit and conduct, manifested on all occasions, would soon draw against them the Roman
sword.
Judas, a Gaulonite, and Suddue. a Pharisee, had rallied the Jews with the idea that their paying tribute to the Romans would not fail to confirm them in the most abject slavery; in consequence of which their enmity often burst forth with malignant violence. Tumults and riots increased; and Florus, the Roman governor of Judea, by his cruel exactions, increased this sprit among the Jews. Eleazer, son of the high priest, persuaded the officers of the temple to reject the offerings of foreigners, and to withhold public prayers for them. The Roman government felt the insult; and a basis was soon found to be laid for a Roman war. Feuds and contentions increased in Judea, till Cestius Gallus marched an army thither from Syria to restore order.
His march was marked with blood and desolation. The
