114 
THIRD BOOK, 
when he came into the world, soften the hard 
hearts of men by his Spirit, and refresh them by 
his grace. 
LESSON 157 ZIV. 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF SORIP"URE—cCONLinued, 
des-cen-dant Re-bek-au Je-ru-sa-lem 
dis-tin-guish-ed gov-er-nor a-light-ed 
men-ti-on-ed Con-quer-or in-con-ve-ni-ent 
The dress worn by the Israelites and their 
descendants was very unlike any that we use; 
they had usually a close fitting garment, which, 
for want of a better name, has been called a coat, 
but it had no resemblance to the coats worn by 
men in this country. Over this they had a large 
cloak or mantle, which, being loose and flowing, 
was inconvenient to a person actively employed, 
and was, therefore, either laid asideor folded round 
the wearer by means of a girdle, or belt, when he 
walked, or while he was engaged in any thing 
which required much movement. "This explains 
the expression so often met with in Scripture, of 
girding up the loins; the Israclites were com- 
manded to eat the feast of the Passover with their 
loins girded, and their staves in their hands, like 
people wlo were preparing for a Journey, to re- 
mind them of their flight out of Egypt. 
In the time of our Saviour, we read that the 
people cast their garments in the way, when He 
entercd into Jerusalem, ridin g on an’'ass; by this 
is meant, that they threw down in his path their 
mantles, or outer garments, which was a common 
way of doing honour to any distinguished person