A PROPHET DESTROYED BY A LION. AFTER the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam became king, but he was a haughty and tyrannical man, so the Israelites deposed him and elected Jeroboam, who did not belong to the family of Solomon, to reign over them instead. But Jeroboam was not grateful for his good fortune; he forsook the worship of the Almighty, and made two golden calves, and presenting them to the people, exclaimed, "Behold thy gods, O Israel."

One day Jeroboam was offering incense to his ridiculous golden god, when a prophet approached the altar and sternly denounced his impious proceedings. Jeroboam was enraged, and thrust forth his hand to seize the holy man. But the Lord wrought a miracle in favour of his prophet, and the king's hand instantly withered, and his arm became like that of a dead man's. The sinful monarch was at once convinced that he had offended God, and having entreated the holy man to pray for him, his hand became restored to health again.

Grateful for his recovery, Jeroboam said to the prophet, "Come home with me and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward." The man of God declined this invitation, because the Lord had commanded him neither to eat or drink in Beth-el, and he departed from the king. Returning to his home he was overtaken by an aged man who persuaded him to go with him to his house and refresh himself. For this disobedience to the commands of God he met with a terrible punishment; for when he again renewed his journey he was killed by a fierce lion.

JEROBOAM'S WIFE.

AFTER Jeroboam's withered hand was healed, he made light of the circumstance and soon returned to his idolatry. For this God punished him by smiting his child with an incurable disorder. The king dearly loved his afflicted boy, so he sent his wife in disguise to Ahijah the prophet, to inquire if the child would die.

The holy seer was blind from extreme age, but God had revealed to him that the wife of the king would visit him, and also what he should say to her. Thus, when the prophet heard her footsteps at the threshold, he called aloud, "Come in thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another?" The queen was surprised and abashed at being thus discovered, but she was struck with grief and terror at the tidings he had to reveal to her. Ahijah reminded her that the Lord had bestowed the kingdom upon her husband, who had most ungratefully left the worship of the one true God, and given himself and the people up to idolatry. For this reason, not only should his child die, but the Lord would raise up another king over Israel to destroy Jeroboam and his family utterly.

Stricken to the heart, the sad mother turned away from the dwelling of the prophet, and reached home to find her child a corpse. He died as her foot touched the threshold; never would she hear his sweet plaintive voice again; never whisper soft words of consolation to him in suffering; never again behold his gentle, thankful smile. His features were rigid and cold; his eyes were closed and his voice was hushed for ever. The dignity of the queen was forgotten in the anguish of the woman, and the wife of Jeroboam wept long and bitterly. Such are the consequences of sin; the innocent are too frequently involved in the punishment of the guilty.