sisting of twenty barley loaves and full ears of corn; but instead of selfishly engrossing the whole, he, with a noble-spirited liberality, directed his servants to set it before the sons of the prophets who surrounded him. "What!" said the servant, "shall I set this before an hundred men?" "Yes;" replied the believing master. "Give the people that they may eat, for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. So he set before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord." Thus it has often been proved that liberality is the surest way of thriving; the food multiplies in dispensing; and rather than disappoint His people, who rely on his word, the Lord will work a miracle to fulfil it.

When, in consequence of Samaria being besieged by the hosts of Syria, the famine had long been sore in the land, and no prospect of relief appeared; when the people were distressed and discontented, and the king repining, unbelieving, and malignant against the faithful prophet of the Lord,-that prophet was sent to proclaim, that the very next day provisions should be so abundant, that "two measures of barley should be sold for a shekel,"-eighty of which were at that moment given for an ass's head, and five for about half a pint of dove's dung. Man disbelieved, and scorned; but Jehovah fulfilled His word. He caused the Syrians to hear a noise, at which they fled in terror, leaving a vast spoil in the possession of Israel, and relieving them from the

restraints which had before prevented their obtaining supplies, 2 Kings vi. vii.

1

Barley is many times mentioned in the Old Testament, in less particular instances. In the New Testament we have the delightful narrative of our Lord miraculously multiplying five barley-loaves, so that they furnished a sufficient meal for many thousand persons, and even left remaining a plentiful store, John vi. 8-10. Barley is also mentioned in one of the apostle John's prophetic visions in the isle of Patmos. When the third prophetic seal was opened, a black horse, indicating famine, the rider whereon bore balances, implying that every one must have his allowance of food meted out with rigid exactness; the price of wheat and of barley was stated"a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny." To an English reader this would indicate the reverse of scarcity; but when the price is compared with the value of money and of labour at the time the representation was made, it appears that labour would scarcely provide for the supply of an individual,—to what straits, then, must families have been reduced! This dispensation is supposed to have been fulfilled in the second century.

Rye.

This word occurs but seldom in Scripture, and a difference of opinion exists as to the kind of grain intended; some supposing that it is the grain so

called among us, which is bearded much in the manner of barley, though its general properties bear a nearer resemblance to those of wheat; others suppose that rice is meant. It is mentioned (Exod. ix. 32.) in connexion with wheat, as having escaped the fury of the storm which had destroyed the flax and barley in Egypt. It is also mentioned, Isa. xxviii. 25. among many other productions of nature, with allusions to the proper methods of culture and preparation adopted towards each by the skilful husbandman, whose knowledge and ingenuity the prophet describes as the gifts of God-"This also cometh from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working," ver. 29.

The word, in these two instances rendered rye, is in Ezek. iv. 9. translated "fitches," a kind of tare. It is there mentioned as an ingredient of an inferior sort of bread, made of different kinds of grain, which the prophet was directed to prepare, as a type of the hardship and scarcity attendant on a siege.

Millet.

Millet occurs only in the same connexion with the article last referred to, viz. Ezek. iv. 9. It is a remarkably productive plant, yielding a greater number of grains than any other.. Its Latin name is Millium, as indicating (hyperbolically) that one stalk should bear a thousand grains. Some critics suppose that a kind of maize is here intended, but others suppose it to have been a kind of millet, now called "durra,"

of which a very coarse kind of bread is made, which, with camel's milk, oil, butter, or grease, is almost the only food eaten by the inhabitants of Arabia Felix. Those travellers who have tasted it, pronounce it exceedingly disagreeable, and far inferior to barley-bread. This corresponds with its forming a part of the hard fare of Ezekiel, in the type.

Reeds.

Taking a familiar, not a scientific, view of the subject, this class includes several species mentioned in the sacred Scriptures under the names of reed, rush, or bulrush, flag and cane, sweet-cane calamus, or sweet calamus.

All of these plants grow in watery marshy places: they partake much of the nature of grass; indeed, there is reason to suppose, that, in several instances, where the words occur, the long sedgy grass is intended, which grows most luxuriantly at the edge of rivers, and which must have been exceedingly grateful to cattle in the hot countries of the East. Most of their leaves are cylindrical, or pipe-formed, like those of an onion; but others are flat and swordshaped, like those of a leek. Those of the reed-kind belong to the tribe of grasses, and, like them, have fibrous roots, and stalks composed of many joints; but the flag, or iris kind, have either bulbous, or creeping fleshy roots. Those that grow in or near rivers are generally of the latter kind.

From the refreshment afforded to the cattle by

abundance of these grassy productions, nourished by the refreshing stream, in opposition to the waste sandy desert, where none but dragons could dwell, the blessing of the Messiah's coming are thus figuratively described: "The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes," Isa. xxxv. 7.

Reeds are tall and slender in their growth, and apt to bend with the least breath of wind. Should any one attempt to lean on them, they would immediately give way, and disappoint his dependence. The sword-shaped kinds have very sharp edges and sharp points, hence they would painfully pierce or wound the hand of him who should grasp or lean upon them. How fitly then is it made an emblem of false dependence! The land of Egypt is called a reed, possibly because on the banks of the Nile reeds grew in immense quantities; but more probably because Israel was apt to seek alliance with Egypt, and to depend on its aid and protection, which always issued in disappointment. Although Rabshakeh, the Assyrian general, boasted himself vaingloriously, and endeavoured to intimidate the men of Judah by his contempt of their allies and resources, there was much truth in his remark on their wonted dependence on Egypt, "Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it;-so is Pharaoh king of Egypt