individual therefore of every nation should learn from this history to fear God, and trust in him.

The punishment of Lot's wife was also intended as an ensample or a warning to the world. In the Book of Wisdom in the Apocrypha, the pillar of salt, into which she was turned, is called a monument of an unbelieving soul; and our Saviour, when he was foretelling to his disciples the destruction that would fall upon Jerusalem, and afterwards upon the world itself, said, Remember Lot's wife: therefore those who read the account of the judgment that was inflicted upon her for disbelieving God's word, should take heed, as St. Paul expresses it, that there be not in them an evil heart of unbelief.

Questions.---As Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for the wickedness of the people, what should every person in a nation keep from? [Ans. Wickedness.] As Lot was saved for his righteousness, what should every person in a nation endeavour to be? [Ans. Righteous.] What does the writer of the book of Wisdom call the pillar of salt into which Lot's wife was turned? [Ans. A monument of an unbelieving soul.] What did our Saviour say to his disciples concerning her crime? [Ans. Remember Lot's wife.] What should we remember about her? [Ans. That she was punished for unbelief.] What should we take heed of from her punishment? [Ans. That there is not in us an evil heart of unbelief.]

LESSON XVIII.

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Explanation.---We here read the fulfilment of the promise which good graciously made to Abraham, that Sarah his wife should have a son. Isaac is supposed to have been two years old when he was weaned, at which time Ishmael must have been sixteen. It seems from Ishmael's mocking, that he was jealous of Isaac. Sarah was very wrong in shewing such resentment; her conduct on this occasion proves that the best people sometimes commit great faults. If the Lord had not commanded Abraham to do as Sarah desired, he would not have turned Hagar and Ishmael out of doors, for he greatly loved this son; but his giving them only bread and a bottle of water shewed that he had faith in the Lord's promises respecting Ishmael. The Lord suffered Hagar and Ishmael to be reduced to such a state of misery, in order to shew, by relieving them, that he remembered his promises, and would fulfil them.

Questions..---Did not the Lord fulfil the promises he had made to Abraham and Sarah, that they should have a son? [Ans. Yes.] What name did they give to this son? [Ans. Isaac.] Why did they name him so? [Ans. Because the Lord had commanded them.] How old was Abraham when Isaac was born? [Ans. An hundred years.] Did not Abraham and Sarah rejoice greatly when their son was born? [Ans. Yes.] What did Sarah say to Abraham when she saw Ishmael mocking at her son? 10. [Ans. Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.] Did this please Abraham? [Ans. No.] Did Abraham love Ishmael? [Ans. Yes.] Why did he send Ishmael and Hagar away? [Ans. Because the Lord commanded him.] What did Abraham shew by giving them only bread and water? [Ans. His faith in God's promise.] What promise? [Ans. That God would make of Ishmael a great nation.] What happened to Ishmael in the wilderness of Haran? 15. [Ans. He was ready to die for want of water.] Was not his mother greatly distressed? [Ans. Yes.] How was she comforted? 17. Ans. The Angel of God called to her out of Heaven, and shewed her where there was water.] Did God renew his promise to Ishmael at this time? [Ans. Yes.] Did God continue to protect him and watch over him? [Ans Yes. What did he become as he grew up? 20. [Ans. An archer.] What is an archer? [Ans. One who shoots with a bow and arrows.] Where did Ishmael dwell? [Ans. In the wilderness of Paran.] Where did his mother take a wife for him? [Ans. Out of the land of Egypt.]

PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION.

Instruction.---The birth of Isaac shews the truth of God's promises, and should teach us to depend upon them. From Ishmael's being dismissed from his father's house by the command of the Lord, we learn that God sometimes suffers misfortunes to happen to people, in order to bring about the purposes of his good providence. If Ishmael had continued to live in Canaan, he would have lost the chance of being the head of a great nation, for that land was designed for the nation of the Israelites, of which Isaac was to be the head. The Lord's providing for Ishmael, when he was destitute of the common necessaries of life, and ready to die, shews, that to be under the providence of God is better than to be possessed of great riches; for the providence of God supplies those things which are best for every one, under all circum

stances. The history of Ishmael furnishes encouragement to all young persons who are obliged to turn out into the wide world, not to fall into despair, but to put their trust in God Almighty, who if they obey his commandments, will deliver them out of their troubles, and put them in some way or other of gaining a maintenance.

Questions.--What should we learn from reading of the birth of Isaac [Ans. To depend upon God's promises.] Where can we find them [Ans. In Scripture.] Which is best, to be under the care of God's providence, or to possess great riches? [Ans. To be under God's providence.] Would Ishmael have been the head of a great nation if he had continued to live in Canaan? [Ans. No.] What did he stand in need of when he was ready to die in the wilderness of Beer- sheba? [Ans. A little water.] Could all the riches in the world have purchased a drop of water for him at that time? [Ans. No.] How was he supplied with it? [Ans. By the providence of God.] What does God by his providence bestow upon his creatures under all circumstances? [Ans. Whatever is best for them.] Who, in particular, should take encouragement from this part of Ishmael's history? [Ans. All young persons who are obliged to turn out into the world,] What may they hope God will do for them if they put their trust in him? [Ans. Put them in a way of gaining their livelihood.]

