text: UFDC Home | Help | RSS TABLE OF CONTENTS HIDE Front Cover Frontispiece Title Page Introduction Table of Contents List of Illustrations First Sunday in the new year Second Sunday Third Sunday Fourth Sunday Fifth Sunday Sixth Sunday Seventh Sunday Eighth Sunday Ninth Sunday Tenth Sunday -- Easter Day Eleventh Sunday Twelfth Sunday Thirteenth Sunday Fourteenth Sunday Fifteenth Sunday Sixteenth Sunday Seventeenth Sunday Eighteenth Sunday Nineteenth Sunday Twentieth Sunday Twenty-first Sunday Twenty-second Sunday Twenty-third Sunday Twenty-fourth Sunday Twenty-fifth Sunday Twenty-sixth Sunday Twenty-seventh Sunday Twenty-eighth Sunday Twenty-ninth Sunday Thirtieth Sunday Thirty-first Sunday Thirty-second Sunday Thirty-third Sunday Thirty-fourth Sunday Thirty-fifth Sunday Thirty-sixth Sunday Thirty-seventh Sunday Thirty-eighth Sunday Thirty-ninth Sunday Fortieth Sunday Forty-first Sunday Forty-second Sunday Forty-third Sunday Forty-fourth Sunday Forty-fifth Sunday Forty-sixth Sunday Forty-seventh Sunday Forty-eighth Sunday Forty-ninth Sunday Fiftieth Sunday Fifty-first Sunday Fifty-second Sunday Back Matter Back Cover Spine Title: Aunt Charlotte's stories of Bible history for the children CITATION THUMBNAILS PAGE TURNER PAGE IMAGE ZOOMABLE Full Citation STANDARD VIEW MARC VIEW Permanent Link: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00087585/00001 Material Information Title: Aunt Charlotte's stories of Bible history for the children designed for the 52 Sundays in the year, containing over 100 stories from the Holy Book, embracing instructive historical events from the Old and New Testaments Alternate Title: Aunt Charlotte's stories in Bible history easy steps for young disciplesEasy steps for young disciples Physical Description: 252, 16 p., 3 leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 26 cm. Language: English Creator: Yonge, Charlotte Mary, 1823-1901John C. Winston Company ( Publisher ) Publisher: John C. Winston & Co. Place of Publication: Philadelphia ;Chicago ;Toronto Publication Date: c1898 Subjects Subject: Bible stories, English -- Juvenile literature ( lcsh )Bldn -- 1898 Genre: non-fiction ( marcgt ) Spatial Coverage: United States -- Pennsylvania -- PhiladelphiaUnited States -- Illinois -- ChicagoCanada -- Ontario -- Toronto Notes Statement of Responsibility: by Charlotte M. Yonge ; embellished with nearly 100 fine engravings, color plates, half-tones, woodcuts and pen drawings made especally for this volume. General Note: Date of publication on t.p. verso. General Note: Frontispiece and plates printed in colors. Record Information Bibliographic ID: UF00087585 Volume ID: VID00001 Source Institution: University of Florida Rights Management: All rights reserved by the source institution and holding location. Resource Identifier: aleph - 002225279notis - ALG5551oclc - 263146132 Table of Contents Front Cover Front Cover 1 Front Cover 2 Frontispiece Frontispiece Title Page Title Page 1 Title Page 2 Introduction Page 11 Page 12 Table of Contents Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 List of Illustrations Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 First Sunday in the new year Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Second Sunday Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Third Sunday Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Fourth Sunday Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 40a Page 40b Page 41 Page 42 Fifth Sunday Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Sixth Sunday Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Seventh Sunday Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Eighth Sunday Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Ninth Sunday Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Tenth Sunday -- Easter Day Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Eleventh Sunday Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Twelfth Sunday Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Thirteenth Sunday Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Fourteenth Sunday Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Fifteenth Sunday Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Sixteenth Sunday Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Seventeenth Sunday Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Eighteenth Sunday Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Nineteenth Sunday Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Twentieth Sunday Page 120 Page 121 Twenty-first Sunday Page 122 Page 123 Twenty-second Sunday Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Twenty-third Sunday Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Twenty-fourth Sunday Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Twenty-fifth Sunday Page 134 Page 134a Page 134b Page 135 Twenty-sixth Sunday Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Twenty-seventh Sunday Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Twenty-eighth Sunday Page 143 Page 144 Twenty-ninth Sunday Page 145 Page 146 Thirtieth Sunday Page 147 Page 148 Page 149 Thirty-first Sunday Page 150 Page 151 Thirty-second Sunday Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 154a Page 154b Thirty-third Sunday Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 Thirty-fourth Sunday Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Thirty-fifth Sunday Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 Page 168 Thirty-sixth Sunday Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Thirty-seventh Sunday Page 172 Page 172a Page 172b Page 173 Page 174 Thirty-eighth Sunday Page 175 Page 176 Page 176a Page 177 Page 178 Thirty-ninth Sunday Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182 Fortieth Sunday Page 183 Page 184 Page 185 Page 186 Page 187 Page 188 Forty-first Sunday Page 189 Page 190 Page 191 Page 192 Forty-second Sunday Page 193 Page 194 Page 195 Forty-third Sunday Page 196 Page 196a Page 196b Page 197 Page 198 Page 198a Forty-fourth Sunday Page 199 Page 200 Page 201 Forty-fifth Sunday Page 202 Page 203 Page 204 Page 204a Page 204b Forty-sixth Sunday Page 205 Page 206 Page 207 Forty-seventh Sunday Page 208 Page 209 Page 210 Forty-eighth Sunday Page 211 Page 212 Page 212a Page 212b Page 213 Forty-ninth Sunday Page 214 Page 215 Fiftieth Sunday Page 216 Page 217 Page 218 Page 219 Page 220 Page 220a Page 220b Fifty-first Sunday Page 221 Page 222 Page 223 Page 224 Page 225 Fifty-second Sunday Page 248 Page 249 Page 250 Page 251 Page 252 Back Matter Back Matter Back Cover Back Cover 1 Back Cover 2 Spine Spine Full Text 4 1 Ar r:i7- . . . . ?' '; i` *' ** " r -. '' ai~i Th- -. I, Ni 2 _ __ _ ''hn, s;-..~ TAN AUNT HARLOTTE'S STORIES OF BIBLE HISTORY FOR THE CHILDREN DESIGNED FOR THE 52 SUNDAYS IN THE YEAR CONTAINING OVER 100 STORIES FROM THE HOLY BOOK EMBRACING INSTRUCTIVE HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS BY CHARLOTTE VIM. YONGE [THE NOTED AUTHOR AND MISSIONARIES' FRIEND] EMBELLISHED WITH NEARLY I00 FINE ENGRAVINGS Color Plates, Half-Tones, Woodcuts and Pen Drawings Made Especially for This Volume PUBLISHED BY JOHN C. WINSTON & CO. PHILADELPHIA CHICAGO TORONTO Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year x898, by W. E. SCULL, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washingtomn AUl rights reserved. ALL Pg SONS ARE WARNED NOT TO INFRINGE UPON OUR COPYRIGHT BY USING EITHER TPYW MATTER OR THE PICTURES IN THIS VOLUME, INTRODUCTION. AUNT CHARLOTTE was a maiden lady who had for many years been living in the East, teaching school. -7-- She had, also, been all her 7 life a great Sunday-school worker, and had taught the i Infant, or Primary Depart- ment in her home church since she was a very young Slady. She almost knew the S Bible by heart," so everybody [ said, and the older people used to come to the Infant Class room to hear her ex- ,I ,-plain it. As for Bible stories, there was not one of them all that WhM she did not know as well ,. as she- did her A-B-C's, for she had told them over hun- dreds of times to her little scholars and friends. In the year 1898 Aunt Charlotte concluded to visit her sister in a far Western State, and it was this visit which caused this book to be written. Her sister had three very pretty and interesting children- two girls and one boy; Clara was ten years old, Willie was eight, INTRODUCTION. and "Little Anna," as everybody called her, was almost six when Aunt Charlotte arrived. They had heard their mother tell of wonderful Aunt Charlotte, and so they longed to listen to some of her stories about everything, and especially about the Bible. They were not disappointed. Every day she told them about heroes and fairies, and the beautiful countries and strange people across the seas, and she also heard their lessons. She said she would save all her Bible stories for Sunday, and to make up for not telling them any during the week, she would tell them three short stories every Sunday-one after breakfast, one after dinner, and one after supper-if they would listen right well and try to answer the questions she would ask them after each story. They all promised they would do the very best they could. And she planned her stories so she could take them all through the Bible in the fifty-two Sundays in the year,-for she came to stay a whole year with them,-and have them learn about the great people and great things that happened in Bible times. So that is the very way they began; and if you, my little readers, will do like Clara and Willie and little Anna did, and mother or father or some auntie or big sister will dp like Aunt Charlotte did, when you get through this book you will know a great deal, and will say, as these children did at the end of the year, that Sundays with "Aunt Charlotte's Stories of Bible History" have been the very happiest days you have had. Of course, you may begin and read it straight through, as many boys and girls do, in a week or two, if you prefer; but it is very nice to read it every Sunday, just as Aunt Charlotte told the stories. CONTENTS. PAGE FIRST SUNDAY IN THE NEW YEAR. The Making of the World . .. 19 Making the First Man and Woman, ... 21 The Sea and the Tides . ... 23 SECOND SUNDAY. How Sin Began . . ... 25 The Flood and Noah's Ark . ... 26 The Going Down of the Flood, ... .29 THIRD SUNDAY. The Rainbow ........... 31 Abraham, Who Trusted God ...... .32 Abraham and Lot, . . 34 FOURTH SUNDAY. Lot's Wonderful Escape .. . ... 37 Abraham's Son Isaac, . .. 39 Isaac's Wedding . . 41 FIFTH SUNDAY. How Esau Lost His Birthright, ... .43 Jacob's Journey and Dream . ... 47 Jacob and Esau Meet Again . ... 48 SIXTH SUNDAY. Joseph in Egypt . . 50 Joseph a Slave . . ... 52 Joseph Tells the Meaning of Dreams, 54 SEVENTH SUNDAY. Joseph's Brothers . . 56 Joseph's Brothers'Go Again-to Egypt, .58 Joseph Makes Himself Known, ... .59 EIGHTH SUNDAY. 1 The Baby in the River, ....... 62 Moses and Aaron before the King, 64 How God Punished the King, ... .67 NINTH SUNDAY. The Plagues of Egypt . .... 68 Death of the Sheep and Cows and Worse Trouble . . . 69 Last and Most Sorrowful Punishment, 70 TENTH SUNDAY. The Passover, ... . .... 71 The Passover and Easter Day, .. 72 Going Out of Egypt .. . ... 73 ELEVENTH SUNDAY. Wicked Men Swallowed Up . . Korah and His Friends Burnt to Death, How They Made High Priests, .... TWELFTH SUNDAY. Moses Bringing Water Out of the Rock, The Serpents that Bit the People, . Food Sent from Heaven . . THIRTEENTH SUNDAY. Balaam and the Wicked King, .... Balak and Balaam Brought to Shame, . Balaam's Tricks and Punishment, ... FOURTEENTH SUNDAY. God Speaks to Moses . .. More About Moses on the Mountain, Moses' Long Stay on the Mountain, .. FIFTEENTH SUNDAY. How Moses Saw God . . Two Dangerous Idols . . The False Spies and Disobedient People, SIXTEENTH SUNDAY. God's Anger at Moses . . Moses' Death and Burial, . . Joshua Made Captain . . SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY. Crossing Over Jordan . . The Walls of Jericho Fall Down, . Joshua's Victories and Death . . EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY. Worshiping Idols Again . . Two Very Brave Women . . Gideon's Wonderful Battle . . NINETEENTH SUNDAY. Little Samuel . . . God Speaks to the Child, ........ What Eli's Wicked Sons Did, ... TWENTIETH SUNDAY. Saul Made King, ....... Samuel Made Judge in Eli's Place, . Saul Hears the Wonderful News, . PAOE 76 77 79 81 82 84 86 88 89 91 92 94 96 97 99 . 101 . 102 S103 . 105 . 107 . io8 III . 112 113 S115 . 116 S18 . 120 . 120 S121 CONTENTS. PAGE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY. Jonathan, Saul's Good, Brave Son, 122 How the Philistines Oppressed the Jews, 122 Jonathan's Brave Act and Great Victory, 123 TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY. Beautiful Ruth, ... ....... J. 24 The Young Reaper in the Field of Boaz, 125 How Ruth Gained a Friend and Husband, 126 TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY. King Saul Disobeys God ...... 127 Samuel Rebukes the King . ... 128 The Old Prophet and Little David, ... 129 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY. Young David Kills the Giant .. .. 130 The Shepherd Boy's Visit to the Camp, 132 Little Anna's Wish forDavid and Jonathan, 133 TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY. Saul's Death and David Made King, 134 The Robber's Reward . .... 134 King David's Baby Son, . .. 135 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY. Absalom and Solomon, . 136 The King Fleeing before Absalom's Army, 138 How David Honored Solomon ... 139 TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY. King Solomon's Wise Request .. .. 140 The Two Women and the Dead Baby, 141 Lessons from the Story . ... 142 TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY. Solomon's Riches and Wisdom .... 143 The Queen of Sheba's Visit . .. 144 What Jesus said of Solomon and the Lily, 145 TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY. Solomon Turns Wicked, . ... 145 The Worshiping of Idols, .. .. 145 Jeroboam and Rehoboam, . 146 THIRTIETH SUNDAY. Reading Lessons from the Bible, .. 147 Good Old Elijah and the Ravens, .... 148 Elijah Calling Fire from Heaven, .... 148 THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY. How a Little Girl Did Great Good, .... 150 Naaman Cured,.. ......... 151 Promises to Worship God . ... 151 THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY. Good King Hezekiah .. .. 152 Sennacherib Attacks Jerusalem ..... 153 How the City Was Saved, ....... 154 THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY. The Gaod King Josiah. . . 155 Idols Broken Down, .... ....... 155 The Book of the Law Found . 155 THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY. Daniel and His Brave Companions, . How They Obeyed the Law, ..... The Fiery Furnace... . THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY. The Great Things that Daniel Did, . Interpreting Dreams .. . ... Put in the Lions' Den . . THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY. Five Hundred Years of Jewish History, The Jews Repeatedly Punished, . Herod, King of the Jews, ........ PAGE S158 59 S160 . 162 S63 S163 S169 170 S170 THIRTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY. The Coming of Christ .. . .... 172 Mary and Joseph, . . 172 Simeon and Infant Saviour, ...... 172 THIRTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY. The Childhood of Jesus . ... 75 Visit of the Wise Men,. ...... 176 Jesus in Egypt, . . ... 177 THIRTY-NINTH SUNDAY. The Baptism of Jesus . .. 179 The Temptation of Jesus . ... 180 Jesus' Reply to Satan, . ... 18 FORTIETH SUNDAY. Jesus Calls His Disciples . .. 183 Turning the Water into Wine ..... .. 184 Other Miracles . . . 186 FORTY-FIRST SUNDAY. Wonderful Deeds of Goodness, .... 189 Feeding the Five Thousand, ... 190 Jesus and Peter Walking on the Water, 191 FORTY-SECOND SUNDAY. Raising the Widow's Son . ... 193 The Transfiguration ......... .194 Jesus Loves Little Children ...... 195 FORTY-THIRD SUNDAY. Jesus the King . . ... 196 Casts out Devils . . 197 Entering Jerusalem, . . 198 FORTY-FOURTH SUNDAY. Cleansing the Temple . .. 199 The Last Supper, .. . 199 The Wicked Plot of Judas, ...... 200 FORTY-FIFTH SUNDAY. The Agony in the Garden ..... The Deceitful Kiss and Cruel Soldiers, Peter Tries to Defend Jesus, .... FORTY-SIXTH SUNDAY. The Trial of Jesus by the Jews, ... Peter's Denial, . . . Jesus before the Great Council, -. . S. 203 S. 203 S. 204 S. 205 S. 206 S. 207 CONTENTS. FORTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY. Jesus before Pilate, .... ..... The Wicked Charge of Treason, The Jews Preferred a Murderer, . PAGE . 208 . 208 . 209 FIFTIETH SUNDAY. The Resurrection of Jesus, . Mary Magdalene . . On the Way to Emmaus, etc., . PAGE . 216 . . 217 . . 218 FORTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY. The Crucifixion of Jesus, . Numbered with Transgressors, Jesus' Griefstricken Mother, FORTY-NINTH SUNDAY. The Burial of Jesus . . The Women at the Tomb, . Precautions of the Jews, . . . 2II ..211 . 212 . . 214 . . 215 . . 215 FIFTY-FIRST SUNDAY. Doubting Thomas Convinced, .... Another Wonderful Draught of Fishes, Jesus' Parting Words and Ascension, FIFTY-SECOND SUNDAY. The Comforter Sent . . The Apostles Go Out to Preach, Jesus Is Coming Again, . S221 222 * 223 ANCIENT MODE OF GIVING DRINK IN THE EAST. . . 226 . . 227 . . 228 LIST OF LITHOGRAPH PLATES AND FULL-PAGE HALF-TONE ILLUSTRATIONS. JOSEPH LED AWAY INTO EGYPT (Lithograyp ), REBEKAH AT THE WELL (Lithograf), THE ANGEL APPEARING TO ABRAHAM, HAGAR AND ISHMAEL CAST FORTH, DAVID TENDING HIS FATHER'S SHEEP, DAVID PLAYING BEFORE SAUL, YOUNG KING JOSIAH READING THE LAW, BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON, THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (Lithograpf ), LITTLE JESUS IN JOSEPH'S WORKSHOP, CHRIST HEALING THE SICK, CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN, CHRIST IN THE GARDEN, CHRIST BEARING HIS CROSS, CHRIST CRUCIFIED, THE BURIAL OF CHRIST, ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS, THE ASCENSION, LIST OF OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS. Searching the Scriptures . . . Animals Used for Sacrifice . . Syrian Sheep . . . . The Ram, . . . . Death of Abel. The First Murder, .... The Flood . . . . Noah's Ark . . . . The Flood . . . . Mountain Goat of Palestine . . Native Plains of Abraham and Lot, .... Patriarchal Caravan . . .... "God Will Provide Himself a Lamb for the Burnt Offering," . . ... Where Lot Fed His Flocks, . . Offering Salutation in the East, .. .. Valley of Salt in the Land of Edom, the Country that Esau Afterward Obtained, Isaac Blessing Jacob . . . Jacob's Dream .. . . .. Jacob and the Angel . . . Joseph and His Father . . .. Joseph Cast into the Pit . .... Ancient Egyptian Idols . . . Joseph Interpreting the Dreams .... Joseph before Pharaoh . . ... Egyptian Women . . .... Joseph Making Himself Known to His Breth- ren, . . . . . Moses in the Bulrushes . . . Moses Keeping Sheep in the Wilderness, . Israelites Making Bricks in Egypt . . Egyptian Taskmasters . . . Israelites Making Bricks in Egypt, . Pharaoh . . . . Locust, . . . . . Egyptian King in His Chariot, . . The High Priest Burning Incense within the Holy of Holies . . ... The High Priest in His Beautiful Dress, . Plague of Frogs, . . The High Priest Offering Incense . . Gathering Manna in the Wilderness, . Palm Tree . . . . Baal, . . . . .. Egyptian Household Gods . . Mount Sinai,... ......... The Erection of the Tabernacle . . High Priest in the Holy of Holies .. . The Tabernacle Restored . ... 