b'\' *^|^^%/! \xe2\x80\xa2 \'\'"^\xc2\xab^^*^^\' \'^ \n\n\n\n^VT^ T^^ \n\n\n\n\n\n^f^\'^r\\]fed by /^-[OUGHUN Bro^s /\\(ew-YoRK \n\n\n\nLIBRARY OF CONGRESS. \n\n\n\n@]^Hp+ \xc2\xa9up^rig]^ Ifu* \n\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA. \n\n\n\n/ \n\n\n\nHALF HOl\'RS WITH THE BIBLE; \n\n\n\nThe Children s Scriphtre Story-Book. \n\nAN EPITOME OF THE HISTORIES \n\nC () XT A I X E I) I X \n\nTHE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, \n\nSOU\'LIFIED FOE THE USE OF CHILDREN. \n\nBY THE AUTHOR OF " HAPPY SUNDAYS." \n\nM\\\\\\ abflljr MO |lIugtratilrB (jtugrabiiigs. \\ \n\n\n\n^; \n\n\n\n\nNEW YORK: \n\nMCLOUGHLIN BROTHERS. \n\n\n\n\\ \n\n\n\nCONTENTS \n\n\n\nPAGP. \n\n\n\nI. The Creation of the World and the Deluge .... .... g \n\n\n\n41 \n\n\n\n2. Stories. OF Abraham. Lsaac, and Jacob .... .... \n\n3. JOSEPH AND HL^ I^RETHREN .... .... .... .... ^^ \n\n4. J\'he Hlstorv of Moses .\\nd of tfjf \\\\\'.\\NDERiN(is of the Child- \n\nRi-N OF Israel in the Desert .... ... .... 105 \n\n5. The JnxiEs and Mkjhty Men of (Jld .... .... .... 137 \n\n6. The Kinijs of Israel and Jidah .... .... .... 169 \n\n7. The Prophets .... .... ... .... .... 201 \n\n8 The Good Children of Scripture .... .... .... 233 \n\n9. The Life of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. ... .... .... 265 \n\n10. Our Saviours Teachings and Sufferings .... .... 297 \n\n[ I. The Story of the Apostles .... .... ....329 \n\n\n\ni \' \n\n\n\nPREFACE \n\n\n\nThe object of the Author of this little book has been to tell, in piaiii, \nsiiuple words that may be readily understood by children, the mighty his- \nrories contained in the Sacred Yohnne. \n\nIt will be seen that the work has been carefully divided into sections of \nequal length, each embracing a separate portion oi the Bible, and complete \nin itself. Thus, the first part contains the History of the Creation, the \nFall of Man, and the subsequent events until the time of the Deluge ; the \nsecond part is devoted to the History of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, \nand Jacob ; the third, tc the History of Joseph and his brethren ; the \nfourth, to the History of Moses and the Wanderings of the Cliildren of \nIsrael, until the time of their great leader\'s death. And thus the history \nproceeds through the times (^f the Judges, tlie Kings, and the Prophets ; \njust so much being given as a child may understand and remember, and \nthe whole being divided, like the commencement of the l^ook, into short \nsections, to prevent confusion. The three last })arts are devoted to the \nnarration of the Life of Our Saviour and of the Apostles. \n\nAs the book purposes to give to children an elementary knowledge of \nthe narrative portion of the Scriptures, care has been taken to tell the \nstories as much as i)ossil)le in the " Bible words." A few sentences of \nexplanation or of comment have been sparingly introduced \xe2\x80\x94 the Author \n\n\n\n\\1U \n\n\n\nPREFACE, \n\n\n\nhaving, in the great majority of cases, thought it best simply to narrate \nthe histories as intelligibly as possible, leaving them to make their own \nunfailing impression on the minds of the young readers. \n\' Thus, then, this little volume is addressed to no special sect or denom- \nination. It has not been prepared with any particular reference to the \nevangelical, the high church, or the dissenting part of the community. \nFree from all sectarian doctrine, and holding aloof from the exclusive \ntenets of any particular sect, it aims at being emphatically a Child\'s His\' \ntory of the Bible. Therefore it is broadly offered to all that great and \nhappily increasing class who read and value the Sacred Book, and wish \ntheir children to read and value it also. Therefore, the histories have \nbeen presented in all their touching simplicity \xe2\x80\x94 therefore the Bible icordu \nhave, so far as possible, been retained. \n\nIt has been the wish of the Publishers to increase the attractions of the \nvolume by care in the production of the work, so far as paper and print \nare concerned, and by a plentiful supply of those "pictures" in which all \nchildren deli<j:lit. \n\nThe Author commends this Book, the result of many hours of pleasant \nlabor, to the parents, and yet more to the children of Christendom ; and a \ncareful perusal, undertaken at the request of the Publishers, has convinced \nme that the taSk has been well and conscientiously fulfilled. \n\nH. W. D. \n\n\n\n(ilf p0urs luitlj t|c ^iblc. \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE, \n\n\n\n^-<^ \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD \n\n\n\n\\:rM \n\n\n\nHE Bible is that large book from which \nthe minister reads in church ev^ery Sun- \nday. It tells us of the doings of the \ngreat God who made Heaven and Earth ; \nand from it we learn to love and to \nserve Him. The word Bible means *\'The \nBook." The Bible was written at differ- \nent times by wise and good men, who set down the words \nthat God put into their minds ; so that the Bible is the \nwritten word of God Himself That is why the Bible is \ncalled the Book of Books ; and its words are the woi\'ds of \ntruth. There was not always a Bible, to teach us about \n\n\n\n10 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nGod ; but there was always a God. He had no beginning, \nbut always was, and is, and shall be, after this world has \npassed away. He it was who made us, who created this \nbeautiful world, and all that it contains. It was God w^ho \nput it into the minds of good men to write down in this \nholy Book, called the Bible, all the wondrous things of His \nlaw. And, as the Bible tells us of God, and teaches us His \nwill, therefore every one should strive to learn to read this \ngood Book ; and there is such a wonderful amount of wis- \ndom and goodness in it, that the smallest child may read \nparts of it with delight and wonder. God loves little child- \nren, and never forgets or forsakes them. There are, how. \never, many things in this Sacred Volume which you could \nnot understand; and, therefore, it is very pleasant to be \ntold, in easy words, what wonderful things God has done. \nThis, my dear children, is what I wish to do for you in this \nlittle book of Bible Stories and Pictures ; and I am sure it \nwill make you long for the time when you may read the \nGreat Book for yourselves. \n\nThe Bible tells us that in the beginning God created \nthe heaven and the earth. He created them ; that means, \nhe made them out of nothing. There was no shajje, nor \nform, only thick darkness, until " the Spirit of God moved \nupon the face of the waters." God said. Let there be \nlight ; and there was light. \n\nIs it not wonderful that the word of God should at \nonce change darkness into light ? And how beautiful is \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n11 \n\n\n\n\nTHE SEPARATION OK THE WATERS. \n\n\n\nlight ! Darkness is very mournful. Many little children \nare afraid of being left in the dark, although there is noth- \ning that would hurt them in the dark any more than in \nthe light, because God can see in the dark as well as by \nday, and can take care of us. Yet light is a great blessing, \nand we ought to thank God for it. \n\n" And God saw the light that it was good : and God \n\n\n\n12 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\ndivided the liglit from the darkness." The light He called \nDay, and the darkness He called Mght. " And the even- \ning and the morning were the first day." In six days God \nmade the earth ; and on the second day He made the firma- \nment, and divided the waters which were under the firma- \nment from the waters which were above the firmament. \nOn the third day God separated the land from the waters, \nand gathered the waters together upon an heap, calling \nthem Seas ; while the dry land He called Earth. And at \nHis word the earth brought forth grass, herbs, and trees \nof all kinds. On the fourth day God created the greater \nlight, that is, the sun, to rule the day, and the lesser light, \nor moon, to rule the night; and He made the stars also. \n\n" First, He made the sun to know \nHis proper hour to rise ; \nAnd to give light to all below, \nBid send him round the skies/\' \n\nAnd since that day, obedient to God\'s command, the sun \nhas risen every morning, and set every evening; and so \nlong as God commands, and no longer, will the sun con- \ntinue to blaze in the sky. \n\nThe moon, too, with her soft, silvery light, God created, \nto shine while we are asleep ; and the pretty twinkling \nstars did God set in the firmament, to shed light upon the \nearth. Then God commanded the waters to bring forth \nabundantly every kind of fish, and fowl that may fly above \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n18 \n\n\n\nthe earth. Fishes of all kinds, from the great whale, that \ntaketh his pastime in the wide ocean, to the little minnow \n\n\n\n\nthat sports in the shallowest stream ; \xe2\x80\x94 from the ostrich to \nthe little wren that builds her nest in an old thornbush. \nGod also bade the earth to bring forth cattle, creeping \nthings, and beasts of all kinds ; and there, side by side, \nmight be seen the great elephant, the useful ox, the timid \nhare, and the gliding, harmless worm. This w^as the work \nof the fifth day, and God saw that it was good. \n\n\n\n14 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS AVITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nSo now, God had created the world ; l)ut the greatest and \nmost wonderful of created beings had not yet been made. \nThe earth was there, and the ocean ; both full of living \n\n\n\n\ncreatures, and gay with growing plants and grasses. The \nstreams were flowing, and the birds singing, and the fishes \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. ]5 \n\nglancing through the waters, and the great beasts stalking \nforth over the face of the green earth, and all the little \ninsects