Page:On the Desert - Recent Events in Egypt.djvu/342

328 in the valley of decision!"] Mahomet caught the allusion and improved upon it. On yonder wall lies a long round stone, the fragment of a column, projecting from the parapet like a piece of artillery. On the day of final award, says the Koran, from that stone of judgment a line no bigger than a hair will be stretched, over which will pass the souls of the faithful, while unbelievers will be precipitated into the valley below, which is a symbol of the eternal abyss.

But we give only a glance downward, as our gaze becomes fixed on the city itself which has come so near. There is Jerusalem, beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, the city of the great King! At the southeast corner within the walls, stood the Temple of Solomon (we are directly opposite the Beautiful Gate), and now stands the Mosque of Omar; and as we are at an elevation of nearly two hundred feet above it, we look down into the temple area.

Here, as before, one association overpowers all others — that of the Great Master, whose sacred presence has made all this holy ground. On our right is the Mount of Olives, to which He so often withdrew to meditate and pray; and as we see its position relative to Jerusalem, we can see why it may have been chosen as His place of retirement. It was close at hand, and yet separated by a deep valley, which protected it from intruders, as well as from the noise and tumult of the city. It was at once near and far — a place to be reached by a short walk, and yet as hushed and still as the mountain top to which He so often retired to pray.

Thus the most tender and sacred associations connected with the person of our Lord, may be said to cluster on the eastern side of Jerusalem. Over this road from the east, He passed on His way "going up to Jerusalem" to die;