2 PAGE 17 20 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 33 35 37 38 43 44 45 46 48 50 51 53 54 56 58 6o 62 63 64 65 66 68 69 71 77 79 80 81 85 86 89 90 91 92 93 95 The Giving of the Commandments, .... Moloch . . . . Ashtoreth, the Philistine Goddess ... Carrying the Grapes on a Pole . . Altar of Offering . . ... The Emblems on the Standards of the Tribes, Blowing the Trumpets . ... Bearing the Ark over Jordan . ... The River Jordan, .. ........ Blowing of Trumpet Made of Ram's Horn, Fruit of Palestine . ........ Hebrew Idols . . . . Ancient War Engine ........... Ancient War Engine, ..... ..... "Speak, Lord; for Thy Servant Heareth," Samuel and His Mother . . Samuel Anointing Saul . . . Armor Used in Time of Saul . . Boaz and Ruth . . . Ruth Gleaning in the Field of Boaz, .... Bethlehem-Judah, the Home of Naomi, . The Cattle Preserved by Saul . ... Battle with the Philistines, . . . David Going Against the Giant . . David and Goliath . ..... Crowns of Kings in the Time of David, . Musical Instruments at the Time of David, Absalom's Flight, ............. David's Tomb at Mount Zion, ....... Supposed Form of Solomon's Temple, .. Interior View of Ancient Temple at Jerusalem, Ship in Solomon's Time . ... King Solomon's Ships, .. ... Dagon, an Idol Worshiped in Solomon's Time, Elijah and the Widow .. ...... Fire Sent Down upon the Altar of Elijah, War Galley in Solomon's Time . . Brazen Laver in the Temple . .... Assyrian Army . ....... Jewish Books, Such as the One Found in the Temple by Josiah . . . Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel in the Lions' Den . ... Ancient Sceptres .... .......... Daniel Interpreting the Handwriting on the W all,. .. ... ... ...... Persian King in His Chariot, ......... Supposed Site of Ancient Babylon . . Form of Second Temple . . LIST OF OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS. An Eastern Vineyard . . . The Shepherds Listening to the Angels, . Simeon and Infant Saviour . . An Offering of Doves, . ... Union of the Old and New Dispensations, Beautiful Gate, Jerusalem . . Jesus Baptized, . . . On the Housetop . . . Ancient Books in Their Cases . Eastern Wine Skins and Jars . . " Follow Me!" .. ....... Sea of Galilee . . ... The Prodigal's Return, . .... Healing the Blind, .......... Christ and Peter on the Water, .. . The Lost Piece of Money, . . Eastern Head-dresses . . . Ptolemy Philadelphus ..... Table of Shew-bread . . . Lepers Outside the Gate . . Ancient Wine-press . . Gethsemane . . . Fountain at Nazareth .. . Not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt, . The Golden Candlestick, . . Roman Centurion . . Christ is Scourged . . Pilate Washing His Hands . Washing the Hands . . Forms of Crosses, . . Thorn-crowned Christ . . Roman Guards . ..... Ancient Olive-press, .. ..... An Upper Room in a Jewish House, In Sackcloth . .... Ancient Tombs in the Rock, . The Last Supper. . ... The Wise Virgins . .... Bethany . . .... The Unwise Virgins . . ~ L; s " ..L~L~- :'?. " ift " -i~ ... .,, .-.-:.- f ..- ,.-. . : : f.* -'- -" '*" '- ' . .. : ' .tC - i"S -I ..I: :., ... .. .. .. .. _- .. THE FINDING OF ABEL. "Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."-Gen. IV, 8. J r ''"I' : -- -' --- -; ------------- j First Zunbax in the Vew ))ear. The Making of the World. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."-Genesis I, I. THE first Sunday morning after Aunt SCharlotte came she and the children met [e/, .. in the sitting-room by the open grate. .- Aunt Charlotte had her Bible in her hand, and was seated in the great arm-chair ." before the pleasant fire. Little Anna, in J her curls, stood at Aunt Charlotte's side; her brother Willie sat by her knee, and sister Clara was near by. They were ready to begin those Sunday Bible stories which Aunt Charlotte had promised to tell them. ",Now, my darlings," said Aunt Charlotte, "I hope you will listen carefully to all I say. I am going to tell you the story of how this world was made, and at the close I will ask you some questions to see how well you remember what I tell you. Did you know that Sunday is earth's birthday ? That is so; for the Bible says on the first day of the week the creation began, and you know Sunday is the first day of the week. "At first the world was all dark. It was soft matter, and had no shape to it. Then God said: Let there be light,' and there was light. Without light we could not live. The flowers and the trees and all the plants, and all the animals, and the people would die if it were not for the light. There were then upon the earth no trees or any living thing. But it would be almost as bad to have all day and no night. We must have the quiet, dark night for rest and stillness. THE MAKING OF THE WORLD. The next thing that God did after making the light was to put air all around the earth. We look out through the air as far as our eye can see, and when everything seems to come together in solid blue we call it the sky, or firmament, though there is really nothing there except the air. Sometimes we see clouds floating about in the sky. These are made by the water rising up from the earth through the air. These clouds take on strange shapes; sometimes they are dark and full of rain; sometimes they are shining white or pink and golden hued. This is God's means of drawing the water up from the sea and carry- ing it about through the air to let it fall in rain and to water the earth. "After God had made the light and the air, the earth, which was at first a pulpy mass, grew hard on the outside. Some places were low, and into these the A- -- -. wat er from the ii1 .clouds ran down P1 ',- and made rivers and lakes, while -: the dry hills rose S..', ', up above them. .. These rivers and S .. '.- .- lakes carried their Sweater around I ; through all the low places until it ANIMALS USED FOR SACRIFICE. ran down into the sea. At the same time when the rivers and the hills were formed God made fresh green plants and grass and trees to grow upon the earth and caused plants and weeds to grow even in the waters of the sea. The waters and the air and the earth began to be full of live things, that swam or crept or flew about. There were fishes and birds and insects at first, and the land was full of beautiful trees and plants and flowers and running streams, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls dashing down the mountain sides. Then God began to make the larger animals, four-footed beasts-sheep, cows, horses, dogs, cats, elephants, lions, MAKING THE FIRST MAN AND WOMAN. all that we use or admire; and now that He had got the earth ready for man to live in, He prepared to make the first man and woman. He would make them out of dust like those of the beasts, but as they were the last to be made, and all the others were to serve them, He concluded to make them in His own image, for He intended that they should think, speak, pray, and do many things that no other creature could do, for God expected to use mankind to develop and use this beautiful world which He had created for His glory and honor, and He meant that they would be His own sons and daughters. So He planted a beautiful garden, with fruit-trees and flowers and every- thing lovely for them to live in. He called it the Garden of Eden. Now I will stop with this story here. I know you are anxious to hear about the making of this first man and woman, but I will save that for our next talk, this afternoon. Now let me ask you some questions," said Aunt Charlotte, to see how well you remember what I have told you. I will begin with little Anna, because she is the smallest," and Aunt Charlotte patted little Anna's curls. QUESTIONS. Who made the world? Was there any light at first? Who made the light? Could we live without the-light? What did God make next? How do we get water on the earth? What did He make to live in the water, and on the earth, and in the air? What did He make next after the birds and fish and insects? After He made the four-footed beasts, what did He conclude to make then? What did He prepare for man to live in? What did He call it? Making the First Man and Woman. The children liked the morning reading so well that they teased Aunt Charlotte to read them more, but she said, "Not now; after noon I will"; and when the time came she opened to the second chapter of Genesis, and this is the beginning of what she read: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Then she explained it to them by saying: In the Bible God tells us that He made the world and everything in it-land and water, and grass, flowers, and trees, insects, birds, and MAKING THE FIRST MAN AND WOMAN. beasts, and last of all He made the first man and woman. The man was made by God out of the dust of the ground, and then God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and gave him a living soul. And the woman was made by God out of a rib from the man's side. They were called Adam and Eve, and they were to be the first father and mother of every one who was to be born into the world. The good God gave them a beautiful home. It was a garden with a -clear river of water flowing through it and all kinds of delicious fruit-trees and beautiful flowers growing in it. Nothing could hurt or vex them there. They did not know what pain was, they were never tired, and all they had to do was to dress the garden and to keep it. They had no faults, and never did wrong; and God Himself came near to talk with them. S ---, ;."'' ".'J That was the way they lived, always -... i'y;:, .: ','. good and always happy, whilst they -,,,,, obeyed what God had told them. In the midst of the garden grew two trees: S-'' one was the Tree of Life and the other '. : was the Tree of the Knowledge of .' : good and evil. God told them that if sYA they ate the fruit of this Tree of Know- SYRIAN SHEEP. ledge they would die. We do not know what those trees were like, but some time or other I hope we shall see the Tree of Life, for it is growing in heaven, close by the river that flows by the throne of God; and when we see it and taste of it, we shall live forever, and be happier even than Adam and Eve were. We shall never be as happy as they were while we are living in this world; but if we will try to obey God, and trust in Christ and live holy lives, He will take us to heaven, and that will be still better than the Garden of Eden." The children liked this story of man's creation, and asked Aunt Charlotte to ask them questions to see if they could remember. Now let my little readers see if they can answer them every one, as Willie and Anna and Clara did. THE SEA AND THE TIDES. QUESTIONS. What did God make? Whom did He make? What was the man made of? What was the woman made of? What did God breathe into them? What did He give them ? Why were they better than the beasts? What was the man's name? What was the woman's name? Of whom were they the father and mother ? Where did they live ? What had they to do there ? What grew there? What were the two chief trees that grew there? Which were they not to touch? Where is the Tree of Life now? When do we hope to see it ? What is a still happier place than the Garden of Eden? The Sea and the Tides. "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed."-Job XXXVIII, II. Aunt Charlotte, now will you read us some more and tell us about the wonderful things God did?" said Willie, as they gathered around their aunt after supper. Aunt Charlotte promised. After reading from the Bible here is what she said: "What glorious and wonderful things God has made! Did you ever see the sea?" "Yes," said Willie, "one time-" but Aunt Charlotte put up her hand. "Yes, there it is-a great vast space, all water, looking green near us, but blue further off, always heav- -.- ing up and down. The waves rise, and r- then ripple along, and burst with a white i -- edge of bubbles of foam. And, if you &' _. live near the sea, you know how, at certain times in the day, one wave after . another begins to break a little higher . on the beach; eight waves seem to run -"- up the same distance, then the ninth A THE RAM. comes much further; then eight more come like that, then another. A great space that had been left dry gets covered up with water again, and where you were walking just now is quite deep water. What is this called? The tide. Well, what will the tide do in proper time ? Will it come rolling in over the THE SEA AND THE TIDES. beach, sand, pebbles, and rocks, and wash us all away and drown us all, and cover up the land? No; presently each will turn. Each wave will be a little less high than the last, till it will have gone back again and left the beach uncovered as before. Why does the tide do this ? It is because God so wonderfully contrived this earth and sea that the waters should rise and go back. He made the sand the bound of the sea, and said,' Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.' So, you know, we read in the Psalms sometimes- 'The sea is His, and He made it: And His hands prepared the dry land.' " "Now I will ask you some- QUESTIONS. What curious thing does the sea do every day? What do you call the coming in and going back of the sea? Why does the tide always stop in its proper place? What did God make the bound of the sea ? What did He say to it ? What verse praises God for making the sea? "I'll tell you, I like this day," said Willie. "Why, we have learned about the making of the world, and the making of the first man and woman, and about the tides of the sea." "Won't you give us three more lessons next Sunday ?" said Clara. "Oh, do," said Anna. Aunt Charlotte promised she would. DEATH OF ABEL. THE FIRST MURDER. Zeconb Zunbale How Sin Began. "The serpent beguiled me 'I did eat.' "-Genesis m, 13. THE children could hardly S wait for Aunt Charlotte to get seated after breakfast the '/ second Sunday morning in January. "I will tell you," ... said she, opening her Bible, .----;_ how sin began and the world grew wicked." Good," said Willie, and they all settled down around her. "Last Sunday you heard how God made the world, and put a man and woman to live in it. The man was named Adam; the woman was named THE FLOOD. Eve. God gave them a beau- tiful garden to live in, full of trees and flowers; and they had no pain, no trouble, nothing to vex them. Only one thing God told them: there was one tree whose fruit they must not eat. They might eat the fruit of all the other trees, but not of that one. As long as they obeyed, all was well and happy with them; but if they ate it they would die. But a bad spirit came and took the shape of the serpent, and talked to Eve. He told her a wicked lie-he told her that to eat THE FLOOD AND NOAH'S ARK. the fruit would make her wise, and would not make her die. And Eve listened, and did eat. And she gave Adam, and he also ate; and so they took the bad spirit for their master instead of the good God. Then God was angry with them, and put them out of the garden, and let them be weak and sickly, and die at last. It is a sad thing for them and for us. For if they had been good and obeyed God, and not the bad spirit, it would have been easy to us to be good, and we should not have had the devil tempting us to do wrong: we should have never known pain or sorrow. But God pitied Adam and Eve, and us too; and he promised them that the Seed-that is, the Son-of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and set them and their children free. Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, set us free when He died on the cross and rose again; and now we belong to Him, and not to the bad spirit. Only we must try and ask Him to help us not to do what is wrong, as Eve did, or we shall not keep free from the power of the enemy." The children were thoughtful, and Aunt Charlotte began with the- QUESTIONS. Who was the first man? Who was the first woman? Where did God put them? What was the one thing they might not do? What was to happen if they ate of that fruit? Who came and spoke to Eve? What shape did the bad spirit take ? What did he tell Eve? What did she do ? Whom did she make her master? What was done to punish her? What sad things did the bad spirit bring on her ? Who came to set us free from the bad spirit? The Flood and Noah's Ark. "Well," said Willie, as they settled down around Aunt Charlotte, " I'm going to listen sharp this time. There were two questions I could not answer before." "So will I," said Anna; "but I only missed one." "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth "-Genesis vi, 17, read Aunt Charlotte, and then, looking up, said: "The lesson this morning told the sad history of how Adam and Eve did the very thing that God forbade; so that He drove them out of the Garden of Eden, and sin and death came into the world. THE FLOOD AND NOAH'S ARK. "After that they had children. Some were good, but not so good as Adam and Eve had been at first; and some were bad. And as time went on the bad ones grew worse, and the good ones were tempted, and many of them grew wicked too. And so all the world was getting wicked, and God saw nothing but evil when He looked down on it. And He said that He would destroy these wicked people, and wash away the evil from the earth by a great flood. But there was one good man, whose name was Noah; and God said He would save him. He bade Noah build an Ark. It was to be a great ship, all made of wood, and it took a great many years to build; and all that time people laughed at Noah, for they would not believe that anything was going to happen. Noah made the Ark and stored it with food. And God sent - him a pair of all sorts of animals that ".. .- "..:-= -.- . were in the world, and he put them into . pens in the Ark. Then Noah and his - wife and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and '.':i---- Japhet, and their wives, went into the '" , Ark, and God shut them in. "Then it began to rain. It rained for forty days and forty nights without stop- ping, and the rivers came out of their NOAH'S ARK. banks, and the sea came up on the land, and the ground was covered up. Even the tops of the highest hills were hidden, and everybody and every creature was drowned-all but Noah and those that were with him. There was the Ark all the time, floating quite safe on the water. The storm could not upset it nor the sea get into it, for God took care of it and all that was in it. "The reason Noah was saved was because, first, he tried to be good, and not do like the bad people round him; and, next, because he believed what God said to him, and went on making the Ark, even when he saw no danger. If we wish God to save us, then we must take care that we do just what we are told-not what seems pleasant now, but what is really right.'. THE FLOOD AND NOAH'S ARK. "That's so; but it's hard to do, though," said Willie. But would n't you have been afraid in that Ark?" said little Anna. THE FLOOD. "No," said Clara, "for Aunt Charlotte said God took care of it." "Right, Clara," said Aunt Charlotte, "now for the- QUESTIONS. Do you know why Adam and Eve were driven out of the happy garden ? How did people go on after that ? How had sin come into the world ? What did God say He must do to the world ? Why? Who was to be saved? What was Noah to make? What was the Ark like ? What were put into it? Why were two of all creatures put into the Ark? What men and women were in it ? What were the names of Noah's sons? What happened when Noah was in the Ark? How long did it rain ? What was covered up? What became of all the people ? Who were safe? Where was the Ark? Who took care of the Ark? Why was Noah saved? "But, Auntie," said little Anna, what became of the Ark ? I'll THE GOING DOWN OF THE FLOOD. tell you that after supper in our next lesson," said good Auntie, with a pat on Anna's curls. The Going Down of the Flood. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth."-Genesis vIII, 2. Now," said Aunt Charlotte, for our third reading and talk," as they all gathered around the fire after supper. The children were all eager to have her begin. It must have been a sad sight for Noah and his wife and their sons, as the rain went on and on, and the water grew deeper and deeper, and everybody and everything was drowned. Then came a time when noth- ing was to be seen but water. Wherever they looked all was sky and water; but it had done raining, the sky was blue again, the sun shone by day, the stars - by night, and they must have been very glad. And still the water got lower, till the Ark did not float about, but -'' stopped, resting on a peak of a mountain, .--- a very high mountain, and a few bare tops of other hills began to peep out. -" MOUNTAIN GOAT OF PALESTINE. By and by Noah opened the windowOUNTAIN GOAT ALIN of the Ark and let out a raven. He never saw the raven again, for a raven eats dead things, and there were so many dead bodies floating about that it got plenty of food, and never came back to the Ark that had saved it. He waited a week, and then he let out a dove. Now, doves like trees to sit and nestle in, and they eat grains and seeds; so the poor dove found no place to rest in, and flew back to the Ark; and Noah took her back and kept her a week, then let her fly again. She flew away, but still she came back to the Ark, and this time she brought in her beak a sprig of olive branch. "It was the first green thing that Noah had seen for a year THE GOING DOWN OF THE FLOOD. Noah's children have loved the olive leaf everywhere, and called it the sign of peace and good news ever since. "For now Noah knew that the waters had gone down, and that trees must be able to put forth leaves again. Once more, after another week, he let out the dove, and she did not come back, for she had found a tree where she could make her home, and seeds to eat; and then Noah knew the sad time of the flood-a whole year-was over." "Was there any little boys in that Ark?" said Willie; "if so, they must have got very tired waiting that long to go out and play. But ask the questions quick, before I forget them." QUESTIONS. What was the Flood? What was the Ark? Who was in it? What had Noah with him in the Ark? What became of every one else? Why? Why was Noah saved? How long did the Flood last? What birds did Noah send out of the Ark? Which came back? Why did not the raven come back? What did the dove bring? What was Noah sure of then? After the questions were all asked the children asked Aunt Char- lotte if she would not tell them a story or two every day instead of waiting until Sunday. The good lady waited *a minute, and then said: "You know, my darlings, I have come to spend a year with you, and I have planned to take you through the Bible in a year, telling you stories of the most important things that you will like, and the three lessons every Sunday will do this. This is such a good way to 'keep the Sabbath holy,' as we are commanded to do. I will read you from the Bible in the week and from other books, and then we have our day lessons, you know." The children all agreed- to let Aunt Charlotte tell them these pretty Bible stories on Sundays only. Obirb sunbaV. The Rainbow. 3"-- "WHAT will you tell us about this morn- S T-i ing, Aunt Charlotte?" said Clara. The Rainbow," said the good lady with a smile, S ', and then she opened her Bible and read: -*_."-. "I do set my Bow in the Cloud," etc.-Genesis Ix, 13. "The sin that came into the world when _-.-=;-- Eve listened to the tempter had grown as men multiplied and made each other worse. ^---,.- The wicked people had been drowned in -- ~- the Flood, and Noah, his sons, and their N -wives had alone been saved in the Ark. After a whole year of being shut up there watching the earth, first drowned and then coming out of the water, they had just come out on the fresh green earth, with all the animals saved with them, when God spoke to them. "Then God made a promise to Noah. It was that no flood of water shall ever drown all the world again, but spring, summer, autumn, and winter, day and night, will go on to the end of the world, when it shall be burnt up by fire, not drowned by water. That Noah, and all of us after him, might feel sure that God in His mercy will go on preserving us, and giving us days and nights, seed-time and harvest, He gave us something to look at as a sign of His promise. Do you know what He gave us ? It was the rainbow. And this is how He S made it. He so ordered the rays of light that when they shine upon ABRAHAM WHO TRUSTED GOD. drops of water in the air they cause beautiful colors, making part of a circle, so as to form a bow. So when the sun shines on a cloud, as it rains, the fair bright rainbow is seen as a pledge to us of God's merciful care and love to us. There is a rainbow round about the throne of God in Heaven; and the lovely rainbows that we see when the sun shines out and the showers drift away are to put us in mind that we are safe under His care, in right of His- promise to Noah and his three sons, from whom the whole earth was to be repeopled. We are the children of his son Japhet, and all that was then said to him belongs to us also. We should recollect it, and put our trust in Him, and be thankful when we see the beautiful rainbow th hands of the Almighty have bended looking out of the midst dark watery cloud."' "Well, I never knew how a rainbow was made before," said "Isn't that lovely! I'll think of it every time I see one." "I understand yet," said Anna. "I don't either," said Willie. Aunt Charlotte explained it over again, and they all were a answer the- at the of the Clara. do n't Then ble to QUESTIONS. What beautiful sight do we sometimes see after a shower? What is a rainbow like? Who put the rainbow in the cloud ? Who was the man to whom God showed the rainbow? What promise did God make Noah? What had God just done to the wicked people? Whom had He saved ? What did He say should always go on ? What did God put in the sky to show that He will not send another Flood ? What are we to think.of whenowe see a rainbow ? Who takes care of us ? Abraham Who Trusted God. "Going to tell us more about Noah and the Ark and rainbows- and things ?" said Willie. No," said Aunt Charlotte, I'm going to skip a long, long time. Now listen!" and she opened her Bible and read: "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. "-Genesis xII, 3. "When Noah's grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to be more and more, and the world was being filled with people again, they still were not all good, and the longer time went on, the worse they grew. " ABRAHAM WHO TRUSTED GOD. "At last God called to a very good man, whose name was Abraham, and told him that if he would come away from his home to a land God would show him, then God would bless him and lead him, and by and by give the land to his children, and that their children after them should be more in number than the grains of sand on the sea- shore or than the stars in the sky; and that in his seed-that meant by and by through a son of his-all the nations of the earth should be blessed. NATIVE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM AND LOT. It was strange to hear all this about Abraham's children, for he was growing an old man, and he and his wife Sarah had no child at all. But he believed in God. He knew that God is Almighty, and can do whatever He will; so he only did just as God told him, and went away from his home, where God told him. He was obliged to take all his cattle with him-quantities of cows and goats and sheep and camels and asses; and he had servants to drive them. When they came to a piece of grass and a fresh spring of water, there ABRAHAM AND LOT. they would stop. They had no houses, only tents, which were great curtains woven of goat's hair and fastened up with poles, so that- they could be set up or taken down and carried about. All his life Abraham lived in a tent, instead of staying at home in a city and being at his ease. "By and by he came to a beautiful country. There were high, cool hills rising up,.and green valleys between, full of grass for the sheep and cattle; and the wide sea spread out far away toward the sunset, all blue and glorious. God told him to look at the land, for that was the place which his children should have for their own; but in the meantime Abraham had not one bit of it, and was a stranger there; and he had no child either. "But still he was quite sure that God spoke truth; and that some- how, though he did not know how, it would come about that his chil- dren should have the land, and that in One all the nations of the earth should be blessed. That was faith." Why do you suppose God kept Abraham in the dark about what was going to happen?" said Clara. "Because he wanted him to trust His word and put faith in Him," said Aunt Charlotte. "Yes," said Willie, "sometimes they send warships out to sea with sealed orders, and the captain even do n't know where he's going until he opens the letter." "That's it," said Aunt Charlotte, "and we must obey God, just- as soldiers on the land and sea obey without asking the reason." QUESTIONS. What good man do you hear of to-day? What did God tell Abraham to do? What did God promise ? Who were to have the land? Why was it strange to hear of his children ? But did he believe it would come true? Why did he believe it? How did he show that he believed ? Where did he go? What had he with him ? What did he live in? What is a tent like ? What sort of place did he come to ? Who were to have this land ? How many were his children to be? Did he believe this ? What is believing called ? Abraham and Lot. "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me."-Genesis xmII, 8. "Two men were traveling together. They were an uncle and his nephew. The uncle's name was Abraham, about whom I told you this ABRAHAM AND LOT. morning; the nephew's was Lot. They had come from home because God had told Abraham to come away from his own home to the land that God would give his children. Abraham believed, and did as God bade him; and Lot, the son of his dead brother, went with him. They did not go alone. Each of them had great flocks of cows, and sheep, and camels, and asses, and goats, and numbers of servants to take care of them. They would fix their black tents, made of camel's hair, in any place where they saw a spring of water and good Ijj 1 4 / PATRIARCHAL CARAVAN green grass for their cattle; and there they would stay till all the grass was eaten up, and then take up their tents and move to another ... _,,_ Spl ace. "Just now they.had got to a bare, stony place, where the sun shone hotly and there was not much green; but Abraham had built up an altar with the great stones and prayed there. Abraham and Lot loved each other, and were at peace; but when their servants drove out PATRIARCHAL CARAVAN. green grass for their cattle; and there they would stay till all the grass was eaten up, and then take up their tents and move to another place. "Just now they.had got to a bare, stony place, where the sun shone hotly and there was not much green; but Abraham had built up an altar with the great stones and prayed there. Abraham and Lot loved each other, and were at peace; but when their servants drove out ABRAHAM AND LOT. their flocks to get food and water there were apt to be quarrels. If Abraham's men found a green grassy valley they would not let Lot's cattle into it; and if Lot's came to a well they would not let Abraham's flocks drink; and so on. They were always quarreling and making complaints to their masters. At last Abraham saw that they would make Lot quarrel with him. So he said it would be wiser to part; Lot should go one way and he another-anyway there should be no strife. And he even told Lot to choose which way he would go. So Lot looked, and saw to the east a pleasant green valley, with fields of corn and meadows, and a fine river running into a clear lake, and five fine towns on the bank. He liked it better than the bare, stony hills where Abraham was; and he never thought whether the people were good or not, but he took the first choice and went to live there. So Abraham gave up. He had the right to choose first, but he would not use it. He let his nephew choose. For he hated quarrels and knew they were wicked; and he knew how to stop them, because he would yield up the best. That is the way to make peace and please God." If I'd been Abraham I would not have done that. Why did he not take the best and let Lot scuffle for himself?" said Willie. Yes, and run off all of Lot's old mean servants that fought his good men," said little Anna. "No," said Aunt Charlotte, "Abraham did right, as we shall see. Jesus says, blessed are the peace-makers,' and Abra- ham was a peace-maker. Now we will have the- QUESTIONS. Who had called Abraham? Who went with him ? What was Lot to Abraham? Why did they go ? What had God promised? What had they with them ? Who quarreled? About what did the servants quarrel? Did Abraham and Lot quarrel? How did Abraham prevent a quarrel? Who was to choose first? Who might have chosen first ? Why did not Abraham choose first ? Ought you to be in haste to take the first choice? What should you try to hinder? And if you keep yourself back, and don't say "It's mine," and "I must," shall you not be likely to keep from quarrels ? jfourtb Zunba. Lot's Wonderful Escape. OPENING her Bible at the twenty-ninth chapter of Genesis, ." seventeenth verse, Aunt Charlotte read: i Escape for thy life ;'look not behind thee," etc. S"As I told you last Sunday, Lot Chose the beautiful valley, with steep hills shutting it in on all sides and a clear, swift river run- ning through the midst and spreading into a lake. There were fine fields and rich grass, where sheep, cows, and goats could feed, and the shepherds shelter themselves under the palm trees; "GoD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF A LAMB FOR A and on the bank of the river were BURNT OFFERING." five cities, with strong walls round them, and full of rich people, who bought and sold and made merry with the good things they possessed. Lot was the only man living there who was good, and he was grieved by the wicked ways of the men round him, who only laughed at him if he tried to tell them of better things. One evening two strangers came into the city where he lived, and he was the only person who would take them in and shelter them from the wicked people in the street. 37 LOTS WONDERFUL ESCAPE. "Those strangers told him the place was to be destroyed with all. that were in it, because it was so wicked! Though the fields looked so quiet, the walls so strong, and the sun had gone down as usual, all would be ruined in a few hours' time I Then the strangers took hold of him and his wife and daughters, and led them almost by force away from their home in the dawn of morning, bidding them escape for their lives to the mountain, and not look back. They were frightened, and begged not to have to go so far as the wild mountain. Might -U~-A WHERE LOT FED HIS FLOCKS. they not go to the little city near at hand? And their wish was grated. Just as the sun had risen they entered the little city for which they had begged; and as soon as they were safe the four towns, that had seemed so strong and firm, were all burning with fire and brimstone; and all the sinners who had mocked at warning were soon lying dead under God's awful anger I Four alone had been led out of the city by the strangers, but even of these only three came into the city of refuge. The wife did not heed the warning not to linger nor ABRAHAM'S SON ISAAC. look back, the deadly storm overtook her, and she remained rooted to the spot-turned into a pillar of salt 1 The names of those cities were Sodom and Gomorrah. And now a strange gloomy lake called the Dead Sea covers that valley with its salty waters, and the bare rocky hills, crusted with salt, show that the curse of God is on the place. Let us try to remember one thought from this terrible history. This world will one day be burnt up like those cities, and its looking safe and prosperous now does not make it safe. But God sends mes- sengers to lead us out of it. If we attend to them and follow their ad- vice, we shall through all our lives be getting out of danger and going on to a safe home in heaven; but if we care only for pleasant things here, it is like looking back, and our souls will perish with what they love. That is why our Saviour bade us Remember Lot's wife.' We should remember her when we are tempted to think it hard to give up anything pleasant, because we are told that it is wrong, and may put us in danger of destruction." Did n't Lot have any boys ?" said Willie. "No," said Aunt Char- lotte. "But he had two girls, did n't he ?" said little Anna. "And- but they were bigger than me, 'cause I could n't have runned away." "Yes, they were grown up girls," said Aunt Charlotte. "Willie, you may answer the first question." QUESTIONS. What was the name of the place I told you of to-day? What was the name of the man ? What kind of place was Sodom ? Who was the only good man there? Who came to Lot? What did he do for the strangers? What did the strangers tell Lot? Why was Lot to come out of Sodom ? Why was Sodom to be destroyed? Where did Lot go? Who looked back? What became of her ? What did God do to Sodom ? What sort of place is it now ? What will be burnt up some day? If we are not good, what will become of us ? But what have we to teach us to be good ? And how must we try to come out, like Lot ? Abraham's Son Isaac. "Aunt Charlotte, did n't Abraham have any boys either?" said Willie. "You said Lot only had a pair of girls." "Yes," said Aunt ABRAHAM'S SON ISAAC. Charlotte, and I'll tell you about his son Isaac this afternoon." Then she read: Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me."-Genesis xxII, 12. "It was some time after this morning's talk that Isaac was born. Abraham was old, and he had begun to wonder if he should ever have a son. All the promises God had made were to be for Isaac's children after him: and Abraham loved God, and hoped all the more, and when little Isaac came Abraham was overjoyed and loved him dearly. But then God called Abraham to do a strange and terrible thing. He was to go and take his dear son Isaac to the top of a hill, and there to offer him up to God, as if he had been a calf or a lamb. Of course, in general, to do such a thing would be shockingly wicked; but Abraham knew that when God commanded a thing it must be right to do as he was bidden, however dreadful it was to him. So they set out together. Abraham took the knife and a vessel with fire in it, and Isaac carried the wood with which the sacrifice was to be burnt. On the way Isaac said, My father, behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?' And Abra- ham answered, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.' Isaac soon knew he was to be the lamb, for his father put the wood in order and bound his limbs and took the knife. And Isaac did not complain or struggle. He was ready, like his father, to do the will of God. But just as Abraham had the knife ready to slay his son, an angel called to.him out of Heaven: Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.' "Then Abraham unbound his son, and was as glad as if Isaac had really risen from the dead. And he saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns; so he took that, and offered it up instead of Isaac. Thus God really provided a lamb for a burnt offering. And He blessed Abraham more and more, and promised again that his children should have the land, and that in his Seed should all ~-A \ p~- F-i HAGAR AND ISHMAEL CAST FORTH. "And Abraham sent her away, and she departed, and wandier,_d in the wilderness of Beer-sheba."