sporting in the sunshine ; all was ready for the \nreception of him whom God had determined to make the \nking of this beautiful creation \xe2\x80\x94 and this wondrous being \nwas man. \n\nAnd the sixth day of creation had come : and God \nsaid, " Let us make man in our own image, after our like- \nness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, \nand over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over \nall the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth \nupon the earth." So God created man out of the dust of \nthe earth, in His own image created He him. And God \nbreathed into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man be- \ncame a living soul. And God bade him be fruitful and \nmultiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it ; and He gave \nhim dominion over every living thing that moveth upon \nthe earth. And God said, " Behold, I have given you \nevery herb," and " every tree yielding fruit, to you it shall \nbe for meat." And to the beast, to the fowls, and all other \nliving creatures God gave every green herb for meat. \n\nAnd thus, day after day, God still provides us with all \nthings necessary for our support: and He it is who, by \nHis Son Jesus Christ, has Himself taught us to say, \'\' Give \nus this day our daily bread." He it is who makes the corn \nto grow, and to ripen, that we may be supplied with daily \nfood. \n\n\n\nIG \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nWhen God had created the heavens, and the earth, and \nall the host of them. He finished His work and rested \nupon the seventh day; and He blessed the seventh day, \nand sanctified it, or made it holy, because in it He rested \nfrom all His work that He had created, or made. Where- \nfore, God afterwards gave a command to His favored peo- \nple, the Jews, saying, "Remember that thou keep holy \nthe Sabbath day." And, therefore, to the present time, in \nall lands where God is known, and the Bible, His word, is \nread, one day out of every seven is set apart and kept \nholy, as a remembrance that God rested on the seventh \nday from His work, after the creation of the world. \n\nAnd God looked down from heaven on everything that \nHe had made ; and behold, it was very good. \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OP THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. ]7 \n\n\n\n\nADAM NAMING THR BEASTS. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\n\n\nTHE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE. \n\nHE Bible next tells us about the Garden of Eden, \nand liow the man whom God had created was sent \nto live there. First of all, now that the herbs and \ntrees were growing, God caused a mist to go up from \nthe earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. \n\n\n\n\n1 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nAnd God then planted a fair and a fruitful garden in \nEden, and watered it witli beautiful rivers and cooling \nstreams, and placed man in the garden to keep it and to \ndress it. This man was called Adam. He w^as formed \nafter God\'s image, perfectly holy and perfectly happy, free \nfrom care and free from sin. \n\nAlthough God had made him lord over all things that \nHe had created, yet, among all these things, none was found \nthat was fit to be a companion for Adam. So the Lord God \nsaid : " It is not good that the man should be alone; I will \nmake him an help meet for him." And God brought every \nliving thing to Adam, to see what name Adam would call \nthem ; and w^hatsoever Adam called every living creature \nwas henceforth the name thereof God caused Adam to \nfall into a deep sleep ; and, while he slept, God took from \nAdam\'s side one of his ribs, and of the man\'s rib God foi\'in- \ned a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam \ncalled her woman ; and she became the wdfe of Adam, and \nthe mother of all living, w^hich her name, Mje^ signifies. \n\nWhen the Lord God placed man in the lovely and \npleasant garden of Eden, He gave Adam leave to eat of \nthe fruit of every tree except one, which God told him \nwas the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and of this \ntree God forbade Adam to eat ; and God told him plainly^ \nthat if he ate of the fruit of this tree, he should surely die; \nand as Adam had everything that w^as needful for his use, \nthere was no reason why he should want this fruit. \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. ., ^ \n\nAdam and Eve miglit have continued holy and happy \nfor ever, for their life was bright, and innocent, and blessed \nin the beautiful garden, with the smile of God upon them ; \nbut there came a wicked spirit, called Satan, who is the \nfather of lies, and of all evil. He was envious when he \nsaw the man and his wife so happy; so he came in the form \nof a serpent, and talked with Eve, and persuaded her to \neat of the forbidden fruit. The woman told the serpent \nthat God had threatened them with death if they ate of \nthe fruit of that tree; but the wily serpent answered, "Ye \nshall not surely die : for God doth know that in the day \nye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall \nbe as gods, knowing good and evil." See how wily the \nserpent was ; he knew that the prospect of great know- \nledge, and of being as a god, would allure Eve. \n\nAnd it was so. She listened to the tempter. Instead \nof being contented in the happy state in which God had \nplaced her, she became covetous. She wanted to be wiser \nand greater than she was. She took the fruit of the tree \nwhich God had forbidden her to eat, and she gave her hus- \nband some of the fruit, and he ate also. \n\nWhen they had done this, they felt afraid. The know- \nledge that came to them was the knowledge that they \nthemselves were no longer good and innocent; and they \nfeared to meet the eye of God. They sewed large ^g \nleaves together to make themselves a covering. And when \n\nthey heard the voice of the Lord in the garden, in the cool \n\n11 \n\n\n\n20 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nof the day, fearful to meet Him, as they well might be \nthey vainly endeavored to hide themselves among the trees \n\n\n\n\nADAM AND EVE EATING THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT. \n\nAnd God called to Adam: "Where art thou?" And \nAdam answered, that he had hidden himself, because he \nwas afraid. God knew perfectly well what they had done ; \nbut He asked Adam if he had eaten of the forbidden \nfruit ? And Adam was cowardly, and answered, that the \nwoman had given him the fruit ; foi* he would gladly have \nlaid the whole blame upon Eve. \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n21 \n\n\n\nAnd when God asked Eve, why she had done this, she \nanswered, that the serpent had beguiled her. Then God \npronounced the sentence of punishment upon them all. He \ncursed the serpent above every beast of the field, and told \nhim he should always crawl upon the eartl]. The woman \n\n\n\n\nADAM AND EVE DRIVEN FROM THE GARDEN OF EDKN. \n\nhe condemned to a life of sorrow and pain. And to Adam \nGod said, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, \ntill thou return unto the ground ; for out of it wast thou \ntaken, and unto dust thou shalt return." \n\n13 \n\n\n\n99 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nSo God sent forth Adam and Eve from tlie garden of \nEden ; and God placed at the east end of the garden cheru- \nbims, or angels of fire, with a flaming sword, which turned \nevery way, to keep the way of the tree of life. So they \nwere never again permitted to enter the lovely garden, but \nthey were obliged to work hard and till the ground, and \nto plant and sow, and dig up the thistles, until the time \nshould come for them to die, and return to the dust. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III \n\n\n\nCAIN AND ABEL. \n\nFTEE, our fii\'st parents had been driven \nout of the pleasant garden of Eden, God \ngave a little son to Eve, who called his \nname Cain. Afterwards she had a second \nson, named Abel. God had said to x\\dam \nthat man should eat bread in the sweat of \nhis brow \xe2\x80\x94 that is, that he should earn his \nfood by labor. So both these sons were \nbrought up to work; \xe2\x80\x94 and this was right; \nfor it is God\'s Avill that every one should work in some \nway, and it is a great sin to be idle. Even the rich people, \nwho need not till the ground for their bread, should find \nsomething useful to do for God, or for their neighbors. \n\n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n23 \n\n\n\n\nADAM AND EVE AT WOHK. \n\n\n\nJSTot even a little child should be idle. Children should be \nlearning, while they are young, how to employ their time, \nso that they may spend it usefully when they grow older. \nCain used to till the ground and sow the seed, that there \nmight be plenty of food. He was what we call a husband- \nman. A bel took care of a flock of sheep. He was what we \nnow call a shepherd. I dare say you know who said, \'\' I \nam the good She2:)herd, and know my sheep, and am known \nof mine." