sidence in the desert was afterwards there deposited?

MARY. I don't remember.

MAMA. The two tables of the law, Mary, originally delivered to Moses on Sinai; that moral law, "not one jot or tittle of which," our Lord says, "shall pass away"-though the mere Mosaic ritual, having served its temporary purpose, has melted-like the daily supply of mannabefore the meridian splendour of the "Sun of Righteousness."

MAMA. How much was the "omer," Mama, that God allowed for each person?

MAMA. About half a peck of our measure; an ample supply, we may conclude, else it would not have been thus limited by "Him who giveth liberally and upbraideth not." Yet how did he

66

upbraid" or rebuke the greediness of those who sought to go beyond his allotment?

MARY. Mama, let them gather ever so much, "they had nothing over." It served them right!

MAMA. And what merciful provision was made by the same Hand, for those who from weakness or infirmity could but inadequately provide for themselves?

MARY. "He that gathered little had no lack." How kind this was in God!

MAMA. Yes, Mary, and we may trace the

same benevolent spirit in the ample measure of saving grace often vouchsafed from on High to the honest Christian, whom want of ability or education has deprived of the power of "gathering much" in the way of human learning, or even religious knowledge. But remember, in neither case is there the smallest encouragement held out to wilful indolence. The slothful Israelite who let the sun rise, and the hour for laying up his daily store escape him, and the negligent Christian, who defers his spiritual provision till the "night cometh when no man can work," shall alike be "sent empty away."

MARY. But, Mama, manna was not the only food God was pleased to send the people. He sent quails too.

MAMA. And why do you suppose this fresh miracle (for the daily arrival and incredible abundance of the birds, sufficient to serve two millions of people for a month, evidently attest it to be such) was wrought?

MARY. I know now, Mama. It was not to please the people's longing for flesh, but to shew that God could give it them in the wilderness, as easily as bread.

MAMA. Very well answered, my dear, and a proof that you are beginning to feel, by digesting and applying the spiritual food afforded you,

that " man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Let His temporal gifts always remind you of that higher and holier nourishment. How long did the children of Israel eat manna?

MARY. Forty years. What a long time for bread to rain from heaven on so many people! MAMA. Yes, Mary, and what a long time for pensioners on God's daily bounty, to despise, and affront, and rebel against him. What says the psalm you repeat so often?

MARY. 66 Forty years long was I grieved with this people, and said, they do err in their hearts, that they have not known my ways."

MAMA. Aye, Mary," in their hearts!" There is the source of all fatal error to be sought and found. It was the perverse hearts of the Israelites alone that prevented their knowing God's ways, so hourly displayed before their eyes. Let us take care ours be not also hardened "today," lest we also grieve the Holy Spirit, and provoke him to withdraw from us. But what hope may we gather from the supply of manna being continued (notwithstanding the people's unworthiness) till they came to the borders of Canaan ?

MARY. I suppose that God will feed us also, all our lives upon earth.

MAMA. Yes, my dear, not only with "food convenient" for our earthly sustenance, but with the support from above, which can alone enable us to reach our heavenly Canaan. To what first trial did the Israelites put the forbearance of Jehovah?

MARY. When they pitched at Rephidim there was no water, and they did "chide with Moses," and said he had brought them out of Egypt to kill them with thirst. Poor Moses ! I wonder he kept his temper so well!

MAMA. Are we not told he was "meek above all men on the face of the earth?" He could excuse any thing (as we shall see ere long) except ingratitude to God. How did He now answer the supplication of his ill-requited servant?

MARY. He bid him take his rod, which had opened a way through the sea, and strike the rock and bring out water.

MAMA. What rock, my dear?

MARY. The rock of Horeb.

MAMA. Has this mountain any other name? MARY. I believe it and Sinai are the same.

MAMA. They are; only Horeb (in which you know the burning bush also was) is supposed to apply to the whole mountain or range, and Sinai to its lofty pinnacle whence the Law was uttered

amid thunders and lightning. What warfare now for the first time, awaited the wicked Israel

ites?

MARY.

them."

"Amalek came and fought with

MAMA. Observe the time, just when supernatural succours had been vouchsafed. And who were the Amalekites?

MARY. I don't know.

MAMA. Descendants of the eldest son of Esau, whose unprovoked violence to their kinsmen justified the resistance permitted by God. What part did Moses take in the conflict?

MARY. He took the "rod of God" in his hand, and as long as he held it up, “Israel prevailed." MAMA. And how was he assisted when his bodily weakness threatened his people with defeat?

MARY. Aaron and Hur held up his hands on each side" till the going down of the sun."

MAMA. The whole transaction was a visible token, (such as a gross and carnal people require), of the efficacy of perseverance in prayer. Let the "lifting up of our hands" also be perpetual to him who hath said, that "men ought to pray always and not to faint." Why did God theaten Amalek with utter extinction ?

K