-Gen. XXI, 14. ISAAC'S WEDDING. 41 the nations of the earth: be blessed. That Seed was our blessed LORD JESUS CHRIST, who, you know, was really given by His Heavenly Father to die, and then came back from the dead, that all people might be saved by Him." Was n't that mean of Abraham to do little Isaac that way ? said little Anna. No," said Willie, "he was n't scared; he knew his father would n't stick that knife in him." Yes," said Aunt Charlotte, Abraham would have done so ii God had not commanded him not to. Much as he loved his son, he loved God more, and we must all be willing to give up anything God wants us to; but you see God only did this to test Abraham's faith, and He would not let him do a wrong thing. God will not make us give up anything we ought to have." My first question !" said Willie; and this is what Aunt Charlotte asked him: QUESTIONS. hat was the name of Abraham's son? What had God promised Abraham? What had Ab aham done at God's command? What was he now to do? Whom did he obey? Where was he to go? Who went with him? What did Isaac ask? What did Abraham answer ? Who seemed i;ki~l to be the lamb? What was Abraham just going to do? Who called him? What did the angel tell him? Why was God pleased with him ? What blessing did God give him ? Who was to be his Seed, in whom all families should be blessed ? Isaac's Wedding. "And he brought her into his mother's tent, and took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her."-Gen. xxiv, 67. "Auntie, what did little Isaac do when he became a man? asked little Anna. "Well," replied Aunt Charlotte, with a laugh, "one thing he did was to get married, but he did not choose his own wife, as men do now. I will tell you all about it. Abraham lived in the land of Canaan, and the people were all heathen. He did not want his son Isaac to marry one of the heathen girls, so he called his chief servant and gave him ten camels and several men for companions, and many presents, and told him to go to the city of Nahor and get a wife for his son Isaac. After many days'journey the servant came to the walls of the ISAAC'S WEDDING. city, and stopped on the outside by the well. At this well the girls and women of the city came to draw water with their pitchers, and the servant prayed to God that he would show him which one he might choose to be the wife of Isaac. By and by a beautiful young woman came up to draw water, and the servant asked her to let him drink from her pitcher. She allowed him to drink, and then said she would go and draw water for his camels. This she did, and the servant knew she was the woman to be Isaac's wife. After the camels had done drinking the man took a golden ear-ring and two golden bracelets, and gave them to the beautiful young woman, and in answer to questions she told him of her parents, and told him there was plenty of straw for the camels and room for the men to stay at her father's house; and the servant was immediately welcomed into the house, and after taking the loads off his camels and feeding them, they set before the men many nice things to eat. But the servant said, I will not eat until I have told mine errand.' Then he told them whose servant he was, how rich his master was, and all about Isaac, Abraham's child. Then he told them how his master had sent him to their city to seek a wife for his son Isaac, and how he had asked God to show him which woman he should choose, and how he knew that Rebekah should be Isaac's wife. Then he asked them if they would let Rebekah go with him to be the wife of Isaac And they called Rebekah and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. And they sent away Rebekah, their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. "As they came near to where Abraham lived, Rebekah lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac coming to meet her; and when the servant had told Isaac all things that had been done, he took her into his mother's tent, and with his parents' permission made her his wife." That was a pretty story," said Clara, "and I think it teaches us that when God calls we should obey, -like Rebekah did." QUESTIONS. Why did not Isaac take a wife from the land of Canaan ? To what city did Abraham send his servant? How did the servant choose the woman for Isaac's wife? Tell about his visit to Rebekah's parents. Tell about the meeting of Rebekah and Isaac. fifth Sunba2. How Esau Lost His Birthright. B DID Isaac have any boys when he grew .. ^ up ?" said Willie, as'the children took their seat the next Sunday morning, after break- fast with Aunt Charlotte. Yes, and didn't -I he have some little girls, too?" said little Anna. "Willie's always thinking about the i, boys, and you told us the Bible said his Children should be many as sand on the sea- S' shore." OFFERING SALUTATION IN THE He had only two," said Aunt Charlotte, EAST. patting Anna's cheek, "and they were both boys ; but it was from them that the earth was to get its many people. The name of one of the boys was Esau and the other was Jacob. "Now let me read you from the Bible," and she turned to the twenty-seventh chapter of Genesis and read them down to the thirty- fourth verse, where it said: "Bless-me, even me also, O father." Then, looking up, Aunt Charlotte said: You see, as Esau was the eldest he had the first right to the promises God had made Abra- ham. But Esau did not care enough about them; he did not seem to get anything by them, and he liked what he could get at once better than what was a long way off. He had no faith. One day he came home half dead with hunger, and saw his brother Jacob making soup over the fire. Esau said he would give all these rights for a meal of HOW ESAU LOST HIS BIRTHRIGHT. the soup; for if he died of hunger, what good would his birthright do him? So for a mess of pottage he sold his right to the land of Canaan and to be the forefather of our Saviour. "A time was to come when he would be sorry for what he had done. His father was old and blind, and thought he was going to die; so he bade Esau, whom he loved the best, bring home some meat and make a solemn feast-which was the way then of giving a blessing. Esau went, and in time brought home the meat to his M ------- ._. ... ._ =------- '. . __- -=- --=---- VALLEY OF SALT IN THE LAND OF EDOM, THE COUNTRY THAT ESAU AFTERWARD OBTAINED. father; but when he came in Isaac cried out and trembled. His brother Jacob had come in his stead, and Isaac had taken him for Esau and given to him the blessing that gave the right to the promised land and to all God's promises. Then Esau cried out with an exceeding bitter cry, and asked if his father had but one blessing. Isaac was grieved for him, and blest him with all his heart; but there was no changing back, no taking away what Jacob had won and Esau had lost. HOW ESAU LOST HIS BIRTHRIGHT. 45 Esau did not know what he was doing when he took the pottage at once, rather than wait patiently for the glorious inheritance that was to come. This was the reason that he was allowed to be so cruelly dis- appointed. This is a warning to us. We have the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven promised to us; but we are tempted not to care about it when we want something here in this world, whether play or dress or anything that seems a great deal to us now. But if we trifle away our right to those great promises that God made us at our baptism, there will ' come a time of bitter grief, 1 \ when it is too late. And - when we are dead it will be i too late to change! There- fore, now while we are alive, -' we must have faith, and show it by taking care that the things we like here on earth do not make us lose the better things in heaven." "I'm sorry for Esau," said _ little Anna. "Yes, but he AD __ ... was greedy," said Willie. ISAAC BLESSING JACOB. "So are we when we had rather have a little pleasure in this world than a great deal in heaven," said Aunt Charlotte. QUESTIONS. What were the names of Isaac's two sons ? Which son had the first right to the promise ? Cut which cared about it most? What did Esau want? So what did he give up for the sake of the soup? Could he get it back again? What are you an heir of? How could we lose the inheri- tance of the kingdom of heaven? Shall we be able to change after we are dead ? Then what must we care about most? Why could not Esau get his father's blessing? What did he like better than waiting for what he could not see ? Can we see heaven? But when we get there, will it not be better than anything we can see here? S I I- r4rrf --I' Ii -I I I I- I I __ I; '* -I, II ~lii ~ I, N-; - Ir *- I II -( ~- - L I_ I, I .1' II .Is E 'I -; I. -tf7--Fa At JACOB'S DREAM. t N _ r -''' r---. 3 ,, j ---- -I- I'-- iii) _i:l ,I : JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. Jacob's Journey and Dream. "Tell us more of Jacob and Esau," said Clara. Aunt Charlotte read: "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.'"-Genesis xxvII, 17. I told you this morning that Isaac, Abraham's son, had two sons, whose names were Esau and Jacob, and how Jacob had grieved Esau by gaining God's great promise, for which Esau did not care till he had lost it. Now, Esau was so angry with Jacob that Jacob had to go out away from his father's home, all alone. But Jacob knew he was not alone, for God was with him. He went on till night came. Then he was in a dismal stony place, with no house or shelter near-only big stones, and here and there a thistle. He said his prayers, and then he lay down with a stone for his pillow and the sky over him. But in the night he saw a wonder. There was a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and God's angels were going up and down, and the Lord himself stood at the top of the ladder. And He told Jacob that He was going to give his children all the land he saw-north, south, east, and west; and that He. would take care of him, and be with him wherever he went, and in time bring him safe home. "Jacob woke and found it was a dream, but he knew it was true, and that God had really spoken to him; and though he was glad he was afraid, and he said: How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' And ' that he might always know the place, he put one of the great stones upright, and he took some of the sweet olive oil he had brought to eat on his journey, and poured it on the stone, as the only thing he could do to show honor to God. Then he made a solemn holy vow, that if God would take care of him on his way, and give him food to eat and clothes to wear, he would make a gift to God all his life of the tenth part of all he had. Good people like to do like Jacob, and give God their tenth. And if we only had our eyes opened to see, like his, we should see God's angels coming up and down with blessings JACOB AND ESAU MEET AGAIN for us, for we go to the house of God and gate of heaven whenever we go to church. Let us recollect how awful Jacob felt it to be so near to God." "I have dreams, too, sometimes,'' said little Anna, "and I see every- thing. Do you expect they are angels and ladders and things ?" Aunt Charlotte patted her cheek and began the- QUESTIONS. Who was Isaac? Who was Jacob ? Who was Esau ? Why was Jacob obliged to go away? What was the promise? What kind of place had he to sleep in ? What was his pillow? But what did he see? Who went up and down? Who stood at the top? What did God promise him? What did Jacob say of the place? How did he mark it ? What did he pour on the stone? What vow did he make? What are our houses of God? Who come up and down to us? What do the angels bring us ? How much did Jacob promise to give to God ? What does God do for us ? Jacob and Esau Meet Again. "Aunt Charlotte, I know what became of Jacob," said Clara. "But do n't tell," said Willie, shak- ing his hand at her; "you will spoil the story for me : and Anna-let Aunt Char- Slotte tell." ,.ii "Well, then," said Aunt Charlotte, "it was a long ---- ,. journey that Jacob had had to / take, but God took care of him, and brought him safe -- to the home where his mother had come from. He lived There and took care of his uncle's sheep and cattle till S.he had earned a great many -^. .-.-. -rfor his own; and he had married there and had a great JACOB AND THE ANGEL. many sons, But after a time God commanded him to go home to the land of Canaan. He was JACOB AND ESAU MEET AGAIN. afraid, because he thought his brother Esau might still be angry with him; but, in spite of his fear, he did as God bade him. When he came near the river Jordan, which flows on the east side of the land of Canaan, he prayed to God to guard him, and once more God let him see the angels who were going with him to protect him. He was glad, but he was still very careful. He chose out a present of cows and goats and camels and sheep and asses for Esau, and sent it on to meet him; and then he sent on the other cattle he wanted to keep for himself; then his children; and last of all, in the safest place, his dear young son Joseph. Esau came to meet him, but not in anger. The two brothers met and fell on each other's neck and kissed each other and were friends. So God had kept His promise to take care of Jacob; and Jacob kept his promise, for he set up an altar at Bethel, where he had seen the angels before, and praised and blessed God." "I knew Jacob would come out all right," said Willie. Yes, and Esau did, too; and Jacob had to make up for taking his birthright too." QUESTIONS. Who was Jacob? Why had he left home? With whom did he go to live ? What did he earn there? Why did he go back? Why was he afraid? But what comforted him? Of whom do God's angels take care? What did Jacob give Esau ? How did Jacob put his family in order? Who went last? How did Esau meet him? How did Jacob show he was thankful ? 5ixth Sunbar. Joseph in Egypt. His brethren envied him."-Genesis xxxvii, 11. NOW, Master Willie," said Aunt Charlotte, I will tell you about a boy you will like." Good," said Willie, clapping his hands. "Well, then, you know I told you "- "1 last Sunday how Jacob went /. away from home, and how -.r.i. .1 ,God promised to take care of ,' him. He did take care of ~ .l, ,,' ,'. -.- him ; He led him to his uncle, S i1 and with him Jacob lived '- many years, and then came back with flocks of sheep and .- .-. _. : ,.. ( ggoats, camels and cows. '- Jacob had twelve sons. -- :.' ~.. The best of all his sons was i" named Joseph. Jacob loved him very much, and gave him -:-- a striped dress of many colors, .--' :- --: such as the son who is to -;:be the heir wears in those JOSEPH AND His FATHER countries. But his brothers hated and envied him, and could not speak peaceably to him. One day, when Joseph was seven- teen years old, ten of the brothers were out with their sheep, and Jacob JOSEPH IV EGYPT. 51 desired Joseph to go and see what they were about. He would not tell his father how unkind they were to him, but he went; and as they saw him coming some of them were so wicked as to say that they would kill him, and never let him go home. Reuben, who was JOSEPH CAST INTO THE PIT. the eldest brother, tried to hinder them; but when he saw he could not stop them, he said the best way would be not to kill him but to let him down into a dry well just by. There they meant to let him starve to death; and they let him down without any pity for him. Reuben meant to come by and by and take Joseph out of the JOSEPH A SLAVE. pit and save him; but there was another brother, named Judah, who did not want to have him killed,-and who saw a great party of men, with camels and asses laden with goods, going on a journey. He knew they were merchants going to sell and buy in Egypt, and he advised the other brothers to persuade them to buy Joseph; for in those days men and women used to be bought and sold, and were called slaves. So Joseph was drawn up out of the pit; and when the merchants saw what a fine young man he was, they paid the price for him, and carried him off, away from his father and all he had ever known or cared for before. The cruel brothers kept his colored dress; and they killed a kid and stained it in the blood, and then carried it to their father, telling him they had found it. Jacob thought some wild beast had met Joseph and killed him and eaten him, and he mourned and wept. His sons pretended to comfort him, but not one of them would tell him that Joseph was not dead." "Was n't those boys mean to do poor Joseph that way ?" said little Anna. "I knew that story all before," said Willie; "my Sunday- school teacher told us about it." "Very well, then, we'll have the questions now," said Aunt Charlotte. QUESTIONS. Whose son was Jacob? How many sons had Jacob? What did he set them to do? Which did he love best ? What did he give Joseph ? Where did he send Joseph ? What did the brothers want to do ? Who wished to save him? So what did Reuben persuade them to do? What did Reuben mean to do? But who came by? What did the brothers do-with Joseph? Who per- suaded them to sell him ? What are people called who are bought and sold ? What was done with his coat? What did Jacob think? Joseph a Slave. "The Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand."-Genesis xxxIx, 3. "Aunt Charlotte, you did not finish about Joseph," said Clara. "No," answered Aunt Charlotte, "I told you about his being sold; so we see Joseph was made a slave. A slave is a servant who belongs to his master, as his cows and horses do; he gets no wages and can not go away, but is bought and sold like cattle. "Think of poor Joseph. He was used to live as the son of a great JOSEPH A SLA VE. rich prince, rearing a dress of many bright colors, with many servants, and no one to obey but his kind, fond father; and living in a beauti- ful land, all hill and valley, where he used to feed his father's flocks. But now he was a slave in a strange land, with people speaking a lan- guage he did not know, and no one to care for him or say a good word to him, shut up in a house in a town, far away from his dear hills. Still he had one comfort, and the best of all-God was with him. He could still pray to God and do his duty. And he did his work well, for God helped him, and everything he did was made to prosper in his hand. Then he was trusted. His master knew that he always took care of everything as if it was his own, and left all to him, quite sure that it would be safe. But his wicked mistress made up a story that he had behaved ill, and he was put in prison for what he had not done. This sounds hard, but it was God's own way of bringing good to R-7. 