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd, \n\n\n\n15 \n\n\n\n24 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nand those cliilclren who strive to please Him, and learn to \nlove Him as sheep love their shepherd, are those He means \nwhen He talks of His lambs. \n\n\n\n\nCAIN KILLING ABEL. \n\n\n\nNow, God had commanded his servants to offer up a \nsacrifice to Him of the *\' first-fruits ; " that is, something of \nthe very best they had. But He not only required these \nofferings, but He wished them to be given to Him with a \nfree heart, and a willing, humble spirit. Cain brought an \noffering to the Lord, of the first-fruits of the ground, and \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\nOK \n\n\n\nAbel brought of the firstlings of his flock ; and the Lord \nhad respect unto Abel and his offering; that is to say, He \n\xe2\x80\xa2 looked upon them with favor, for He knew Abel offered \nwith a thankful spirit. But unto Cain and to his offering \nHe had not respect. See how the smoke of Abel\'s lamb \nascends steadily up to heaven, while that of Cain is beaten \ndown to the earth. \n\nGod read the wicked thoughts that were in Cain\'s heart, \nand saw that he was envious and jealous of his good and \ngentle brother : and when Cain found that the Lord had \naccepted the offering of his brother, and not his own, he \nbecame still more angry. And when they were both \ntogether in the field, he rose up against his brother and \nslew him ! \n\n\n\nAdam and Eve were sorry for their own sin and diso- \nbedience, when they saw tha^ Deatl\\ the punishment w4th \nwhich they had been threatened, had really come upon \ntheir young and cherished son. He was dead, and he had \nbeen killed by the act of Cain : and the punishment of their \nown sin and disobedience was falling heavily upon them. \nBut God, who sees and knows all things, saw this wicked \ndeed ; and He called unto Cain, and said, " Where is Abel \nthy brother ? " Cain knew not how to answer ; the cow- \nardly, guilty man replied by a lie. He said, "I know \nnot: am I my brother\'s keeper?" Then the Lord said. \n\n\n\n26 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n" What hast thou done ? the voice of thy brother\'s blood \ncrieth unto me from the gi\'ound." And God told Cain \nthat a fearful punishment should befall him for his dread- \nful crime. He said, " When thou tillest the ground, it \nshall no more yield unto thee strength," or increase. And \nCain was to be a wanderer and an outcast on the earth. \nAnd when Cain heard the words of the Lord, and found \nthat he must leave his parents, and be driven out as a vag- \nabond, h^ said, "My punishment is greater than I can \nbear." So God drove him away from his parents, and he \ndwelt in a distant part of the earth ; where we hear that \nhe built a city, and that sons and daughters were boi\'n \nunto him, But the remembrance of Cain\'s crime has never \npassed away, for it has been wiitten by God\'s servants, in \nGod\'s own Book ; and, as long as this world lasts, Cain \nAvill be spoken of as the unhappy man who killed his bro- \nther in his anger. \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n27 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV \n\n\n\n\nTHE FLOOD. \n\nFTER the death of Abel, God comforted \nAdam and Eve by giving them a son, named \nSeth. And, in time, Seth grew to l,e a man, \nand had sons and daughters of his own. One \nof his descendants was named Enocli. Of \nEnoch, we have an account in the Bible. \nWe are told that he was a good man, and \nwalked with God \xe2\x80\x94 that is, he obeyed His commands. So \nGod took him up into heaven without dying. What a \ndifference between his fate and that of Cain ! \n\nEnoch\'s son, Methuselah, was the oldest man that ever \nlived on the earth. He was nearly a thousand years old \nwhen he died. After this time, the people who lived in \nthose days became very wicked, and their conduct displeas- \ned the Lord so much, that He repented that He had made \nman. And at length He determined to destroy them .oil \nby a great flood. There was, however, a good man called \nNoah, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And God \ncommanded Noah to build him an ark of gopher wood; \nand told him how long and how broad it was to be, and \nhow to build it, that Noah and his family might l)e safe, \nwhen God should send the flood of waters to drown the \nworld. \n\n19 \n\n\n\n28 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nA very wonderful building was the ark which God \ncommanded Noah to build for the safety of himself and \nfamily, and all the living creatures that God intended to \nsave alive : two of every kind, as you see them going into \nthe ark. Noah had nothing to do but to obey God\'s direc- \ntions, and he did so. He began at once to collect proper \nmaterials ; and for a hundred years he was preaching to \nhis neighbors and friends, begging them to turn from their \nsin, and help him to prepare the ark that was to save the \nrighteous from destruction. But no one would listen ; they \nonly laughed at Noah for his folly, when he told them that \nGod had said, " I will bring a flood of waters upon the \nearth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from \nunder heaven ; and every thing that is in the earth shall \ndie. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou \nshalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, \nand thy sons\' wives with thee. And of every living thing \nof all flesh, two of eveiy sort shalt thou bring into the \nark, to keep them alive with thee ; they shall be male and \nfemale." Of fowls also, and cattle, and every creeping \nthing, two of every sort, did God order Noah to take with \nhim into the ark, and to take some of every kind of food \nthat was necessary for them all to eat, to gather together \na large portion to place in the ark. How mercifully God \nstill showed his love and care of those creatures whom He \nintended to spare; providing for all their necessities, and \ngiving them light, and air, and pleasant food I \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n29 \n\n\n\n\nNOAH PRAYING, BEFORE ENTERING THE ARK. \n\n\n\nSucli was the refuge God provided for His servant \nNoali and liis family ; and He has shown similar mercy to \nthe whole of mankind. For God has provided another \nark, or place of safety, for lost and ruined sinners ; and \nwhen God looks down now from His holy dwelling-place \nin heaven. He can see that even the very thoughts of men\'s \nhearts are desperately wicked ; and, therefore. He has pro- \nvided an ark for these perishing souls to flee to. Do you \nknow what that ark is called? It is the Holy Saviour \n\n\n\n21 \n\n\n\n30 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nJesus Christ; the only offerng which the world could pro- \nduce to appease the just anger of an offended God. He \nprovided the ark ; and the same love provided the Saviour, \nthe ark of our strength \xe2\x80\x94 the refuge from the stoi-m of \ntrouble and the flood of sin. He has in Himself all things \nnecessary for our support and salvation, just as the ark \ncontained all ^hat was necessary for Noah and his family. \n\nMany years was the ark building. Long it stood open, \nwhile Noah vainly tried to pei\'suade the hardened sinners \nto enter the door. So Christ is always ready, always at \nhand to save ; he stands waiting, he is willing and able to \nsave all who will go unto him. Like a tender father, God \nsaid to Noah, when all was ready, " Come thou and all thy \nhouse into the ark ; for thee have I seen righteous before \nme." So Noah obeyed, as a child should obey the voice \nof his parent; and he made all the animals that he had \ncollected together to enter two and two into the ark, \nand then he went in, with all the members of his family ; \nand God shut them in. \n\nAnd then God in his anger rained down rain from \nheaven, and the waters of the sea overflowed and spread \nover the earth, till by degrees the houses, the trees, and \neven the tops of the highest mountains, were covered with \ndeep water. The rain lasted for forty days and forty \nnights, and the whole world was like a tempestuous sea, \nwhich washed away every living thing. Even the birds \nof the air were drowned, for there was nothing left on \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n31 \n\n\n\n\nTHE GRKAT FLOOD OF WATERS. \n\n\n\nwhich they might rest the soles of their feet ; and when \nthe rain ceased to fall, it was many days and weeks before \nthe w^aters dried away from the face of the earth. Only \nNoah and his family were safe in the ark which God had \nprovided for them. \n\nAt length the rain ceased, the waters abated, and the \nark rested on the top of a mountain called Ararat ; and \nNoah opened the window. There was still nothing but a \nwaste of waters : no green trees or flowers, no living crea- \n\n\n\n23 \n\n\n\n32 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nture to be seen. But Noah sent out of the ark a raven and a \ndove. Tlie raven flew backwards and forvvarcTs, and at last \ndisappeared. Perliaps some of the dead bodies of the \nanimals had floated up to the top of the mountain, and they \nwould provide food for the raven, which is a bird of prey ; \nbut the poor dove could find no rest for the sole of her foot, \nso she returned to the ark, and Noah put out his hand \nand took her in to him agiiin. \n\nSeven days after, Noah sent the dove out again ; in the \nevening she returned to him with an olive leaf in her beak. \nYou may be sure Noah and his sons were glad to see this \ngreen leaf. They knew that the tops of the trees were \nagain visible, and that the waters were abating. But they \nknew the earth was still under water, because the dove \nwas unable to find food and shelter; and thei\'efore they \nwaited patiently, and thanked God for his mercy in giving \nthem a roof to cover them, and food to sustain life. \n\nThe dove was sent out once again ; but she returned no \nmore. Then Noah knew that the earth was getting dry. \nHe took the covering off the ark, and felt very glad to look \nupon the green trees ; but, although they had been shut \nup in the ark for more than a year, and although the earth \nlooked dry and pleasant, Noah did not wish to go out of \nthe ark until God told him he might do so. But \xe2\x80\xa2\' God \nspake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and \nthy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons\' wives with thee. \nBring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, \n\n\n\n\' I \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nof all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creep- \ning thing that creepeth upon the earth ; that they may \nbreed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multi- \nply