LESSON XIX.

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Explanation.---The expression, God did tempt Abraham, verse 1, signifies that God put his faith to the trial. The words, Behold here I am, shewed Abraham's readiness to obey any command the Lord might see fit to give him. He had entered into a solemn Covenant to serve the Lord with a perfect heart; and, hard as the command, to offer up his son as a burnt offering, must have appeared to him, Abraham obeyed it immediately, for he believed that God would sooner raise his son from the dead, than not make good his promises. When he had laid his son upon the altar, and stretched out his knife to slay him, he had done what the Lord required, he had offered him up, and it now appeared that the Lord did not intend to make him kill his son, and that Abraham had not trusted in vain in the Divine promises. To reward Abraham's faith, the Lord confirmed his former promises by an oath. The

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Lord swore by himself, as St. Paul observes, because he could not swear by a greater. By the Lord's swearing, we are to understand that the Lord made a solemn promise to his own great name.

Questions.---What did God command Abraham to do to try his faith. [Ans. To offer up his son Isaac.] Was it not a great trial to a kind and aged parent to be commanded to sacrifice, as beasts were sacrificed, the son in whom all his hopes were placed? [Ans. Yes.] Did Abraham obey God's commandments without complaint? [Ans. Yes.] How came he to do so? [Ans. He believed in God's promises.] What promises? [Ans. That God would make a great nation of Isaac; and that in his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed.] How could Abraham expect these promises to be made good if he should put Isaac to death? [Ans. He believed God would raise Isaac to life again, sooner than not keep his promises.] Did not this belief shew the strength of Abraham's faith? [Ans. Yes.] Did God suffer him to kill his son? [Ans. No.] How did God prevent him from doing so when he had taken his knife for the purpose? [Ans. The Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven.] What did the angel of the Lord say? 12. [Ans. Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do any thing unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.] Why was Isaac called Abraham's only son? [Ans. Because Ishmael was sent away.] What did Abraham see ready to his hands to offer as a sacrifice in the stead of his son? 13. [Ans. A ram caught in the thicket by his horns.] What did the Lord do to confirm the faith of Abraham, and to reward him for offering up his son? 15. [Ans. Swear by himself that he would bless him according to "his former promises.] What is to be understood by the Lord's swearing by himself? Ans. Making a solemn promise in his own great name.] Do not you think Abraham must have felt very happy after receiving such promises as these? [Ans. Yes.] Was he not fully rewarded for his faith? [Ans. Yes.] Who was Nahor? 20. [Ans. Abraham's brother.] What was his wife's name? [Ans. Milcah.] What relation was Rebekah to Nahor? [Ans. His grand-daughter.] What was his father's name? Ans Bethuel.]

PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION.

Instruction.---We learn from this Lesson, that Abraham shewed his faith by his works, when God tried him. His ex

ample teaches us, that true faith leads men to do whatever God commands. From Abraham's readiness to offer up his son when God commanded him to do so, it appears that he feared and loved God above all things; by this act Abraham attained to the perfection of that righteousness which cometh by faith, he proved himself worthy to be called the father of the faithful, and his example in this particular instructs all who would be reckoned children of Abraham to be ready to offer up what is most dear to them rather than break the commandments of God.

Questions.---By what did Abraham shew his faith? [Ans. By his works.] What does his example, teach us? [Ans. That true faith leads men to do whatever God commands.] Who is Abraham called the father of? [Ans. The faithful.] Who should follow his example? [Ans. All who would he reckoned the children of Abraham.]

LESSON XX.

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Explanation.---We find from this Lesson, that though God had given to Abraham for the great nation that was to proceed from him all the land of Canaan, he did not claim it for himself, neither would he accept as a gift even a small part of it for a burying place for his family, because God had not yet taken it from the Canaanitish nations, though he designed to do so four hundred years afterwards; by which time the Lord' knew the people of Canaan would become so wicked that they would not be fit to live upon the earth. In Abraham's time, their iniquity was not yet full. When Abraham had purchased the Cave of Machpelah, he had a small spot in the land of Canaan which he could call his own, and his choosing a burying place there, shewed that he believed God's promises concerning that land.

Questions.---Did Sarah die before Abraham? [Ans. Yes.] How old was she when she died? 1. [Ans. One hundred and twenty seven years.] Where did Abraham bury her? [Ans. In the Cave of Machpelah.] How did he come by this cave and the field where it was? [Ans. He bought it of Ephron the Hittite.] How came he to buy a field in the land of Canaan, when God had given the whole country to him? [Ans. Because the Lord had not given it to him for himself.] For whom had he given it him? [Ans. For the great nation