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which Scopas had left in the castle. Antiochus in return, granted the Jews many privileges. Onias the third, son of Simon the second, being highpriest, caused the laws of God to be strictly observed, and even princes, in his days, honoured the holy place with rich gifts.

(To be continued.)

ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA IN MARCH NUMBER.

K ish, the father of Saul, his asses did lose (1 Sam. ix. 3);

A doni-bezek was maimed by the loss of his toes (Judges i. 6);

Daniel, to whom a secret God revealed (Dan. ii. 19); E hud the sword with his left hand did wield

(Judges iii. 21);

S ihon, Israel gained a victory o'er (Num. ii. 23, 24); Havilah, the site of a sore battle in days of yore (1 Sam. xv. 7);

B ar-jesus, the sorcerer, was struck blind

(Acts xiii. 6);

A braham his son to the altar did bind (Gen. xxii. 9); Rachel, in whose tent stolen goods were found (Gen. xxxi. 34);

Noah was saved when many more were drowned (Gen. vii. 23);

E lijah to heaven with much glory went

(2 Kings ii. 14);

A aron, with Moses, to Pharaoh was sent
(Exod. vi. 13).

The initials of these names declare,
And form the word, Kadesh-barnea;
Israel rebelled at that place,

And utterly despised God's grace.

J. I. ROLFE, aged 11 years.

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A LEAF FROM

By the Author of

THE ANNALS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

"The Pearl of Angrogna: an historical tale of the Waldenses," &c., &c., &c.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."-PSALM iv. 8.

RIDLEY's brother offered to remain with him the night preceding his martyrdom: but the Bishop

F

declined, saying that he meant, God willing, to go to bed, and sleep as quietly as ever he did in his life.

THE last, the last, the last!

The last day's sun had risen!

Its brilliant noontide heat was past,―
Faded its dewy even;

And shades of night were falling where
A prisoner knelt in fervent prayer.

One other night-but one!

Ere night should be no more:

Life's hour-glass sands seemed not outrun ;
And yet life's work was o'er;
And only one dread step remained,
Through blood and fire, ere rest was gained.

Rest, and a Martyr's crown!

But to man's coward heart,
Of his tent burning slowly down,
How terrible the thought!

How long one night--the mind a prey
To such a doom at dawn of day!

But was it so ? Did fear

Convulse that manly frame, Now starting to his feet to hear

And answer to his name?

"Brother! wouldst have me watch with thee Through this sad night—the last thou❜lt see ? ”

"Nay, I'll lie down, and sleep

As calmly as of yore:

What! lie awake to moan and weep

With woe so nearly o'er?

Watch o'er my slumbers God will keep :

'He giveth His beloved sleep.""

*

And God's beloved lay

"In perfect peace" till dawn!

Then woke, refresh'd, to wend his way,
Through Death to endless morn.
Elijah-like, to him 'twas given,

To mount on fiery steeds to heaven.
Saviour! My God, how greatly blest
Are they whose "all" Thou art :
Whose endless sense of joy and rest,
Thy Spirit doth impart :

Who know no fear, nor shrink from pain--
Whose worst and last but brings eternal gain!

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[Dear young readers,―These are the men whom the Ritualists of our day despise and over whose blood and ashes they swing their superstitious censers, and lift for adoration their breaden gods. Never let the love of music or gorgeous display tempt you to enter a ritualistic church. 'Keep far away from an evil matter, avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." Better hear the Gospel in a barn, or read the word in a cow-shed, than join in a service of mockery and idolatry in the richest of temples.—ED.]

HISTORY OF THE JEWS,

FROM NEHEMIAH TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.

CHAPTER IV.

ANTIOCHUS, in his expedition against the east, had received so many services from the Jews of Babylon and Mesopotamia, and conceived so high an opinion of their faithfulness, that, when a sedition broke out in Phrygia and Lydia, he sent two thousand Jewish families to quell it, who succeeded, and kept the country in peace; for which the y were liberally rewarded by Antiochus.

From them sprang a great part of the Jews that were found in that country in the time of the Apostles.

Antiochus next resolved upon subduing Asia Minor; but in order to do this it was necessary to make friends with the Egyptians. He therefore offered his daughter Cleopatra in marriage to king Ptolemy, promising on the day of marriage, he would give half the revenues of Colosyria and Palestine for his daughter's dowry. These proposals were accepted, and he was suffered to pursue his conquests without molestation; by which, it seems, Judea enjoyed the blessings of peace during the remainder of his reign.

After the death of Antiochus, Seleucus, his son, became king of Syria. Ptolemy Epiphanes resolved to make war upon him: but his chief ministers being aware that his resources were very inadequate to such a purpose asked him by what means he intended to raise the money to prosecute it. He replied, that his friends were his treasure. They concluded from this answer that he meant to make use of their purses, and that they should be ruined by it; to prevent which they caused him to be poisoned. Thus died this monarch, after a reign of twenty-four years.

Ptolemy Philometer, his son, who was but six years of age, succeeded him; and Cleopatra, his mother, was declared regent.

The city of Jerusalem enjoyed, at this time, the most profound tranquillity, till it was disturbed by the perfidy of the governor of the temple, whose name was Simon. Onias having opposed him in his unjust proceedings, he, out of revenge, informed king Seleucus that there were immense treasures in the temple.

The king upon hearing this, sent Heliodorus his

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