We may look for still greater discoveries; for the in- and in the number of scholars on the register, may tellect of man is awake, exploring every mine o of also in part be accounted for by the fact that, from knowledge and searching for useful information in various causes, great changes have taken place among every department of art and industry.-Ledger. the teachers, many having left, and others supplied their places; for it will be remembered that, last year, the prosperity of the school was attributed, in some degree, to the small number of such changes. But whilst regretting that these circumstances, unavoid VOTES OF M.P.'S ON ECCLESIASTICAL operations, it has given the committee great satisfaction to find so general an interest felt in the institution, that the places of those who have retired have all been readily supplied. They also trust that the zeal shown by many of the new teachers will speedily secure the affections of their scholars, and thus restore the school to as satisfactory a condition with regard to attendance as we have been able to report on pre A PUBLICATION-in the form of a pocket handbook-able in a large school, should prejudicially affect its of great practical interest, has just been issued by the Executive of the Liberation Society, being the votes of the English, Welsh, and Scotch members, upon the principal questions connected with religious liberty occurring during the first session of the new parliament (1857). For the greater convenience of electors, the votes are arranged according to the alphabetical order of the counties and boroughs; all the boroughs being placed under the counties in which they are situated, so as to give the entire representation of a county; and if it is required to know what constituency a particular member represents, the information is to be found in the alphabetical list of members which is supplied. Another useful feature of the work is, that, as the lists are intended for popular use, they are constructed in a form the most likely to prevent embarassment or mistake. Instead, therefore, of the technical form in which the votes are recorded in the House of Commons' division lists, and which is not always very intelligible to those who are unacquainted with the forms of the House, the effect of the vote is given as being either for or against religious liberty principles. The exact questions are, however, also given with reference to the division lists, as a guarantee for accuracy. It is stated that the information respecting the pairing, &c., of members, has been taken from the public journals and other reliable sources. Eleven divisions are given, viz., on Ministers' Money, Maynooth Grant, Oaths Bill (3), Burials Bill, Regium Donum, the Grant for Church Building and for the Paris Chapel, and the use of Parish Churches for the re-marriage of divorced persons. With a view to completeness on one question still pending, the votes on the Church-rate question during the last liament are given. The work is, in fact, the most comprehensive and useful of the series issued by the Liberation Society in the steady pursuit of its parliamentary work. par THE NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FRIENDS' FIRST-DAY SCHOOL, MANCHESTER, 1857. IN bringing in their annual report, the Committee of Management, while they cannot, perhaps, present their friends with quite so bright a picture of the condition of the school, during the past year, as has been their satisfactory duty on some previous occasions, believe that neither the teachers, nor the friends who kindly support them, have any real cause for discouragement. The average per centage of attendance has this year been:-53 in the morning; 71 in the afternoon. Last year it was 56 in the morning, and 76 in the afternoon. From these returns, it will be seen that there has not been any great decline in the attendance during the whole year; and that what there was occurred chiefly in the summer, when, as is well known, the teachers' engagements were of an unusual character, preventing many of them giving that attention to their classes out of school, in the way of home visit. ing, which is generally found so needful to insure a Soop attendance. The falling off, both in this respect vious occasions. The total number of children admitted since the establishment of the school has been 1707; namely, boys, 1025; girls, 682. The number of teachers, including superintendents, librarians, and secretary, is, as last year, 54, of whom 34 are on the boys' side, and 20 on the girls'. Their average attendance has been 29 in the morning, and 27 in the afternoon; but it should be understood that all the ten classes on the girls' side, and eleven of the seventeen on the boys', have two alternate teachers, otherwise their attendance, as compared with the number on register, might appear small. years. The library continues to be appreciated, though, perhaps, not to the same extent as in some previous The number of volumes issued during the past year has been 3371, and of these the girls have had rather the larger portion. The books have been thoroughly examined, and repaired at considerable expense, which will, it is expected, prevent the necessity of further outlay on this head for some time to come. During the year, Bibles have been presented to twenty-five children on their becoming permanent scholars. The subject of the evening school was brought before the teachers' meeting, in the autumn; but, on account of the small attendance on the boys' side last year, the teachers did not think themselves warranted