5 pass and making Joseph come at - last to honor. Very soon he was ---- loved and trusted in his prison, and *-' all he did the Lord made it to ANCIENT EGYPTIAN IDOLS. prosper. Think about this. Try, when you nave anything to do,-a lesson or a bit of work,-to ask God to make it prosper. Then if you try your best He will help, and it will be sure to turn out well. Then try to deserve to be trusted. That is a great thing. If you always recollect that God sees you, you will do the same when no one is with you as if all the world were watching; and that is the way to be true and just in all your dealings. If you are only good when you are looked at, you are not like Joseph, but are only doing service out- wardly You must try to live that your parents may, when you are- 'Out of sight Know all is right- One law for darkness and for light.' " JOSEPH TELLS THE MEANING OF DREAMS. "Did n't they let Joseph out of prison ? asked little Anna, with tears in her blue eyes. I know," said Willie; I know that, too. "May I tell her, Aunt Charlotte ?" "I will tell her in the next lesson," said Auntie. QUESTIONS. Whose son was Joseph? How many brothers had Joseph? What had they done to him? Why had Joseph's brothers sold him? What is a slave? How did Joseph behave as a slave? Who comforted him? How did he take care of his master's things? Who made up a story against him ? What was done to him? But who was with him still ? And what did people think of him, wherever he was? What is the way to be like Joseph? If you are trusted to carry a message, how should you do it? Who always sees you? Then, even if no one is by, how should you -behave? Joseph Tells the Meaning of Dreams. "Do not interpretations belong to God ? "-Genesis XL, S. S l .- "You remember we left .. .. | .-- .' .- r ... :1 .-- I. - ,Ii' --:,.. ...l- Joseph in prison," bean Aunt S Charlotte; "but wherever he S--was,he tried to do his duty, S and so God blessed him; and I1' -. the keeper of the prison soon I found out how different he .:,, was from the others, and let I .i'' him help. I suppose he S,, helped to carry the prisoners -'" .. ,- their food and wait upon -; them; and he often could say Them. One day two grand i, -" One was the chief of all the ---... bakers, who made bread for King Pharaoh; and the other JOsPH INT G TE E. was the chief of all his cup- JOSEPH INTERPRETING THE DREAMS. bearers, who carried him his wine. Some wrong thing had happened, and they were both sus- JOSEPH TELLS THE MEANING OF DREAMS. pected of having had something to do with it, so they had been sent to prison. One morning Joseph saw them both looking more sad than usual; and when he asked what was the matter, they said each had a dream, and they wanted to know what it meant; for the Egyptians used to think a great deal of dreams, and there were men among them who pretended to explain them. Most dreams have no meaning, but these had, and God put it into Joseph's heart to under- stand them. The cup-bearer had dreamt that he saw a vine, and that it had three bunches of grapes, and that he was squeezing the juice into the king's cup as he used to do. Joseph said this meant that in three days the cup-bearer should really hand Pharaoh the cup again; and Joseph begged that when he was free he would tell the king about himself, and get him set free. Then the baker told his dream-that he had three baskets full of pastry and bread ready for Pharaoh, but that the birds came down and ate them up. Joseph was obliged to tell him that this meant that he would be hanged, and that the vul- tures and ravens would eat his flesh. So it happened. Pharaoh looked into the matter in three days' time; he caused the baker to be hung, and the cup-bearer to come back to his old place. But the cup- bearer was ungrateful, and forgot all about Joseph in his prison, trust- ing to him. And he stayed there a long time after. But, little Anna, he did get out and became a very great man, and I will tell you about it next Sunday." Little Anna was very sorry she could not hear how it happened now, but she said she would wait, and she hoped he would be sure to get out. Aunt Charlotte patted her cheek and promised her he should do so in the very next lesson. QUESTIONS. Who was Joseph? Where was he? How came he to be in Egypt? Where had he been put? Had he done anything wrong? Who trusted him? What had he to do? Who came into the prison? What was the cup-bearer's dream? What was the baker's dream? What did Joseph say the cup-bearer's dream meant ? What did the baker's dream mean ? What happened? What had Joseph asked of the cup-bearer? Did he remember? seventh b unba,. Joseph's Brothers. "We are verily guilty concerning our brother."-Genesis XLII, 21. "NOW," said little Anna, i, clapping her hands, "this is the .- time for poor Joseph to get out of .. that mean prison." "Yes," said A i' Aunt Charlotte, "Joseph did not always stay in prison, for God gave him wisdom to tell the king of Egypt that his dreams had meant -- -=- that there were going to be first JOSEPH BEFORE PHARAOH. seven years of very fine harvests, and then seven years would come of no harvests at all. So the king took him out of prison and made him a great lord; and he set to work to buy the corn that was over and above what people wanted to eat in the years of plenty, that he might store it up against the years when the corn would not grow. So when the bad harvest began Joseph had plenty of corn, and he sold it for the king to all who wanted it. The famine was not only in Egypt but in all the countries round; and by and by Joseph saw, among the people that came to buy, ten of his own brothers-the same who had sold him for a slave. He knew them, for they stiH looked like shepherds, but they did not know him, for he had grown from a youth to a man, and was dressed like an Egyptian lord; and he did not let them know that he knew them, though he wanted much JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. to know what had become of his old father and his little brother Ben- jamin. He made as if he thought they were enemies, come to see if Egypt could be conquered. "Then they told him who they were; that they were all one man's sons, and that one brother they had lost; the other was left with his father, who could not bear to part with him. Joseph would not seem to believe this, and said he must keep one of them in prison while he sent the rest back to fetch their youngest brother, or else he could not believe them. Then, when fear and trouble came on them, they began to think how ill they had used their lost brother Joseph; and they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother.' Joseph heard them, and could hardly bear it; but still he kept to his plan. He kept Simeon a prisoner, that he might be sure of the others coming back, and sent them home to fetch Benjamin. But he would not have any of the money they had brought for the corn, and made his steward put it all back into the mouths of their sacks. "When they found this out as they went home they were much afraid, and when they came home their father was more afraid still. After the way they had used Joseph he thought they had killed Simeon, and wanted to kill Benjamin. They spoke truth now, but he could not believe them; and he said he could not send Benjamin, for if mischief should befall the lad, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.' " I am so glad Joseph got out of prison," said Anna. "Yes, but he ought to have licked his old, mean brothers." "Stop, Willie," said Aunt Charlotte. The Bible says we must forgive those who injure us." QUESTIONS. Where was Joseph ? Why was he in prison ? What did God make him able to tell the king ? How many years was there to be much corn ? What was to be done with the corn ? Who man- aged the buying it ? When was the corn wanted ? Who came to buy corn ? Who did not come? Why did not Joseph's brothers know him? What did he make believe to think? Whom did he tell them to fetch ? What did he give back to them ? What did their father say about Benjamin's going? Why was he afraid to trust them with Benjamin ? What is the way to be believed ? JOSEPH'S BROTHERS GO AGAIN TO EGYPT. Joseph's Brothers Go Again to Egypt. God Almighty give you mercy before the man. "-Genesis XLIII, 14. "Joseph's brothers were soon obliged to go again and buy more corn in Egypt. Joseph had said they must bring the young brother they had told him of, or he should not believe their story; and when they said Benjamin must go, their father Jacob was greatly grieved, and showed how little he could trust them now, after the way they had behaved to Joseph. .He would not have let Benjamin go at all if Judah had ,, not prom- -"'Fi-- ised to take SI-I-' care of him; ;. ^ ^. I 'J \I is so beauti- ,, -ful, and so A easy to un- S derstand in the Bible, that I hardly EGYTIAN OMEN. like to tell it in my own words. Only think of Joseph's heart being so full when he saw his own dear youngest brother that he could not stay with him for his tears, and went away to weep in his chamber! And yet he still tried the brothers. He wanted to see if they still were envious of the one their father loved best; so he made his steward hide his cup in Benjamin's sack of corn, and then go after them and pretend to think they had stolen it. "The sons of Jacob were no thieves, and they said the steward JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN. might search their sacks. They took them down and looked, and there was the cup in Benjamin's sack! They were all shocked; and the steward said that Benjamin must go back and be punished. How pleased they would have been long ago if such a misfortune had happened to Joseph! But now their hearts were changed, and they were shocked and grieved." I'm glad they got into trouble," said Willie; served 'em right." "Yes, but poor little Benjamin and old Jacob," said little Anna. "Joseph ought to have sent his papa a letter to tell him all about it." QUESTIONS. What had Joseph's brothers done to him ? What trouble did you hear last Sunday he was in ? But how did he behave? And what had he come to be? What had he stored up? Who came to buy corn? How many brothers came? Which did not come? Why did not Benjamin come? Did the brothers know Joseph? What did he tell them to do? When he saw Benjamin, where did he go? What did Joseph tell his steward to do ? What did Joseph want to see ? How did the brothers behave this time? Joseph Makes Himself Known. "God did send me before you to preserve life."-Genesis XLV, 5. "Do hurry, Auntie, about Joseph. I'm most crazy to know about him and little Benjamin," said Anna. "Well, to begin where we left off," said Aunt Charlotte. "All the eleven sons of Jacob turned back in grief and fear and dismay with Benjamin. How the cup came to be in his sack they could not guess, but they knew that their father's heart would break if they came home and left Benjamin to be a slave. So they all went back to the lord of the land, and Judah stood up before the strange, stern, princely man, and told him how much their old father loved this youngest son, and he would be sure to die if the lad did not come home safe. And then Judah begged to stay and be a slave in Egypt, instead of his brother Benjamin, for he said if mis- chief befell the lad his father would die, and that he could not bear to see. JOSEPH MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN. JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN. "But when Judah so spake, the lord of the land sent all the lookers- on away, and wept aloud, and said that he was their own brother, Joseph, whom they had sold so long ago. He would not let them be afraid; he embraced them all and wept for joy, and asked for his father. Then he told them not to grieve for what had gone before; for God had turned it all to good, and made him be the means of saving all their lives, by storing up the corn in Egypt. "And now they were to go home, and tell Jacob, their father, that Joseph was still alive, and was a great and powerful man; and they were to fetch old Jacob, their father, and their wives and their children, and all -they had, and come to live with Joseph in Egypt, where he would take care of them. "That was the way Joseph forgot all the ill his brothers had done to him, and forgave them, and loved them with all his heart. When the brothers came home, their father Jacob could scarcely believe such good news; but at last he said, 'Joseph my son is yet alive, I will go to see him before I die.' And he came down to Egypt, and Joseph met him and fell on his neck and kissed him; and then there was joy indeed, joy as if Joseph had come back from the dead. So Jacob lived all the rest of his life in Egypt, and was happy with his son Joseph. God had given him another name, Israel, and his sons, and their sons after them, were always called the children of Israel." Now, brother," said Clara, do n't you see Joseph was right ? " " Yes," answered little Anna, "he was a good boy to his old, mean brothers; and do n't you expect they all loved him after that ?" Right, my darling," said Aunt Charlotte. "Jesus said we must do good to those who treat us meanly, and that we must love our enemies. That makes them our friends." QUESTIONS. Who was Benjamin? What was found in Benjamin's sack? Who put it there? What was going to be done to Benjamin? Who spoke for him? What did Judah ask? Who did the lord of the land turn out to be ? How came Joseph to be in Egypt ? Why had his brothers not known him sooner? How did he treat them? Whom did he send for? What did Jacob say? Where did Jacob go to live? Why was it very kind in Joseph to help his brothers? Eibhtb Sunbar. The Baby in the River. "1 have surely seen the affliction of My people."-Exodus mi, 7. p., -. .I- .. j :- -' -^---^ k" "' "--' I '... MUSES IN THE BULRUSHES. bricks and build towns for him; "WILL you tell us more about Joseph, Auntie?" No, Willie; we will skip a long time,-nearly three hundred years,-and see how Jacob's people got on in the land of Egypt, and I will start with the baby in the river. "You heard in our last lesson how Joseph brought his father and brothers and their children to live in Egypt. Their children's children went on living there for many years, till they had come to be a great people, and were called the children of Israel; but then the King of Egypt grew cruel to them. He made them work very hard to make and, what was still worse, he ordered that whenever a little boy was born to the children of Israel, he should be thrown into the river and drowned. One mother hid her little baby for three months, and when she could not hide him any longer she put him into a little cradle of bul- rushes, covered over with pitch to keep the water out, and let the THE BABY IN THE RIVER. cradle float on the river, leaving the little boy's sister to watch him. Presently a lady, no other than the daughter of the cruel king, came down to bathe in the river. She saw the little cradle and had it brought to her. The little baby was crying, and the lady pitied him and took him home, to bring him up for her own child. She wanted a nurse for him, and his sister brought the baby's own mother, and she became his nurse. His name was Moses, and he grew up in the king's house as the son of the king's daughter; but when he grew up he went away from the king's house, because he loved his people and pre- z ferred to live with them, and .' the king grew angry with him because he cared for his own people, and he had to flee |- ,i away and keep sheep in the -- I 3 wilderness. And there he saw a great .. wonder. He saw a flame of ' fire in a bush, and yet the 'I ' bush was not burnt. And God's voice spoke to him out - of the fire that did not burn, and told him that the troubles of His people, the children of S, MOSES KEEPING SHEEP IN THE WILDERNESS. Israel, were to come to an end. God would save them from the cruel Egyptians; and Moses him- self was to go and lead them out, and bring them to the good land that God had promised that Abraham's children should have for their own. Moses was to go and tell the king of Egypt that it was God's will that they should go. Moses was afraid at first, but God promised to help him; and in our next lesson you will hear what happened." Tell us now," said little Anna. Was it bad ? This afternoon, my darling," said Aunt Charlotte. "Now see how well you can answer the questions." MOSES AND AARON BEFORE THE KING. QUESTIONS. Who was Moses? Where was he put when he was a baby? Why was he put on the river? Who had said the little boys were to be drowned? Whose babies were they that were to be drowned? What other cruel things did the King of Egypt do to the children of Israel ? Who were called the children of Israel? What became of Moses in his bulrush cradle? Who brought him up? Did he stay with the king's daughter? Whom did he care for? What wonder did Moses see? Who spoke to him ? What was God going to do for His people ? What land would He give them ? Who had the first promise that his children should have the good land? Moses and Aaron before the King. "And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord? "-Exodus v, 2. "Now, Moses had a brother Aaron, who was a priest and a good talker, and he got him to go with him and they told Pharaoh God's message-that the people of Israel were to go away and worship Him. But Pharaoh said, 'Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go ? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.' And he was more cruel to the children of Israel; he made them work harder and harder, and had them beaten if they did -- .- not do all the work that was set them. They had to make bricks of P-- 8." clay mixed with straw; and, to punish them, Pharaoh said that they ----_ < should have no straw given to them for their work, but that they must find it for themselves; and yet he ISRAELITES MAKING BRICKS IN EGYPT. required of them just as many bricks as they had had to make before. Then they cried out and were angry, and fancied Moses had brought all this trouble on them by asking for them to go. They were very miserable, and said they wished they had never listened to Moses, for he had only made them worse off instead of better. "Aaron was a better speaker than Moses, and God had said he should help him, and that, when God told Moses anything, Aaron -__ am. _________ ,' 1 _ _ ____ df '9/ _____ % ~''.,iil 0%-~L /? EGYPTIAN TASKMASTERS. MOSES D D AARO --BEFORE- THE KING. should speak it to the people. So the two brothers stood telling the Israelites to bear it a little longer, and then it would be all well and over, and they would get away from making the bricks in Egypt to the beautiful country. They could not remember it themselves, but some of their fathers' grandfathers had been little boys when they came, and could tell them that it was a country not all flat, with only one river in it, like Egypt, but full of steep hills and green valleys, with bright streams running along in them, and thick woods on some of the slopes, and others laid out in gardens and vineyards. There were so many cows in the pastures, and in the wild rocks and hollow trees so many bees' nests, that 5 \ it was called a land flowing ....- .- with milk and honey. S Should not the Israelites -_ I- _. ,v -J___ have liked to hear of such a .I place as this? But, no; they .,f- were too dull to care. They I TI -, thought more of whether they -. should get a leek or a melon _-~--_ ~-" _ -- _-_ -e_ to eat at supper than of all the ISRAELITE S AKING BRICKS IN EcyrT. lovely land far away. Do you know, people are very like that when they care for now more than for by and by. If we want just what pleases us to-day, instead of caring for what will be good for us as we grow older, we are just like the Israelites, who would not attend to Moses or to God." If I was Moses and Aaron I would have gone off to that pretty country and left those good-for-nothing Israelites in Egypt," said Willie. Not so," said Aunt Charlotte. We must do all the good we can for others. That's the way Jesus did." QUESTIONS. Who was Pharaoh? Who were the children of Israel? Who had been sent to call them? What did Pharaoh say to Moses? How did he use the Israelites? What would he not give them? Who was Moses' brother? What was Aaron to do for Moses? Who spoke to Moses? Who told the people what God said to Moses? What kind of place did God promise? What did Moses - say it flowed with? Why ? Did the Israelites care? Why not ? When are we like them ? HOW GOD PUNISHED THE KING. How God Punished the King. "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm."-Exodus vi, 6. "The Israelites grew very unhappy, for Pharaoh became even more cruel to them, and they thought it all Moses' fault. But Moses told them that they must go away and that no matter what came on Egypt they would be saved, and that God was going to show them His power, so that they might always remember what He had done for them, and how He punished Pharaoh, who would not obey Him. "Then God made His power to be known; so that Pharaoh and the children of Israel might both learn who is the great Lord of heaven and earth, who must be obeyed. First, Moses stretched out his rod, and all the water in the river turned into blood. For seven days it was all one red dreadful stream of blood; and when Moses held out his rod again it turned back into pure water. But Pharaoh did not mind, and would not let the people go. Then God sent a multitude of frogs, that came into all the houses and bed-rooms, and on the tables and everywhere. Pharaoh could not bear to have these crea- tures everywhere, and said if the frogs would but go away he would let the children of Israel go. Moses prayed to God, and all the frogs died; but Pharaoh only hardened his heart again, and would not let the people go. Next, God sent lice-disgusting unclean creatures, most horrible to the Egyptians, who could not bear anything dirty; but Pharaoh did not care. Then came swarms of flies, buzzing, stinging, and tormenting; and Pharaoh said he would allow the Israelites to go, so the flies were taken away; but no sooner were they gone than he went back again to his obstinacy, and would not let the people go. He was trying to fight against God, and so came these terrible miseries on him. If people will not do better after being punished, worse and worse is sure to come on them." But did n't he let 'em go ? said little Anna. Yes," said Aunt Charlotte; "at another time I'll tell you how it was." QUESTIONS. How did God punish Pharaoh ? What four plagues have I told you of to-day ? Why did these dreadful things happen ? Did Pharaoh care for them? Why did he not mind them ? What happens to those who do not mind heinn punished? lRIntb Zunbal. The Plagues of Egypt. There is none like Me in all the earth."-Exodus ix, 14. "The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go."- Exodus x, 20. NOW tell us some more about mean old i Pharaoh and how he had to let the children of / i'i Israel go away from Egypt. You said you would, .'. .',I.;i Auntie," pleaded little Anna, as they all took their 'i ,'" places after breakfast. I will, my dear," answered Aunt Charlotte, "and I will give you another surprise. You PHARAOH. notice the weather is getting warm and spring-like. Suppose we have one long talk this morning. Then, after church, we will use the afternoon for a pleasant walk, to see if there are any tiny flowers coming." Good!" shouted Willie, throwing up his hat, and the other children were equally delighted. Well, then, last Sunday we had learned about four plagues-." I know," said Willie; the river turned to blood, the frogs, and the lice and the flies." Right," said Auntie. I had forgot about the old hop-frogs," put in little Anna. Was there any more legsgs' Auntie?" Yes; six times more God had to punish wicked Pharaoh, and these six terrible plagues I will tell you about to-day," said Aunt Charlotte, and she straightened herself up in her chair andtalked very earnestly and looked away as if she could see all the terrible things she 68 THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT described, and the children did not once take their eyes off her face, so deeply were they interested. After God had sent the flies, next he made the sheep and cows, that the Egyptians worshiped like gods, fall sick and die, but still Pharaoh did not care; then the people all had sores and boils that made them very ill, but still Pharaoh did not care; and then there was a terrible storm, thunder and lightning, and rain and hail-such big hailstones as killed the men and cattle that were out in the fields, and lightning that struck them, and wind that broke every tree in the field. No wonder that Pharaoh was frightened, and begged that the storm might cease, and said that then he would let the Israelites go. So Moses prayed to God, and the thunder left off, there was no more hail, and it was / all still again. But when the thunder was :--.. over Pharaoh grew wicked again, and left off caring, and said the Israelites should - not go. And thus God went on being angry with him and sending worse plagues upon him. "Worse troubles are sure to come when people have not taken warning by what was sent them before. Pharaoh had LOCUST. not minded seven dreadful plagues, so now God sent another. He sent locusts. These were creatures like great grasshoppers. They came in swarms and clouds, and ate up every green leaf and blade of grass, and made all the earth brown and the trees dry sticks, so that there was nothing left for man or beast to eat. Then Pharaoh gave way a little, and said he would let the men go, but that their wives and children must stay; and he would not hear a word more, but had Moses and Aaron driven out from before him. "Then God bade Moses to hold up his hand to Heaven. And dark- ness came all over the land. It was dark all day-and with dark- ness that might be felt'; not like night, but such black darkness that no fire or candle could give light, and no one dared to move about, but the Egyptians lay still in their places, full of horror and terror, THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT for three whole days. But all the time it was light among the Israelites -the sun rose and set as usual; and thus God showed that they were His people. Then Pharaoh said that he would let them go-men, women, and children, only he must keep all their cattle; and when Moses, speaking God's words, said that the cattle must go too, and not a hoof be left behind, Pharaoh made his heart hard again, and drove out Moses, saying the people should not go, and that Moses -should never see his face again. And Moses said, 'Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.' "So ended the last hope for Pharaoh. He was never to have another chance of bending his will and doing as God told him. Oh, let us take care not to be like him. "After the nine sad plagues that had come upon the Egyptians- the blood for water, the frogs, the lice, the flies, the cattle plague, the boils, the hail, the locusts, the darkness-there was to be still one plague more, the last and worst. That would make the Egyptians let the people of Israel go, so they must be ready. There should be a terrible night. God's holy angel would pass over the whole land of Egypt that night, and in each house of the Egyptians he would slay the eldest son of the family. No one would be spared: Pharaoh's eldest son, the young prince, and the very poorest person's son. They had killed the little Israelite babies, so God would punish them by killing their children. None of the Israelites should lose their children; only there was one thing for them to do. They were that night to make their supper on a lamb, and, with some of the blood of the lamb, they were to make a mark on the doors of their houses. Where that mark was the angel would pass over and do no one any hurt; but the people would be blest and set free, because they believed God, and did as He bade them." That was a good story, Auntie," said Clara, and it teaches us that we must obey God or be punished. Pharaoh was like all sinners who do not keep their promises to God. They are punished for it." "Did Moses' folks get away? asked Anna., "I'll tell-you about it next Sunday," answered Auntie; "and this time, as we have had a long talk, I will not ask any questions," tentb sunba.-)Easter Day. The Passover. "There was not a house in which there was not one dead."-Exodus xII, 30. "THIS is the day I promised to tell you, Anna, about Moses' people leaving Egypt; but in the l. morning lesson I want to tell you that this is the Sunday many SChristians celebrate as Easter, which means deliverance. "This is our own gladdest Sunday in all the year, and we EGYPTIAN KING IN H CHARIOTread of the Israelites being glad EGYPTIAN KING IN HIS CHARIOT. t un too-glad upon the very Sunday that answered to this, thousands of years ago. On this Sunday, of all those thousands of years, there has been joy and gladness and thank- ing God. And why? It was because all the troubles in Egypt were over, and God brought the Israelites out safe. There was one thing they had to do first, though; Moses bade them do it, as God com- manded. I told you they had to eat a lamb for supper Yes; every family was to take a lamb, and it was to be killed and roasted whole in the evening, and some of its blood was to be marked upon the door-post of the house, and then all the family were to stand round the table, all ready dressed for a journey, and eat it as fast as they could, late at night. "And while all the families-fathers and mothers and children-stood THE PASSOVER AND EASTER DAY up eating the lamb in this strange way, there came a great shout and cry. God had sent His angel to punish the cruel Egyptians; and every house where there was no mark of blood on the door-post had some one dead in it, and that dead person was the eldest or first-born son. There was a great cry, for there was death everywhere, from the son of Pharaoh who sat on his throne down to the child of the poorest slave; and even the first-born of cattle died too, because the Egyptians used to worship them; but wherever there was the blood on the door-post the angel passed over, and the eldest son was safe. The cruel King Pharaoh was sorry and afraid at last, and said that the people who brought such trouble on him should go where they liked. And, Anna, in the story this afternoon and to-night I will tell you all about it." QUESTIONS. Why are we glad to-day ? Where were the Israelites living ? Who said they should come out? What did God tell the Israelites to eat ? How were they to be dressed while they ate it? What were they to do with the blood ? Who was. going to pass over the land that night ? What did the angel do where he did not see any blood on the door-post? Who were frightened then? The Passover and Easter Day. "It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover."-Exodus xi1, 27. "Now, children," began Aunt Charlotte, I want to teach you a little lesson to show you why the Jews keep the Passover and many Christians observe Easter day. "When the king of Egypt said the Israelites might go they were all up and dressed, quite ready and only waiting, and off they set. No more making of bricks, no more slaving for the Egyptians, no more drowning of babies! They were free! and God was going to lead them to the beautiful country that long ago He had said He would give them. And so always after that, to put them in mind how they were saved from the Egyptians, God bade them on the same day in each year to kill a lamb and roast it, and put the blood on the door-post, and eat the lamb all standing round the table, dressed as if they were going GOING OUT OF EGYPT. for a journey, that they might never forget how God had made them free. This was called the Passover, because the angel passed over the houses where the blood was marked over the door. And God came in a pillar of cloud to show them the way they should go. "Now, you remember, hundreds of years after this our blessed Lord was crucified when He had come to the Feast of the Passover at Jerusalem. You know He was like a lamb, He was so pure and gentle; and His blood saves us, as that lamb's blood did the Israelites, and sets us free from the power of the devil. So we still keep the feast of being set free, on this happy Easter Sunday, when we recollect that Christ was slain for our sins, but that He rose again from the dead, and liveth for evermore. QUESTIONS. What did Pharaoh say that the Israelites might do? What made him let them go at last? Who were set free? What were the Israelites to do every year ? What was this eating the lamb called? Why was it called the Passover? Why were the Israelites glad? Who set us free? In what is He like a lamb ? Going Out of Egypt. The children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.-Exodus xiv, 16. This is the time the Israelites are to get away, Aunt Charlotte," said Willie. Yes; and do n't let mean old Pharaoh keep them any more," said little Anna. "All the Egyptians were weeping over their dead first-born sons, and the Israelites were set free, and going gladly out and away from their hard masters. But Pharaoh's hard heart turned again, and he got all his chariots and horsemen together, and went after the children of Israel to drive them back to Egypt." Oh! now, but he did not catch them, did he ? asked Anna, with great excitement. No; when he came in sight of them, there they were all upon the shore of the sea called the Red Sea. They could not go on, for the sea was straight before them; they could not go back, for the Egyptians were behind. They were sore afraid. But God spoke to Moses, and told him not to fear. They had only to stand still and see how God would save them. GOING OUT OF EGYPT. "And God himself showed that He was with them, for the pillar of cloud went behind them, instead of before, and made it dark to the Egyptians, but gave light by night to the Israelites: so the Egyptians could not get near them all night." How glad I am," said little Anna, clapping her hands. Then God bade Moses stretch out his rod over the sea. And then there was a great wonder. The waves of the sea parted, and stood up on each side in a heap, and in between there was a wide open space, where the children of Israel might walk safely dry-shod, through the very midst of the sea. Through it they went, men, women, and children, through the depths of the sea, with the waves standing still on each side of them. "Pharaoh saw that they were all gone over. He chose to follow after them. But when his host was full in the midst, the sea returned to its strength again and came down on the Egyptians, and every one of them was drowned,-' they sank like lead in the mighty waters,'-and the Israelites were freed from their enemies, quite away from all their trouble and all their slavery; and they all sang hymns of joy to God, who had set them free. And now, as we hear about their being set free, let us remember this is the great Easter day, when we ought to give special thanks to our Blessed Lord Jesus for having set us free." "I'm so glad they got away safe," said Anna. "Yes; and I'm gladder because those wicked Egyptians got drowned," put in Willie. " No, brother, rather we should be sorry their wickedness made them go in to their destruction," said Clara. Right," said Aunt Charlotte. We should never rejoice in any wicked person's death. Christ came to save the wicked, and but for his coming we would all be lost." QUESTIONS. Who had set off to leave Egypt ? But what did Pharaoh do ? What was before the Israelites? What was behind? Where did the pillar of cloud go? How were the Egyptians cut off from them? What wonder did God work ? Where did the Israelites go over? Who came after them? What became of the Egyptians ? Who were free? Who had made them free? Who makes us free? DESTRUCTION OF THE EGYPTIANS. Vevenctb Zunbar, Wicked Men Swallowed Up. "The Lord will show who are His and who is holy."-Numbers xvI, 5. "WHEN the Israelites came out of Egypt they had a long journey to go, through a dreary, lonely wilderness. Moses and his brother Aaron led them; and God took care of them, and fed them, and kept them safe. But there were two wicked men, named Dathan and Abiram, who were tired of the wilderness, and were angry at having Moses for their leader and master, though God had made him lead them, and had done so much for them. They said they were as good as Moses, and that he should not be their prince. They did not care for God having spoken by him. Their end was so very dreadful that I can hardly tell it to you. God would not let them rise up against His servant Moses; and when they would not listen nor repent He made the earth open under their feet, and they went down alive, and were swallowed up in the pit before the eyes of all the other Israelites; and so they died the most terrible death any one ever died. It was because they set themselves up against Moses, whom God had placed over them, that He was so angry with them. "Remember God has set people over us: there are our fathers and mothers, and our clergymen and teachers; and it is our duty to obey them, as He tells us in the Fifth Commandment. If we are proud and saucy, it is very wrong of us. It is not likely that we should be so dreadfully punished in this life as Dathan and Abiram were; but their horrible death should make us remember that God is very angry 76 KORAH AND HIS FRIENDS BURNT TO DEATH. with those that will not try to obey those that have the rule over them, and set themselves up to be bold and proud, and to say they do not care." QUESTIONS. Who was set over the Israelites by God ? Where had he brought them from? Where was he leading them to? How should they have behaved to him? What bad men were there among them? Why was it very wicked of Dathan and Abiram not to obey Moses ? What terrible end did they come to? Why was God angry with Dathan and Abiram? Whom did He set over you? Then how must you behave to your parents and clergyman and teachers? -. -`II . .. -~-- /- 1--= I ~-.------ _________________ _______ __________ THE HIGH PRIEST BURNING INCENSE WITHIN THE HOLY OF HOLIES. Korah and His Friends Burnt to Death. "And seek ye the priesthood also ? "-Numbers xvI, 10. "I will tell you to-day about a wicked meddler." "Some people are always meddling with other people's business," said Willie. "Yes, and we will see how this meddler suffered," began Aunt Charlotte. - KORAH AND HIS FRIENDS BURNT TO DEATH- "When God had the children of Israel started on their journey He chose that Aaron, Moses' brother, and his sons should be His priests. A priest had to offer up the sacrifices to God, and to burn incense to Him. Incense is made of dried plants and gums that have a sweet smell when they are burnt. The priests had brazen urns with holes at the top, and chains to hold them by, and when the smoke of the incense went up it was just as our prayers rise up to God in heaven. There were other people called Levites, who had to take care of the holy things that were used in God's service, but only the priests might offer sacrifices or incense. Now, one of these Levites, named Korah, wanted to do more. He was angry, and said everybody was holy, and that Aaron took too much on himself. Now, it was not Aaron who made himself priest, but God had made him so. Therefore it was wrong in Korah; but there were two hundred and fifty men whom he persuaded to come and get censers, and offer incense to the Lord as if they had been priests. But because they did it in pride and self-will God was angry with them, and His fire burst out and scorched them all to death! It was only the men themselves that died, not their wives or children; and Korah's family after him were better than he was, and used to sing God's praises in the Psalms. "But they always recollected that no one .who was not a priest might offer sacrifice or burn incense before God." "The lesson we learn from this," said Clara, "I should think is that we must do what God wants us to." Yes, and mind our own business," said Willie. QUESTIONS. What had a priest to do? Who was the right priest ? How came Aaron to be priest ? Who wanted to offer incense ? What did Korah say? How many came with him ? What did they try to do? What happened to the two hundred and fifty? Why were they punished ? What became of Korah's children ? HOW THEY MADE HIGH PRIESTS. How They Made High Priests. "The rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds."-Nu~mbers xvii, 8. "Why did the priest offer a sacrifice, Aunt Charlotte?" asked Clara, as they took their seats after tea. An important question: I am glad you asked it," said their aunt. "The high priest, whom God chose, had to offer - sacrifices to Him. That - was, the priest slew a :-- ,... lamb or a goat or a bul- lock by the altar and gave -si - it to God. It was to show that the son of God would come and die to take away sin. Now He has come and died, we. have left off killing crea- tures in sacrifice, and only make remembrance over again of His sacrifice in i ;1 the sacrament of the i '+--- Lord's Supper. "The high priest used ' to wear a beautiful dress. He had a miter on his ,, head, with a gold plate on ~.- it, and the words, Holi- ness unto theLord'; and THE HIGH PRIEST IN His BEAUTIFUL DRESS. he had a blue, red, and white robe, embroidered with gold, and round the hem little gold bells and pomegranates. He had a curious scarf called an ephod, and a beautiful breast-plate made of twelve precious HOW THEY MADE HIGH PRIESTS. stones, each with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel engraven on it." "How did Aaron know he was to be the high priest? asked Willie. "Another good question," answered Auntie. "It was done this way. God said He would show who should be His priest. So he bade Moses desire the chief man in each tribe to bring him a dry rod or staff, and lay them up all night in the Holy Place. The one whose rod began to grow as if it was still on the tree should be the high priest. When the twelve men went to look in the morning, eleven rods were dry sticks still, but one had put out green leaves and pink buds and white blushing flowers, like almond blossoms. It was Aaron's rod; and this was the way God let the children of Israel know that Aaron and his sons, and grandsons after him, were always to be priests." "Now I understand it; do n't you, brother? " said little Anna. Oh, that's easy," answered Willie. QUESTIONS. What was a priest? What creatures were killed? What was this to make the children of Israel think of? Why don't we kill sacrifices now? What did the high priest wear on his head ? What color was his dress? How was it edged ? What was on his breast ? How did God say he would show who was to be the high priest ? What were the eleven rods like in the morning ? But how did one look ? Whose was it ? What, then, was Aaron to be? PLAGUE OF FROGS. f-I twelftbh unbav. Moses Bringing Water Out of the Rock. "Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God."-Deut. vi, 16. --- I TOLD you what sort of a place a desert is, and Show full it is of stones and rocks and sand, and S- with no water in it. Do "" .. -s.5 ,:. you remember how thirsty Ishmael was in a desert, Sand how God heard the ,.i .".,= ^ voice of the lad, and sent an angel to lead his .." ,, .."- .". mother to a well of water? Yes, I learned 'i, W' that at Sunday-school," -~ said Willie. .--- "Well, when the Is- THE HIGH PRIEST OFFERING INCENSE. raelites had come out of raelites had come out of the land of Egypt they were in a terrible wilderness. Mount Sinai stood up in the midst, and all round were great rocks of red and black stone, all dry and parched with the hot sun shining on them. The Israelites grew very hot and sadly thirsty, but they did not pray as Ishmael had done. They grew angry, and said, Is the Lord among us or no ?' Do you not think they deserved that God should show whether He was among them by punishing them for grumbling?" 6 8* THE SERPENTS THAT BIT THE PEOPLE. "But they wanted some water to drink," said Anna. That was the way they tempted God. Yes, and He was so good and merciful that He pitied them; and He bade Moses to take his rod, and go to the bare, dry rock and strike it. And when Moses struck the rock God made a beautiful, fresh, clear spring of water come pouring out of it, so that all the people, and all their cows and sheep and asses and camels, could drink and be refreshed. Was not that a great wonder? and was not God very kind to them, though they were not good? But you see God was near to help them all the time, and it was very sad that they grumbled instead of praying. Do not be like them. If a thing is hard to bear, do n't murmur and grumble about it, but pray, and then you will get help. Either the vexing thing will go away, or you will leave off minding it." QUESTIONS. What was the mountain in the midst of the desert? What can not be found in the desert? Who was the lad that was thirsty there before ? What did Ishmael do when he was thirsty ? But what did the Israelites do? What did they say? What would have served them right? But did God punish them? What did He tell Moses to do? What came out of the rock? Who made the water come out of the rock? Was it not very good of God to give them water ? What ought they to have done? What should you do when a thing is hard? Is it not very naughty to grumble? The Serpents that Bit the People. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." -John II, 14. "What will you tell us about this afternoon ?" asked Willie. " Snakes," answered Aunt Charlotte, with a laugh. But I do n't like snake stories," said little Anna. But you must be patient, my little curlyhead," said Aunt Charlotte, patting the chubby cheek, this story is in the Bible. One great fault of the Israelites was that they had no patience. The moment they saw anything troublesome or difficult they began to cry out, and say they could not get on, and it was very hard on them. Now, it is very wrong ever to say God is very hard upon us, for we may be sure He is doing what is best. for us. There was one ~ I ,-*--- - ' IIA -- - MOSES SMITING THE ROCK. -4 I' - FOOD SENT FRO.-i HEAVEN stony, hot, steep part of the journey still to come, and when the Israelites saw it they forgot how often God had helped them, and cried out, and lamented, and complained of Him and of Moses. So again they were punished, for the little shining snakes that live there came in numbers, darting at them and biting them, so that the bite burnt like fire, and they died. Then they cried out to God and were sorry, and He told Moses of a wonderful way to cure them. Moses was to melt up some brass and make a great serpent, like the little ones that bit them, and set it up on a pole. Then if any one who was bitten would come at once and look up at the brazen serpent his bite would get well, and he would not die of it. This was a miracle-a wonder. And it was to teach the Israelites something, and us too. For you know our Blessed Lord hung on the cross, as the serpent hung on the pole; and when our souls are in danger of dying of sin, we must think of Him, and look to Him in faith, and He will save us from being punished for our sin, and keep our souls from dying if we believe in Him as our Saviour." QUESTIONS. What sort of place had the Israelites to go over ? How did they like it ? What did they do ? Who had been taking care of them ? How did God punish them ? What happened when the ser- pents bit them ? What were they sorry for? So what was Moses to make? Where did he put the brazen serpent? What were they to do if they were bit? What cured them? Who hung upon the cross? What does He cure our souls of? Food Sent from Heaven. "He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not."-Deut. VIII, 3. This morning," said Aunt Charlotte, drawing little Anna to her, "you heard how God gave the children of Israel water to drink in the wilderness. Then how he saved them from the fiery serpents. Now you shall hear what He gave them to eat. The ground was all hard and stony. There was grass which the cows and sheep could eat, and there were a few trees with long sharp thorns, but no fruit on them, and no corn to make bread; and soon the people were very hungry, FOOD SENT FROM HEAVEN. and began to cry out that they did not know what would become of them. But God was not going to forget them. When they rose up in the morning the fresh dew lay on the grass, and all about in the dew were little white things that tasted like wafers made with honey. This was called manna, and God had sent it from heaven for them to eat. Every morning on week days there it was, and they had all to come out and pick it up. But they must get up early to gather it, for when the sun was hot it would melt away. And they could not keep it- it grew bad and was not fit to use the next day; but there was always just enough for every- j 'l body to have all they , wanted. There was only one day in each week that more came down, and that was the .. day before the Sab- .. bath day,-Saturday,- which they kept instead _:.. of our Sunday. Then GATHERING MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS. each one could get twice as much as could be eaten in one day, and it did not spoil so fast. For on the Sabbath day God would have them rest, and so no manna was to be found anywhere, so that they might learn to keep the Fourth Commandment-' remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.'" QUESTIONS. Where were the Israelites? Why could they not get bread ? What did God give them instead ? What was the manna like? Where did it lie? When was the manna on the grass? Who were to eat it? What became of it in hot sunshine? Would it keep? What was the day when it could be kept? How much came down the day before the Sabbath? What might not be done on the Sabbath ? When did no manna come? 'Zbirteentb Zunbax2. Balaam and the Wicked King. "Thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed."-Numbers xXu, Is. S"CHILDREN," began Aunt Charlotte, did you ever want to do something that -.. ,' ,your mama said was not right, and did '" ...'. you tease her to let you do it?" "Not I," said little Anna, but brother Willie -"; "-.-----. does." "W ell," said Auntie, "I'll tell you ---- ---" a story about one of God's children who did the same thing. .. -_ .".:--i, "There was a prophet called Balaam. .A prophet means a man to whom God Made His will known, and who was thus 't much wiser than other men. This prophet one day saw some rich great men come to his house. They brought him a message, PALM TREE. that a king named Balak wanted him to come with them, and would give him great rewards for coming. Balaam said he must wait for one night, and God would make known to him what he was to do. And at night God told him he was not to go; for what Balak wanted of him was to curse the children of Israel, and God would not have them cursed. So Balaam said he must not go, and the messengers went away. But Balak sent more princes, still grander men, with larger presents, to fetch Balaam. He answered, 'If Balak would give me 86 BALAAM AND THE WICKED KING. his house full of silver and gold, I can not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.' But he had not left off wishing. He begged the messengers to stay, and see if God would give him leave to go. And this time God did say he might go, but that he should not say anything about the Israelites but what God put in his mouth. Balaam knew that God was not pleased with him; but he wanted Balak's rewards, and he set off in the morning, riding on his ass. "Presently the ass was frightened, and turned out of the road into the field. Balaam was angry at this, and beat the ass. But again the ass turned aside in a narrow walled path, and squeezed Balaam's foot against the wall. He beat her again. Presently, in a very narrow road, the poor ass fell quite down for fear; and Balaam was very angry, and beat her harder. Then God worked a wonder. He made the dumb ass to speak, and ask why he was so cruel to her. He answered that he only wished for a sword to kill her. The ass asked if she had ever been like this before. He said, No. And then, full before him, he saw God's holy angel with a sword in his hand. And he fell down on his face. The poor ass had seen the angel all the time; but Balaam could not see him till God made him able. And now he was afraid, and would have gone back; but the angel said he must go on now, though he would only be able to speak the words which God put in his mouth. Think if, sometimes when you have been told you must not do something, you fret and tease to do it-is not that, like Balaam ? And perhaps you tease till some one gives you leave to do as you wish. Then you get quite cross with eagerness, and are unkind to all that hinders you; and, after all, you do not find that any good comes of getting your own way." "That's right. I guess I'll quit teasing mother to let me do what she does n't want me to after this," said Willie. When you do it hereafter we will call you Balaam," said Clara, and they all had a hearty laugh. QUESTIONS. What is a prophet? Who sent for Balaam? What did God tell Balaam? But what did Balaam wish to do ? How did he get leave to go at last ? But who stood in his way ? Who saw the angel at BALAK AND BALAAM BROUGHT TO SHAME. first? What did Balaam do to the ass? What wonder did God work ? What did the ass say? Whom did Balaam see ? What did the angel tell him ? What had he been allowed to have ? Does good come of having our own way? Balak and Balaam Brought to Shame. " There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."--Numbers xxiv, 17. What did old Balak want Balaam to curse the Israelites for, Aunt Charlotte ? Balaam would n't have got into that trouble if it had n't been for him," said Willie. Well," answered Aunt Charlotte, Balak was a king whose land the Israelites were to pass through. They promised not to do any harm to him or his people, if they might go quietly through; but he was afraid and angry, and wanted to have them cursed, hoping to bring God's anger on them. That was a very wicked and foolish notion of King Balak's, and God would not let it bring harm upon His people. They had not deserved to have His anger called down on them, and so He would not be angry with them. And when Balak's friend Balaam tried to speak curses, God turned them all to blessings; and, instead of saying they should come to a terrible end, he could only say how happy and well off they should be, with God to take care of them and be their King. He even went on to say that a Star should come out of Jacob, and a Sceptre should rise out of Israel -and that meant that our Saviour should be born among them. He is called a Star because He came to give us light; and you know a star showed the way to the place where He was born. And a sceptre is the staff a king carries in his hand. So when He was called the Sceptre, it meant that He should be a King. "Only think how angry Balak was when Balaam could not curse, but only blessed. I wish he had been afraid, and seen it was not God's will that he should hurt the Israelites; but instead of that he went on in his wickedness, and was miserably killed at last; for God took care of His people, and would let no one do them any harm. Now, recollect, bad words and bad wishes do harm to the person that speaks them, not to those they are meant for. If a bad boy came and abused a steady one for going to church or saying his prayers, it BALAAM'S TRICKS AND PUNISHMENT would be very bad for himself; but if the good boy kept on quietly, nothing that the other could say would hurt him one bit. God would take care of him as surely as He took care of the Israelites." QUESTIONS. Why did Balak want the Israelites to be cursed? What did Balaam do instead? Why could he not curse them? Who was to be born among the Israelites? What did Balaam call our Saviour? Why was He like a star? Why was He like a sceptre? Why could not Balak hurt the Israelites ? Whom do bad words hurt? Ought we to mind them? If any one teases you when you try to be good, must you quit being good? Balaam's Tricks and Punishment. "The people did eat, and bowed down to their gods."-Numbers xxv, 2. ? "Did Balaam get his money from old Balak?" asked Willie. "And did he beat his poor little donkey any more?" asked little Anna. "Did not his experiences turn him into a good man?" asked Clara. "No," said Aunt Charlotte; "not even this made Balaam good. He wanted Balak to give him a reward; and so he told him that though no harm BAAL. could happen to the people of Israel while they were good and worshiped their God, yet if he could make them do something wicked, and turn away from their God, then God would be sure to punish them. So these two wicked men sent a number of women to invite the Israelites to hold a great feast with them, in honor of their idol Baal Peor. Many were so foolish and wicked as to be led away; and they had a great feasting and reveling, and all kinds of bad pleasures that these heathen women said were to do praise to this horrible false god. Then, though Balak might have cursed forever without hurting them, they had done themselves the harm. God sent a deadly sickness, and in one day twenty-four thousand people died. "But Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, did as Moses commanded him. He first put to death the wickedest of the people who had joined them- BALAAM'S TRICKS -AND PUNISHMENT. selves to Baal Peor; and then he prayed, and all the people prayed and wept too. So God forgave them, and the plague ceased. Afterward Phinehas led the Israelite fighting men to punish the wicked Balak and his people; and Balaam was killed in fighting with them. All the wicked women who had tempted the Israelites away from God were put to death too. So Balaam's evil counsel ended in all sorts of misery. It is very sad to think of him, for he knew so well what was good, and yet did what was so very bad. But remember this: nobody could hurt God's people till they did wrong, and then they hurt themselves, and God punished them." "And was n't Balaam bad, though ? Brother, you must n't be like him," said little Anna, shaking her finger and looking sad. QUESTIONS. What did Balaam think would be the way to hurt the children of Israel ? Whom did he send to them? Whom did the women persuade them to worship ? What did God send to punish them ? How was the plague stopped ? How was Balaam punished ? Why was Balaam greatly to be blamed ? What became of Balaam? Who took care of the Israelites when they were good? EGYPTIAN HOUSEHOLD GODS. Z---- r I I i--~ fourteenth Zunbar. God Speaks to Moses. Thou hardest His words out of the midst of the fire."-Deut. Iv, 36. -.- __.. -_. .. "WHAT would you think, Willie, if you should hear some one speak- .