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Article ISRAEL, GREECE, AND ROME. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Israel, Greece, And Rome.
ISRAEL , GREECE , AND ROME .
A PARALLEL SKETOH . * We resume this sketch , by placing the origin of these nations in juxta-position . We are all aware what decisive influence that period has in the history of nations . Israel ' s origin was the peculiarity of his family . We know the patriarch with whom this great chain began . The chiefsthe tribes , the tie of social and fraternal connexion
, , were , and always remained , the essential element of Israel ' s external existence . Greece , on the other hand , originated from a collection of colonies of Egyptian , Phoenician , Thracian , and Minor Asiatic extraction , if not from more races . True , a later invented genealogy pretends to trace an universal origin , but that trace is very vague and obscure . The various characteristics of these tribes never formed a whole . Rome is indebted for her origin to a collected horde who purposed nothing else than to
obtain a common asylum , and to display unremitting and indefatigable strength . Do we not even behold in this the delineation of the entire career of these nations ? But let us also examine the localities wherein they respectively appear . Israel occupied a certain district whose boundaries were limited by nature , being encompassed by considerable mountains , and by sea-coasts , which are so rocky that thev hardladmit of a single port to connect
y them with the world . The country is half mountains , half valleys ; the whole length of the latter is intersected by streams which emanate and disembogue in them , with an annual inundation . The soil is partly adapted to agriculture and partly to pasture ; the country , yielding every ior maintenance
necessary , is sufficient in itself , with an unchangeable climate , a constant temperature , and a steady atmosphere . _ Greece , on the other hand , was partly situated on a peninsula , partly in islands , and partly along the coasts . These districts are everywhere provided with creeks and tracts of land , accessible to the whole world , being in the centre of Asia , Europe , and Africa , the main point of the transition of civilization from the East to the West . They are fertile , though more stirring and stimulating than satisfingand everywhere
y , are provided with streams and rivulets , hills and plains , the serenest sky , and a temperature cooled by gentle sea-breezes . Rome , the hilly city , was surrounded by the Campagnu , which , as it were , appeared to invite one to descend therein , to take possession thereof , and to proceed further on , without losing sight ofthe focus of her powers , the all-comprising and the aU-sustaining centre—the heart with its pulse —ROME herself . The whole world appeared as a plain ; tbe seven hills the only therein
as prominence . Rome acquired nothing unless she was compelled by want . On her arrival at the sea she obtained vessels ; but not till she found them indispensabl y necessary . Rome could neither be maintained by herself nor by her provinces . Rome could not exist without Sicily and E gypt ; to obtain them she required to possess several other countries ; and the more she had the more she wanted even everything . Rome ' s position was , either to gain all or nothing ! ' The origin and the locality of these three respective nations are in harmony with their character . Israel ' s peculiar characteristic was fervent affection and cordial attachment—the felicity of internal life That of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Israel, Greece, And Rome.
ISRAEL , GREECE , AND ROME .
A PARALLEL SKETOH . * We resume this sketch , by placing the origin of these nations in juxta-position . We are all aware what decisive influence that period has in the history of nations . Israel ' s origin was the peculiarity of his family . We know the patriarch with whom this great chain began . The chiefsthe tribes , the tie of social and fraternal connexion
, , were , and always remained , the essential element of Israel ' s external existence . Greece , on the other hand , originated from a collection of colonies of Egyptian , Phoenician , Thracian , and Minor Asiatic extraction , if not from more races . True , a later invented genealogy pretends to trace an universal origin , but that trace is very vague and obscure . The various characteristics of these tribes never formed a whole . Rome is indebted for her origin to a collected horde who purposed nothing else than to
obtain a common asylum , and to display unremitting and indefatigable strength . Do we not even behold in this the delineation of the entire career of these nations ? But let us also examine the localities wherein they respectively appear . Israel occupied a certain district whose boundaries were limited by nature , being encompassed by considerable mountains , and by sea-coasts , which are so rocky that thev hardladmit of a single port to connect
y them with the world . The country is half mountains , half valleys ; the whole length of the latter is intersected by streams which emanate and disembogue in them , with an annual inundation . The soil is partly adapted to agriculture and partly to pasture ; the country , yielding every ior maintenance
necessary , is sufficient in itself , with an unchangeable climate , a constant temperature , and a steady atmosphere . _ Greece , on the other hand , was partly situated on a peninsula , partly in islands , and partly along the coasts . These districts are everywhere provided with creeks and tracts of land , accessible to the whole world , being in the centre of Asia , Europe , and Africa , the main point of the transition of civilization from the East to the West . They are fertile , though more stirring and stimulating than satisfingand everywhere
y , are provided with streams and rivulets , hills and plains , the serenest sky , and a temperature cooled by gentle sea-breezes . Rome , the hilly city , was surrounded by the Campagnu , which , as it were , appeared to invite one to descend therein , to take possession thereof , and to proceed further on , without losing sight ofthe focus of her powers , the all-comprising and the aU-sustaining centre—the heart with its pulse —ROME herself . The whole world appeared as a plain ; tbe seven hills the only therein
as prominence . Rome acquired nothing unless she was compelled by want . On her arrival at the sea she obtained vessels ; but not till she found them indispensabl y necessary . Rome could neither be maintained by herself nor by her provinces . Rome could not exist without Sicily and E gypt ; to obtain them she required to possess several other countries ; and the more she had the more she wanted even everything . Rome ' s position was , either to gain all or nothing ! ' The origin and the locality of these three respective nations are in harmony with their character . Israel ' s peculiar characteristic was fervent affection and cordial attachment—the felicity of internal life That of