The twelve tribes into which the nation was divided, were in some things independent of each other, but religion was to be a common bond, and there was also a legislative assembly for the whole nation. Agriculture was to be the great pursuit every Hebrew was a free-man, and the liberty of the people was kept in view throughout. In this respect the constitution of the Jewish government is a striking contrast to the general character of Asiatic governments, where the Prince has always been absolute, and the people slaves.

THE JEWS FROM THE OCCUPATION OF CANAAN TO THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY. B.C. 1500-1100. AFTER the death of Joshua, the Jews soon began to forget God; and they never forgot God without bringing misery upon themselves. They were then allowed to be defeated by neighbouring nations, though occasionally God raised up a hero to deliver them, and restore justice and judgement through the land. These deliverers, who were generally called Judges, acted as chief magistrates, and rulers of a part, or even the whole of the nation, and as champions zealous for the honour of the Almighty. Of these Judges Samuel, the last, was the most remarkable. He was also a great prophet, a fervent lover of his country, and very zealous for the glory of God. The Lord promised the Israelites by him, that he would deliver them from their enemies the Philistines, if they would return unto Him with all their hearts. They did so for a time and were victorious; but when Samuel grew old, and his sons walked not in his ways, they were mad enough to ask for a King to judge them, and to go out before them, and fight their battles: thus asking for a remedy of their own for an evil which God would have speedily removed, if they had remained true to Him. They persisted in this request, even though Samuel told them that this was rejecting God from being King over them. Accordingly the Lord "gave them a King in his anger."

THE JEWS UNDER KINGS FROM B.C. 1100-600. SAUL, the first King, was little more than the General of the nation: he had no court or fixed residence. The people were still husbandmen and shepherds: they had little wealth, and

were still hardy and plain in their living, but gradually assuming the character of a warlike nation. Saul soon began to disregard Samuel the Prophet of the Lord; he even ventured on one occasion to offer sacrifice, though neither Priest nor Prophet; and came at last to disobey the express command of God, who from that time deserted him, and commanded Samuel to anoint David privately as the future King over Israel.

DAVID, 1055-1015. After many years, during which the faith of David was tried and strengthened by suffering, he became King upon the death of Saul, though he was not received as such by the whole nation till seven years later. Under him the kingdom was fully established, and Jerusalem made the seat of government. Conquest followed conquest, till the empire of David reached from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean, and from Phoenicia to the Red Sea. David reigned as a man after God's own heart; but his son and successor Solomon, though he began with building a glorious temple for the worship of Jehovah, ended by building other temples for the abominations, the false gods, of the neighbouring nations. The kingdom was rent in twain under his successor Rehoboam, being divided into the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel.

[975-588.]

BOTH of these kingdoms were faithless to their God. Idolatry prevailed to a fearful extent, though occasionally good Kings arose who were zealous for the Lord. Their history is a fearful warning for all nations: the veil that generally hides from us the hand of God in the fortunes and revolutions of states, is there removed. We see God every where, and the simple rule of his dealing, to look upon the just and holy with favour, and to smite the unjust and unholy with a curse.

It was in vain however that he sent his servants the Prophets, rising up early and sending them. Both nations, refusing to repent, were conquered and carried away captive into other lands: Israel about the year 720 B.C; Judah about 600. Nebuchadnezzar carried the King and the richest inhabitants of Judah to his capital Babylon, where they remained for seventy years. This period is called the Babylonian Cap

tivity. In the year 530 they were permitted to return and rebuild the temple. They had learnt indeed to know that idols were but the work of men's hands, but though they did not fall again into idolatry, they did not walk in God's ways At last they filled the measure of their iniquity by crucifying the Lord of Glory, and their city was utterly destroyed by the Romans, about 70 years after the birth of Christ.

as a nation.

A TRUE TALE.

Ir was towards the end of July, on a bright summer evening, that I had walked from a village on the sea shore to a neighbouring large town, to inquire for letters at the Post-office. There was nothing particularly beautiful in the country about my way; but green fields, wild flowers, birds, the blue sky, the bright clouds of sunset-these are gifts to be enjoyed almost everywhere. I was alone, and had made myself happy with these things, and with the thought, that they at least were free from evil; and in a quietly happy mood I passed down the steep bank that brought me at once into the outskirts of the town.