- -- ing to you from the clouds?" "It ;- would be fun," said Willie. "I --I" '.. ------ would be afraid," said little Anna. t ". So would Willie, if he should hear S" G it as Moses heard it. I will tell you About it. t When the children of Israel had come out of Egypt, God had told Moses to lead them to the foot of Mount Sinai. This was a high, MOUNT SINAI. steep, rocky mountain in the wilder- ness. And God told Moses to set bounds round the mountain, so that nobody should come and touch it; and the people were to pray, and wait round it for the holy and awful thing that was to happen. Then there came on the hill-top a deep dark cloud, 'and the mountain was altogether on a smoke,' and it shook and quaked, and there were lightning and thunders and voices, and the sound of a trumpet loud and louder, so that all the people trembled. Then out of that cloud there came a voice speaking to them-a voice that they all could hear, and that made them afraid. For it was the voice of God. And God spoke out of the cloud, and gave 91 MORE ABOUT MOSES ON THE MOUNTAIN. the Ten Commandments. They were the very same Ten Command- ments you see in the Bible. God had come in this terrible and awful manner to speak them, that all Israel might hear and fear, and take care not to break them. Afterward God gave these Ten Command- ments to Moses, written upon two tables, or pieces of stone-written by God Himself. That was the way the Ten Commandments were given-by God's own voice speaking to men out of the cloud, amid thunders and lightning and the sound of the trumpet, dreadful to hear. And God means us all to obey S_ the Commandments, just as much as He meant the Israelites to obey them. They are His words, and must be kept; and if we ask Him in our Sprayers He will give us help and strength to obey them, so that we may fulfil the promise that was made at our baptism, that we should keep God's T ==_^r:o o holy will and Commandments, and THE ERECTION OF THE TABERNACLE. holy will and Commandments, and walk in the same unto our lives' ends." "I would have been frightened if I had been there with Moses," said Willie. "But Moses knew God was his friend and was not afraid," answered Clara. Right again, my girl," rejoined Aunt Charlotte. QUESTIONS. Where had the children of Israel come from? Who was leading them? Where did God tell Moses to take them? What wonderful sight did they see on Mount Sinai ? What did they hear? Who spoke out of the cloud? How many Commandments did God speak? On what did God write them? To whom did He give them? Why must they be kept? More About Moses on the Mountain. "The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire."-Deut. v, 4. Did Moses talk to God, Auntie ? asked Clara. Yes," answered Aunt Charlotte; "the Bible tells us that when the lightning and thunder and the loud voice of the trumpet came forth from the cloud on Mount Sinai, and God had spoken the Ten Commandments, He MORE ABOUT MOSES ON THE& MOUNTAIN. called to Moses to come up and speak with Him in the cloud. How wonderful it must have been 1 Moses was the only man that ever spoke so near to God. "And, as I said before, God gave him two blocks of stone written with the Ten Commandments-written with God's own finger. Then God told him to make a chest to keep them in. It was to be made of HIGH PRIEST IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES. wood, with gold all over it; and two figures of cherubims were to be one on each side. This chest was to be called the Ark of the Cove- nant. And it was to be put into a square room, inside a tent, that was to be made with curtains, and carried about with the Israelites. It was to be called the Tabernacle. And this was to be a very holy place. The children of Israel would say their prayers in front of the Tabernacle; but they were not to go into the place where the Ark MOSES' LONG STAY ON THE MOUNTAIN was, because they were sinful, and God is holy. That place was to be called the Holy of Holies, and no one might go near it but the priests whom God chose and set apart to lead His worship. The first high priest, as I have told you, was to be Moses' brother Aaron; and he was to wear a beautiful dress when he ministered before God-a high cap with Holiness to the Lord" on it, a long embroidered robe, edged with gold bells and pomegranates, and a blue scarf crossed over his breast; and in the middle a breast-plate, made of twelve precious stones, each carved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, so that he might have them on his heart as he prayed to God. All this and much more God told Moses while he was on the mount. QUESTIONS. What was given on Mount Sinai? Who spoke the Commandments? What were they written on? Where were they to be kept? What was the chest called? Where was Moses to put the chest? What was the room called ? Who might go near the Holy of Holies? Who was the first high priest ? Who was Aaron? What was Aaron to wear? Why might not the people come near ? Moses' Long Stay on the Mountain. "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God."-Deut. vii, 9. "I expect Moses was very glad to get away quick from that place when he got done talking with God," said Willie. Not at all," answered Aunt Charlotte; when Moses went up into the awful cloud upon Mount Sinai, he stayed there forty days. But all the Israelites below were impatient. They could not think what had become of Moses; and though they had so lately heard God's own voice speaking to them, they would not wait, as they had been told to do. They cried out that they wanted something instead of Moses, whom they had lost. So they took all their gold ear-rings and melted them, and made an image of a golden calf. And then these foolish, wicked people began to feast and dance, and worship this golden idol. Moses was coming down Mount Sinai with the two Tables of the Commandments in his hands. And first he heard a shouting and MOSES' LONG STAY ON THE MOUNTAIN. singing; then he saw the people leaping and dancing, and the great golden idol standing in the midst. Then he was sure it was of no use to bring them the Commandments if they minded them no better. So he took the two tables of stone and threw them out of his hand, and broke them to pieces. "Then he went down and severely punished the worst of the Israelites for having disobeyed the Commandments. And he broke the golden calf to pieces, and ground it to powder." "Who got the gold pieces of the calf?" said Willie. "And then they did not have any more ear-rings, and they did not have any more tables of stone written by God, did they? said little Anna. "Yes," dear; they had the Tables of the Law. I'll tell you next Sunday how they got new tables of stone with the laws on them." QUESTIONS. Where had Moses gone ? What was God going to give him? Who were left below? What did the Israelites want ? What did they take off? What did they make of their ear-rings ? What did Moses do to the Tables of the Law? Why did he throw them down ? What did he do with the golden calf? THE TABERNACLE RESTORED. iffiftteentb Zunba2, How Moses Saw God. "I prayed therefore unto the Lord, and said, 0 Lord God, destroy not Thy people and Thine inheritance."-Deut. ix, 26. s 2 I "LAST Sunday you heard how __sadly the people of Israel sinned by making the golden calf, while Moses was up in the mountain, and how he punished them and broke the tables of stone. "Then he said he would go and prayy to God to forgive them, and try them again. So up he went, over the rough rocks of Mount Sinai, and into the cloud again, where he had spoken with God before. And he prayed with all his might that God would not cast off His people, though they had been so wicked, but would give them again the Commandments on their tables of stone. And God listened to Moses, and promised to give them the Com- THE GIVING OF THE COMMANDMENTs. mandments again. Then Moses made a great request: he said to God, 'I pray Thee, show me Thy glory.' But God said, Thou canst not see My face, for there shall no man see Me and live.' But Moses was to come up the mountain the next day, TWO DANGEROUS IDOLS. and bring with him two blocks of stone, and then God would let him see as much of His glory as he could bear. ".On the next dayMoses went up the mountain again, and took with him the two tables of stone. And the Lord came down in the cloud; and Moses was in the cleft of the rock, where he could see a small part of the glory, and hear the Lord's voice proclaim before him, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abun- dant in goodness and truth.' Then indeed Moses bowed his head and worshiped. No man ever came so close to God as Moses, with whom God spoke face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend. Moses stayed forty days and forty nights up in the mountain again this time. And God again wrote the Commandments upon the two tables of stone, and allowed the Israelites to try again to keep them. When Moses came down from being in converse with God, the glory was still about his face. It was all shining like the sun, and was so bright that the Israelites could not fix their eyes on it; and he was obliged to put a veil over his face, because they could not bear to look at it. Was ever living man so favored, and brought into such glory?" QUESTIONS. Where did Moses go to pray for the forgiveness of the Israelites? What did Moses venture to ask God to show him ? But what can no one do? Where was Moses placed ? What passed by ? What voice did he hear? How was Moses more honored than any man? How long did he stay in the mountain? What did God give him again ? How did his face look when he came down? What did he do to hide his face? How came his face to be so glorious? Two Dangerous Idols. "Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him."--Deut. xII, 4. "Did the children of Israel worship any more golden calves, Auntie ?" asked Willie. "No; but they were in great danger of worshiping other idols just as bad. I will tell you of them. God wanted the Israelites, when they should come into the good land where they were going, to be very careful not to learn to worship idols. For idols were no gods at all, only wood and stone, and could not hear them pray, nor give them what they wanted. Besides, TWO DANGEROUS IDOLS. the people round them had very frightful ways of trying to please their false gods. They had one called Moloch, made of brass, and they used to offer poor little children up in sacrifice to him, and make a S'noise with drums and trumpets, that --- .-- no one might hear their cries. There I.- was another god called Baal, to whom I they set up great images, and feasted -f r; _in his honor; and a goddess, whom They called the queen of heaven, or Ashtoreth. Women used to offer cakes to her, and dance in honor of 'l'.- her, for they thought she sent the moon to shine on them. "Now, the Israelites were not to worship any of these false gods. They were to remember how they heard the only true God speaking to them out of the cloud upon the mountain, and telling them, 'I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt have no other gods but Me.' And God told them that if they would worship Him and serve Him all should go well with them, and they should be happy and blessed. But if they went after these false idols, all would go ill with them, and there would be only sorrow and misery. You see, God was preparing the children of Israel against the danger of bad com- pany. We are almost sure to do ASHTORETH, THE PHILISTINE GODDESS. like those we associate with. That is the reason God gave them a commandment to worship Him only." THE FALSE SPIES AND DISOBEDIENT PEOPLE. QUESTIONS. What three idols did the people of the country worship? What did they do in honor of Moloch? What did they do in honor of Baal? What did they call Ashtoreth? What did they think she sent them ? Who made the moon ?. What would happen if the children of Israel wor- shiped God? What would happen if they worshiped idols ? Say the First Commandment. Say the Second. The False Spies and Disobedient People. It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My ways."-Psalm xcv, 10. Did they all soon get into the promised land and throw away old Moloch and Baal and all the idols and worship God ?" asked little Anna. Not for a long, long time," said Auntie. After the Commandments were given the Israelites went along very nicely on their journey. The Ark, or chest where the Command- ments on their two tables of stone were kept, was carried before them; and God still showed that He was with them, for He made a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night go along with them, and rest on it. After a few weeks, when they came near the land of Canaan, twelve men were sent on to see it. They came back, bringing such a great bunch of grapes that two had to carry it between them on a pole I But ten of the men said that the land was full of strong cities and very strong men, and they should never be able to win it, but would all be killed. Only two good men, Joshua and Caleb, recollected that there could be no fear, for God had promised to save them and bring them in. But the people sided with the others, and all cried and said that they would go back to Egypt, and threw stones at Moses and Aaron when they wanted to quiet them. "Then God showed His glory, and would have cut them all off in a moment if Moses had not prayed for them. But He said none of those who had said they would not go into the good land should go. They were to stay forty years longer in the dismal wilderness, till all the grown-up men, except Joshua and Caleb, should be dead, and their children be grown up in their stead. Then their children, who had THE FALSE SPIES AND DISOBEDIENT PEOPLE. learned to trust God and do as He bade, should be the ones to go in and live in the promised land." "That was a terrible punishment for disobedience," said Clara. " Yes," answered Aunt Charlotte; but it is much worse for us than it was for them if we'do not follow God's commands. They lost an earthly home, where they could live but a short time. We lose an everlasting home in heaven." QUESTIONS. How did the Israelites know which way to go in the wilderness? What was in the Ark ? Whom did Moses send to look at the land ? What did these men bring back? But what did they say ofthe country? Who were afraid? Why was it wrong to be afraid? Who only were not afraid? What were the people ready to do ? How were they to be punished ? How long were they to stay in the wilderness? Who would die? Who would grow up to go in ? Who were the two good brave men ? What was promised to Joshua and Caleb ? CARRYING THE GRAPES ON A POLE. Sixteenth Zunba2. God's Anger at Moses. "They angered Him also at the waters of strife."-Psalm cvi, 32. -- -- I' ,-- ,, , J,'x ,:',-:--=:- -- -' ,, ALTAR OF OFFERING. remember, Anna, when "BUT good Moses went into the happy land, did n't he, Auntie ? said Anna. No," said Aunt Charlotte, "and I'll tell you why he could not. After all the forty years in the wilderness the children of Israel were quite close to their home in the promised land again. There was only the river Jordan between them and the hills and valleys there. But Moses was not to go with them. Once, you the people were crying out for more water in the wilderness, and God told Moses to command the stream to come out of the rock, Moses was so hot with anger that he did not attend carefully to what God commanded. He said, 'Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?' And he struck the rock with his rod, instead of speaking to it. The water came out, as it had done before; but Moses had been so hasty that he had not thought how to obey God exactly, and so he was not to be allowed to lead the people in as a great warrior, lest he should fail again. God was not angry with him, but had forgiven him; only he had his punishment because he had done wrong. "Joshua, the good, true spy you heard about in the last lesson, was to lead the people instead of Moses. So before Moses was taken away 101 MOSES' DEATH AND BURIAL. he called Joshua and all the chief men of each tribe and put them in mind of all that God had done for them, and warned them very solemnly that if they broke their promise and did not keep the Commandments, God would punish them-first a little, and then more and more, and would even cast them out of the good land at last. For, remember, God always keeps his promises; and as surely as He gives the good all that is best for them, so surely will He punish those who turn from Him." Poor Moses, I'm so sorry for him; he had been bad just only once, and the Lord ought to have let him off," said Anna. But," answered Aunt Charlotte, "one sin is enough to destroy us. It is terrible to disobey God." QUESTIONS. Where were the Israelites now? How long had their journey lasted ? What lay between them and the land of Canaan? Who had led them? But what displeasing thing had Moses done? What could he not do now? Who was to lead them in ? What did Moses tell the Israelites they must be careful to do ? What had they promised to keep ? What would happen if they broke the promise? What would happen if they kept the promise? What promises have we made? Moses' Death and Burial. "So Moses the servant of the Lord died."-Deut. xxxiv, 5. "I' ve been thinking about Moses, Auntie, ever since this morning, and trying to see why God did not forgive him, and let him lead the children of Israel into the promised land," said Clara. "Did God kill him right off?" asked Willie. No," answered Aunt Charlotte; "God did forgive him; but He had to teach the children of Israel that they must obey Him, and He took Moses for an example. Besides, Moses was to have his rest above instead of in the land of promise. But first God told him that he might see the land. So he went up into a very high hill: and there God made him able to see all the home of his people-the snowy hill of Hermon, and Mount Lebanon where the cedar trees grow, and the hills and valleys where Abraham had wandered and Isaac and Jacob had lived, and which he had hoped for all his life; and green fields, and corn-fields, and vineyards, on to the great blue sea stretching out to the westward. JOSHUA MADE CAPTAIN. That was where his people were to live; for Moses. Nobody saw him any more but there was a better home after he went up into the mountain. There he died, and the Lord buried him, and no one knows of his grave. The children of Israel wept and mourned for him many days, expect- ing him to return." "After all," said Clara "he was greatly honored in God's burying him. Did God ever bury any one else?" "No," said Aunt Charlotte. .. --- QUESTIONS. A--" s But what did God allow Moses to -_ see? Where was he to go? What .- did God show him there? What _- kind of place was it ? Where had he THE EMBLEMS ON THE STANDARDS OF THE TRIBES. brought the people from? Who was to lead them in? What was to happen to Moses? Did any one ever see him again? What does no one know? Why do we think so much of Moses? Where did he speak with God ? Was he not the greatest man we have yet heard about ? Joshua Made Captain. "Be strong and of a good courage. "-Joshua I, 6. Did the children of Israel find out Moses was dead ?" asked Clara. " Yes," answered Aunt Charlotte; after Moses had gone out of sight on the mountain God Himself told Joshua that Moses was dead, and that he must lead the children of Israel into the good land God had promised them. Moses had laid his hands on Joshua's head, and God's Holy Spirit had come to help him to see what was right and to lead the people. He must be strong and brave, and do all that God com- Contact Us | Permissions | Preferences | Technical Aspects | Statistics | Internal | Privacy Policy © 2004 - 2010 University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries.All rights reserved. Acceptable Use, Copyright, and Disclaimer Statement Last updated October 10, 2010 - - mvs