ceived in England. Elizabeth was at this time Queen of England, and she and most of the English people were Protestants. Queen Elizabeth and her subjects were struck with astonishment and horror at hearing of the death of so many of their fellow Protestants. She, with all the ladies and gentlemen of her court, immediately put on deep mourning, and in this way received the French ambassador, when, a few days after, he went to her palace. The ambassador was an honourable man, and was greatly hurt at the conduct of his king. He said that he was ashamed to call himself a Frenchman; still he was obliged to make some excuse for King Charles. The Queen and all about her were dressed in black, and received him very coldly. But Charles, the base, treacherous, inhuman Charles, did not go to his grave in peace. He suffered the most dreadful agony of mind, and perhaps from this time he never enjoyed a moment's happiness. This shortened his days, and he died not long after the massacre of St. Bartholomew in all the terrors of an alarmed and heavy-burdened conscience; thus shewing that even in this life there is no peace for the wicked, and that it is an evil and bitter thing to sin against God. The dreadful things we have been relating took place between two and three hundred years ago. Since that time the world has greatly improved. People of all religions were then but too apt, as they had opportunity, to persecute each other; and there is little doubt that the Protestants, had they possessed the power, would have persecuted the Catholics. But all now know, or ought to know, that every one has a right, and that it is his duty, to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and in the way he imagines God will be best pleased. It is, therefore, exceedingly wrong in any one to think or speak ill of another because his opinions on religious matters differ from his own. We must not think ill of Catholics because they go to mass, nor ought they to think ill of us for not doing so. To use the words of St. Paul-"Let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind." In a future chapter you shall hear the other reason why St. Bartholomew's-day is to be remembered. Text-REVELATION vii. 13-17. THE COMPANY OF THE BLEST. WHо are those before God's throne, As the sky with stars thick strown Who are those that in their hands Who are those array'd in light, They are those who much have borne, They are those who hourly here As the harts at noonday pant Now their thirst is quench'd, they dwell GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL CARE OF THE ANIMAL CREATION IN WINTER. DURING the winter, millions of human beings, scattered through every country upon the globe, are supplied with all that can tend to their nourishment, or add to their comforts. Admirable as is the preservation of the human race, God gives still greater proofs of his wisdom and power in the care which he manifests for the brute creation. That the innumerable tribes of animals existing on this globe find, during the continuance of summer, food and shelter, is not surprising; all nature teeming with fertility conduces to this great end; but that in this season of the year such numbers of creatures,-birds, beasts, reptiles, insects and fishes,—should continue to exist, must demand the admiration of every one. Nature has provided most animals with a covering to defend them from the winter's cold, as well as from the summer's heat. Those wild animals which dwell amid the forest and the desert are so admirably organized that their hair, as summer advances, begins to fall from their skin, and grows again in winter with such luxuriance as to become a thick fur, capable of preserving them from the severity of the season. When cold renders a place of security requisite, other species of animals find retreats; some beneath the bark of trees, others in the crevices of old buildings, and some within the clefts of rocks, and in the caverns of mountains. It is there they either feed upon the food which instinct has taught them to provide, or they pass the tedious length of winter in a state of torpor, each according to the habits of its tribe. Birds at the approach of winter retire to sheltered places, and some species possess an instinct which leads them at the commencement of cold to quit the frozen regions of the north, winging their flight to the more genial lands of the south. Various are the resources of those animals which do not change their abode in winter. Birds feed upon the insects which they find amongst the moss and in the clefts of the bark of trees; many animals live upon the provisions they have providentially stored in their dens during the summer; others are obliged to burrow beneath the ice and snow to find support. Many species of insects and of fishes, though confined within marshes stiff by the frost, and in rivers whose surfaces are frozen, yet preserve their vitality. Let us then join in the adoration of the all-powerful and merciful Creator who cherishes thus all his creatures upon the earth, from the stately elephant to the most feeble and the smallest animal under the heavens, all of which owe to him their life, their abode, and their support. Let these considerations strengthen our confidence in God, and banish from our minds all doubts of his protection and support in seasons of adversity. May such reflections excite in us a desire to imitate, as far as our abilities permit, the generous care of Divine Providence, by contributing to the preservation of the whole animal creation. To shew cruelty to animals, to refuse them that nourishment and those comforts which are necessary, is to act manifestly against the will of our common Creator, whose care is extended to the meanest of his creatures. And if the animals have a positive right to our care, how much more are we obliged to soften, as much as lies in our power, the distresses of our fellow-creatures! Do not be contented to procure merely what may supply your own wants, but endeavour to provide something for the support of others; and let it never happen that any creature has perished through lack of receiving that help which it was in your power to afford. Text-MATTHEW vi. 28–30. THE HISTORY OF JOB. In this chapter it is proposed to give a slight sketch of the history of Job, such as it is related in the Bible, and without entering into the various opinions of the learned regarding its author, or the exact date of its composition. The patriarch Job was a man eminent for his piety and integrity, who lived in the land of Uz, the same as Edom or Idumea. The time when he lived is unknown; but one opinion generally adopted is, that it was shortly previous to, or contemporary with Moses: some commentators, however, are of opinion that he lived in the time of Abraham; and others, as late as Solomon. Following the former of these dates, Job was a prince of Edom, a descendant of the great patriarch Abraham, through Esau; a man of wealth and consideration, blessed with a numerous family of sons and daughters, all prosperous and held in esteem, and himself regarded with feelings of veneration, gratitude and respect by the surrounding princes and tribes. In the midst of this prosperity and happiness, it pleased God to permit his faith and patience to be tried by sudden and overwhelming calamities. First an inroad of the Sabeans and Chaldeans carried off his oxen and his sheep and slew his servants. "And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking in their elder brother's house. And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them; and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee." Next followed a heavier trial. "While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their elder brother's house; and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee." These dreadful tidings did not alter the pious resignation of Job: he fell down and worshipped, and exclaimed with devout humility, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" The next affliction was yet more grievous, and harder to bear with uncomplaining patience. The patriarch was suddenly afflicted with a painful and loathsome disorder; a species of leprosy, which covered his body with sores, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. To add bitterness to his sufferings, his wife, who should have been his comforter and support, cast reproaches on him for trusting in the goodness of Jehovah and his own faithful"Dost thou," said she upbraidingly, "still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die!" But the patriarch preserved his resignation and trust, and replied, "What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." ness. This forms the first part of the history, and is written in the original Hebrew in prose, as are also the introductions |