good foundation to rest upon. Aye, and we too may take courage, and go fearlessly forward, if it is God's work we are about, and if we are relying, not on our own. strength, but on His gracious promise.

Nehemiah at once sets his brethren to work, ranging them all in regular courses. Their chief hinderers were the Persian nobles, of whom I have already spoken; and these stirred up others. The despised Jews were few indeed, and feeble, in comparison with their enemies. And so great was the opposition, that they were forced to divide themselves into two parties. Whilst some were engaged in building, the others kept guard over them, protecting them with their weapons. And sometimes, whilst they worked with one hand, they were forced to hold a sword in the other.

Thus they laboured and fought. And at length, in spite of all their difficulties, they had the happiness of seeing the ruined city once more restored by their own toil and perseverance.

But Nehemiah had been obliged to go back into Persia. He however soon ob

tained permission from his Master to return to Jerusalem; and on his arrival he was regularly appointed as governor of the city.

In his new office we find Nehemiah still taking the same interest in his brethren, labouring among them with the same energy and earnestness, and showing the same trustful dependence on God, and the same desire to do all to His glory.

The city being restored, it was now necessary to turn his attention to the welfare of its inhabitants. Many wise regulations were made by him, and speedily carried into effect.

One of his first acts was to provide for the safety of the people. He ordered that the city gates should be shut at a fixed hour, and that a regular watch should be kept on the walls and towers.

Then he took measures to prevent them from making marriages with the heathen around them—a thing strictly forbidden by the law of God.

Next, he restored their feasts. And on one of these occasions Ezra, who had just finished writing out the law, read it aloud

to the people, explaining here and there its meaning, having erected a pulpit for the purpose in one of the principal streets.

He provided also for the maintenance of the Temple, by persuading his brethren to pay a yearly tribute for the repairs of the building, and for the service of God.

But there was one thing, about which he gave special directions; and that was about the observance of the Sabbath. The Fourth Commandment had been much neglected during the troubles of the Jews. But Nehemiah himself knew its value and importance. He had often experienced, perhaps, whilst at Shushan, in the midst of heathenism, the peaceful and holy thoughts which that day brought to his mind. And he now desired that God should have the honour due to Him, and that His day should be duly observed.

Happy are those, who keep God's Sabbaths, and reverence His sanctuary. His blessing is their's. For does He not

promise, "Them that honour me I will honour"?

Nehemiah was a man of faith. He trusted

in God, and that gave him boldness. Oh for more simple reliance, more childlike trust, a more living faith! Believe that God can, and will, help you; and go forth in His strength, and work heartily for Him.

Nehemiah was a man of prayer. We find him constantly lifting up his heart to God. This was his relief in difficulty: this was the secret of his success. O God, pour out upon us more largely "the Spirit of grace and of supplications." May we be often, very often, drawing near to Thee, through the all-prevailing name of Jesus! And then our way will be made clear: "the crooked will be made straight, and the rough places plain."

When Nehemiah was at Shushan, his heart was at Jerusalem. That was his own beloved city, where he longed to dwell. The Christian too has a city, out of sight, which he desires to reach. His language often is, Jerusalem, my happy home, Name ever dear to me;

When shall my labours have an end,
In joy, and peace, and Thee?

HAMAN;

OR, THE FAVOURITE, DISGRACED.

WE often see that those, who stand highest in the favour of the world, fall the lowest, when things turn against them. Prosperity is very apt to lift us up. We cannot bear it. We soon grow proud and worldly. And then we are sure to suffer for it; for it is written, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Haman was one on whom the world smiled. His master, King Ahasuerus, showed him constant marks of his favour. He raised him to a high office; and allowed him to come oftener into his royal presence than any other man in the kingdom of Persia.

It happened that, although Ahasuerus was a heathen, he had married a Jewish orphan, named Esther, who had been brought up by her cousin Mordecai.

Day after day Haman might be seen