menced. "Then" says the sacred historian "the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven." The land of the plain was full of pits, filled with a substance of a highly inflammable nature, which becoming ignited or set on fire by the lightening, here called brimstone and fire, consumed the devoted cities. There can be little doubt but that earthquakes accompanied this terrible judgment, and that by this means what is called 'the dead sea' was formed, of which you shall have an account in some future number. Lot, who was still fearful, although assured of the divine protection, left Zoar, and retired with his daughters into a cave in the mountains, where he got intoxicated with wine, and fell into grievous sin, and the evening of his days is buried in impenetrable obscurity and darkness.

From this circumstance let us learn, first, to prefer a situation of piety and virtue to one of irreligion and vice, though accompanied with the most promising worldly advantage; second, let us ever be careful to keep God's commandments, and to remember His gracious exhortation to "Remember Lot's wife;" third, let us ever be ready, like Abraham, to use all lawful means to assist those who are in difficulty and distress, and always to do so without any selfish ends of our own; and, fourth, let us learn that the way of duty is the only way of safety, and let us ever imitate the example of the Lord himself, who, when on earth, addressing his indwelling divinity, said "not my will but Thine be done."

ALPHA.

Where and how to get Kiches.

Come, children, listen to my voice

While young in years; oh, make your choice Of wisdom's way, because 'tis found,

In them true pleasures do abound.

Not all the wealth of Prince or King,

If they into your lap would fling,
Could make you happy evermore,
Although possessed of such a store.

Yea, could you gain this wealthy globe,

And be array'd in royal robe;

What then if you possess'd the whole,
And were, at last, to lose your soul?

Choice gold or rubies, topaz rare,
With wisdom's wealth cannot compare ;
And houses, lands, or honors,-fame,

Can ne'er eternal mansions claim.

136

WHERE AND HOW TO GET RICHES.

But search God's word, there you will find,

The best of riches for the mind;

For those who seek the Lord declares,

Shall find-in answer to their prayers.

Thus Solomon the Lord besaught,
And with true wisdom he was fraught;

And Timothy and Samuel too,

In wisdom and in stature grew.

This is the wealth that shall endure,
When time itself shall be no more,
No rust can canker-moth destroy,
Nor is it mixt with base alloy !

G. I. HUTCHINGS.

First Persecution of the Christians.

(From a new work entitled The Lives of the Fathers, Saints, and Martyrs, of the early Christian Church.)

THE heathen world made its first open attack upon the early Christians under the cruel Nero-a tyrant whose name became proverbial, even among the heathen, for all that was abominable in impurity and fearful in cruelty, -to him belongs the evil pre-eminence of being the first great persecutor of the church. In the year 64, a great fire happened at Rome, which burnt down ten districts out of the fourteen into which the city was divided. Nero was strongly suspected of having caused the conflagration; but he tried to silence the report by turning the fury of the citizens against the Christians. The rapid growth of Christianity raised against it many enemies who were interested in its suppression. It had gained so many followers that such persons began to be seriously alarmed. The Emperor himself cared little about their ancient superstitions, which they dignified by the name of religion, but he cared still less for the sufferings of the Christians, if he could make the

people believe they had set fire to Rome.

The populace, at all times easily excited, were induced to believe this accusation and to demand their blood.

The emperor's gardens were used as a circus for the occasion; and this remorseless tyrant, disgraced himself and human nature, by taking a part in the games, while the Christians were tortured by new and barbarous inventions, to furnish amusement for the spectators. Humanity shudders to hear of these innocent victims being enclosed in the skins of beasts, that they might be torn in pieces by dogs; or covered with pitch and other inflammatory materials, that they might serve as torches to dispel the darkness of the night.

This persecution was not confined to the city of Rome: it spread throughout the empire; and an inscription found in Spain, proves to us at once two important points,that the gospel had already penetrated that country, -and, that the church there also, at this early period, had her martyrs.

This tremendous persecution lasted nearly four years, for in the year 68, this remorseless tyrant was himself summoned by a dreadful death, before the divine tribunal. St. Peter and St. Paul being both at Rome, were imprisoned. Paul was called upon to make a public defence, but, as might have been expected, all defence was useless, he was ordered to be beheaded; that mode of punishment having been selected out of regard for his being a citizen of Rome. St. Peter suffered martyrdom on the same day with his brother Apostle; but