of the angel Raphael, assuring him that his prayers were heard; and Tobias, supposing that this implied that he was to be relieved by death, called his son Tobias, and admonishing him to be ever charitable and never to yield to the heats of youthful passion, sent him from home to gather in a debt owed him by one Gabelus, at Rages, a city of the Medes. The youth immediately started on his journey with his dog, and seeking a guide, a young man of noble aspect presented himself to him, who was, in truth, none other than the angel Raphael, under the disguise of a person of noble family. With him Tobias returned to his father, and the angel, without revealing himself, promised success to the young man's journey, and recovery of sight to his aged father. The first night they slept near the river Tigris; and Tobias, washing his feet in the river, was attacked by a monstrous fish, and in his terror he cried aloud to his angelic guide. The angel bade him fear not, but boldly seize the fish, and drag it a-shore. The youth obeyed, and, by the angel's directions, took out the entrails of the fish, which he assured him were of efficacy both as a medicine and against the attacks of evil spirits. Arriving at Rages, the angel told him that he must seek a lodging with his kinsman Raguel, who dwelt there, and must ask his only daughter Sara in marriage. Tobias, terrified, reminded his guide that already the damsel had married seven husbands, every one of whom had been killed by Satanic power the very first night of their marriage. The angel bade him be of good courage, for these sudden deaths had been the punishment of their ungoverned passions; and he promised Tobias that if he would but obey the rules he laid down, and lay the liver of the fish on the fire the day he was married, the devil should have no power to hurt him. As the angel had foretold, so it came to pass. Raguel, though at first doubting, encouraged by the angel, gave his daughter to Tobias, who joined with his bride in prayer and mortification for the Divine protection; and though Raguel, still afraid, had even prepared a grave for his new son-in-law, expecting his untimely death, the blessing of God rested on them. Gabelus, also, gratefully paid his debt; and leaving his bride to follow, Tobias, with his angel-guardian, returned to his father's house. There his aged parents welcomed him; and the young man, by the angel's orders, touched his father's eyes with the gall of the fish, and immediately the lost sight was restored. Sara now rejoined her husband; and amidst the rejoicings of the household and their kinsfolk, Tobias and his son entreated the angel to receive the half of all their possessions, in payment for his services. Then, at length, he made himself known, telling them that he was Raphael, one of the seven spirits who stand before the throne of God; and as they fell prostrate on the ground, he disappeared from before their eyes. Tobias the elder then prophesied the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and gave thanks to God for all His mercies. He lived to a great age, and his son returned to Rages, where he lived protected by God and honoured by man. CHAP. II. The Prophet Ezechiel. IN the fifth year of the captivity of King Joachin in Babylon, Almighty God gave a commission to one of the captives, Ezechiel, of the priestly race, to announce the Divine will to his fellow-countrymen in their bondage. An awful vision displayed to him, under mysterious images, the majesty and glory of the Lord of hosts. The prophet relates what he beheld in the beginning of the book which contains his predictions, and the message he received from God. I saw, he says, and behold, a whirlwind came out of the north and a great cloud, and a fire infolding it, and brightness was about it: and out of the midst thereof, that is, out of the midst of the fire, as it were the resemblance of amber: and in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures: and this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them. Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their foot : was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the appearance of glowing brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides: and they had faces and wings on four sides. And the wings of one were joined to the wings of another. They turned not when they went; but every one went straight forward. And as for the likeness of their faces : there was the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side of all the four; and the face of an ox, on the left side of all the four; and the face of an eagle over all the four. And their faces and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies and every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse of the spirit was to go, thither they went: and they turned not when they went. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the fire. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of lightning. Now as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared upon the earth by the living creatures one wheel with four faces. And the appearance of the wheels, and the work of them, was like the appearance of the sea: and the four had all one likeness and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went by their four parts; and they turned not when they went. The wheels had also a size, and a height, and a dreadful appearance: and the whole body was full of eyes round about all the four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels also went together by them and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels also were lifted up with them. Whithersoever the spirit went, thither as the spirit went the wheels also were lifted withal, and followed it; for the spirit of life was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels also were lifted up together, and followed them for the spirit of life was in the wheels. And over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of the firmament, as the appearance of crystal terrible to behold, and stretched out over their heads above. And under their firmament were their wings straight the one toward the other: every one with two wings covered his body; and the other was covered in like manner. And I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, as it were the voice of the most high God: when they walked, it was like the voice of a multitude, like the noise of an army; and when they stood, their wings were let down. For when a voice came from above the firmament, that was over their heads, they stood, and let down their wings. And above the firmament, that was over their heads, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of the sapphirestone and upon the likeness of the throne, was a likeness as of the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as it were the resemblance of amber, as the appearance of fire within it round about: from his loins and upward, and from his loins downward, I saw as it were the resemblance of fire shining round about. As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy day; this was the appearance of the brightness round about. : This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fell upon my face; and I heard the voice of one that spoke. And he said to me : Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee. And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet and I heard him speaking to me, and saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people that hath revolted from me: they and their fathers have transgressed my covenant even unto this day. And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of an obstinate heart; and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provoking house and they shall know that there hath been a prophet in the midst of them. And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest with scorpions. Fear not their words; neither be thou dismayed at their looks: for they are a provoking house. And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear; for they provoke me to anger. But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me; open thy mouth, and eat what I give thee. And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up: and he spread it before me, and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe. And he said to me: Son of man, eat all that thou shalt find: eat this book, and go speak to the children of Israel. And I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that book: and he said to me: Son of man, thy belly shall eat, and thy bowels shall be filled with this book which I give thee. And I did eat it: and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. CHAP. II. The Vision of the Dry Bones. THUS was the prophet commissioned to receive the words of God, and to declare them to the people in their captivity. Taught by the Spirit of the Lord, he warned them of the utter destruction which was coming upon Jerusalem, for as yet Sedechias reigned in Judæa, as a tributary to Babylon; he promised also their future restoration, the final desolation of their heathen conquerors, and the general mercy of God towards all penitent sinners, with the vengeance He would execute on the obstinately guilty. Many visions were vouchsafed him by God, symbolically representing the dealings of the Almighty with His people, and foreshadowing not only the restoration |