CHAP.  II.  THE  OLD  TESTAMENT.  29

JeremiaKs  Lamentations  by  some  are  thought  to
have  been  written  on  the  death  of  Josiah ;  by  others
more  probably,  subsequent  to  the  destruction  of  Jeru-
salem by  Nebuchadnezzar :  though  written  on  present
calamities,  they  may  be  considered  as  prophetically
applicable  to  the  Aiture  miseries  of  the  Jews.
Ezekiel  was  contemporary  with  Jeremiah,  and  was
of  the  sacerdotal  race.  He  was  carried  captive  with
Jehoiachim,  king  of  Judah,  to  Babylon,  598  years
B.C.  He  began  to  prophesy  in  the  fifth  year  of  his
captivity,  and  continued  in  his  prophetical  fimctions
21  years.  Ezekiel  may  be  compared,  as  to  his
style,  to  the  Grecian  iBschylus,  being  bold,  vehe-
ment, and  though  not  so  elegant  as  some  other  pro-
phets, yet  unequalled  in  force  and  grandeur.  In  his
writings  are  clear  intimations  of  the  glorious  redemp-
tion under  the  Messiah.
Daniely  a  descendant  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  was
bom  at  Upper  Bethoron,  in  the  territory  of  Ephraim.
He  was  carried  captive  to  Babylon  when  about
18  or  20  years  old,  606  B.C.,  and  was  raised
to  great  honour  in  the  courts,  both  of  Babylon  and
Persia.  As  he  was  90  years  old  when  the  captivity
ended,  it  is  probable  he  did  not  return  to  Judaea.
His  writings  contain  a  mixture  of  history  and  pro-
phecy. In  the  latter  are  predictions  as  to  the  Assy-
rian, Persian,.  Grecian,  and  Roman  Empires;  the

C  S


80  CONTENTS  OF  fart  i.
time  at  which  Christ  was  to  appear ;  the  rise  and  fall
of  Antichrist ;  the  future  restoration  of  the  Jews ;  and
the  consummation  of  all  things  here  below.
Ho9ea  flourished  800  years  before  Christ,  ajCid
continued  in  his  prophetical  office  60  years.
