tion that it is a country insigificantly small, he replies, "that what it lacked in length and breadth, it had in depth, as if nature had heaped one acre upon another in the matchless fertility thereof." To the objection that it is full of mountains, he exclaims, "was ever a great belly brought for an argument of barrenness? especially seeing these mountains did not swell with a mock-mother tympany; but were pregnant with special commodities." Modern travellers report it to be a bare surface of sand. This he admits, and answers, in that happy manner which characterizes him. "Who can guess what Naomi was by what March is? (Ruth. 1.20.) The stump indeed stands still, but the branches are withered; the skeleton remains but the favour and flesh thereof is consumed. Judea is, and is not what it was before; the same in bulk, not blessing, for fashion, not fruitfulness; the old instrument is the same; but it is