in applying to the committee to go to the expense of re-opening it this winter. Through the fund raised to enable Sabbath-school children to visit the Art-Treasures Exhibition at a reduced rate, and through the special liberality of our fellow-citizen, Samuel Roebuck, most of our scholars had the gratification of visiting the wonderful collection at Old Trafford, under the guidance of some of their teachers-an event, we are sure, many of them will often look back upon with pleasure. Subscriptions to the amount of £56, 14s. 6d. have been received; but the treasurer's report shows that this sum is insufficient to meet the current expenses of the school. The committee, in reverting to the first establishment of this institution, its small commencement, the increasing interest it gradually awakened, and its growth into what has now existed for several years without much apparent change either in character or size, cannot but feel that there is cause for congratulation that the school has so far stood the test of those fluctuations in the circumstances both of individuals and communities, which, in the natural course of events, will continually occur. They feel, however, that it is ever needful for all actively concerned in the school, and especially for those who have joined its band of teachers in its present settled condition, to bear in mind that no machinery, however well ́arranged-no preconcerted modes of teaching, on how ever experienced a plan they may be based-will avail unless the heart be in the work, unless the motive which actuated the founders of the school be also the primary spring of action now, that of endeavouring, under the Divine blessing, to instruct those who have had fewer advantages than themselves in the knowledge of the truths of Holy Scripture, and of preparing the way for such instruction by the inculcation of correct and orderly habits. To those, whether older or younger, who, with such motives, may be earnestly pursuing the path of duty, the committee would hold out a word of encouragement to persevere. Let them remember that, however feebly they may seem to themselves to be fulfilling the object they have in view, and however little apparent fruit they may see from their efforts, the ancient injunction is still binding: "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."-Signed, on behalf of the committee, ALFRED WATERHOUSE, JUN., Sec. MANCHESTER, 31st of 12th Month, 1857. FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF FRIENDS' FIRST- 1st quarter, 48. 2d 20. 33. 3d Teachers, 5. 4. Average attendance for the nine months, pupils 34, teachers 4. The committee were glad to avail themselves of the help of some, not Friends, who kindly offered their assistance. In the 2d Month a savings' fund was opened in connection with the schools, though not confined to the scholars. The sum of £51, 16s. 10d. has been deposited up to 12th Month, 31st, 1857. The library is still in active operation in connection with the First-day school, 310 vols. having been leut out during the year; 40 vols. have just been added to the catalogue, the gift of a friend at Manchester. Working Men's Educational Union. Both were well attended. Again acknowledging the assistance of those who have come forward in their support-the committee would solicit that increased liberality which the importance of these schools demands. On behalf of the teachers, FRANCIS SMITH, Secretary. REPORT OF THE YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION, IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS AT the close of another year the Committee of the The association has held eighteen meetings during the past year; fifteen of these have been their ordinary meetings, and three open to the friends of members. The average attendance of the former has been about twenty, although some were held in the course of the summer months. The meetings open to the friends of members were numerously attended. At one of its ordinary meetings, Thomas Harvey gave an interesting account of his visit to Finland; and John Willis, Ph.D., read an able paper on the "Moravian Settlement at Neuwied, on the Rhine," to the members and their friends, at the Philosophical Hall. Sixteen essays, with the following titles, have been read by members, viz.: "Charles Dickens." Prisons, Prisoners, and their requirements. The commencement of British Commerce with India. A Reply to the Essay on Ancient and Modern Customs of The Existence of a Reasoning Power in Animals. Flax, and other Fibrous Vegetable Substances (illustrated Our Indian Empire. The Limestone District of Yorkshire (illustrated with Geo- Recreations-their Social and National Tendencies, Genius versus Application. Ethnology; or, the Natural History of Man. The two latter, illustrated with numerous sketches, &c., were In the Sixth Month a number of members and others took a trip to Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, when they spent a most agreeable and pleasant day, and the committee trust that the sociality it produced will lead to a repetition of such an excursion. The public meetings form an important feature in the proceedings of the association this year; and whilst expressing the hope that members will turn their attention to the preparation of papers for such meetings, the committee would impress upon them the great advantages that are to be derived from contributing essays, and taking part in the discussions of the ordinary meetings; for the opportunities these afford for stating opinions, either in writing or vocally, are well adapted for promoting