Josiah was great grandson to Hezekiah and a very pious prince from his earliest youth. The book of the Law seems to have been strangely neglected, and Josiah to have been kept in ignorance of the dreadful threatenings of God's judgments upon Judah for its wickedness. When the king heard these read by Shaphan the scribe, he shewed great sorrow and humbleness of mind; and because he did so, God apprised him, by the mouth of Huldah a prophetess of those days, that he should be gathered unto his fathers, and not see the evil: he reigned 31 years. Jeremiah lived in his time. In about eleven years after the death of Josiah, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, and carried Daniel and a great multitude of Jews to Babylon. The second book of Kings concludes with the Babylonish captivity, 588 years before the time of our Saviour, until which period the kingdom of Judah descended uninterruptedly in the line of David.

You must continue the history in the book of Ezra, which gives an account of the return of some of the Jews upon the edict, or proclamation of Cyrus; and of the rebuilding of the temple. Nehemiah carries on the history for about twelve years, when he was appointed Governor of Jerusalem by Artaxerxes

with authority to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah is the last of the books that is properly historical. I have, omitted to mention the book of Esther. The story

it contains happened before the times of Nehemiah and Ezra, though it is placed after the latter; but it is rather a separate history, than belonging to that of the Jews. You will find their history contained in the Apocrypha; and whenever it comes in your way, I recommend you to read, not merely the history of the Jews, as related in the first and second book of Maccabees, but also the book called Ecclesiasticus, which contains rules and observations of the greatest value in the common concerns of life. The book of Tobit gives excellent advice upon duty to Parents, and the blessing belonging to its observance, as also of alms-giving. The book of Judith is a very ancient and curious history;-it shews that God Almighty never forsakes those who put their trust in Him, and often delivers them from danger and trouble by very extraordinary means.

But to return to the order of those books which you will find in every Bible. After Esther, (which I have already told you, should in point of time have been placed before Nehemiah) follows the book of Job which is supposed to have been written by Moses, between the time of his leaving Egypt, and

:

his being chosen by God Almighty to deliver the Israelites from their bondage. The book of Psalms is the next in succession. With these beautiful compositions you cannot be too well acquainted. The Bible translation has been made since that in the prayer book, and often gives a clearer sense of the original. The Psalms were all written in poetry and have suffered much in the translation; by which I mean, that they are much less beautiful in English, than they are in Hebrew.

Throughout the Psalms there are many very striking prophecies respecting our Saviour, particularly in the 22nd, in which several of the circumstances attending His crucifixion are related with as much exactness as if David himself had been an eye-witness of that transaction; and yet he lived rather more than a thousand years before the time of our Saviour. This shews to you that God Almighty knows the future as perfectly as the past, and that He inspired the mind of David and the other prophets to describe things to come. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, are rich stores of wisdom, and were written by Solomon. Happy would it have been for him, had he observed to the end of his life, the good advice he gave to others. The short sentences of which these books are compo

sed, are less advantageously read long together;—a few of them well chosen, and fixed in the mind will do more good than half a dozen chapters read together; whereas, the historical part of the Bible, if not read in continuation, is apt to confuse or escape the memory.

The Song of Solomon is written in the style of Eastern poetry, and does not contain anything necessary for you to read. Next follow the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel; to all of whom God made known some parts of our Saviour's life, and death, and character, mixed with a foreknowledge of other events, which took place at the appointed times. The prophet Daniel was empowered to mention the exact period at which the Jewish passover would be ended, by the real sacrifice, of which that was only a sign, namely, the death of our blessed Redeemer.

The prophets succeeding Daniel, all testify occasionally of Him, who, in the words of Isaiah, was sent to preach glad tidings to the poor;-to the poor and humble in spirit, as well as to those called poor from their situations in life. You are not poor, but rich, if you do His will;-rich in His favour, and protection, and comfort in this life, and assured by Him, who is Truth that you shall be for ever happy in another.

itself,

READINGS

FOR

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN.

The First Sunday in Advent.

ST. MATTHEW XXI. 12, 13.

"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple; and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

Teacher.

This is the first Sunday in Advent, of which there are four before Christmas day. The meaning of the word Advent, is coming; which is particularly applied to the coming of our Saviour. That you may better understand the verses you have been repeating to me, it is necessary to inform you, that according to the Jewish religion,