8
that there should arise a star out of Jacob, &c. from
Moses' time, being about fifteen hundred years.
Q. What was the intent of Herod for Lilling the children of Bethlehem; and what number was there slain ?
A. Herod having obtained the kingdom by sub- tility, hearing of this new King, feared he should be dethroned, resolved upon his death ; and after long expectlug the return of the wise men, but in vain, imagined they had mocked hin, entered into a strange passion, gave orders for killing all the children of Bethlehem, and the borders thereof, which he thought was sbout his age, to the nuinber of fourteen thou- sand, and also sent a messenger of death, thrice, to- tarde John the son of Zachariahı, who was now in the second year of his age; but his mother's early care of him saved his life, by sending him into desert places; yet, amongst this great slaughter, he, who a- lone was aimed at, was the only child that escaped : but as the babes of Bethlehem died in the place of Christ, so did John the Baptist's father die for him.
Q. What remarkable sign was left on the murder of Zachariah?
A. Tertullian, who wrote in the defence of the Christian religion against the heathens, reports, that the blood of Zachariah so besmeared the stones of the pareinent on which he was murdered, that no art or industry could wash the tincture out, us if Goul would upbraid the irreligion and cruelty of the Jews, h a perpetual character of their guilt ret before their eyes indelibly, in exacting all the blood of right- cous persons, from Abel to Zacharialı.
.Q. Did the oracles then cease after the coming of our Saviour ?
A. Our blessed Lord likewise shewed his omnipo-