upon the earth." \n\n\'\' And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and \nhis sons\' wives with him ; \xe2\x80\x94 every beast, every creeping \nthing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the \nearth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark." \n\nAnd so God\'s justice and God\'s mercy had both been \nshown: His justice in the great deluge, and His mercy i)) \nthe preservation of Noah and his family. \n\n\n\n\nI ! \n\n\n\n34 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\nnoah\'s sacrifice, and the rainbow. \n\n.HE first thing Noali did when they were all \ncome out of the ark was to build an altar \nunto the Lord ; and he took one of every \nclean beast and every clean fowl, and offered \nthem as burnt offerings upon the altar. Was \nit not right to Noah to show his gratitude to \nthe good God who had preserved him and his \nfamily from a dreadful death? And ought \nwe not also to love Him who preserves us and \ngives us so many blessings ? Noah thought of heaven and \nof God\'s mercy to him and his family, while he offered his \nburnt sacrifices, and the perfume of these offerings went \nup to heaven. " And the Lord said in his heart, I will not \nagain curse the ground any more for man\'s sake ; for the \nimagination of man\'s heart is evil from his youth ; neither \nwill I again smite any more every thing living as I have \ndone. While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, \nand cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and \nnight shall not cease." \n\nAnd God\'s promises never fail : although thousands of \nyears have passed away, still the seasons follow in succes- \nsion. The sun shines by day, and the bright stars twinkle \nin the dark blue sky at night, as they did when God made \nhis covenant with Noah. \n\n20 \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n35 \n\n\n\n\nnoah\'s sacrifice. \n" And God said, This is the token of the covenant \nwhich I make between me and you and every living crea- \nture that is with you, for perpetual generations ; I do set \nmy how in the cloud, and it shall he for a token of a cove- \nnant between me and the earth. And it shall come to \npass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow \nshall be seen in the cloud : and I will remember my cove- \nnant, which is between me and you and every living crea- \nture of all flesh ; and the waters shall no more become a \n\n\n\n36 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nflood to destroy all flesli. And the bow shall be in the \ncloud ; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the \neverlasting covenant between God and every living crea- \nture of all flesh that is upon the earth." \n\nHow often have my little readers beheld this token of \nGod\'s mercy and forbearance \xe2\x80\x94 the beautiful rainbow, span- \nning the sky like an arch, and brightening the dark clouds \nwith its soft and lovely tints of vai\'ious colors ! When- \never you see this pretty bow, look at it well, and think \nthat God has placed that rainbow in the heavens to remind \nyou and all the world that He is faithful and gracious ; and \nthat Jesus, who is far more lovely than the rainbow, sits \nupon a throne encircled with a rainbow ; and that, although \nwe cannot see him, he is there ; and let the storm be ever \nso violent, his protecting hand is stretched out to save \nthose that love and trust in him. \n\nWhen Noah and his sons had sacrificed to God, they \nwent away \xe2\x99\xa6 into different places, and made themselves \nhomes, and God gave them many children, so that the \nearth was soon full of people again ; and they cultivated \ntheir lands, and planted vineyards and fruit trees. And \nGod blessed Shem and Japheth, because they were dutiful \nto their father ; and he blessed Noah, and lengthened his \nlife three hundred and fifty years after the flood. The \nBible gives us the names of the grandsons and great grand- \nsons of this good man. \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OP THE WORLD AND THE DELUCIE. \n\n\n\n37 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER YI. \n\n\n\n\nTHE TOWER OF BABEL. \n\n"^i-LOR many years after the deluge all the people \n"^^ in the world spoke but one language ; but as \nthey, by degrees, forgot God\'s mercy to their \nforefathers in saving them from the flood, they \nbecame proud and self-willed, and at last they \ndetermined to build a tower that would reach \nunto heaven. Nimrod, their leader, had built \na large city, called Babel ; and then they want- \ned a tower. \n\nBut these people well knew they were wrong; their \nconsciences told them that their conduct was displeasing \nto God, and that they knew they deserved to be punished ; \nand their own words prove that they felt afraid of God\'s \njust anger, for they said \xe2\x80\x94 " A tower, whose top may reach \nunto heaven ; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of \nthe earth." Now, if they had loved and trusted in God, \nthey would have been happy and contented ; but, instead \nof that, they were in fear of some unseen, but not undeserv- \ned calamity, and tried to set themselves up against God. \nThey thought if they could build a tower whose top should \nreach to heaven, they could escape, if another flood came \nupon the earth, by climbing up to the top. They cared \nnot about going to heaven by the narrow path of faith, \n\n29 \n\n\n\n38 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nBUILDING OF TfiE TOWER OF BABEL. \n\n\n\nand honesty, and self-denial; no, they must make then^ \nselves bricks, and burn them thoroughly. They found out \na means of mixing clay and straw, and moulding them into \nbricks, which they burned till they were hard, and they \nused a kind of slime for mortar ; and, in order to make \nthemselves a great name, they worked hard, piling up their \nbricks and mortar story above story, hoping to get out \nof the reach of God\'s judgments ; forgetting that God was \n\n\n\nTHE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. \n\n\n\n30 \n\n\n\nabove all, and could see all they did and planned, and \neven their very thoughts. The Lord let them go on for \nsome time in their boastfulness and pride. \n\nThen the Lord came down to see the city and the tow- \ner, which the children of men builded. And the Lord \nsaidy " Behold the people is one, and they have all one \nlanguage ; and this they begin to do : and now nothing \nwill be restrained from them, which thev have imaHued \nto do.\'\' And God said, " Let us confound their language, \nthat they may not understand one another\'s speech." All \nat once they began to call things by diffei-ent names. They \ncould no longer call each other by their names. One was \nspeaking in one tongue, another in a different language. \nNone could understand, nor could others reply ; so they \nwei\'e obliged to leave off building; the work on which they \nprided themselves so much was left unfinished ; their names \nare forgotten ; and the story of their great undertaking is \nonly told to their shame. \n\nTruly God He is the judge, and He only suffers what \nHe will to be executed ; and, to show us this truth. He has \nordained that the errors, the sin, and the punishment of \nour forefathers should be wncten in the Holy Bible, as a \nguide and warning to all who shall come after. And, while \nwe pride ourselves upon our learning, upon our being able \nto s])eak and understand the language of other countj-ies, \nlet us remember that sin occasioned the first differences in \nour tongue and speech ; that God in his anger said, " Let \n\n\n\n40 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nUS confound their language, that they may not understand \none another\'s speech : and the Lord scattered them abroad \nupon the face of all the earth ; " wherefore the name of \nthat city and tower is called Babel (which means confu- \nsion) ; " because the Lord did there confound the language \nof the earth : and from thence did the Lord scatter them \nabroad upon the face of the earth." \n\nMore than once God changed the language of people \nin one moment. The first time He did it as a proof of \nHis displeasure, and to prevent the people from under- \nstanding each other\'s words and wishes. The second time \nit was a proof of God\'s mercy. He gave to the Apostles, \nwho were ignorant, uneducated men, all in one minute, the \npower of preaching in other tongues the Gospel of Christ. \nMiraculous tongues came like tongues of fire, and sat upon \nthe heads of his humble disciples, and they were able to \ngo forth into other lands, and tell the blessed truths of sal- \nvation to those who were in darkness and in sin. May \nwe all attend to these warnings, and acknowledge God\'s \npower to punish j)ride, and to reward and bless the humble \nand meek. \n\n\n\nr \n\n\n\n41 \n\n\n\nalf fours h)it| t|c ^ible. \n\n\n\nSTOKIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nABRAHAM, SARAH, AND ISHMAEL. \n\nERY wonderful is the flight of time; day \nfolloAvs night, and night foLows day, and \none season succeeds another; and the sun \nappears to move on, and the earth turns \nrouud, and every day brings change. \n\nYou, who are now children, will in time \nbe old people, and you will die, to make \nroom for others who will live in your places. \nAnd if you ever think of these marvels, you may per- \nha])s sometimes think about those who lived a great many \nyears before you were born. In the Bible we can read \nthe history of persons who, like us, descended from Adam \nand Eve ; some who were tempted and fell into sin, or \n\n\n\n\ni j^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nothers wlio resisted tlie temptations of Satan to forsake \nwhat was right, and who loved and obeyed God. We \nthere perceive that all who sinned deliberately or inten- \ntionally were punished according to the threats uttered \nby the ever-present God ; and those