too great an honour to be conferred on him, either to unloose or to bear the shoes of Messiah. Unfeigned humility has ever been a mark of true religion.

"We must not forget, when we speak of the shoes of the people of the East, that they were by no means like ours. They were sandals, or like the soles of our shoes, tied on the foot with a band. Hence they could very easily pull them off on entering a house, or a holy place. Exod. iii. 5.; Josh. v. 15. And hence arose the necessity and comfort of washing the feet of a guest after his arrival from a journey. This was generally done by the servants in the family. It was a mark of condescension in the Lord Jesus, especially when we regard Him in the dignified character in which He is presented to us by the sacred penmen, to have washed His disciples' feet; no doubt he did

Ex. iii. 5. And he said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Josh. v. 15. And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place where thou standest is holy.

What does John the Baptist say of this custom? What were the shoes worn by the people of the East? Why was it necessary to wash the feet after a journey? What was a mark of condescension in the Lord Jesus?

so, to teach us that there is no duty by which we can promote the comfort and the welfare of the meanest of our brethren, to be regarded as beneath us."

THRONES.

"WHAT a fine throne that of Solomon must have been, father! How I should like to have seen it !" "Do you recollect what is said of it ?"

"It was made of ivory, and overlaid with the finest gold; it had six steps, and the top of it was round behind ; and there were arms to lean on each side of the seat; two lions were beside them; on each side of the six steps, there were twelve lions. "There was not the like,' it is said, 'made in any kingdom,'” 1 Kings x. 20.

"No doubt, Harry, but it was very magnificent, as

1 Kings. x. 20. And twelve lions stood there on the one side, and on the other upon the six steps; there was not the like made in any kingdom.

What does it teach us? What is said of Solomon's Temple? Repeat a verse from Kings.

all thrones in the East are. Tavernier, in his Indian Travels, gives a very striking description of the throne of the Great Mogul. Indeed, he has seven thrones ; some set all over with diamonds; others, with rubies, emeralds, and pearls. But the largest throne is erected in the hall of the first court of the palace; it is six feet long, and four broad. I counted,' says he, ' about a hundred and eight pale rubies about it, the least whereof weighed a hundred carats; but there are some that weigh two hundred. I counted above one hundred and forty emeralds, that weighed, some threescore, some thirty carats. The under part of the canopy is entirely embroidered with pearls and diamonds, with a fringe of pearls round the edge. Upon the top of the canopy, which is made like an arch with four panes, stands a peacock, with his tail spread, consisting entirely of sapphires, and other proper coloured stones; the body is of beaten gold, enchased with numerous jewels; and a great ruby adorns his breast, to which hangs a pearl that weighs fifty carats.* On each side of the peacock stand two

How many thrones has the Great Mogul? Give Tavernier's description of the largest throne. How much is a carat ?

* A carat of gold is the weight of one scruple, or twenty-four grains; a carat of pearls or diamonds is four grains only.

nosegays as high as the bird, consisting of various sorts of flowers, all of beaten gold enamelled. When the king seats himself upon the throne, there is a transparent jewel, with a diamond appendant, of eighty or ninety carats weight, encompassed with rubies and emeralds, so suspended, that it is always in his eye. The twelve pillars also which uphold the canopy are set round with rows of diamonds of an excellent water, that weigh from six to ten carats a piece. At the distance of four feet on each side of the throne are placed two umbrellas, the handles of which are about eight feet high, covered with diamonds; the umbrellas themselves being of crimson velvet, embroidered and fringed with pearl. This is the famous throne which Timour began, and Shah Johan finished; and is really reported to have cost a hundred and sixty millions, and five hundred thousand livres of our money.'"

"What a throne, father! Why it outshone that of Solomon !"

"I suppose it did. But there is one throne which will infinitely surpass even this."

"What throne can this be?”

Who began and finished this splendid throne? What did it cost?

“You will find an account of it in the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel."

THE MIRAGE.

"BISHOP LOWтH translates the first clause of Isaiah, xxxv. 7, ' And the glowing sand shall become a pool.' In his note on the passage, he says, 'The word is Arabic, as well as Hebrew; but it means the same thing in both languages; namely, the glowing sandy plain, which, in the hot countries, at a distance, has the appearance of water. It sometimes tempts thirsty trav ellers out of their way, but deceives them when they come near; either going forward, for it always ap pears at the same distance, or it quite vanishes.'"

"Dr. E. D. Clarke, in his Travels, has given a very lively view of this wonderful appearance."

"I did not notice it, father."

"No, Harry, you could not do so, as you have but just finished the first volume; and the account I refer to is very far on in the second."

Find and repeat the account of a throne in the 7th chapter of the Book of Daniel. What does Bishop Lowth say in his note on a passage in Isaiah ?