AMONG eastern nations it always has been usual to bring presents when people visit one another; they never appear before a prince or great man without having something to offer. We may find instances of this in the Bible; as Jacob, see Gen. xliii. 11, also Ehud, Hazael, Naaman, Abigail, the wife of Jeroboam; also the wise men who came from the east to see Jesus Christ, and many others. This mark of respect still is always necessary, and, however small or mean the gift may be, it is accepted as a proof of attention. Thus, 1 Sam. ix. 7, we observe Saul's anxiety; "If we go, what shall we bring the man of God? -there is not a present," &c. At length his servant, producing the fourth part of a shekel, (about sixpence,) said, "That will I give to the man of God." Modern travellers tell us that, even when poor people visit, they bring a flower or fruit, or some such trifle. One person tells us of a present of fifty radishes; and when Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, had agreed, at the request of a chief, to take a poor sick Arab with him for a great distance, the poor

man presented him with a dirty cloth, containing about ten dates. Bruce remarks, that he mentions this to show how important and necessary presents are considered in the east; whether they be dates or diamonds, a man thinks it necessary to offer something. This may explain Rabshakeh's advice, 2 Kings xviii. 31.

The higher the rank of the persons to whom the present is brought, the greater it is expected to be. The Queen of Sheba, Naaman, and Berodach Baladan offered large presents. Thus, the offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, all of which were very precious, presented by the wise men of the east, was a mark of their high respect for Him to whose presence they were led by the wondrous star which had appeared.

There is always much attention to forms in the east. In visiting, the place and even the method of sitting are matters of importance. The seat at the corner of the room is most honourable; visitors are placed there to whom it is intended to show particular respect. Conversation is generally very reserved and grave. It appears to have been so in ancient times: see Prov. x. 19, and many other texts in that book.

When a person visited another, he did not rudely enter the house at once, but he stood at the door and called aloud, or knocked, and waited till he was admitted: see 2 Kings v. 9; Acts x. 17; xii. 13, 16. This is alluded to in those beautiful texts, Rev. iii. 20; Matt. vii. 7. My dear readers, Christ is, as it were, waiting and knocking at the door of your hearts; will not you admit him? Beware of refusing him or neglecting to receive him.

When visitors were persons of rank or importance, it was usual to send persons to meet them, as Balak sent the princes of Moab to meet Balaam, Numb. xxii. 15.

Visitors were always received with respect, and attention was always shown to them at parting. Abraham showed great respect to his three angelic visitors. On the arrival of guests, water was brought to wash their feet and hands, Gen. xviii. 4; xix. 2; and they were often anointed with oil, Psa. xxiii. 5.

This was the custom in our Saviour's time; we read that Mary Magdalene broke an alabaster box, or bottle, full of precious ointment, and poured it upon his head and his feet. The words Christ spoke to Simon respecting her behaviour, shows what was the proper and respectful manner of receiving guests, which Simon seems to have neglected: "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss; but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment," Matt. xxvi. 7; Luke vii. 44--46; see also Prov. xxvii. 9.

When guests are departing, it is the custom to burn perfumes, (perhaps referred to in Dan. ii. 46,) or sometimes they are sprinkled with sweet-scented water. Bruce describes having been wetted to the skin with orangeflower water, thrown over him as a mark of honour, when he was leaving the presence of a great man. If they were ambassadors or persons of rank, it was usual to give them clothes, as mentioned before; a great many garments were kept ready for this purpose. Joseph gave raiment to his brethren, Gen. xlv. 22; see also Judg. xiv. 12, 19; 2 Kings v. 5; Rev. vi. 11, &c.

To this custom, for great men to bestow raiment upon

their guests, our Lord refers, Matt. xxii. 11-13. It was common for the guests, at marriage feasts, to appear in splendid dresses; but as the guests in the parable had neither time nor ability to prepare themselves, the king supplied them with robes for the occasion; this he might easily do, from the large quantity of clothes great men possessed. Now, there could be no greater disrespect than to refuse a present from a superior, as the guest mentioned did, who was so foolish and obstinate as to prefer his own ragged and shabby clothes to the dress that was provided for him. The eastern monarchs have power to command whatever they please, and we cannot be surprised to find this guest was considered a rebel against the king's command, and an enemy, and treated accordingly. In how lively a manner this represents to us the bounty of our heavenly King, and our sinful and wretched state by nature! Let us earnestly seek for the robe of the righteousness of Christ; see Rev. xix. 8; and beware how we pride ourselves on our own filthy ragged state: lest, like the guest mentioned in the parable, we should find ourselves cast out. Remember the advice, Rev. iii. 18, and go to Him who "waiteth to be gracious."

An ambassador in the east tells us, that he was invited, with his companions, to dine once with an eastern monarch. The interpreter told them that it was the custom that they should wear, over their own garments, the best of those which the king had sent them. At first they hesitated, and did not like to have their own robes hidden; but being told that it was expected from all ambassadors, and that the king would be much displeased if they came into his presence without his robes, they complied. The knowledge of this custom assists to explain the parable.

THE Jews rose about the dawn of the day, which, in their country, does not differ so much in the summer and winter as it does in England. They dined about eleven, and supped about five o'clock in the afternoon. These were the hours at which our ancestors dined and supped, till about two hundred years ago. "To rise early," is an expression often used as meaning to be diligent, either in good or in evil. My young readers will easily be able to say, who among their companions are most diligent; those who rise early, or those who rise late.

We often find it mentioned of good men, that when they desired to fulfil the will of God, they rose early. Abraham, Gen. xxii. 3, when, for the trial of his faith, he was commanded to offer up Isaac, "rose up early" in the morning : this shows how ready he was to do the will of God, though very painful to him. Thus Jacob, Gen. xxviii. 18, and Moses, Exod. xxiv. 4. Joshua had much to do, and is often spoken of as rising early, Josh. iii. 1; vi. 12; vii. 16; viii. 10; see also 1 Sam. xv. 12. David rose early to fulfil his father's order, 1 Sam. xvii. 20. Job, to sacrifice for his children, Job i. 5. King Darius, to inquire after