A few yards more, and all was stir and excitement. Here a knot of people together, some talking, some earnestly listening; children standing still, where they had just been playing; women listening at their doors, or running out of them for further information. The stirred countenances of these persons, with their unusual gathering, convinced me that some misfortune had happened, some accident; and ah! I thought, death perhaps in some drunken frolic, or fight, or murderous passion. Being a stranger in the place, and perhaps unwilling to shock my own feelings by what I might hear, I did not make any inquiries, but passed on to do my errand. In less than half an hour, I was at the same place on my return. It was growing dusk, and people had retired into their houses, all but one or two women with a group of boys, who were standing in the little garden of a white-railed cottage. One of these women came forward to meet me, and asked if I was going to H-? Upon my saying 'yes', she held out a letter towards me, which she begged me to take there. It was directed in a large hand, and there was still

light enough for me to see the words "a funeral letter" written on the back of it. It would have been unkind, I felt, to take the letter without some inquiries: but they were not needed; for the good woman began her story the moment I had promised to do as she wished, and while she walked a little way by my side. "It was a young boy of my neighbour's; he was riding a horse to the stables with a halter, and it ran away with him, and threw him just up that passage there." He was taken up, she said, for dead; but after being carried home, recovered enough to know his friends, and what had happened to himself. He begged to see all his brothers and sisters; and had them all about his bed-except one to whom I was to carry the letter. He spoke kindly and affectionately to them, while they wondered at the calm self-possession with which he thought of his approaching death. He took his mother by the hand, bidding her not cry so, for he was soon going to be with God and Christ, and should not suffer long.. Then, after he had seen some of his school-fellows at his own request, he died, continuing sensible to the last. This boy was thirteen years old, he had been brought up at the National School (an excellently conducted one) in the town, and it seemed had believed in his heart the things he had been taught: but how little, probably, did he think, when he was learning them with his schoolfellows, perhaps on the morning of that very day, that he was so soon to find them, by his own personal experience, the only things that belonged to his peace.

A. B L.

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF A PARISH DOCTOR. (No. 1.)

SEP. 2.-I was called in to-day to see Nanny Hexter's child. I knew the child had been but a wankling thing, as they call it hereabouts, ever since it was born; and as to Nanny's management-the wonder is, poor thing, that it's yet alive.

It was plain enough that the child was going to have the measles. I ordered it an emetic, and an aperient dose to be taken at night. "Why, Doctor, do you mean to kill the

child?" cried Nanny. "No Nanny," said I, "I've no par ticular intention against it just at present: but I've long thought that you must mean to kill it."

N.-I, Doctor! Bless it's dear heart. I hurt a hair of its head! How can you be always saying such things Mr. B―? D. Well Nanny, I really don't think you have any bad design against the child; I believe you mean well: but nothing can be worse than your treatment of the poor thing has been, ever since it was born. And if I am to attend your child, you must do as I bid you.

N. Well Sir, I will; though you're always a strangespoken gentleman. But how can my poor child have strength to go through the mezzles, if it's to be dosed in this way? Won't the emetic do alone Sir?

D.—No Nanny, we must have both.

Sep. 3.-The measles were quite out to-day, found that the child had had both the emetic and aperient. Ordered her a warm bath; but we had some difficulty in persuading Nanny to consent to her being put into it. The room was so hot, that I could hardly bear it, and immediately ordered that it should be kept cool.

N.-Kept cool Sir! why every body knows, that when a child has the mezzles, it should be kept as warm as can be. D.-Every body does not know that, Nanny; for I don't for one.

N.-You don't Sir! sure you're joking. Why, when Ellen Baxter had them, I went to see her mother, for she always takes on so at such times: but who should I see but Ellen herself standing at the door almost well; and when I went in, Mrs Baxter was as light-hearted as could be, and made me stay and drink tea with her; and says she to me, "Mrs. Hexter, if ever your child has the mezzles, do you keep her in a good warm room, and give her plenty of appletea, and I'll warrant she'll soon get through 'em."

D.-The apple-tea was good advice enough, I replied; but the warm room, if she meant a close hot room, was as bad. Talking of apples, have you got any Nanny? for she must have plenty of some such drinks, apple-tea, or whey, or barley-water with a few drops of lemon in it.

N. She shall have what's good for her Sir, and I shan't spare for expense, poor thing. I've but few apples myself, for the big codlin tree that was so full last year, has next to none this. It was as full of blossom as ever, but they all