imposed upon mankind, in those times of ignorance and darkness, always giving his answers to those that consulted him, in such ambiguous aud doubtful terms, that let the event be what it would, they contained a relative meaning.

f

When the people of Ionia and Æolia were apprised of Cyrus's having subdued the Lydians, they sent ambassadors to him at Sardis, to desire he would receive them as his subjects upon the same conditions he had granted the Lydians. Cyrus, who before his victory had solicited them in vain to embrace his party, and was then in a condition to compel them to it by force, answered them only by a fable of a fisherman, who having played upon his pipe, in order to make the fish come to him, in vain, found there was no way to catch them, but by throwing his net into the water. Failing in their hopes of succeeding this way, they applied to the Lacedæmonians, and demanded their succour. The Lacedæmonians thereupon sent deputies to Cyrus, to let him know, that they would not suffer him to undertake any thing against the Greeks. Cyrus only laughed at such a message, and warned them in his turn to take care, and put themselves into a condition to defend their own territories.

The nations of the isles had nothing to apprehend from Cyrus, because he had not yet subdued the Phoenicians, nor had the Persians any shipping.

ARTICLE II.

The History of the besieging and taking of Babylon by Cyrus.

CYRUS staid in Asia Minor, till he had entirely reduced all the nations that inhabited it into subjection, from the Ægean sea to the river Euphrates.

f Herod. 1. i. c. 141, 152, 153.

Ibid. c. 177. Cyrop. l.vii. p. 186--188,

From thence he proceeded to Syria and Arabia, which he also subjected. After which he entered into Assyria, and advanced towards Babylon, the only city of the east that stood out against him.

The siege of this important place was no easy enterprise. The walls of it were of a prodigious height, and appeared to be inaccessible, without mentioning the immense number of people within them for their defence. Besides, the city was stored with all sorts of provisions for twenty years. However, these difficulties did not discourage Cyrus from pursuing his design. But despairing to take the place by storm or assault, he made them believe his design was to reduce it by famine. To which end he caused a line of circumvallation to be drawn quite round the city with a large and deep ditch; and, that his troops might not be over-fatigued, he divided his army into twelve bodies, and assigned each of them its month for guarding the trenches. The besieged, thinking themselves out of all danger, by reason of their ramparts and magazines, insulted Cyrus from the top of their walls, and laughed at all his attempts, and all the trouble he gave himself, as so much unprofitable labour.

SECT. I. Predictions of the principal Circumstances relating to the Siege and the taking of Babylon, as they are set down in different Places of the holy Scriptures.

As the taking of Babylon is one of the greatest events in ancient history, and as the principal circumstances, with which it was attended, were foretold in the holy Scriptures many years before it happened, I think it not improper, before I give an account of what the profane writers say of it, briefly to put together what we find upon the same head in the sacred pages, that the reader may be the more capable of comparing the predictions and the accomplishment of them together.

VOL. II.

I. The Prediction of the Jewish Captivity at Babylon, and of the Time of its Duration.

God Almighty was pleased not only to cause the captivity, which his people were to suffer at Babylon, to be foretold a long time before it came to pass, but likewise to set down the exact number of years it was to last. The term he fixed for it was seventy years, after which he promised he would deliver them, by bringing a remarkable and an eternal destruction upon the city of Babylon, the place of their bondage and confinement. And these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Jer. xxv. 11.

II. The Causes of God's Wrath against Babylon.

That which kindled the wrath of God against Babylon was, 1. her insupportable pride; 2. her inhuman cruelty towards the Jews; and, 3. the sacrilegious impiety of her king.

*

1. Her pride. She believed herself to be invincible. She said in her heart,, I am the queen of nations, and I shall remain so for ever. There is no power equal to mine. All other powers are either subject or tributary to me, or in alliance with me. I shall never know either barrenness or widowhood. Eternity is written in my destiny, according to the observation of all those that have consulted the stars to know it.

2. Her cruelty. It is God himself that complains of it. I was willing (says he) to punish iny people t in such a manner, as a father chastiseth his children. I sent them for a time into banishment at Babylon, with a design to recal them, as soon as they were become more thankful and more faithful. But Baby

* Dixisti, In sempiternum cro domina-Dicis in corde tuo, Ego sum, & non est præter me amplius: non sedebo vidua, & ignorabo sterilitatem. Isa. xlvii. 7, 8.

+ Iratus sum super populum meum, & dedi cos in manu tuâ, Babylon. Non posuisti eis misericordiam : super senem aggravasti jugum tuum valde. Veniet super te malum. Isa. xlvii. 6, 7.