Xenophon, an Athenian historian, who wrote about 400 B.C., and who had joined the expedition of Cyrus the Younger, King of Persia, against Artaxerxes, tells- in his Cyropaedia (Book 3, Chap. 1)-of the king taking prisoner the wife, daughters and daughter-in-law of an Armenian king. Fearing for their safety, he had sent them away to the mountains. They were, however, discovered and captured. Tigranes, the eldest son of the king, had married, and his wife was among the prisoners. Returning from an expedition and discovering that his wife was in the enemy's hands, he at once sought the presence of Cyrus. After pleading for his wife, the prince was asked by King Cyrus:"At what price would you purchase the liberty of your wife?" Tigranes at once replied, "To save her from servitude, I would ransom her at the expense of my life."

A noble answer surely. Cyrus, evidently affected by it, told him to take his own to himself, and royally and hospitably entertained them all before they departed. It is said that on their return, all spoke of Cyrus. One spoke of his wisdom, another of his mildness, others of his stature and beauty. At length Tigranes asked his wife:"And what did you think of Cyrus?" To which she replied, "Truly, I did not think of him; I only thought of him who said that to save me from servitude, he would ransom me at the expense of his own life."

This was devotion indeed, yet even this necessarily sinks into utter insignificance when compared to the loving devotion of our Lord Jesus Christ! That we might be delivered from the bondage of sin and Satan, He gave Himself to the death of the cross, laid down His life voluntarily a sacrifice for sin, paying the price of our redemption, to set us eternally free from the dominion of sin and death,

"Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my life, my soul, my all."

Can we not understand the sentiments of the princess, when she said:"I only thought of him who said that to save me from servitude, he would ransom me at the expense of his life!" Would she not delight in the self-sacrificing love of her husband, who would have given himself for her redemption? And can we ever be unmindful of that wondrous love which went all the way to Calvary and its anguish of suffering, that we might be freed? Will we not ever say, even when in the glory:"He died that we might live." "Greater love hath no man than this, that a Man lay down His life for His friends." J. W. H. N.