who were obedient \nto his laws received the promises. \n\nAbram was a man who, for his belief in God\'s words, \nand his ready and willing services, was called the " father \nof the faithful." He was born about three hundred years \nafter the flood ; and when about seventy years old he was \ncommanded by God to leave the land of his birth and go \nto another country, which the Lord then promised to give \nto his children for an inhei\'itance ; and there he foretold \nthat his children should be afflicted and carried into a \nstrange country, where they should suffer many hard- \nships ; but that after four hundred years he would give \nthem the whole country of Canaan. \n\nAbram, finding that God gave no children to his wife \nSarai, followed the custom of the country, and took Sarai\'s \nmaid to be his wife ; and God gave her a son, named \nIshmael. Before the birth of her child, however, Hagar \nforgot lier duties to her mistress. This made Sarai treat \nHagar unkindly, until Hagar, in anger and sorro^v, deter- \nmined to run away ; so she fled into the wilderness. Poor \nHagar went away into a wild country, were there were no \nhouses nor people for many miles ; and she was a stranger \nin the land, having nowhere to go, so she strayed about in \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n43 \n\n\n\n\nSARAI S UNKINDLY TREATMENT TOTVARDS HAGAR. \n\nthe wilderness until she found a well of water ; and there, \ntired and Aveary, she sat down. Perhaps she began to \nthink she had done wrong, and been proud and wilful, and \nto feel sorry for it ; and, jDerhaps, she j^i\'ayed to God to \nforgive her and take care of her; for we read that an \nano-el of the Lord was sent to comfort her. He told her \nthat she should 1)e the mother of a son, who would be the \nfather of a great nation ; but that he would be a an ild \nman, that his hand should Ije against every man, and every \nman\'s hand against him; meaning that he would live a \n\n\n\n44 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nwandering life, and exist upon spoil, and on what he could \nget by hunting and warfare. From Ishmael, whose name \nsignifies "God will hear," are descended th^ people of \nArabia, and they live in the deserts of Arabia, in tents, \nand travel on camels and horses from place to place, in \nsearch of food and plunder. \n\nThe angel also commanded Hagar to return to her \nmistress, and submit to her in all things, as was becoming \nin a servant. So Hagar was comforted and went back to \nSarai, who, most likely, received her with kindness. We \nmust never forget, when we are unhappy, or think our- \nselves unkindly used l)y others, to pray to God for help. \nHe can see and know all that can happen to us ; and He \ncan comfort us when He has seen how we bear the trials \nHe thinks ]3roper to send upon us. It is of no use to try \nto run away from Him Hagar acknowledged this when \nthe angel spoke to her ; she knew directly that God had \nfound her out, and she said at once, " Thou God seest me." \nOh, if we could always remember that God can see, and \nknow, and remember everything we do and say, we should \nbe more careful not to do wrong, and we should at all \ntimes be anxious to do what was right in his eyes. \n\nSoon after the birth of Ishmael, God changed the \nnames of Abram and Sarai. The Lord called her Sarah, \nwhich signifies " a princess," and Abram was to be called \nAbraham, which means \'\' the father of a multitude." \nAnd God made a covenant or agreement with Abraham, \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n45 \n\n\n\nas lie had with Noah about the flood ; and with Adam, \nwhen lie promised that he would send a Saviour, who \nshould be of the seed of the woman. And this Saviour \nwas to descend from Abraham and Sarah, as we shall \nread hereafter \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\n\n\n\nSODOM AND GOMORRAH. \n\n\'OT, the son of Haran, Abraham\'s brother, \nhad gone to live at a city called Sodom, \nand near Gomorrah, another large and \npopulous city. The people in these cities \nhad become so bad that God determined \nto send down fire from heaven and de- \nstroy them all. But he would not do \nthis until he had told Abraham what he \nintended to do. So one day, when Abraham w^as sitting \nat the door of his tent, three men appeared to him, one of \nwhom was the Lord Jesus. Yes, Jesus lived in heaven \nbefore he came upon earth. Abraham did not know \nthem ; l)ut he spoke respectfully to them, and begged \nthem to come in, and he provided for them a meal of \n\n\n\n46 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nthe Lest things that he had, and Sarah baked cakes for \nthem, and they did eat ; after which they promised that \nSarah, who was now an ohi woman, should have a son. \n\nAt first Sarah laughed at these words, because she \nthought they were only joking, but she afterwards believ- \ned. The two angels then went towards Sodom, and the \nLord stayed with Abraham, and told him that he was \ngoing to destroy these cities. Abraham remembered Lot, \nand hoped that he had not become wicked, but rather \nthat he had taught all his family and servants to serve \nGod. His kind heart was touched with fear, lest Lot \nmight be destroyed with the wicked people among whom \nhe dwelt ; so he prayed to God to spare the city if fifty \nrighteous people should be found therein. And God \npromised to spare the city if there should be fifty right- \neous people in it. Then Abraham begged him for the \nsake of forty ; then for thirty ; then for twenty. And \nthe Lord hearkened, and promised that he would spare \nthe cities if there could be found only ten good men \ntherein. But not even the ten were found. Although \nthe Lord had determined to destroy the cities, he remem- \nbered the prayer of Abraham, and he spared the life of \nLot. The two angels came into Soiom, and they found \nLot sitting at the gate of the city ; and he arose and bowed \nhimself before them, and invited them to go and sleep at \nhis house ; for it was now evening, and he thought they \nwere travellers and strangers in that country. You see \n\n\n\nRTOBTES OP ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n47 \n\n\n\n\nTHE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND FATE OF LOT S WIFE, \n\nLot was kind and hospitable ; and lie set supper before \ntliem. They then desired Lot to gather together all the \nmembers of his family, and to hasten and take them all \nwith him out of the city, for the Lord was going to de- \nstroy it. Lot went to seek his sons-in-law, but they would \nnot listen to his words; until at last the angels took Lot \nand his wife, and two of his daughters by the hand, and \nthey brought them out of the city, saying, "Escape for \nthy life ; look not behind thee." The Lord rained down \n\n\n\nL_ \n\n\n\n48 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nfire and brimstone, and destroyed the cities, and all that \nthey contained. The wife of Lot was disobedient to the \ncommands of the angel : \'\' she looked back from behind \nher, and she became a pillar of salt." And Lot was glad \nto escape with his life, and to dwell in a cave with his \ntwo daughters, having lost his flocks, his herds, his pos- \nsessions, and even his mfe. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nWHAT HAPPENED TO ISAAC AND TO ISHMAEL. \n\n\'N due time Isaac, the child of promise, was \nborn to Abraham, and Sarah was very happy \nfor a time; but again strife and jealousy got \ninto the tent of Abraham, and brought w^th \nthem sorrow and discomfort. Hagar and her \nson Ishmael mocked at the young Isaac ; and \ntheir conduct so angered Sarah, that Abra- \nham was persuaded by her to send them both \naway ; and they would have died of thirst in the wilder- \nness, had not God sent an angel to comfort and help them. \nSome time after this, God (who was willing to try the \nfaith of Abraham) ordered him to offer up his son as a \nburnt sacrifice ; and this good man obeyed without a mur- \nmur, and had even taken the knife in his hand to slay his \n\n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n40 \n\n\n\n\nHAGAR AND ISHMAEL SENT AWAY. \n\n\n\nson, when an angel stayed Ms hand, and showed him a \nram caught in the bushes, which the happy father offered \nmost gratefully in the stead of his darling son. This was \na type of God\'s love to us. He spared not His own Son, \nwho was also descended from Abraham and Isaac, but \nsuffered him to be sacrificed as a sin-offerino^ for us. Ho^v \noiight we to love and thank God for all His mercies to us ! \nNo doubt, Abraham\'s heart was filled with gratitude, and \nhis tongue with praise, when he was enjoying the comjiany \nof Isaac in after years. \n\n\n\n50 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nABRAHAM ABOUT TO SACRIFICE ISAAC. \n\nWe next read of the death of Sarah, who lived to be \none hundred and twenty-seven years old ; and Abraham \nbought the field of Machpelah, and laid the body in a \ncave, that served for a tomb. Abraham was very much \ngrieved to lose his wife, with whom he had lived happily \nso many years. \n\nTherefore he sent his servant, who was true and taith- \nful to the interests of his master, and desired him to go to \nMesopotamia, the country where Abraham had formerly \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n51 \n\n\n\nlived, and where several members of his family still dwelt, \nand to seek for a wife for Isaac. It is true there Avere \nyoung women who lived in Canaan who might have ])een \nfound, hut they did not love and worship God; and \nAbraham wished to get a pious wife for his son, and not \nan idolater/ Eliezer, the servant, went forth with ten \ncamels laden with provisions and presents, and journeyed \nmany days. One evening, when he had come into the \nneighborhood where Abraham had directed him to go, he \nwas tired and weary, and sat down beside a well. Ah ! \nmy dear children, you who dwell in this