those two valuable acquirments In the 2d Month the teachers were enabled, by a special subscription from their friends, to invite the pupils, also the wives of several of them, to a tea meeting in the school-room, when 80 partook of the refreshment, after which several addresses were given by teachers and others, intermixed with recitations-precision of thought, and power of expression. by both pupils and teachers. The evening's proceedings wound up with the exhibition of a magic lantern, which a friend from Birmingham had kindly brought with him for the purpose. During the autumn two lectures have been given to the pupils the first by a friend from Banbury, "On Astronomy as applied to the Art of Navigation" and the other by one of the teachers, "On the Reforma tion in England," illustrated with diagrams from the Whilst we cannot but be gratified at the continued success of the association, it must still be remembered that its prosperity depends on the individual exertion of all, and we trust no efforts will be spared in advancing the interests of an association that has for its object "the cultivation of a friendly spirit between its members, and the promotion of their mutual intellectual advancement."-Signed, on behalf of the Committee, ROBERT JOHN FOWLER, Secretary. SOIREE OF THE YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION, IN CON NECTION WITH THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN LEEDS. The Young Men's Association issued invitations to the members and attenders of Leeds' meeting, to a soiree, which was held in the Stock Exchange Hall on the 19th of 2d Month. About 200 Friends were present; and, after partaking of tea, the chairman gave a brief sketch of the rise, progress, and objects of the association. The report for 1857 was read, and a few remarks were made by two Friends, approving of the objects of the association. Two papers, entitled "Ozone," and "A Quarter of an Hour in Athens," were read by members, and the company then separated, for viewing the numerous objects of interest which had been kindly lent for the occasion, and which were arranged round the room. The soiree was concluded by the exhibition of photographs of monuments of Egypt, Nubia, &c., by means of the oxy-hydrogen light. The company parted highly pleased at the agreeable and sociable evening that had been spent. FAITH. "FAITH," says the apostle, "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is not in the power of language to convey a more beautiful, philosophical, and comprehensive idea of that element and action of the mind. The substance of things hoped for; not the fugitive, deceptive shadow of a dream, or transient ignis fatuus, dancing along the horizon of our vision; not exactly the things themselves, but the substance of them, which the long arms of faith can reach, even across the ocean of time. And that substance, too, so much better adapted to our present state of being than "the things hoped for;" it is angel's food, incarnated, materialized for man; an aliment for his triune nature. For the soul-at least during its co-partnership with flesh and blood—-never forgets the necessities of its humble, mortal colleague. When it reaches out its arms of faith into eternity, and feels in the palm of its God for a child's portion, it always brings it home in a substance to which all the senses and yearnings of human nature may sit down and feast. It never makes a journey to heaven without bringing back some choice things for each of the physical senses. To the sight it daguerreotypes, on the retina of the eye, the great city of God, the New Jerusalem, with all its golden streets, its foundation-stones of celestial water, its gates of pearl, the great white throne, the robes and ranks of the heavenly hosts, the river of life, and visions of indescribable magnificence. To another sense it spreads out the marriage-supper of the Lamb, and fruits and flowers of immortal taste and bloom. To the ear it brings the melody of the golden harps-the strains of angel anthems. In short, it creates a heaven for every sense, and sets the whole family of them a longing for it, and then feeds them with the substance of the things hoped for. E. B. THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW. CHRIST" came not to destroy the law and the prophets," not to displace them with reckless license, but to fulfil them, as the seaward rivulet is fulfilled when it becomes a river, and bears to the ocean the heavy ships of burthen. Speaking as never man spake, he said to his disciples, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" "for if ye love them only which love you, what reward have ye?" Did His new commandment destroy that law of Moses? No; it fulfilled it. It widened and deepened the rivulet into the river, so that it might bear down to the sea of time and the ocean of eternity that great commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," and thine enemy as thy neighbour. Christ came to fulfil every law of Moses, and every prediction of the prophets, in this very way. He fulfilled every law of the decalogue, and made it exceeding broad and deep. The command, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," when fulfilled, read, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul, mind, and strength." All the other laws of the decalogue are fulfilled in their aggregation, or as nine rivulets from the same mountain source would be fulfilled when mingling in one unbroken stream. And they read, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets," saith He who came to