MARY. I suppose for trying to hurt his people.

MAMA. Yes, Mary. Injuries to them are resented and avenged by him who said in later times, "Whosoever offendeth one of these little ones, it were better for him he had never been born." Let us conclude with and adopt the glorious motto inscribed by Moses on his altar, “The Lord our Banner;" and our victory, like that of Israel over His and our enemies, will be certain and complete.

99

MORNING NINTH.

LESSON.-Exodus, Chapters xviii. xix. and xx.

MAMA.

In these interesting chapters, my dear child, we have the record of the most important transaction which, from the creation to the redemption of the world, ever took place between the Almighty and man. In the mount of God and its awful vicinity, we have, on the one hand, the Creator and Lawgiver of the universe promulgating, with the most impressive circumstances of natural and supernatural solemnity, that immutable law which, to Christian as well as Jew, our Lord has pronounced to be of everlasting obligation, nay, which the passing away "of heaven and earth" is insufficient to weaken or annul-and, on the other, the stupidest and most insensible people on earth, "persuaded" by the irresistible "terrors of the law," into not only implicit but cheerful reception of this pure and perfect rule of duty. Well had it been for

them had these words of ready assent, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do," not vanished with the clouds, and died away with the thunderings amid which they were extorted from a people, with whom to " forget God" was a prevailing habit, not an occasional misfortune!

Let us examine those stupendous particulars of the present revelation which made its subsequent transgression so peculiarly unpardonable; but before entering on them, tell me who, in the first of this day's chapters, came to Moses, no doubt an honoured and welcome guest?

MARY. His father-in-law, Jethro, and he brought with him his sons and his wife. We never heard they had gone back to Midian.

MAMA. When it happened we are not told, but it was most natural for them now to rejoin Moses. Why so?

MARY. Because you told me the burning bush where Moses kept his father-in-law's flock, was in Horeb, so now his home could not have been far off.

MAMA. Very well remembered. What blessed effects had the knowledge acquired by Jethro of the doings of God for Israel, through his sonin-law, on his mind?

MARY. He said, "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods," and he offered a burnt

offering to Him, along with the elders of Israel.

MAMA. This must have been a most gratifying circumstance to Moses. What gracious prediction did it fulfil?

MARY. You know God had promised in the bush, that Israel should worship God "on that mountain."

MAMA. Good again, Mary. Not a "jot or tittle" of God's testimony, any more than of His law, shall fail. With what excellent advice did this experienced "Prince of Midian" follow up his recognition of the true God?

MARY. He advised Moses to appoint wise men to help him to judge the people, as he was not able to do it alone, and to give them ordinances and laws to teach them how they should walk.

MAMA. The advice was sound and judicious, and Moses obeyed it as far as the appointment of subordinate judges went; but as we do not read of his taking upon himself to give laws to God's people, we may very reasonably infer that it was in consequence of his prayers for direction in so essential a matter, that Jehovah condescended in the following chapter to assume the office of Lawgiver. Yet, observe, it is carried on, (like all the proceedings of God with men) through an

appointed human instrument; and it is to Moses the awful words are in the first instance addressed, though the people were permitted to hear afar off the celestial voice. In what part of the mountain did this wonderful colloquy take place? MARY. On Sinai; you said that was the name of the summit.

MAMA. Yes; modern travellers inform us that of the three peaks of Horeb, that of Sinai (still called in the neighbourhood, the Mount of Moses,) is incomparably the highest, having at its foot the monastery of St. Catherine's, from whence 14,090 steps once led to the very summit, some of which are yet visible. It is pleasing when tradition thus lingers around spots for ever hallowed by positive revelation. By what awful preparatory directions did God enhance the solemnity of the law He was about to deliver?

MARY. The people were to "sanctify themselves" three days before, and wash their clothes; and no creature (not even a beast) was to touch the mountain and live. Mama, this was enough to terrify any people.

MAMA. And so it did, Mary, for the time; while the trumpets and thunders mingled their voice, while "smoke as of a furnace" ascended from Sinai, "all the people that were in the camp