the law of his God might compel him to act contrary to the law of the king.

These wicked men, therefore, laid a plot against him. They went to the king and artfully persuaded him to make a decree that for thirty days no one should utter a petition to either any god or to any man except to King Darius himself, the punishment for any one breaking this law to be that he should be thrown into a den of lions; and this decree they persuaded the king to cause to be written, and then to sign with his own royal hand: after which it could not be changed, because the laws of the Medes and Persians were never altered at any time. The king, knowing nothing of the plot, listened to the request of his princes and signed the decree.

Then they watched to see what Daniel would do, feeling sure that he would never let thirty days pass without praying to the Lord his God.

Nor did he; and being neither ashamed nor afraid of being seen to pray to God, even though the consequence would be the being cast into the lions' den, he prayed as he was accustomed three times a-day, his face towards Jerusalem and his windows open.

The spies had now gained their point; they had found against him a matter to tell to the king: so, going to Darius, they asked him whether he had not made and signed the decree, and appointed the punishment? The king replied that he had done so, and that the law could not be altered. Then

the men answered, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a-day.

Now the king loved Daniel, and when he heard this he was very much distressed, and strove all that day to save him from the terrible punishment; but the law was unalterable, as the cruel princes reminded him, and with a sad heart he gave the order for Daniel to be brought forth and thrown to the lions. But in passing sentence upon him King Darius uttered these words: Thy God, Whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.

Then Daniel being thrown in, a great stone was placed upon the mouth of the den, and the king was obliged to seal it that the purpose might not be changed.

Having done this the king returned to his palace, sorely grieving for his friend; and all night long he fasted, and refused to be cheered by music, and could not sleep.

Very early in the morning he rose, and hoping, yet scarcely daring to hope, that Daniel's God had indeed preserved His servant, hurried to the den, and in a sorrowful voice cried, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, Whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? The voice of Daniel, to his great joy, answered him, saying, My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me.

The heart of the king was now glad, and he commanded without

delay that Daniel should be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

Punishment was quickly to overtake those wicked men who had planned his death, for the king now commanded them to be brought thither, and cast into the den from which Daniel had just been drawn out, and with their wives and children thrown to the lions, who instantly tore them to pieces. This was a terrible revenge, savage and cruel; but Darius was a heathen, and according to his own notions was doing nothing wrong.

Then King Darius made another and a very different decree, which he sent throughout his kingdom. This was to order that all his subjects should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for, he said, He is the living God, and steadfast for ever

He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel had at different times some wonderful dreams, two of them he had dreamed while Belshazzar was king, and the others since that time; and in those dreams God showed him many things which were to take place: how kingdoms were to rise and fall, and how at last the kingdom of Christ was to prevail over all.

Also the angel Gabriel was sent to Daniel to tell him many things; to speak of the rebuilding of the Temple, and of the coming and death of Messiah, the Prince, Who is our Lord Jesus Christ.

RETURN OF THE JEWS
UNDER ZERUBBABEL.

N the first year of Cyrus king of Persia the Lord stirred up. the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to make this proclamation :

The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is the God), which is in Jerusalem.

At the same time Cyrus ordered that, to any one who was minded to go, those of the place in which he lived should give gifts of silver and gold, and goods, and beasts to help in the work, besides the free-will offerings for the Temple at Jerusalem. The king himself at the same time set a good example by giving back all the vessels of gold and silver, and many other precious things, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from the Temple at Jerusalem.

Forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty people of the captives went up to Jerusalem, besides seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven servants. They were