fulfil them. And love is not only the source, but the fulfilling of the law. And the law is the life of love, and love is the law of gravity in the moral world, which attracts heart to heart, man to man, angel to angel, and all created beings to God. So love is the fulfilling of the fulfilment-that is, even of these two great commandments upon which hang all the law and the prophets; for when fulfilled in love they are as much one, and of one law, as the two forces which attract the earth to the sun, and the moon to the earth. They are both two directions, not modes of action of the same law, the law of moral gravitation. No one can love God with all his soul, mind, and strength, without loving his neighbour as himself, any more than the earth can gravitate toward the sun without attracting toward itself the moon by the same force of gravity.—Ibid. ON OATHS. BY J. S. BUCKINGHAM. For THE BRITISH FRIEND. THE Grand Place, or Public Square of Bruges, is very striking. We entered this from the Rue d'Amand, the house at the right-hand corner of which, looking into the square, was the dwelling of our Charles the Second, when he was an exile here from England. It is at present occupied as an hotel, under the sign of the Golden Lion, and seemed a neat, thriving place of business. The house of the opposite corner, on the left hand, was the prison of the Emperor Maximilian in 1488, when he was shut up here by his refractory subjects, who, having taken possession of his person, wished to make good use of their prize, by exacting from him pledges to accede to their wishes in granting various concessions which they demanded at his hands. The emperor agreed to comply with their request if they would release him from his bondage; and, confiding in the word of a sovereign, they released him accordingly. An altar was then publicly erected in the Grand Place. The relics of St. Donatus, a personage held in the highest veneration by all classes, were brought forth from the shrine in which they were usually contained, and a fragment of the true cross, which the Belgians considered themselves fortunate and happy in possessing, was added to the sacred materials with which the altar was crowned. Before this, in all the pomp and solemnity of a religious service, the emperor publicly took the sacrament, and made a solemn oath that he would faithfully observe the treaty here mutually agreed upon between himself and his subjects, who had his person in their power, but who generously released him on his word of honour. Alas! for the dignity of emperors and the faith of treaties. Within a few weeks only after this public solemnity he violated his oath, and broke his plighted faith in the most shameful manner, by attacking the city from without, and committing havoc and slaughter on those confiding and unsuspecting individuals whom he had so recently sworn to respect and protect. How vain is the use of oaths! And how striking is the contrast between this transaction and the conduct of the good William Penn in his treaty with the Indians, of which it has been forcibly said that it was the only treaty ever ratified without an oath, and almost the only treaty that has never been broken. The truth is, that oaths are not necessary to bind good men, who value their word as much as any oath they could utter, or they would not deserve the title of good men; while on bad men they have no hold, and exercise no influence. On grounds of mere utility only, therefore, the practice of taking oaths ought to be abolished, since they are perfectly useless as guarantees for conduct, and often lead to the grossest perjury. But, on the still higher ground of a sacred command, they ought never to have been sanctioned by a community professing the language of Him who has commanded us to "Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; neither by the earth, for it is his footstool;" and an earlier commandment, which we all publicly pray to be written in our hearts when we hear it read, distinctly says, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Let us hope the period is not distant when these authorities may have some greater reverence shown to them than mere repetition without practice, and that the custom of taking and administering oaths may soon be numbered among the things that were. -Belgium, the Rhine, Switzerland, and Holland. By J. S. Buckingham. Vol. I., pp. 27-29. NEHEMIAH AND HIS TIMES. (Continued from page 9.) NEHEMIAH AND HIS OFFICE. Ir is probable that many Jews were connected with the court of Artaxerxes, but the most honoured ainongst them was Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah. Some have supposed that this Nehemiah was of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of the priest; but others, with greater probability, think that he was a descendant of the royal house of David. He is to be distinguished from another individual of the same name, who went up with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem:* for that he was among the early colonists of the city there is no reason to suppose. Nehemiah held the office of cup-bearer to the king. This office was one of great honour, the emoluments of which were considerable. It was the duty of the cup-bearer to wait upon the person of the king, and at banquets and entertainments to present to him the wine. This he did by pouring the wine into the cup in the most graceful manner, without spilling it, then dipping into it a smaller cup, and tasting the wine, to assure the king that it was not poisoned; and afterwards, holding the cup on three