In reading the Bible, we must always remember, that, as Saint Paul says in his Epistle to the Romans *, "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning," and therefore endeavour to apply its various parts to our own advantage.

In the awful events recorded in the chapter we have just been examining, we plainly see how hateful sin is in the sight of God by the severity with which He thought it right to punish it. Let this consideration make us fear to incur His displeasure, and induce us to search our hearts diligently that there may be no way of wickedness in them.

And while we recollect with shame and contrition, how very often, both individually and as a nation, we might

Romans xv. 4.

justly have provoked the indignation of God, let our hearts overflow with gratitude to Him that he Has hitherto abstained from visiting us with signal temporal punishments; and above all, that He has opened to us a way to pardon and peace, by the all-sufficient atonement of the death on the cross of His Son Jesus Christ for all those who humbly and sincerely trust in Him, and endeavour by their own sincere repentance and earnest amendment to secure to themselves the benefit of that sacrifice.

CHARLES. Thank you, dear Mamma. I think I shall never again hear or read this chapter without remembering the reflections you have made on it; and I hope it will please God that I shall consequently be the better for them all my life.

MAMMA. I trust that will be the

case, my beloved child. I have not wanted to ask me

you

forgotten that some questions about the first evening lesson for last Sunday; but that must be the subject of a future conversation.

CONVERSATION THIRD.

CHARLES. Mamma, you did promise to explain to me the story of Balaam, in the first evening lesson of last Sunday, which I should very much like, if you would be so kind, but I am afraid it is taking up your time, which you would like better to employ in some other way.

MAMMA. No, my dear little boy, I do not think I could easily find a more agreeable or more profitable occupation.

CHARLES. Profitable to me, Mamma, and I suppose your good nature to me makes you think it agreeable; but I do not see how it can be profitable to you. MAMMA. Certainly nothing can be more agreeable to me than to be of use

to my children; but independently of that, no study can be so delightful as that of the Holy Scriptures; and some of the best and wisest of men have declared that they never returned to the perusal of them without discovering new beauties and deriving fresh instruction; therefore I cannot but consider as profitable whatever fixes my attention on them; and it may frequently happen that your questions may lead my thoughts to some passage or subject that I might otherwise have overlooked.

CHARLES. Shall we then now examine the twenty-second chapter of Numbers, as we did the sixteenth ? MAMMA. By all means. Have you your Bible?

CHARLES. Yes, I brought it with me, and have found the place.

MAMMA. Begin then, if you please.