to fall back upon. The father was entreated by her lover, the clergyman interfered and tried to bring the father over, but all in vain, he remained relentless. When everything failed, she made up her mind to run away; she did so, and sought refuge in a neighbouring village with the clergyman, whom she entreated to baptize her, but which he could not do in such haste and without enquiry into the case. When the father found what had happened, he was terribly enraged, and himself and his son went to every neighbouring village and town in search of her, and, of course, his first enquiry was at the clergyman's house. After much enquiry and trouble, he found out her place of concealment. He reached the village, and stormed the clergyman's house, with his son; rushed without ceremony into every room, and finally got hold of her, dragged her out of the house into the carriage, and drove off home. Having safely got her under his roof again, he locked her up in an upper room, where food and bare necessaries were sent up to her. She was allowed to see no one; and the father, fearing lest her intended husband should carry her off, placed a watchman to watch the house day and night. The matter became known, and the clergyman once more seriously interfered, but with no better success than before; the father was relentless, and would have her die rather than consent to her baptism. On one condition only he promised to give her her liberty, namely, if she would marry a Jew, whom she had formerly refused, and whom her father had destined to become her husband. The poor girl was at last worn out, and seeing no escape, The match was consented to marry the Jew. quickly made up, and the marriage got over. The father thought that he was quite safe now, but, behold, soon after her marriage her husband died. Immediately after his death she went and took Christian instruction, without caring for her father's threat to disinherit her, and was baptized. Her parents were extremely angry with her, and entirely cast her off. However, having grown old, their anger was not so relentless, and, by degrees, they approached each other again. She married a second time, and is now living in B——. Thus are God's providences wonderful. He only knows how many such secret enquirers and secret believers there may be scattered over the country, whose history may never reach the ear of man. May He continue to add to his Church daily such as shall be saved. SCRIPTURE ENIGMAS. No. X. THE first anointed king for Israel's throne; The last of those who judged in Israel. JANET. XI. Follow my guiding, till your feet have trod (Genesis xi.) (2 Kings xviii. 2.) page 204. time a (Obadia.h) (Ruth i.) (Numbers xxv.) (Genesis iii.) (Esther vii.) g to her people and her attended Ruth. a name among the Saviour sprung. dogaeld Ruth i.) First, seek that spot whence blessings did abound, To vast assembling multitudes around. Then climb the hill, where his last words were given, Who thence ascended to the courts of heaven. See, with what zeal large bands of men prepare These forest trees to build a house of prayer. Now view that spot, where Israel's prince was slain, By one, God told him to destroy, in vain. Next gaze with joyful hope where soon our eyes Shall see our king descend, with glad surprise. See then a mount, whence, at a woman's cry, Israel, o'er thousands, gained a victory. Look then to that famed rock, which once was riven, And is the type of Christ," the Rock of Heaven." Then tread that mountain where our fathers stood, And saw the verdant earth made pure and good. If you have pondered well each sacred hill, T'will lead you unto one which has been still, More blest of God; seek now that holy spot, And when you find it, oh! forsake it not. Answer to No. VIII., page 203. THE Queen Ahinoam was bereaved When first deceiving, then deceived, J. W. Amnon, through Absalom's treachery, died. Bathsheba sought her aged lord, (2 Sam. iii. and viii.) When Adonijah grasped the throne, To ratify his spoken word, That none should reign but Solomon. (1 Kings i. 17.) |