pleasant country, \nwhere soft mists, and gentle rains, and glittering dew- \ndrops refresh the earth and keep the flowers bright, the \nleaves green, and the pools and murmuring rills all filled \nwith clear and crystal water, which dances over the smooth \npebbles, that purify it as it runs along \xe2\x80\x94 you know not \nhow grateful and precious water is in those sandy deserts, \nscorched l^y a burning sun, without any grass or weeds, \nwith no overhanging boughs or neatly trimmed hedges to \nshelter you fi\'om its mid-day rays, and where only now and \nthen a cluster of tall, thin palm trees enliven the scene, \nand are often far from each other; and the only water \nthat can be got is from wells, that are wide apart, and \ngenerally covered with a large stone to keep the water \nfrom being evaporated (or dried up) by the scorching sun, \nand sometimes these stones are very heavy, and require \nstrength and exertion to roll them away; and another \n\n\n\n52 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nthing I must explain to you, to make you understand this \nhistory clearly \xe2\x80\x94 namely, that the greater part of the riches \nof the people in those days consisted in their flocks. \n\n\n\n\nREBEKAH AND ABRAHAMS SERVANT. \n\n\n\nTired and weary, Eliezer sat down by the well-side \none evening, and having been taught by the example of \nhis master, the faithful Abraham, that God would hear \nand answer prayer, he prayed to God to send out to him \nthe damsel whom he should appoint to be Isaac\'s wife. \nScarcely had he ended his prayer, when Eebekah, Avho \nwas a relative of Abraham, came out to draw water. She \n\n\n\n12 \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n53 \n\n\n\nwas very sweet and pleasant-looking, and she was also \nkind-hearted, for she not only gave water to the tired \nstranger, but also to his camels. And, now that God had \nanswered his prayer, Eliezer made himself known to \nEebekah, and presented her with ear-rings and bracelets, \nand accompanied her to her father\'s, who gave a willing \nconsent for his daughter to marry Abraham\'s son. Then \nKebekah took leave of her father, her mother, and her \nbrothers, and rode away with Eliezer ; and she took with \nher her nurse, and her maids, and all that belonged to her, \nand returned, upon the camels, to Hebron, Avhere she was \nreceived with great joy l)y Isaac, and she became his wife ; \nand God blessed them, and twenty years after he gave \nthem two sons, who were named Esau and Jacob. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER lY. \n\n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF JACOB AND ESAU. \n\nSAU Avas Avild and high-spirited, and fond \nof hunting ; but Jacol) was quiet and \ngentle, and liked to look after the sheep \nand goats, and was the favorite child of \nhis mother, Rebekah ; while Isaac cared \nmore for his first-born son, Esau : and even \nat that time it was customary for the first- \nis \n\n\n\n54 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nborn son to inherit the most of his father\'s property as \nhis birthright. One day, when Esau had been out hunt- \ning, he returned tired, hot, and hungry, and found his \nbrother eating some red pottage \xe2\x80\x94 a sort of stew made of \nvegetables \xe2\x80\x94 and he asked Jacob to give him this pottage \nto appease his hunger. Jacob asked him to give him his \nl)irthright in exchange ; and Esau, w^ho was wild and \nhasty, agreed to do so, almost without a second thought ; \nbut the selfish Jacob made him give him a solemn \npromise, which Esau did, and then sat down to enjoy \nhis pottage. \n\nWhen Isaac had grown very old and dim-sighted, he \nfeared that he was going to die : so he was anxious to give \nhis son Esau a blessing, and to instal him into his posses- \nsions while he ^\\^as able to do so. He called Esau, and \ntold him to get him some venison, and to dress it, and to \nbring it to him, that he might bless Esau. So Esau went \nout into the fields to hunt. Kebekah, who had heard the \ncommand of Isaac, called her favorite, Jacob, and desired \nhim to get her two good kids, that she might make savory \nmeat for Isaac, and send it by the hand of Jacob, in order \nthat he might get his father\'s blessing before Esau return- \ned. There was, however, one difiiculty, which Avas, that \nEsau was rough, and his skin was very hairy, and the \nskin of Jacob was smooth and delicate. In order, there- \nfore, to deceive her husband, Rebekah dressed Jacob in \nthe clothing of Esau ; she covered the hands and the neck \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. r^ \n\nof Jacob with the skins of the kids, so tiiat if Isaac put \nhis own hand upon his son\'s hand, he might believe that \nit was really Esau who knelt before him. Jacob, after \nsome demur, agreed to do as his mother advised ; she said \nto Jacol), " Upon me be thy curse, my son ;" and this \npunishment very soon fell upon her, for her dear Jacob \nwas obliged to go away, and I do not think she ever saw \nher favorite child again. And Jacob, although he succeed- \ned in deceiving his poor, blind lather, was obliged to run \naway into a far country, to save himself from the just \nanger of his elder brother. \n\nWhen Isaac smelt the savory smell of the venison, ho \nasked, in surprise, how it Avas that Esau had found it so \nsoon ; and Jacol) answered, " Because the Lord thy God \nbrought it to me." Then Isaac, who thought the voice \nsounded different, asked, saying, " Come and let me feel \nthee, my son, Avhether thou be my very son Esau ; for," \nhe continued, as he j)assed his feeble hands over the false \nskins which covered the hands of Jacol), " the voice is \nJacob\'s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau ;" and \nl)efore he would eat of the venison, he asked again, " Art \nthou my very son Esau ?" And Jacob, forgetting that \nGod could hear and j^unish him, and that he could even \ntake away the blessing he was so anxious to gain, answered \nwith an untruth, and said, " I am." Then the deceived \nfather ate the meat and drank the wine which Jacob had \nbrought him, and he kissed and blessed him, saying, " The \n\n\n\n56 \n\n\n\nHALF HOUKS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nLord give tliee of the dew of Leaven and the fatness of \nthe earth, and plenty of corn and wine : let people serve \nthee, and nations bow down to thee : l)e lord over thy \nbrethren, and let thy mother\'s sons bow down to thee : \ncursed be every one that curseth thee, and l)lessed be \nevery one that blesseth thee." And all these blessings, \nunder the will of God, who had previously ordained and \nordei\'ed, saying, " The elder shall serve the younger," came \nto pass, for God greatly increased the possessions and \nfamily of Jacob. From him were descended the priests ; \nDavid, the king of Israel ; and, finally, the blessed Jesus, \nbefore whom every knee shall bow in heaven and in earth. \n\nBut Jacob could not feel happy Avhile his father blessed \nhim : he knew he was doing wrong, to lie and deceive his \nfather, and he was glad to get out of the way before Esau \nreturned. Scarcely had he gone forth, when Esau came in \nwith his venison, and said, " Let my father arise, and eat \nof his son\'s venison, that thy soul may bless me." Isaac \ntrembled exceedingly when he heard the words of Esau, \nand felt that he had been cheated. " Who, and where is \nhe," he cried, " that hath brought me venison I)efore thou \ncamest, and I have blessed him? yea, and he shall be \nblessed." And Esau, when he heard these words, cried \nwith an exceeding bitter cry, " Bless me, even me also, O \nmy father !" \n\nThen Isaac answered, " Thy brother came with subtlety, \nand hath taken away thy blessing." Then Esau cried, "Is \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n57 \n\n\n\n\nESAU CHEATED OF HIS FATHERS BLESSING. \n\nlie not rightly named Jacob ? (whicli signifies a sup|)lanter) \nfor he hath supplanted me these two times : he took away \nmy birthright, and now he hath taken away my blessing." \nThis was not quite right, because we know that Esau had \nof his own will sold the birthright to Jacob, and this he \ncould never again ol)tain; neither could he have the bless- \ning. His sorrow and his tears were unavailing, although \n\n17 \n\n\n\n58 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nhe wept bitterly, and cried, " Hast tlioii but one Wessing \noil, my ftither ? bless me, even me, also !" It was too late \nnow. Isaac could not take back that which he had already \ngiven ; but he tried to comfort Esau by the promise of \nwealth, and many other good things. Esau was mortified \nand angry, and he hated his brother so much, that he \nthreatened to kill Jacob as soon as his father should be \ndead. And this threat being overheard by Rebekah, \nmade her very unhappy and anxious about her favorite \nchild, whom she had advised and led into temptation, and \nshe feared her own act might bring danger upon him, \nwherefore she now persuaded him to go away from home \ntill his brother\'s anger should be turned away ; and she \nalso persuaded Isaac to let him go and visit her brother, \nwhom she had not seen since the day of her marriage, \nand Isaac blessed Jacob, and bade him choose one of La- \nban\'s daughters for a wife. So Jacob, in obedience to the \nwishes of his parents, set out on a long journey alone: he \nhad no one to speak to, no place wherein to rest at night. \nBut although God punished him, he did not forsake him : \nhe let him be unhappy for a time, as all sinners must be, \nunless they repent ; and we are taught that \'\' the way of \ntransgressors is hard." After walking all day, until th<5 \nsun had set, Jacob, tired and weary, lay down upon i\\n) \ncold ground to rest ; he put some stones into a heap for a \n])illow, and fell asleep. \n\nBut although he was in a desert place and in darkness. \n\n\n\n18 \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n59 