Tobias then departed deeply impressed with gratitude to Raguel and Edna; and also full of thankfulness to God, for the blessing he had bestowed; and proceeded on his journey prosperously, his faithful dog also still attending his steps. But when they were come near to Nineve, Raphael called Tobias aside, and said he thought he had better hasten on before his wife and the rest of his train, to prepare his parents for their reception, and further advised him to take the gall of the fish with him. So Tobias and Raphael went forward, the dog also following.

His mother, as was her daily practice, was sitting anxiously watching the road, although nearly hopeless of ever beholding her dear son again. When, to her unspeakable joy, she at length espied him coming, attended as when he departed by his guide and his dog; and in rapture she exclaimed to the equally delighted father, “Behold thy son cometh, and the man that went with him."

As they went along, Raphael had told Tobias that he was sure his father would recover his sight, if he anointed his eyes with the gall; that the whiteness would then fall away, and he would again behold him.

By this time they were approached so near, that Anna ran out to meet them, and falling on the neck of her son, said "Seeing I have seen

thee my son, from henceforth I am content to die." -and they both wept.

The father in his extacy of joy likewise attempted to run to him, but from his want of sight, stumbled and fell down. Tobias instantly ran to his assistance, raised him up, and rubbed his eyes with the gall; when from their severe smarting he rubbed them very much, which occasioned the film which covered the sight to peel away, and his sight was completely restored; he again saw his beloved son, he fell upon his neck and wept; and returned his ardent thanks to God, for the great blessings he had received from his sight and his child, being both restored in the same moment. And they went in rejoicing.

Then Tobias recounted to his father all the extraordinary events which had happened to him during his stay in Media: of his marriage, his prosperity, and his receipt of the money from Gabael. But when Tobias spoke of his marriage, Tobit made haste to go out to meet his daughterin-law, at the gate of Nineve, where he received her in the most affectionate manner, and conducted her to his own house; and presenting her to Anna, they both blessed and embraced her, and bid her welcome. "And there was joy amongst all the brethren that were in Nineve." "And Achiacharus, and Nasbus, his brother's son, came also."

"And Tobias's wedding was kept for seven days with great joy."

When these entertainments were concluded, Tobit called his son, and said to him, it was now time to settle their account with Azarias, and to give him such an overplus, as his extraordinary services demanded. To which Tobias enthusiastically replied; "O father it is no harm to me to give him half of those things which I have brought; for hath he not brought me again to thee in safety, rescued my wife from the power of an evil spirit, brought me the money, and likewise healed thee."

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No language could do such justice to the good

and grateful feelings of the heart of Tobias as his own, and therefore in his own words are they here expressed. And so powerfully did they convince his father of their propriety, that he immediately answered, "It is due unto him." And thereupon calling the Angel, they requested him to take the half of their possessions, and go away in safety. Then Raphael taking them apart, said to them, "It is good to keep close the secrets of a king, but honourable to reveal the works of God." He then explained to them, that he was an Angel of God, on which being both amazed and terrified, they fell upon their faces; but Raphael told them not to fear, that their prayers had been rendered acceptable to the Most High. That when both

Tobit and Sara prayed in the same moment, their prayers were heard; that when he left his dinner to bury the dead, that he was then with him, and in all that had happened to him by the command of God, he had ever invisibly attended him, and that though he had been so many days with them, he had neither eaten or drank-they having been deceived in vision when they thought he had. He further admonished them to persevere in the same upright way they had hitherto done-to give the praise to God for all his mercies; and to write a book of all the wonders which had occurred to them. Saying this he vanished from their presence, "and when they arose they saw him no more." "By which they were assured that he was an Angel of the Lord's."

Tobit lived after this to see six sons of Tobias's, and finding his life drawing near its close, he admonished his son to remove himself and his family from Nineve, as he fully believed what the prophet Jonas had denounced against it, concerning its overthrow; and advised him to fix his residence in Media, which would for a time enjoy peace. After this, giving him strict charge respecting his religious duties, Tobit expired, being an hundred and fifty-eight years old, and he buried him honorably. And when his mother died, he buried her with his father After which, Tobias, with his

wife and children, departed to Ecbatane, to Raguel his father-in-law.

"Where he became old with honor, and he buried his father and mother-in-law honorably, and he inherited their substance, and his father Tobit's."

"And he died at Ecbatane, in Media, being an hundred and twenty-seven years old."

THE HISTORY OF JUDITH.

At the same time that Nebuchodonosor reigned over the great city of Nineve, Arphaxad was king over the Medes, in Ecbatane, who fearful of his hostile neighbour, fortified the city in a manner the most wonderful that had ever been known; the strength, height, and breadth of the walls which encompassed the city, the massy gates, and the whole of the works made for the protection of Ecbatane, exceeded every thing of the kind at that day seen or known of.

But notwithstanding all these necessary precautions, Nabuchodonosor made war upon,bim,