A Week of Instruction and Amusement Part 4

The settlement of the people "after their old estate," together with the arrangement of all civil and ecclesiastical matters, were completed by Ezra and Nehemiah.

At the period, about 430 years B. C. the Scripture history closes, and for the remaining particulars of the Jewish history recourse must be had to uninspired writers, particularly to the books of the Maccabees and to Josephus.

Judea continued subject to Persia until Alexander conquered that country; it then fell under his dominion and he treated the Jews with great lenity. After the conqueror's death, Judea became subject to his successors, till Mattathias, a priest eminent for his piety and resolution, encouraged the people to shake off the Syrian yoke.

Mattathias died before this was effected, but his son Judas Maccabeus completed the deliverance of his country, and the government of Judea remained in his family till the time of Herod the great, who put an end to the administration of the Maccabees or Armenians, and prevailed upon the Roman senate to appoint him king of Judea.

It was in the thirty sixth year of the reign of Herod, and while Augustus was Emperor of Rome that our Saviour Jesus Christ was born, four years before the common aera.

Herod was a cruel tyrant to his people, and even to his own children: but to keep the Jews in subjection, and to erect a lasting monument to his own name, he repaired the temple at Jerusalem, and considerably enlarged the kingdom of Judea.

At his death, the countries over which he had reigned were divided among his three sons, but they were not allowed to take the t.i.tle of kings; they were called ethnarchs or tetrarchs. Archelaus one of Herod's sons, acting with great cruelty and injustice, was, by order of Augustus, banished to Vienne in Gaul, where he died. His dominions were then reduced to a Roman province, and from this time the Jews possessed but little civil authority. Justice was administered in the name and by the laws of Rome, and taxes were paid immediately to the emperor. Several of the Roman governors severely oppressed and persecuted the Jews, and at length, in the reign of Nero they openly revolted from the Romans. Then began the Jewish war, which was terminated after an obstinate defence and unparalleled suffering, on the part of the Jews, by the total destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem, by t.i.tus son of Vespasian the Roman emperor. Since that time the Jews have no where subsisted as a nation.

Though I have endeavoured, my dear, to give you as brief an account as possible of the Jewish history, yet the subject is so interesting, that I perceive it has already occupied a much longer time than I at first intended. The history of our Saviour's ministry and the Acts of the Apostles we must therefore defer to a future opportunity: though I hardly know if these subjects require any elucidation; the facts in the New Testament being recorded in so clear a manner by the Evangelists themselves, that I think they must be intelligible even to your apprehension.

I hope you will perceive that I have mentioned but very slightly some of the most interesting and important events, purposely to induce you to seek a more detailed account of them in the sacred volume itself. This inestimable treasure will I am sure furnish the most agreeable topic of many of our future conversations. You, my dear, have never been taught to consider religion as a dry and difficult study, but rather as a means of adding to the cheerful enjoyment of the many blessings bestowed upon you by the almighty giver of all good, and I trust the grat.i.tude and piety of your future life will prove you worthy of being called a disciple of the benevolent Jesus.

_Anne._ Indeed, mamma, I feel the truth of what you say, and I will endeavour to act as you wish me.--I am sure I shall have much more pleasure in reading those parts of the Bible you think proper for me, now I have some connected idea of the whole.

_Mrs. Harley._ I believe you will. But good bye, my love, for the present: when you go to bed you will find the prayers you asked for on my table; there are besides two hymns which I have selected from an admirable collection.

_Anne._ Thank you, mamma, I will learn to repeat them.

_A Morning Prayer for a Child._

O Almighty G.o.d, the Father and Preserver of all mankind! I desire to offer thee my sincerest thanks that I am arisen this morning in health and safety. May I spend the day on which I am now entered in endeavouring to do thy will: let me carefully avoid all that I know to be displeasing in thy sight, and diligently apply myself to perform all the good in my power. May I keep a strict watch over my lips and temper, and try to live in peace with those around me. Grant thy protection and blessing to my relations and friends; if it should please thee to preserve us through this day, may the close of it find us more worthy of again addressing thee through Jesus Christ,

Our Father, &c.

