MAMA. See if you can find it out from what this one did or said.

'

MARY. He told what would happen long after. MAMA. Ah! And in whose words?

MARY. "In the word of the Lord."

MAMA. Then what do you call people who foretell future events in the name of the Lord ?

(A pause.)

What did Christ say (speaking of John the Baptist), that men went into the wilderness to see?

MARY. "A prophet,” Mama.

MAMA. Very well indeed!-A prophet, then, is a man who foretells, by the Spirit of God, what shall come to pass. What did John foretell?

MARY. The coming and office of Christ. We read about it on Sunday.

MAMA. I am very glad you remember. Now, what did the prophet, or man of God, from Bethel, foretell?

MARY. That one named Josiah should burn upon that altar the bones of the very priests who were now sacrificing there.

MAMA. How did the wicked king receive this terrible prophecy?

MARY. He put out his hand to lay hold on the

prophet, but it withered, and he could not pull it

in again.

MAMA. Indeed!-One would have thought this enough to make him give up idolatry! Did his hand remain withered?

MARY. No. The good prophet prayed for him, and it was restored.

MAMA. Who prayed for his very murderers, Mary?

f

MARY. Our blessed Lord, Mama. He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

MAMA. Very right. Did this kindness of the prophet, and marvellous goodness of the Lord, not touch Jeroboam's heart.

MARY. Yes, Mama. He asked home the man of God, and offered him a reward; though it says "he refrained not from his evil way after all he had seen."

MAMA. Did the prophet accept the idolatrous king's hospitality or gifts?

MARY. Oh, no!—God had charged him to eat or drink with no man, and he at first refused to do so, though the king would "give him half his house."

MAMA. At first, you say Mary, Did any other prophet whom you remember, at first say the same, when pressed to do wickedly? (A pause.)

And afterwards comply, though a miracle was wrought to teach him his danger?

MARY. Oh yes, Mama!-Now I know you mean Balaam. He would not go, at first, either with the messengers, "though Balak would give him his house full of gold."

MAMA. Well! Mary, all the world knows his end was deplorable. What befell the less wicked, but still guilty man of God here ?

MARY. He let himself be over-persuaded by a lying prophet; and, for staying to eat and drink, when God had forbid him, was torn in pieces by a lion.

MAMA. A sad fate indeed, Mary!—And a fresh proof that there is more and deeper sin in mere unbelief, or preferring human counsel to that of God, than we at first perceive. I dare say you thought the prophet hardly dealt with just now; but God sees not as we see; and probably knew that his heart, like Balaam's, was not right, though his lips had involuntarily uttered the words of inspiration.

What shall we gather from this morning's lesson? That prosperity often hardens and corrupts the heart, as it did Jeroboam's, and is no sure mark of God's favour. That no gifts, however eminent, like this prophet's, will excuse disobedience and self-confidence. That, since Aaron

sinned as fatally and disgracefully as Jeroboam, no child of Adam need presume on his privileges, and that we should all humbly pray to be kept from temptation. When any one would persuade you to depart from the express command of God, think of the prophet of Bethel and the lion!

21

MORNING THIRD.

LESSON.-1st Kings, 14th Chapter to the end.

MAMA. My dear Mary, are you not shocked with all the terrible judgments which, in this chapter, we already hear denounced against Jeroboam and his rebellious Israelites? and, still more, with the idolatry and wickedness of Judah, under Rehoboam, the son of wise Solomon, and grandson of God-fearing David? The former seemed wonderful and inexcusable enough to us; but, that the favoured tribe whom God retained "to be a light before his servant David for ever,› in the city which he had chosen to put his name there," should so shamefully provoke and forsake him, almost exceeds belief! What must that forbearance and long-suffering be, which could for a moment endure such rebels and apostates on the earth! But, let us see what temporal distress first overtook Jeroboam in his guilty career.

MARY. Mama, his son fell sick.

MAMA, Is this an uncommon chastisement to