MAMA. Yes, Mary,-when inclined to be proud, and resist those whom God has put over you, think of Miriam, the great prophetess of Israel, shut out ignominiously from the camp, in a state of loathsome disease; from which she was only relieved at the prayer of him whom she had insulted in the tenderest point. What a triumph for the meek Moses, that the malice of rebels should only draw from God the most signal testimonies He had yet given of favour towards His servant! What text of the New Testament does this remarkably confirm ?

MARY. "He that exalteth himself shall be abased; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

MAMA. Very well remembered.

MARY. But, Mama, why is it said here" If her father had only spit in her face," &c. I don't understand the expression.

MAMA. I daresay not; it is a strong Jewish figure to mark parental contempt and displeasure. Spitting on, or even near any one, is a great affront in eastern countries, and the supposition of such conduct in a parent is expressive of almost unpardonable crime in the child who called it forth. It is here used to prove God's sense of the guilt of Miriam.

Let us beware, Mary, lest we give our earth

ly, and far more our heavenly Parent, cause thus to spurn and disown us. There are errors in women, which not only shut them hopelessly out of the pale of society on earth, but (unless deeply repented) from that of acceptance in heaven. Of all such, pride and vanity are the foundation; and the earliest way in which these can show themselves, is in contempt of our elders and betters. Let all women, instead of vain contentions for superiority and idle outward "adornings," which end too often in shame, "put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price."

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MORNING TWELFTH.

LESSON.-Numbers, Chapters xiii. and xiv.

MAMA. We have, my dear child, in the beginning of the first of these chapters, (containing so melancholy a record of human despondency and want of faith in God) a fresh instance of gracious condescension on the part of Him" who knew what was in man." For though it is said. here, that the command to send out men to search the land of Canaan (on whose confines the people had now arrived) proceeded from God, yet Moses, in his recapitulation of the history in Deuteronomy appeals to themselves, whether their own sinful distrust and timidity did not first suggest the proposal.

Moses, in the strength of his God, and "full assurance of faith," bade them " go up and possess the good land," to whose threshold they had now, under his banner, so triumphantly advanced; but the people, always so bold in disobedience and rebellion, were ever disposed, when urged in the

path of duty, to say with the sluggard-" There is a lion in the way!" and it was in this spirit that the idea of sending out spies was conceived. The compliance with it of God and Moses must not blind us to its sinful origin, or its fatal consequences, in filling up the measure of that rebellion which finally excluded the whole generation that came up out of Egypt from the land of promise their incredulity had forfeited.

How many men were sent out on this expedition ?

MARY. Twelve, Mama; one out of every tribe. Why did Moses change "Oshea the son of Nun's name into Jehoshua ?"

MAMA. To give him one which among the Jews was the same as "Jesus," (by which last indeed he is expressly called in many parts of the New Testament,) in testimony of his being the earthly "Saviour," (which the word signifies,) who was to bring the Israelites triumphantly into Canaan; and as such, a type of the greater Deliverer who was to conquer for Christians a

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more enduring inheritance." Moses in this change must have acted under the influence of God's prophetic Spirit; as his own forfeiture, by disobedience, of the Leader's office, had not yet occurred.

MARY. Mama, the bunch of grapes which re

quired to be carried between two men, must sure, ly have been miraculous! none grow naturally so large, do they?

MAMA. It is not necessary to suppose that its size alone occasioned a mode of conveyance well calculated to preserve it from being bruised and injured. But many ancient authors agree in representing the grapes of Mount Lebanon and the adjoining regions as prodigiously large. Some say the bunches were two cubits long-others, the vines so thick that two men could scarce compass them; and modern travellers have been astonished at the size of the single grapes, comparing them to a prune. This would strike the Israelites the more, as those of Egypt, we are told, were very small. Now tell me how many days were employed in this search, that we may observe its connexion with the sequel.

MARY. Forty, Mama. And some of the men gave an excellent account of the land, and said it was just what God had promised; and showed them the very fruit! How foolish, as well as wicked they were, not to go and take it!

MAMA. True, Mary. But what hindered

them?

MARY. Oh! the strength of the people, and their "great walled cities," and the "children of