About fifteen years after the Jews had quitted Babylon, and 521 B.C., the mild and benevolent Darius Hystaspes ascended the Persian throne. He was desirous of carrying out all the plans of Cyrus, and they might have proceeded in their work in safety; but, occupied in building dwellings for themselves, they had become indifferent to the erection of the House of God, and would have gladly delayed it. Two prophets now appeared, and by their earnest exhortations so roused them from their lethargy, that the work was renewed with vigour, stimulated by the offer of Darius to defray the expences from the royal treasury, and by his command that all who should obstruct them should be put to death by crucifixion. In less than five years the building was completed, and joyfully consecrated to the worship of the One True God. Haggai, the first of the two prophets who re-awakened the zeal of the Jews, by urging the Divine commands for the building of the temple, wrote the two short, vigorous, but somewhat unpoetical chapters, which constitute his book. It is probable that he was born in Babylonia, and accompanied the returning captives under Zerubbabel. No authentic record is, however, left of his history. He is said to have been buried among the priests at Jerusalem, but his sepulchre was formerly shown in a cave, on the declivity of the Mount of Olives. S. L. THE REFINER OF SILVER. SOME time ago, a few ladies who met together to read the Scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation, were reading the third chapter of Malachi. One of them gave it as her opinion, that the "fuller's soap," and the "refiner of silver" were intended to convey the same views of the purifying influence of Divine grace and truth. 66 Another observed, that she thought there was some peculiar meaning of the expression in the third verse: He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." They agreed that it might be so, and one of them engaged to call on a silversmith, and report to the rest what he said on the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know from him the process of refining silver. He complied with her request, and described it fully. But, sir," said she, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" O yes. madam," replied the silversmith, "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace; for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the smallest degree, the silver is sure to be injured." 66 66 At once she saw the beauty and import of the expression-" He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." It is needful that the disciples of Christ should be put into the furnace, but God is represented as seated by the side of it—his eye steadily intent on the purifying process, while both his wisdom and love are engaged for their benefit. Their trials do not come by chance nor at random; the hairs of their head are all numbered. As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said, he had still further to mention, that he only knew when the process of purifying was complete, by seeing his own image reflected in the silver. Beautiful figure! When the image of Christ is clearly and fully seen in his servants, the work of purifying is accomplished. M. E. In times of old SACRIFICE. The great Creator bade us sacrifice, That from the bleating fold, Or from the herd, a sacred flame should rise; From the rich golden urns In copious streams should flow The clear and costly oil, and wine of ruddy glow; With hoary ripeness, its first fruits shall grace And asks He now, The earth's great Maker, as in times of old, No offerings from the herd, or from the fold? Oh, our Examplar bright! Oh, thou who art our light, Our glorious elder brother! thou didst teach Didst teach our heavenly Father does not ask Chilling that holy, generous love, Should bind His human family in one Great band of brethren, should lead us to prove Our holiest affections are his own, By freely offering before his throne This truest sacrifice. O sin! O Crime! How long shall ye man's destiny sublime Delay? When shall heaven's watching, waiting sun J. A WHAT CAN CHILDREN DO? 66 FROM SUNBEAMS IN THE COTTAGE." DEAR children, when we see you playing before your cottages, collecting in your village school-room, or learning your tasks, then the thought comes: these are they who are to live, and act, and fill our places, when we lie silent in the grave. Yes, we look to you to show the fruit of the much seed sown in the present day; for many schools, books, and encouragements, are there for you, which your fathers and mothers had not when they also were little ohildren. Bnt we also look to yon to do something now. There is no need to wait till you are men and women; which, indeed, you may never llve to be, before you are of use. "God entrusts to all Talents few or many; That they have not any. Yet my one I prize, And it must not slumber. Little drops of rain Bring the springing flowers, And I may attain Much by little powers. Every little mite, Every little measure, Helps to spread the light, Helps to swell the treasure." You may do a great many little things to help at home, when father is busy, and mother is tired,-not crossly and carelessly, thus giving a great deal more trouble than if you had left it alone, but cheerily, as if you liked to do it. Instead of teazing and provoking your mothers by hanging on their skirts, begging for things that they can't give you, or taking things that you ought not to have, you can rock the