fingers, handing it to the monarch, so that he might receive it in the most convenient manner possible. Whoever wished to have an interview with the king, applied to the cup-bearer, who, if he thought proper, could deny him the privilege; if otherwise, he introduced him into the royal presence.t • See Ezra ii. 2; and Neh. vii. 7. Cour But, distinguished as the position of Nehemiah was, he did not forget his country and his people. tiers there are, who, surrounded with the pleasures of the world, and laden with its honours and its wealth, care not for their fellow-men, and are equally unmindful of their God; but Nehemiah retained both his patriotism and his piety. Great, therefore, was his grief, when, through his brother Hanani and others, he heard of the sad state of things at Jerusalem. He sat down and wept and mourned certain days, and prayed unto the God of heaven. How beautiful was his prayer! It is left on record for our instruction, and is certainly a model worthy of imitation. It acknowledges the sovereignty and the faithfulness of God; it contains a confession of the nation's guilt; it looks back upon the promises made to the fathers; and it pleads for help in their season of distress.I Who can doubt that it reached the throne of God, and that it influenced the events which subsequently occurred? The sad intelligence of the state of the city reached Nehemiah in the month Chisleu,§ in the twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, or B.C. 444. The month Chisleu, or Kislev, was a winter month, answering to part of November and December, and the court remained at Shushan until the month Nisan or April. On one occasion, as Nehemiah was in the presence of the king, performing the honourable duties of his office, his countenance was sad, which, in the king's presence, it appears it had never before been; indeed, kings never like to see their courtiers depressed, 'and it is even said that in Persia a law existed forbidding any one to appear sorrowful when waiting on the sovereign. The sadness of the cupbearer at once, therefore, attracted the king's notice, and he asked, "Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart." At being thus accosted, Nehemiah became alarmed, but he instantly replied, "Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lies waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?"|| Who but a patriot could have ever uttered these words? Nehemiah's dejection arose indeed from sadness of heart; yet it was not on his own account that he sorrowed, but for his country and his countrymen. The city consecrated by the ashes of his fatherswhere lay not merely "the graves of a household," but the graves of many households, the graves of several generations-was in ruins, and their sepulchres were in danger of being sacrilegiously destroyed. Now, as a Jew, Nehemiah had been taught to respect even the dead of his ancestors. It was sacred dust. It rested in the grave in hope. And could he then think of the desolation of the city, and of the danger consequent to the tombs of the kings, without concern? It was impossible. Piety always tends to promote respect for departed relatives, and few things are more revolting to the mind of a good man than to see the tomb of his fathers injured by the ruthless hand of the barbarian. Artaxerxes probably sympathized with Nehemiah's sorrow, for the words appealed to a feeling resident in the king's own breast. Not the Jews only, but the Persians also, respected the ashes of the dead, and deemed sacred the spots where those ashes were interred. "For what dost thou make thy request?" said the king, therefore, to his cup-bearer; and Nehemiah "prayed to the God of heaven." It was a silent prayer an ejaculation, uttered by the heart for guidance and direction; and guidance and direction were in a moment granted. "Send me," replied Nehemiah, "unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may § Neh. i. 1. Neh. ii. 3. Neh. i. 5-11. build it." It was a bold request, but the king granted it; the queen, who was sitting by his side, and who had heard of Esther, if she had not known her, perhaps countenancing the patriotic wish; and a time was fixed during which Nehemiah should be absent, but at the expiration of which he should return to the court. NEHEMIAH'S MISSION. And now, having received letters to the governors beyond the Euphrates, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest in the mountains of Lebanon-the former directing that he was to be conveyed to Jerusalem, the latter that he was to receive timber for the gates of the palace and of the city walls-Nehemiah is on his journey to the place he holds so dear. Captains of the army and horsemen accompany him as an escort; and after travelling more than 800 miles, he arrives in safety at the city of his fathers. Deeply grieved are Sanballat and Tobiah when they hear that a man has come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel, and they are resolved, if possible, to frustrate the accomplishment of his designs. But Nehemiah acts deliberately and with caution; remaining in the city three days, and making his observations, ere he discloses the purpose of his coming. And now it is night, and the inhabitants of the city generally are enjoying their repose. But the generous patriot is on the alert, and mounted on his mule, commences an examination of the city walls; the moon, as we may imagine, affording him sufficient light. Starting at the valley gate on the western side of the city, he proceeds to the gate of the fountain on the east, and to the king's