s to the
children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just.

He tarried long in the temple, and what wonder! The people would have
ceased to marvel at the long suspense, could they have known the cause
of the delay. Presently he came out; but when he essayed to pronounce
the customary blessing his lips were dumb. He made signs as he reached
forth his hands in the attitude of benediction; but that day no
blessing fell on their upturned faces. He continued making signs unto
them and remained dumb. Dumb, because he questioned the likelihood of
so good and gracious an answer. Dumb, because he believed not the
archangel's words. Dumb, that he might learn in silence and solitude
the full purposes of God, to set them presently to song. Dumb, that
the tidings might not spread as yet. Dumb, as the representative of
that wonderful system, which for so long had spoken to mankind with
comparatively little result, but was now to be superseded by the Word
of God.

With the light of that glory on his face, and those sweet notes of
"Fear not" ringing in his heart, Zacharias continued to fulfil the
duties of his ministration, and, when his work was fulfilled, departed
unto his house. But that day was long remembered by the people,
prelude as it was to the time when their blessings would no longer come
from Ebal or Gerizim, but from Calvary; and when the great High Priest
would utter from heaven the ancient words:

The Lord bless thee and keep thee.
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

III.

His Schools and Schoolmasters.

(LUKE 1.)

"Oh to have watched thee through the vineyards wander,
Pluck the ripe ears, and into evening roam!--
Followed, and known that in the twilight yonder
Legions of angels shone about thy home!"
F. W. H. MYERS.

Home-Life--Preparing for his Life-Work--The Vow of Separation--A Child of
the Desert

Zacharias and Elisabeth had probably almost ceased to pray for a child,
or to urge the matter. It seemed useless to pray further. There had
been no heaven-sent sign to assure them that there was any likelihood of
their prayer being answered, and nature seemed to utter a final No; when
suddenly the angel of God broke into the commonplace of their life, like
a meteorite into the unrippled water of a mountain-sheltered lake,
bringing the assurance tha