_An Evening Prayer._

Almighty and Merciful G.o.d! at the close of another day which thou hast graciously permitted me to spend in the enjoyment of many blessings, I would return thee humble thanksgivings from a grateful heart. Conscious of the many errors I am continually committing, I would earnestly implore thy pardon for whatsoever has been amiss in my conduct this day.

Forgive me, O Lord, every foolish and angry word I have spoken, every perverse thought I have indulged, all I have done that I ought not to have done, and all I have left undone that I ought to have done. O may I truly repent of these my past faults, and strive to amend my future life. Bless my relations and friends; pardon all their past transgressions, and if it please thee to preserve us through the night, may we arise in the morning to do thy will. Above all the other blessings thou hast granted me, I would value that of having become early acquainted with the religion of Jesus. May his example be my guide, and, with a thankful remembrance of all he did and suffered for our sakes, I sum up my pet.i.tions for the whole human race in the prayer himself taught us, saying,

Our Father, &c.

A MORNING HYMN.

Lord of my life! O may thy praise Employ my n.o.blest powers.

Whose goodness lengthens out my days, And fills the circling hours!

Preserved by thine almighty arm, I pa.s.s the shades of night, Serene, and safe from every harm, And see returning light.

While many spent the night in sighs, And restless pains and woes; In gentle sleep I clos'd my eyes, And undisturb'd repose.

When sleep, death's semblance o'er me spread, And I unconscious lay, Thy watchful care was round my bed, To guard my feeble clay.

O let the same almighty care My waking hours attend; From every danger, every snare, My heedless steps defend.

Smile on my minutes as they roll, And guide my future days; And let thy goodness fill my soul With grat.i.tude and praise.

AN EVENING HYMN.

Great G.o.d! to thee my ev'ning song, With humble grat.i.tude, I raise; O let thy mercy tune my tongue, And fill my heart with lively praise?

My days unclouded, as they pa.s.s, And ev'ry gently rolling hour, Are monuments of wond'rous grace, And witness to thy love and power.

Thy love and power, celestial guard, Preserve me from surrounding harms: Can danger reach me, while the Lord Extends his kind protecting arms?

Let cheering hope my eyelids close, With sleep refresh my feeble frame, Safe in thy care may I repose, And wake with praises to thy name.

_CHAPTER V._

MONDAY.

_Mrs. Harley._ The story you are to read this morning, my dear, is founded upon facts which come within my own observation. I dare say you have frequently heard the French Revolution spoken of: it was this event which gave rise to the incidents contained in

_The History of the Melcour Family._

Mr. de Melcour was the son of a younger branch of a good family; his father died when he was quite a child, and left him but a small patrimony. He early entered the army, where for many years he served his country with honour and fidelity: he was present in several engagements, and by his bravery and exemplary conduct, acquired the esteem of all his fellow officers. During the peace which followed the American war he married an amiable lady, whose fortune united to his own, enabled him to quit the noisy scenes of a military life, and settle on a beautiful little estate he purchased in the province of Gascony.

Here he enjoyed all the happiness which a good conscience, a good temper, and a feeling heart can bestow, joined to the blessings of domestic peace. Madame de Melcour spent her time in the bosom of her family; she had little taste for the dissipation of the capital, and possessing only a limited income, had she indulged herself in expensive pleasures, she must have foregone the higher satisfaction of contributing to the comfort of those in less fortunate circ.u.mstances.

She had profited by the excellent education her parents had been careful to give her, and this enabled her to bring up her own children with little a.s.sistance from others. Frederic and Elizabeth were the happiest little boy and girl in the neighbourhood: they tenderly loved their parents, and feeling the necessity of doing their duty, it became quite habitual to them. The little faults natural to childhood they were conscious would not be punished with severity, and their good actions they knew would never pa.s.s unrewarded. Frederic employed much of his time in working in a little garden that his father had given him: Elizabeth a.s.sisted in the management of the flowers, and their highest ambition was to present their mamma with a nosegay of roses, before any were blown in the _great_ garden.

Thus happily pa.s.sed many years at Melcour; when the troubles attendant on the revolution came to disturb the tranquillity of their domestic enjoyment. M. de Melcour was called upon to resume a military command; and though he disapproved of many of the measures that had been pursued by the government, yet, when he saw his sovereign in distress, he would not withhold his aid. He was particularly active in endeavouring to put a stop to the devastation caused by a misguided populace; and in a fray between some peasants and soldiers, he fell a victim to his benevolent exertions in the cause of humanity.

