Mount Calvary.
THE HAND OF
PROVIDENCE,
AS SHOWN IN THE
HISTORY OF
NATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS,
From the Great Apostasy to the Restoration of the Gospel.
ILLUSTRATED.
BY ELDER J. H. WARD.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH:
Published at the Juvenile Instructor Office. 1883.
PREFACE.
Don't throw this book down carelessly. It will do you no harm. Itassumes no dictation. It may benefit you if you will read it carefully.
"We have plenty of histories."
True. But most are too large to be of practical value to the sons anddaughters of toil. Many are written in the interest of some party orsect, and in order to gain favor, they flatter the vanity of men.
"But they tell of wonderful deeds, and thrilling adventures."
Very true. Some of them are mostly composed of recitals of legalizedslaughter, and praise of tyrants who have climbed to power over themangled bodies of their fellow-men, and whose names will not livein one grateful memory; while the real benefactors of the race, theunfolding of new and higher truths and, above all, the over-ruling handof God are unnoticed, or, at most, barely mentioned.
"Does God rule the world?"
Yes, verily. The greatest actors on the theatre of the world are onlyinstruments in the hand of God, for the execution of His purposes.
"Where have you obtained the facts contained in this volume?"
From many authentic works, some of them not easily accessible to mostreaders.
"This will be a good book for the young, and all those who have not theopportunity to consult larger works, will it not?"
With this idea it has been written and to this end I dedicate it to mychildren as heirs in the kingdom of God, to the youth of Zion and to myearnest friends everywhere.
THE AUTHOR.
Salt Lake City,
March 16th, 1883.
CONTENTS.
Injustice of Roman Governors—Nero Emperor—Vespasian and TitusSent to Judea—Fortifications of Jerusalem—Titus Offers Terms ofPeace—Horrors of the Siege—Women Devour their own Children—TempleBurned—City Destroyed—Dispersion of the Jews—UniversalApostasy—Priesthood no More—Ideas of God Perverted—WorshipCorrupted with Heathen Rites—Persecution of Christians—EmperorConstantine—Rise of Monastic Order.
Description of Arabia—Arabian Customs—Birth of Mahomet—EarlyLife—Journey to Syria—Christian Sects—Doctrines Taught byMahomet—His Marriage—Proclaims Himself a Prophet—Persecution—Fleesto Medina—Becomes Powerful—Sickness and Death—Personal Appearance.
Causes of Triumphs—Abou-Beker Elected Caliph—War Declared—Fall ofBozrah—Battle of Aiznadin—Siege of Jerusalem—Departure of RomanEmperor—Saracen Fleet—Eastern Conquests—Fall of Alexandria—Conquestof Northern Africa—Conquest of Spain—Battle of Poictiers—Extent ofSaracen Empire.
Intellectual Stagnation—Saracens and Jews Revive Learning—Universityof Bagdad—Public Schools—Medical College of Cairo—CirculatingLibrary—Modern Form of Books—Arabic Notation—Discoveries inChemistry—Rotundity of the Earth—Mariner's Compass—Discoveries ofAlhazin—Astronomical Obse