Manasseh made his people to err, and to do worse than the heathen whom the Lord had destroyed, but "when he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly," and God "heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem, into his kingdom." God is so merciful he will hear and pardon all who truly repent.

Josiah was a very young king; he destroyed the images and altars of idolatry throughout the land. A book of the law of Moses was found, and Josiah caused it to be read. Huldah the prophetess declared that the Lord would bring the evils on Judah which were written in the book. The people made a covenant to obey the Lord.

The book of the law showed that the people had forsaken the Lord, and that punishment would come upon them. But the gracious message sent to Josiah was, "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst

humble thyself before God when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof.... thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace." II. Chron. xxxiv. 27, 28.

Lesson 114. Prophecies of Zephaniah and Jeremiah.

Zephaniah prophesied against those who had turned back from the Lord, and those who had not sought the Lord. He also declared God's judgments against heathen nations. Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, a priest was commanded to reprove the Jews for their idolatries, and to exhort them to repentance.

Jeremiah was ordained as a prophet before he was born; but when the word of the Lord came to him, he said, “Ah, Lord God! behold I cannot speak, for I am a child." But the Lord said, "Say not I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." Jeremiah i. 6, 7.

Lesson 115. Josiah is Slain.

Josiah went out to fight against Necho, king of Egypt. Necho wished Josiah not to meddle in the war, as he was not at war with Judah. Josiah would not return, and he was wounded and died. All his people mourned exceedingly for him. Jehoahaz, his son, was made king, but he was deposed by Necho, who made Jehoiakim king.

At this time Habakkuk prophesied, and thus expressed his confidence in God, "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk iii. 17, 18.

Lesson 116. The Predictions of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah predicted the speedy captivity of the Jews, and the des

olation of their country. He also declared that Jehoiakim should die unlamented, and be cast forth from Jerusalem. The priests and the people accused Jeremiah to the princes, but he called on them to repent, and the princes would not. consent to his death.

"I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant..... I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them till I have consumed them." Jeremiah ix. 11; 16.

Lesson 117. Of Nebuchadnezzar.

Jeremiah again reproved reproved the people of Judah; he declared that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, would destroy them, and make the land desolate. Jeremiah then wrote

in a book the prophecies which the Lord had spoken against Israel and Judah. Nebuchadnezzar came

against Jerusalem, as Jeremiah had foretold.

"This whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." Jeremiah xxv. 11.

Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jehoiakim, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon; he "also carried off the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon." 11. Chron. xxxvi. 7.