The sad news was brought to Madame de Melcour just as she was recovering from the bed of sickness; her const.i.tution already much weakened, was unable to support the fatal shock, and she soon after closed her eyes for ever in the arms of her beloved children.

At this period, Frederic was just fifteen, his sister two years younger; they were left without any protector but an aged grandmother, who had constantly resided with her daughter since the marriage of the latter with M. de Melcour. Already suffering from the infirmities of age, Madame de Joinville felt herself unable to resist the persecutions of ill-disposed persons, and in the course of a few months found it necessary to leave the chateau. It was her intention to retire with her grandchildren into England, the country where she had spent much of the early part of her life, and where she still hoped to discover some of her former friends. Accordingly, having settled her affairs as well as the distracted state of the nation would permit, and, accompanied by Frederic and Elizabeth, she proceeded to the nearest seaport. They encountered many difficulties on the road, but at length, through Frederic's activity, succeeded in securing their pa.s.sage in a vessel that was on the point of sailing for England.

Madame de Joinville suffered extremely from the fatigues and anxieties she had lately undergone, and on their arrival at ---- it was found necessary to remain there a few days in order to recruit her exhausted strength.

As soon as Madame de Joinville was sufficiently recovered, they hastened to London, where, by the a.s.sistance of some friends, a small house was hired for their reception. The expences of a long journey had much diminished the sum Madame de Joinville had collected before her departure from France, and the most rigid economy was necessary to prevent them from becoming burthensome to others. In these circ.u.mstances, Frederic could not bear the idea of leading an idle life; he greatly wished to follow the profession of his father, but the anxious fears of his grandmother and sister long opposed his inclinations: however, he at length prevailed, and entered a regiment that was ordered on foreign service. The parting between Elizabeth and Frederic was a melancholy scene: she was long inconsolable for his loss, but religion, which she had always been taught to consider as the best comforter of the afflicted, came to her aid, and feeling the necessity of submission, she determined by active exertions to divert her mind from past calamities.

It was now that Elizabeth felt the inestimable advantages of _a good education_; she perfectly understood the English language; her industry and punctuality procured her many friends, who, young as she was, entrusted her with the translation of papers of consequence, and the reward she received for her labour, greatly contributed to the support of the family. Every instant she could spare from her employment and the care of their domestic affairs, was devoted to her grandmother. She nursed her when sick, read aloud for her amus.e.m.e.nt, and by every kind attention endeavoured to lessen her regret for the blessings she had lost. Madame de Joinville has often been heard to declare, that without the filial affection of her granddaughter she could hardly have supported her afflictions. The infirmities of age must sometimes render those advanced in years petulant and capricious: Elizabeth never murmured when her endeavours to please failed of success; much less did she irritate her grandmother by contradiction; she patiently submitted to these trials of her temper, and when evening came, and Madame de Joinville retired to rest, Elizabeth thought herself amply repaid for any little disappointments she had encountered during the day, by receiving her blessing and the a.s.surance of her tenderest love.

Frederic remained two years abroad; whatever he could spare from his own actual wants he constantly remitted to his sister; but without her industry they would often have been greatly distressed. At length Elizabeth's n.o.ble and pious conduct was made known to a lady who had formerly been an intimate acquaintance of Madame de Joinville's family.

Her visits to the old lady gave her constant opportunities of witnessing the amiable disposition of her granddaughter; and anxious to reward her virtues, she interested herself so warmly in their concerns, that at length, through the intercession of some powerful friends, a rest.i.tution of part of M. de Melcour's property was procured for his children.

Elizabeth when in happier circ.u.mstances preserved the same humility of mind, and her never failing attention to her grandmother was rewarded by the pleasure of seeing the comforts of her last days make amends for the sorrows that had embittered so many of her former ones.

Frederic arrived in England soon after this happy change in their circ.u.mstances; he would have wished his sister to return to their native country, but the inconvenience of removing her grandmother, and the still unquiet state of the continent, induced her to prefer a residence in that land where she was secured from the horrors she had once witnessed. Frederic yielded to her reasons; and when their affairs obliged him to leave her, a constant correspondence maintained the affection that had always subsisted from their earliest years.