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n^c^^i. \n\n\n\n\nJACOB\'S DREAM \n\n\n\nGod was with him, and gave him a ver}\' hap23y dream, for \nhe saw in his dream a long ladder, the top of which reach- \ned unto heaven, and behold the angels were constantly as- \ncending and descending on it, which he thought was a to- \nken that God was watching over and protecting him ; and \nhe heard the voice of the Lord himself promising to be \nhis Father and his God, and assuring him that he would \ngo with him, and bless him, and give the whole country \nround where Jacob was lying to him and to his children. \n\n\n\n60 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nwho should be blessed above all the families of the earth. \nHow tlmnkful was Jacob when the Lord promised to be \nwith him, to go with him, and never to leave him until \nthe end was accomplished. When Jacob awoke, he felt \nvery happy. He said, " Surely the Lord is in this place, \nand I kiie^v it not. How dreadful is this place ! it is none \nother than the house of God ; this is the gate of heaven." \nAnd Jacob set up a stone tfiere as an altar, and poured \noil upon it, and called the name of the place Bethel^ which \nsimiiies " the house of God :" and Jacob vowed there to \nbe his servant, and that he would love him, and give a \ntithe, or a tenth part of his 230ssessions, to the Lord \xe2\x80\x94 \nwhich meant, that if he had ten lambs he would offer one \nof them as a sacrifice. Should not this be a lesson to us, \nto give cheerfully to our God, and to his poor, a portion \nof all that we possess I The more we have, the more we \nshould give : and we know that Avhile we trust in the God \nof Jacob^ nothing will really do us evil; even if God \nshould give us trials, as he did to Jacob, he will go with \nus, and give us blessings in the end, and bring us in peace \neven unto the gate of heaven. \n\n\n\n20 \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM. ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\nGl \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V \n\n\n\n\nJACOB IN THE HOUSE OF LABAN. \n\nACOB S uncle, Laban, received liim very kindly. \nLaT)an liad only two daughters, and Jacob \nsoon learned to love his cousin Rachel very \ndearly, and he wished to marry her ; so he \nagreed to serve Laban seven years for Ra- \nchel, his younger daughter. And now see the \n])unishment of Jacob : he had himself deceived \nhis old, blind father, and now he is himself \nto be deceived. Leah, who was the eldest daughter of \nLaban, also loved her cousin Jacob \xe2\x80\x94 she was not handsome, \nlike her sister. So when the seven years were at an end, \nJacob asked Laban to give him his beloved Rachel for a \nwife. Laban pretended to comply, and he made a great \nfeast to keep the wedding. But the bride was veiled, and \nbrought to her husband\'s tent in the dark, and, lo ! when \nJacob had lifted the thick veil off his wife\'s face, behold \nit was Leah to whom he had been married, and not his dar- \nling Rachel : and when Jacob reproached Laban for his \ndeceitful conduct, Laban replied, that it was not the cus- \ntom of that country to let the younger daughter be married \nbefore the elder, and that, if he wished to marry Rachel, \nhe must serve for her seven other years : and Jacob served \nyet seven years before he could make Rachel his w4fe. \n\n21 \n\n\n\nG2 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJACOB EMBRACING HIS COUSIN RACHEL. \n\n\n\nIt was several years before Rachel had any children, \nbnt, in answer to her prayers, God gave her a son, named \nJoseph. Not long after the birth of this child, Jacob de- \nsired to leave Laban, and to go away wath his ilocks and \nherds, and his wives and children, and settle somewhere \nby himself But Laban persuaded him to stay with him, \nbecause he found out that God had made all things to \nprosper of which Jacob had the charge; and he agreed \nto give him certain of the sheep, and of the goats, as wages. \n\n\n\n22 \n\n\n\nil \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n63 \n\n\n\nSeeing tliat the flock of his son-in-hiw was stronger and \nbetter than liis own, Laban became more and more jealous \nand selflshj and his sons also murmured against their cousin. \nSo Jacob prayed to God, as we sliouhl all do at all times, \nand more particularly in any time of trouble or perplex- \nity, and God will direct our ways, as he did unto Jacob. \n" Return," said the Lord, " unto the land of thy kindred, \nand I will be Avitli thee." So, twenty years after he had \nfled from the face of his angry brother, lonely and poor, he \ngathered together his wives, and their children, and their \nmaids, and his cattle, and all his possessions; and he \nmounted his wives upon camels, and took them all away \nunknoAvn to Laban. But, three days after, when Laban \ndiscovered that Jacob and all his family had departed, he \nhastened to go after them. But, on the seventh night, just \nas he Imd come in sight of the tents where the family of \nJacob Avere abiding, the Lord appeared unto Lal)an in a \ndream, and said, " Take lieed that thou speak unto Jacob \nneither good nor bad !" \n\nLaban was afraid to use any violence tow^ards him, \nwhom the Lord guarded. So he sj^ake kindly, and made \na covenant with his son-in-law, to be kind to one anotlier \nin future ; and then Lal)an kissed his daughters and their \nchildren, and blessed them, and returned to his own place. \nAnd the angels of God were sent to encourage Jacob to \nproceed on his way. \n\nThen Jacob sent a messenger to tell his brother that \n\n23 \n\n\n\n64 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nhe was coming back, and that he had plenty of oxen and \nasses, ilocks, men-servants, and women-servants, and beg- \nging him to be friends with him. He wished Esan to un- \nderstand that he had wealth enough of his OAvn, without \ngoing to be a burden or expense to his brother. When \nthe servants returned, however, they told Jacob that Esau \nwas coming out to meet him, and four hundred men with \nhim. Jacob\'s heart trembled, fearing Esau would kill \nhim, as he had threatened. We do not read in the Bible \nthat Esau had any unkind intentions towards Jacob; but \nhis own conscience made him afraid. He could not forget \nthat he had deceived and wronged his brother, and that \nhe deserved his anger. But he did the wisest thing it was \npossible to do \xe2\x80\x94 he prayed to God to hear him and to help \nhim. It is conscience that makes us cowards. And, like \nJacob, when we are afraid, we should go to God, who \nalone can protect and help us. God can do good to all \nwho trust in him. And, in answer to Jacob\'s prayer, God \nfilled the heart of Esau with brotherly love and affection. \nWhen he saw Jacob bowing down before him, which he \ndid seven times, Esau ran to meet him and embraced, and \nfell on his neck and kissed him; and the two brothers \nwept together for joy. And after they had talked together, \nand Esau had seen the wives, and children, and possessions \nof his brother, they blessed each other and parted. Esau \nreturned to Mount Seir, where he dwelt, and Jacob went \nto Succoth. During the Avhole night before Jacob met his \n\n21 \n\n\n\nSTORIES OP ABIfAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n65 \n\n\n\n\nJACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL. \n\n\n\nbrother Esau, lie had spent it in prayer to God. And the \nLord sent an angel to wrestle with Jacob, and in the \nmorning, before he would let the angel go, he prevailed \nupon him to bless him. And as a token that his prayers \nliad prevailed, the Lord changed the name of Jacob to \nIsi\'ael, and from that time the descendants of Jacob are \ncalled Israelites. \n\n\n\n66 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\nJacob\'s last years and death. \n\nACOB was very happy for a little time after \nlie had made friends with Esau ; but soon \nhis family began to follow the example of \nthe people in the land where they were \ndwelling, and they worshipped idols, and \nthis grieved Jacob, who, at length, by God\'s \ndirection, brought them to Bethel, the place \nwhere he had seen the ladder in his dream, and there he \nbuilt an altar, and obliged his sons to put away their \nidols ; and because they did not obey, he took away their \nidols and hid them under a tree. And soon after this, \nDeborah, the kind nurse of Rachel, died, and Rachel lived \nbut a little while after her. How grieved was Jacob to \nlose his favorite wife ! and what was more sad, she left \nbehind her, besides Joseph, another dear little helpless \nbaby, whom his father called Benjamin. But although the \npoor mother was buried, and a pillar stood upon her grave, \nGod took care of the little baby, and made his father love \nhim very dearly. Jacob travelled onwards till he came to \nhis father\'s house, but there was no kind mother to wel- \ncome him. Perhaps the sorrow she felt at being parted \nfrom her darling son Jacob had shortened her days ; and \nglad as he was to see his father\'s face once more, Jacob \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n\nJACOB AND ESAU RECONCILED. \n\nmust have felt deeply grieved that his mother no longer \nlived to welcome him, and to hear that his brother had \nforgiven him. And when Isaac died, at the age of one \nliundred and eighty years, blessing and forgiving his peni- \ntent son, the two })rothers buried their father, and wept \ntogether for his loss, })ecause death is always sad. We do \nnot like to feel that we shall never see the faces of those \n\n27 \n\n\n\n68 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nwe love any more upon earth, even though we hope, for \nChrist\'s sake, that we may meet them again in heaven. \n\nEsau again left Jacob, and he and his family, which \nconsisted of twelve sons and one daughter, whose name \nw^as Dinah, settled down in the place where Isaac had \nlived ; and