cradle, bring in the wood, prepare the table for dinner, and do many other little things. Try if you cannot make the dear mother's heart happy who nursed you, and fed you, and hushed you, as she now does the baby in the cradle, Those inward trials are the nearest and sharpest which the world knows least, and yet the soul feels most. And yet all-both inward and outward trials-have love, unspeakable love in them; all being designed to purge and polish us, and by the increase of grace to fit us for glory. LEIGHTON. THE LORD'S SUPPER.. "We fall by various ways, and sink WORDSWORTH. Ir was a beautiful print: the head of the Saviour crowned with thorns, with that look of love and resignation, that perfect expression of holiness, which almost required inspiration in the artist to pourtray. As the minister gazed on it, familiar object as it was, he seemed to draw from it new life and light. His thoughts were fixed on Calvary; his sympathies were with that mighty heart with its weight of unutterable woe; and as he silently prayed that he might bear his cross with more meekness, that he might daily grow more worthy to be a partaker of the Divine nature-becoming one in Christ, as he was one in God-his countenance, though sad, beamed with his lofty aspirations. He was disturbed in his meditations by a gentle tap at the door of his study, followed by the entrance of a young girl, who might perhaps be sixteen years of age. He turned anxiously towards her, assured that without urgent cause she would not have intruded on his privacy on this evening. She advanced quietly, and drawing a low stool to his side, she seated herself, placed her hand in his, and looked up at him with a doubtful and troubled expression. What is it, Jane?" he said. "Father, I am come to tell you what you will be grieved to hear. I know you wish to be alone to-night, but you must-you will spareme a few minutes. I could not summon resolution to come before,. and to-morrow it would be too late. I cannot partake of the Lord's Supper again." 66 What scruple have you, my dear child?" said the minister, pressing her hand, and encouraging her, by his tone of affection and loving smile, to speak openly and freely to him. "I have found out what must shock you very much," said Jane, bursting into tears. I have no religion. I am not worthy of being the child of a Christian minister, much less of being a child of God. I would have spared you this pain, but it is so wretched to act the hypocrite. I felt I must tell you all, as, to-morrow, you would expect me to make a public profession of being a member of the church of Christ." "Tell me all that has passed through your mind, dear Jane," said her father, "and let us examine whether your scruple is well founded. You are the dearest object of my affection, and all that interests you must interest me. Besides," he continued, smiling tenderly, "I have a double claim on your confidence, as your minister as well as your father. Your soul is sick; I would gladly point out the means of cure, but no physician can administer even a palliative, without knowing the origin of the disease." Jane was surprised at his calmness. She had expected that he would be deeply grieved, for she did not calculate on his deep knowledge of the human heart. In "When dear mamma died,” said Jane, “I thought I had learned a lesson that would last me through life. I never remember the time when I had not some affection for the Saviour, and yet, when I was at school, I often joined my companions in talking carelessly on sacred subjects. Don't be vexed, father, at my saying so. my mother's sick room, religion seemed to me a great reality; and when she died, and you bore her loss with such pious resignation, and comforted me-you that felt so keenly, and had such need of comfort -I thought the religion which supported you was sublime, and I seemed in my mind to grasp the good at once. And when you gave me from my mother's papers the letter which she wrote, exhorting me to begin, at once, earnestly and steadfastly to turn my heart to God, I felt as if nothing could make me draw back, and I prayed, indeed I prayed from the bottom of my heart, that I might grow like her." And you have." 66 “Let me finish what I have to say. For a long time I really was much better, and I attended to the household matters and to the schools more cheerfully, and I visited the poor whom she was interested in, though of course I could do but little good. Yet though, soon after my mother's death, I could go to God with all my wants, and hopes, and fears, I began to find my zeal cool, and was gradually going back, when you told me that the time had arrived when you thought I might join in the communion service." Jane's emotion made her pause. In a few moments she recovered herself, and then proceeded. "When I listened to the discourse in which you welcomed me and others to the table of the Lord, I felt strangely elevated. I cannot tell you what it was; I suppose it was not the right feeling. It was not a feeling of sorrow for the past, nor of rest-it gave me exaltation. I realized the death of the Saviour as if I myself had witnessed it, and the sacrifice seemed to me so glorious! When I returned home, I thought much of it and its effects, and do you know, I really believed that I was born again; that the Spirit of God had descended upon me; that I was regenerated; that I had received the new birth. I saw God, as if he were around me and about me everywhere. My prayers were no longer cold and hesi |