pool; and finds, alas! that the wall is indeed in ruins, masses of stone and brick-work lying in all directions, so that he cannot find a spot where the animal he rides upon can pass. By the brook Kedron he takes a general survey of the whole of the eastern side, and then, turning back, re-enters the valley gate and returns home. What a night of intense interest to Nehemiah was that! Many, doubtless, were the sad reflections that crossed his mind during those few hours; and many were the prayers which he offered to the God of heaven. If he was sad when he heard of the desolation of the city, how much more so when he saw that desolation. But he had faith in God, without which, at such a juncture, his courage must have failed, and his enterprise have been abandoned in despair. For, in a work of difficulty, faith is everything. "Never was a marvel done in earth but it had sprung of faith: Nothing noble, generous, or great, but faith was the root of the achievement; It is often thus. There are Sanballats, and Tobiahs, aud Geshems in every age of the church. When had not the builders of Jerusalem to contend with them? When did any great and noble enterprise not meet with powerful opposition? Not on this account, then, must the patriot or the philanthropist lay aside his plans. That were unworthy of him. That were cowardly. No! let him brave opposition and be deter mined to overcome it. Courage is essential to him, and courage will triumph over multitudes of foes. If he hesitate, he is beaten. If he proceed, he gains the conquest. Some men would have been cowed by the opposition Every one must admire the heroism of Nehemiah. of Sanballat, but Nehemiah was a man of another spirit. He knew the influence which his enemies possessed, and he knew that their hatred to his people was intense; but he knew also, as did the prophets before him--as did such men as Elijah and Elishathat God was on his side, and he had probably heard of the prediction of Daniel, "The street shall be built again, and the wall in troublous times;" and hence he boldly resisted his adversaries, and set about the work he was destined to accomplish. scene. THE WALL REBUILT. In a few days, Jerusalem presented a most active delivered to the keeper of the forest, and already had Already had the letter of Artaxerxes been the timber requisite for the gates begun to arrive; whilst Nehemiah, having secured the co-operation of many of the rulers of the people, had appointed to different companies different parts of the wall. And the entire city there is the utmost animation and joy. now the work has commenced in earnest, and around Let us imagine a spectator standing on the Temple mount, where with little difficulty he might survey stood as the work of building was carried on. the scene, and where probably Nehemiah himself often ing his attention eastward, he would observe the priests, with Eliashib the high priest at their head, sacredness of their office being no barrier to their working at the sheep-gate, near the sheep-pool, the engaging in an enterprise so good as this. Next to them, our spectator would perceive the men of Jericho direction of Zaccur, the son of Imri. At the fish-gate, employed, and, beyond them, a company under the on the north-east corner, whither fish from the Sea of Direct Galilee was brought up for sale, he would observe the sons of Hassinaah at work, and next to them Meremoth, Meshullam, and Zadok, with their several companies; after whom he would see the Tekoites, a family of Tekoa, which was situated south of Bethlehem, employed. But our spectator perceives, even at a distance, that there is something wanting here; and, drawing near to the spot, he finds that none of the nobles of the Tekoites are putting their necks to the work of the Lord. How is this? Are they afraid? Are they indolent? Not unfrequently, when there is Nothing comely, nothing famous, but its praise is faith." Nehemiah had authority from Artaxerxes to repair the ruins he beheld; his confidence, however, was not in man, but in the Lord Jehovah; and at length he revealed his purpose to the priests, the nobles, and the rulers of the Jews, and said, "Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a re-work to do of more than ordinary difficulty, are great proach." The difficulties were great, but the people listened to him; and responding to his call, said with one consent, "Let us rise and build." So they strengthened their hands for this good work. Sauballat, a native of Horonaim beyond Jordan; Tobiah an Ammonite; and Geshem, an Arabian, who were probably governors of neighbouring districts under the satrap of Syria, having heard of their design, laughed them to scorn, and charged them with rebellion against the authority of the king. But Nehemiah answered them: "The God of heaven will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem." men found shrinking from the task; yet they are not exempt from their share in the enterprise; and if Meroz was cursed by the angel of the Lord because he came not up to the help of the Lord-to the help of the Lord against the mighty-these idlers, surely, are in danger of a similar visitation. But our supposed observer leaves these Tekoites, and standing again on some elevated spot, he observes the old gate on the north in a state of restoration; and here Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah, direct the work. Then he perceives the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah employed, and after them Uzziel, at the head of some of the goldsmiths, and Hannaniah at the head of a company |