and in this prayer he says, "Thou, O God, who knowest all things, dost know that it was not out of pride and contempt, or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud Aman, for I would willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel have kissed even the steps of his feet; but I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any one except my God."

THE HISTORY OF TOBIAS AND HIS SON. AMONGST the many thousand Israelites who were carried away captive into Assyria and to Babylon for the crimes and idolatries of their nation, it is very consoling to find amongst them Jews of such virtue, such distinguished piety and holiness, as those whose histories are recorded in Holy Scripture. We have seen how the holy Daniel served God in perfect faith and constancy, and how Ananias, Azarias, and Misael had their faith tried like gold in the furnace by their enemies, and we have read of the piety and humility of Mardochai and Esther. All these were placed by God amongst the nobles of the heathen, and their virtues shone in kings' courts. We are now going to hear the history of one who, though neither a prophet nor a queen, was yet, though but a poor man in his tribe and generation, great and rich in God's sight with the greatness and riches of the kingdom of heaven. Tobias was a Jew of the tribe of Nephthali, and from his childhood had served his God with devotion and fidelity; never had he been drawn with the crowd of his unhappy countrymen into the worship of the wretched King Jeroboam's golden calves; but fled

away from them to the Temple of Jerusalem, and there adored the Lord God of Israel faithfully, making his offerings according to the Jewish law. And he married a wife of his own tribe, named Anna, and they had one son, who was called Tobias after his father; and he brought up this his son in the same habits of piety as he himself had practised, and carefully instructed him in the fear of God. And Tobias was full of good works, and being in an enemy's country he found constant opportunity of aiding his suffering countrymen; and his goodness having been noticed by the Assyrian king, Salmanasar, he gave him full liberty to go about where he would. So Tobias buried the dead, visited the sick and those who were in prison, comforting them, and dividing his food, clothes, and money amongst them. He usually lived at the city of Ninive, but went from one city to another to perform his works of mercy. At a city called Rages, a town belonging to the Medes, he met with a poor man of his own tribe, called Gabelus, who was in great distress; and having received money in consequence of the king's favour, he lent Gabelus ten talents of silver, taking a note of hand from him for repayment. But this king, who was so good to Tobias, died, and another king, named Sennacherib, a very wicked man, reigned in his stead. This bad king, being irritated by a destruction of his army which God caused in Judea, revenged himself on the captive Israelites, many of whom he put cruelly to death, leaving their bodies unburied. Tobias, ever active in God's service, took the bodies of his countrymen and buried them; whereupon the wicked king ordered him to be put to death, and his goods taken from him. But he fled away with his family, and they were concealed, for many loved him on account of his kindnesses to them; and ere long the bad king was slain by his

own sons.

And then Tobias was able to return to his own house. None of the dangers he had passed through stopped Tobias in his works of mercy; and one day, being fatigued by his labour in burying the dead, he lay down to rest under the walls of his house; and as he was sleeping, hot dung out of a swallow's nest fell upon his eyes, and it made him blind.

This most severe trial was permitted by God to fall upon him that he might be still further purified, and that his patience might be an example to all those who should hear of it in after-ages.

Many of his friends, therefore, who saw his affliction, mocked at him for having had such perfect confidence and faith in God, saying, "Where is thy hope for which thou gavest alms and buriedst the dead?" But Tobias rebuked them, saying, "Speak not so; for we are the children of saints, and look for that life which God will give to those that never change their faith from Him." 'If we lived for this life alone,' Tobias would say, 'then is my state miserable indeed; but as we are but passing through the valley of tears to attain a glorious life with God, little matter the afflictions which befall us on this earth, so long as they do but bring us nearer to that God to whom we belong, and to whose kingdom we trust to attain.'

And Anna, Tobias's wife, went daily to weaving work, and she brought home what she could get for their living by the labour of her hands. And once she was paid for her work by receiving a kid, and brought it home. And her husband, hearing it bleat, feared lest their great poverty had induced Anna to steal it, and, expressing his fears to her about this, he entreated her, if it was so, to restore it to its owners. But Anna, vexed at his words, replied sharply, and upbraided him.

Then Tobias sighed, and began to pray with tears to God. He made no harsh answer to the angry words of his wife, but offered in silence the sufferings of his heart to God, and prayed to Him, if it were His holy Will, to take a life, now so useless on earth, to Himself. Now it happened that on the same day that Tobias poured out his afflicted soul to God, there was a maiden named Sara, the daughter of Raguel, of the city of Rages, who was also praying in much affliction to God; for she had been married to seven husbands, and a devil, named Asmodeus, had killed each of them as soon as the marriage was over. This had caused one of the maidservants of her father's household to reproach and insult her with having murdered them herself, one day that Sara had occasion to reprove the maid of a fault. Sara, whose grief was already great for her sad misfortunes, was wounded to the heart by these cruel imputations. She retired into an upper chamber of her house, and fasted for three days and three nights, continually praying with tears to God that He would deliver her from this sad reproach. And in her prayer she said, "Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in lightness; but a husband I consented to take with Thy fear. And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me, because perhaps Thou hast kept me for another man; but this every one is sure of that worshippeth Thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned, and, if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered."

And God mercifully heard the prayers of both Sara and Tobias, and sent His angel Raphael to comfort and heal them both, as we shall hear.

THE JOURNEY OF YOUNG TOBIAS.

THE elder Tobias, believing therefore that God had heard his prayer, and that his end was coming, called to him Tobias his son, and gave him much excellent and pious advice, charging him to have God ever in his mind, to give alms to the poor, to detest pride, and lead a holy life. He also directed him to inquire how he might go to Rages in Media, and obtain from Gabelus the money which Tobias had formerly lent him. The young Tobias promised obedience to his father in all things: "But how I shall get this money," said he, "I cannot tell; Gabelus knoweth not me, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? Nor do I know the way which leadeth to Rages." Then his father gave him the note of hand, which he was to give to Gabelus, and desired him to go out and seek some faithful man who might show him the way to Rages.

The young Tobias, therefore, went forth from his father's house; and scarcely had he left it when he met a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk. This was Raphael the Archangel, whom God had sent to guard and protect Tobias, and lead him the right road. And Tobias, not knowing who the stranger was, saluted him and said, "From whence art thou, good young man?" And he answered, "Of the children of Israel." Then Tobias asked him if he knew the way which led to the country of the Medes. And Raphael answered that he knew it, as well as the dwelling of Gabelus, "with whom," said he, "I have ere this abode." Then Tobias entreated him to stay whilst he told all this to his father; upon which the elder Tobias, filled with delight and surprise, desired that the stranger