the people who did not fall by the sword, were carried away captives. Thus an end was put to the kingdom of Judah. But the LORD promised by his prophets, that, after seventy years, he would bring the people back to their own land again, and that they should rebuild their city and their temple. This the LORD had resolved to do for the sake of David, and for the fulfilling of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The History of the Prophet Daniel.

AMONGST those who were carried captive into Babylon, before the time of Zedekiah, were four young men, whose names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; but Nebuchadnezzar changed their names to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were all very good young men, and rather chose to live upon bread and water than to eat of things which God had forbidden the Israelites to eat; for which God blessed them, and they were as healthy and strong as those who were well fed. And the LORD chose Daniel to be a prophet, and inspired him to foretel a great many wonderful changes that were to happen in the earth ;

of which you will read an account in the lessons of Ancient History.

Daniel rose to great honour, and he was in high favour with Darius, king of Persia, who made him a prince: but some wicked people persuaded this king to give orders, that nobody should say their prayers for thirty days, under pain of being thrown into a den of lions; still Daniel kept on praying to God as usual, for which he was thrown into the den. King Darius was very sorry, and lay awake all night thinking of him; in the morning he got up very early, and went to the den, where to his great joy, he found Daniel alive and well; for God had kept the lions from hurting him! Then he was taken out, and his enemies thrown in, and the lions tore them to pieces in an instant.

The History of the Return of the Jews. THE Israelites were called Jews when they were captives in Babylon. At the end of seventy years from the time Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the Jews were set at liberty by Cyrus, who founded the Persian monarchy. This king, having great reverence for the LORD GOD, gave the Jews leave to go back to their own land, and rebuild the city of Jerusalem

rias, and his wife's name was Elizabeth; they were very pious, good people, but were grown old without having a child, which was a grief to them.

As Zacharias was burning incense in the temple at Jerusalem, according to his office as a priest, an angel appeared to him standing by the altar. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said, Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John and thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth; for he shall go before the LORD GOD, to prepare his way, and make the people of Israel ready to receive him when he comes to offer salvation to them.

Though Zacharias was told by an angel from heaven, that he should have a son who would be the messenger of the LORD, as the prophet Elijah had been, he doubted whether it would come to pass or not; then the angel said unto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and show thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things are performed, because

thou believest not my words, which shall be ful- ́ filled in due time. And it happened to Zacharias as the angel had said unto him; he immediately lost his speech, and soon after returned to his own house.

And Elizabeth had a son, as the angel Gabriel had foretold; and as soon as Zacharias had written down that the child should be named John, his speech was restored, and he praised GOD for his mercy and goodness.

The Angel Gabriel delivering a Message from GOD to the Virgin Mary.

ABOUT Six months after the angel Gabriel had appeared to Zacharias in the temple, he was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin, who had promised to be the wife of a man named Joseph; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel said unto her, Hail! thou that art highly favoured, the LORD is with thee; blessed art thou among women!

And when Mary saw him, she was troubled. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God; and be

hold, thou shalt have a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. Then Mary believed, and said, Behold the handmaid of the LORD! be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

And an angel appeared unto Joseph her husband in a dream, saying unto him, Joseph thou Son of David, fear not to take unto thee Marythy wife. She shall have a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins.

Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the LORD had bidden him.

And before the birth of the HOLY INFANT; Joseph, being of the family of king David, went with Mary his wife, from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, which was the city of David, to be taxed, by command of Augustus Cæsar the Roman emperor. But the city being full of people, who came to be taxed, Joseph and Mary were obliged to lodge in a stable, because there was no room for them in the inn; and in this mean place the HOLY CHILD, whose birth the angel Gabriel had foretold, was born; and his mother wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.