has such urgent need, "let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher." No sooner had he uttered the words, than the vessel was lowered from her shoulder, now filled with the cool and refreshing water, while, holding in her hand the weighty burden she readily and courteously responded “Drink, my Lord." It appears to have been a lengthened draught and sweet, that which the traveller quaffed at her bidding; meantime she had looked round upon the camels reposing, with their patient eyes fixed on the trough that now contained no water, and moved by the soft compassion of her nature, she instantly volunteered to minister to their mute want. "I will draw," she said, "for thy camels also, until they have done drinking." Rebekah, it seems, had no time to spend in idle discussion, or in a vain display of her personal advantages. The first at the well that evening, she did not linger till the other women arrived (as is still customary in the east, to spread the gossip of the day from mouth to mouth, and to shew to each other the finery of which they are so inordinately fond); but when a work of charity required it, she had time enough and to spare. As her active form was seen ascending and descending again and again the steps which led to the cistern, while employed in filling the trough for the camels, Eliezar was contemplating her with amazement, hardly believing it possible that Jehovah should so quickly and so minutely have answered his prayer. In silence he observed her, and then no longer doubting, he took from his store the bridal jewels, and advancing towards her, placed them upon her person, asking not only the name of her father, but desiring at once to be admitted as an inmate of her home: "Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee, is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in? And she said unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in ;" and then, as if fearing to have outstepped the decorum of her sex, in having so promptly given assurance to the man of food and shelter beneath her father's roof, she hastily withdrew (where the pure-minded and virtuous daughter ever goes) to tell her mother of the incident that had befallen her; repeating the conversation which had passed at the well, in the presence of" her mother's" attendants, and shewing the earrings and bracelets which the man had given her; leaving to her brother the task more befitting him, of preparing for the reception of the stranger guests, and going out of the city to invite them to enter. The simple-hearted and upright Eliezar had no sooner provided for the due refreshment of his beasts, and unbound his own sandals beneath the roof of Bethuel, than he abruptly, but in all fairness and honesty, declared to the father and brother of the household the nature of his errand; detailing the whole circumstances of his journey, from the period of his conversation with Abraham to his meeting with Rebekah at the well; and shewing how the providence of God had so remarkably directed him in this matter. "The thing proceeded from the Lord," was the unanimous reply of Bethuel and Laban, “behold, Rebekah is before thee, let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken." The church, in praying for the blessing of" perfect love and peace" to rest upon and remain with those of her members who come to be joined together in holy matrimony, sets before the bridegroom and the bride the loving fidelity and uninterrupted affection of Isaac and Rebekah, as the pattern of their own conjugal happiness and duty. But, alas! of the many who are blessed in the name of the God of Isaac, how few inherit the blessing! How few of those who "" keep the vow and covenant" in the letter, reap all those holy and happy fruits, which, "from the beginning," the spirit and essence of the nuptial bond were intended to bestow! And wherefore? Let those on whose lonely hearts the vulture disappointment is continually preying (hearts doubly lonely because once filled and animated by a principle heaven-born and divine)-let those inquire whether they sought the blessing in the way in which it was sought for, and obtained by Isaac. Was it by prayer, special, all-prevailing prayer? Was it by ingenuous disregard of the attractions of wealth, the splendours of a name, the desire of alliance with the powerful, the hope of self-aggrandizement and selfdistinction? If but the smallest portion of this earthly leaven obtained (though in the mixture there might be much that was good, and wholesome, and full of promise for self-sustenance), can they wonder that the whole should be leavened? Was the blessing sought in the use of prudent means? by careful minute observation, by scripture tests in dependance upon God's direction and guidance? If not, is it a marvel that they fail to obtain that which they did not ask? The marriage union is the highest earthly gift of God to man. It was the dowry of his uprightness; it was the last adornment and finish of his nature, and till that nature be renewed after the Creator's image, and united to one formed by God's own Spirit to be a helpmate, we shall look in vain for that perfection of bliss which in Eden it did doubtless afford: for the very confidence of expectation with which all look for happiness in this state, is but the native expression of the human soul yearning after that which in its original constitution was proved to be " very good." The word of God contains many passages, strongly and strikingly descriptive of the value, which, in the mind of the Spirit, attached to the acquisition of a true helpmeet. "Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord." "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, a prudent wife is from the Lord." They, then, who would obtain "a good gift" must seek of Him who alone is the Giver of it; for "the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." LYDIA. THE RETURN OF ISRAEL. From the Rev. Dr. Croly's Paris in 1815. -Then the Deliverance comes; the crimson scroll, Writ with the madness of six thousand years, Shall be as snow; from heaven the clouds shall roll, The earth no longer be a vale of tears. Speed on your swiftest wings, ye golden spheres! To bring the splendours of that morning nigh! Already the forgiven desert bears The rose-the Pagan lifts th'adoring eye, The exiled Hebrew seeks the day-break in the sky. I see the tribes, returning in their pomp! Before them moves the Babe of Bethlehem's star; They come with shout, and hymn, and uplift trump, That rang of old on Zion's holy air; They come from every region wild and far, That woe e'er trod, with every swarthy stain Of storm, and slavery, and barbaric war, Sons of the desert, dungeon, mountain, main; Turbann'd, and capp'd, and helm'd, a countless, boundless train! * Ancient of days! that, high above all height, Sitt'st on the circle of eternity, The hour shall come when all shall know thy might, That sees the sparrow perish from his throne, Father! in life or death, Thy sovereign will be done! |