children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with anathema."

Where else is there reference to the coming of Elias?

In the Book of the Revelation, where mention is made of the two " witnesses" who are to prophecy for a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, are afterwards to be slain, and their bodies to lie in the streets of the great city which is called, spiritually, Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord also was crucified, and who after three days and a half, are to receive from God the Spirit of Life, to rise from the dead, and, in the sight of their enemies, to go up into heaven.-Rev., xi. 3-12.

If Elias be one of these witnesses, who is the other, according to the tradition of the Church? The prophet Henoch.

Is there not a further mention of Elias in the Gospel?

Yes; in the account of our Lord's Transfiguration. "After six days, Jesus taketh unto Him, Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart; and He was transfigured before them. And His Face did shine as the sun, and His garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him."-Matt. xvii. 1-3.

Do you know what they were talking about? About the Lord's death, which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem.

After the Transfiguration, His disciples took occasion to question Him about Elias?

They asked Him: "Why, then, do the Scribes say that Elias must come first ?" And what answer did our Lord make?

"Elias, indeed, shall come, and restore all things. But I say to you, that Elias is already come, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they had a mind. So, also, the Son of Man shall suffer from them."Matt. xvii. 10-12.

How did our Lord's disciples understand these latter words?

"Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them of John the Baptist."-Matt. xvii. 13.

CHAPTER LXXXII.

THE HISTORY OF ACHAB CONTINUED.

After Elias had brought rain upon the land, Achab became involved in war. With whom? With Benadad, King of Syria, who wantonly sought a quarrel with the King of Israel.

How often did Achab defeat him?

Twice. God, for His own glory, gave the Syrians into the hands of the Israelites. Before the first defeat, a prophet thus addressed Achab: "Hast thou seen all this exceeding great multitude? behold I will deliver them into thy hand this day, that thou mayst know that I am the Lord."

To what cause did the servants of Benadad attribute their first defeat?

"Their Gods

They said of the Israelites : are Gods of the hills, therefore they have overcome us; but it is better that we should fight against them in the plains, and we shall overcome them."-3 Kings, xx. 23.

What message did God send Achab in reference to this saying of the servants of Benadad?

A prophet came to him, and said: "Thus saith the Lord: Because the Syrians have said, the Lord is God of the hills, but is not God of the valleys I will deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord."-3 Kings, xx. 28.

Which side was the most numerous ?

The Syrians. When both armies were drawn up opposite to each other, the Israelites "were like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the land."

How did Achab offend God, after his second victory?

He spared Benadad, and made a league with him contrary to the Will of God.

And how did the prophet reprove him?

"Then a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his companion in the word of the Lord Strike me, but he would not strike. Then he said to him: Because thou wouldst not hearken to the Word of the Lord, behold thou shalt depart from me, and a lion shall slay thee. And when he was gone a little from him, a lion found him, and slew him. Then he found another man, and said to him: Strike

me.

And be struck him, and wounded him. So the prophet went and met the king in the way, and disguised himself by sprinkling dust on his face and on his eyes. And as the king passed by, he cried to the king, and said: Thy servant went out to fight hand to hand; and when a certain man was run away, one brought him to me, and said: Keep this man; and if he shall slip away, thy life shall be for his life, or thou shalt pay a talent of silver. And whilst I, being troubled, turned this way and that, on a sudden he was not to be seen. Aud the King of Israel said to him: This is thy judgment, which thyself hast decreed. But he forthwith wiped off the dust from his face, and the King of Israel knew him, that he was one of the prophets. And he said to him, thus saith the Lord Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man worthy of death, thy life shall be for his life, and thy people for his people. And the King of Israel returned to his house, slighting to hear, and raging came into Samaria."3 Kings, xx. 35-43.

CHAPTER LXXXIII.

THE VINEYARD OF NABOTH.

Who was Naboth?

He was a Jezrahelite, who was in Jezrahel, and who had at that time a vineyard near the palace of Achab, King of Samaria.

Achab desired to have this vineyard? Yes; to make of it a garden of herbs, be cause it was near his palace.

What did he offer in exchange for it?

He offered a better vineyard, or the worth of it in money.

Did Naboth accept this offer?

Naboth answered him: "The Lord be merciful to me, and not let me give thee the inheritance of my fathers."

How was Achab afflicted at this answer?

"He came into his house angry and fretted, and casting himself upon his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and would eat no bread."-3 Kings, xxi. 4.

When Jezabel, his wife, saw Achab in this state, what did she say?

She first asked him why he was so grieved; and when he told her, she spoke to him in these mocking words: "Thou art of great authority indeed, and governest well the kingdom of Israel. Arise and eat bread, and be of good cheer; I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezrahelite."

How did she proceed to effect her purpose?

She wrote a letter to the chief men of the city where Naboth dwelt, in these words: "Proclaim a fast, and make Naboth sit among the chief of the people. And suborn two men, sons of Belial, against him; and let them bear false witness: that he hath blasphemed God and the king: and then carry him out and stone him, and let him die."