Jacob\'s sons took care of the flocks and herds \nof their father. \n\nShall I tell you the names of his twelve sons ? They \nwere Eeuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, \nAsher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and little Benjamin. \nAnd you may believe that Jacob loved these two sons \nmore than he did the others, because they were the children \nof his long-loved, and now buried, Rachel. The favor and \nkindness that he showed to these children made the other \nten sons very jealous, more particularly of Joseph, of whom \ni shall have a great deal to tell you another time. For \nthe punishment of the fraud and deceit of his early life \ncame again upon Jacob when he was old and feeble. The \njustice of God thought fit that he who as a son had de- \nceived his father, should be deceived in turn by his own \nsons; and Jacob\'s gray hairs were nearly brought with \nsorrow to the grave by the wickedness and cruelty of \nhis children. But God is merciful ; He will not always \nchide, neither will He keep His anger for ever. He spared \nJacob\'s life until he had been restored to his beloved son, \nin a distant land. After many years God sent a famine in \nthe land, and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food, \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. pq \n\nand there, to their great surpiise, they found the poor \nbrother whom they had sohl, raised by God to be the \ngovernor of Egypt. It is a grand story, but a very long \none, so that I can now only tell you that Joseph forgave \nthe unkindness of his brothers, and comforted them ; and \nsent for his father and brothers to come and live near him, \nand gave them a nice place to live in, and a great many \ngood things. What pleasure it was for the poor, old man, \nAvho had gone through so many troubles and sorrows, to \nmeet his long-lost son ! How they fell on each other\'s \nnecks, and wept, and thanked God for His many mercies ! \nJacob Avas then introduced to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, \nAvho spoke kindly to him, and asked him, " How old art \nthou?" and Jacob said, "The days of the years of my \npilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years : few and evil \nhave the days of the years of my life been, and have not \nattained unto the days of the years of the life of my \nfathers:" and Jacob gave unto Pharaoh an old man\'s \nblessing. And he lived for seventeen years in the land of \nGoshen, and he saw and blessed the children of Joseph, \nand was very happy. But when he fell sick, he sent for \nJoseph and his sons, and he sat up in bed, and told them \nall that would happen to them hereafter, and he blessed \nhis own sons, and the sons of Joseph. He told Judah \nthat some of his sons should T>e kings, and that the Saviour \nwould spring from his line ; he also told them that God \nwould keep His promises, and give them the land of \n\n\n\n29 \n\n\n\n70 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJACOB BEFORE PHARAOFI. \n\n\n\nCanaan for a possession : and he made them promise to \ncarry his bones, and to bury them, with the bones of \nAbraham and Isaac, in the cave of Machpelah. \n\nWhen Jacob had told his wishes to his sons, he lay \ndown in his bed and died, and his soul went to live for \never with God in heaven. Joseph and his brethren mourn- \ned bitterly for the death of their father for many days, \nand then they carried the dead body of Jacob down into \nCanaan, and buried it with the bones of their fathers \xe2\x80\x94 \nAbraham and Isaac \xe2\x80\x94 in the cave of Machpelah. \n\n\n\n30 \n\n\n\nSTORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. \n\n\n\n71 \n\n\n\nHis troubles were all over now. Like most of GotVs \npeople, lie liad many sorrows, but a great many of these \nsorrows were occasioned l)y liis own sin. Yet God, who \nwas able to protect Jacob, could also pardon him, and \nmake him happy after death. " Blessed are the dead which \ndie in the Lord." \n\n\n\nCHAPTER YII \n\n\n\n\nTHE MISFORTUNES OF THE ISRAELITES. \n\nFTER the Israelites were fairly established \nin the land of Goshen, they began to look \nupon it as their proper home, which had \nbeen given to them by the permission of \nPharaoh, at the request of that wise and \ngood man, Joseph. But as years rolled on, \nso faded away from the minds of the \nEgyptians the benefits that faithful ruler \nhad heaped on them. Joseph was dead, and his children; \nand Pharaoh was dead, and all the people who could re- \nmember anything about Joseph. And now a wicked king, \nalso named Pharaoh, reigned over the country of Egypt, \nwhere dwelt, in vast numT)ers, the descendants of Joseph \nand his brethren, whose story I am now going to tell you. \nSo greatly had they increased and multiplied, that the \n\n\n\n72 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nEgyptians began to feel afraid of them. They feared lest \nthese Hebrews should rise up and take possession of their \ncountry, and drive the Egyptians out, or join their enemies \nif there should be a war. So they tried to set the mind \nof their cruel king against the Israelites, and he treated \nthem most unkindly, setting task-masters over them, oblig- \ning them to work in the fields, and to make bricks to build \ntwo cities, Eaamses and Pithom. And the more God \nprospered the Israelites, the more cruelly they were op- \npressed by their task-masters, the Egyptians. You may \nremember that God promised to Abraham that his children \nshould be as the sand for multitude, or as stars in the sky \n\xe2\x80\x94 so numerous that they could not be counted. So, in \nsjiite of their hard bondage, the Israelites increased, and \nwaxed very mighty. Then the cruel king Pharaoh, alarm- \ned at their number, commanded that every male child born \nin Egypt should be drowmed in the river ?^ile, but that \nthe female children should be saved ; for he was afraid of \nthe men, but not of the women. You will be glad to \nhear that certain nurses, whom Pharaoh had ordered to \ndrown the helpless babes, would not obey the cruel com- \nmand ; and God prospered them for their good conduct. \nAnd, remembering His promise to bring the Israelites out \nof the land of bondage to the land which He had promised \nto their forefathers, God^ in His own good time, sent them \na leader and a deliverer. \n\n\n\n32 \n\n\n\nalf p0urs hjit| t|e |Jil)le/^ \n\n\n\nJOSP]PH AND HIS BRETHREN, \n\n\n\n\nC II A V T K R I \n\n\n\nJOSEPHS DREAMS, \n\n\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2^^1 HE Bil)le contains many beautiful histo- \nI V\'^ I\'ies ; and the one I am about to tell you \nis among the most touching of all. It is \na stoiy about repentance, and kind feel- \ning, and forgiveness of wrong; and tens \n^^ "^^ of thousands of little children have been \nmade better and wiser by hearing the story of "Joseph \nand his brethren." God, who does nothing without a \ncause, tells us, in several places in the Bible, that the \nScriptures were written that we might learn to be wiser \nand better. It seems to me that there is a mighty and \nwonderful charm in this history of Joseph in particular, \nand I hope, my dear children, it may show you, as it has \nshown many before you, in the first place, how evil may \n\n\n\n74 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE GOOD SHEPHERD. \n\nbe overcome with good, and, in the second place, the \n\nBEAUTY OF FORGIVENESS. \n\nThe patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were shep- \nherds. The shepherds in those days were obliged to \nwatch their flocks by day and by night, for fear of their \nbeing devoured by wolves, or bears, or lions. Yoii know \nwho calls himself the Good Shepherd, that careth for his \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\nJoseph and his brethren. ^jn \n\nsheep. See bow tenderly he nurses the little lambs of his \nflock ! \n\nAmong all the sons with whom God had blessed Jacob, \nthe one most dear to him was Joseph ; for he was the son \nof that dear Kachel who had been Jacob\'s favorite wife, \nand Avho, alas ! died when her other little son, Benjamin, \nwas born. No wonder, then, tliat Jacob loved Joseph \nwith a peculiar love, and cherished him more than his \nother sons ; for Joseph must have reminded Jacob of the \nbeloved wife, Rachel, whom he had lost, and buried under \nthe tree ; and as yet Benjamin was too young to be much \nof a companion to his father, though he afterwards loved \nhim dearly. Jacob had made Joseph a coat of many col- \nors, and this kind present raised the envy of Joseph\'s l)ro- \nthers, who were already jealous of the love Jacob showed \nto Joseph, What a bad passion is envy ! Stifle it, dear \nchildren, if ever it rises in your hearts. \n\nIt happened that Josej^h dreamed a dream; and he told \nit to his bi\'ethren. He said unto them, " I dreamed, and \nbehold, we were binding sheaves in the field ; and, lo ! my \nsheaf arose and stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves \nstood round about, and made ol)eisance unto my sheaf" \nAnd his brethren said to him, "Shalt thou indeed have \ndominion over us ?" And his brethren hated him, and \ncould not speak j)eaceably unto him. Joseph only told \nwhat really appeared to him in his sleej^; but his brethren, \nfilled with envy as they were, tried to believe that he \n\n\n\n76 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJOSEPH TELLING HIS DREAMS. \n\n\n\nwished to lord it over them. Again he dreamed, and told \nthe dream unto his father and his brethren, saying, " Be- \nhokl, I dreamed that the sun and moon and the eleven \nstars made obeisance unto me." His father rebuked him, \nand said unto him, " What is this that thou hast dreamed ? \nShall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to \nbow down ourselves to the earth before thee ?" For Jacob \ncould not tell the wondrous way in which God intended to \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. ^^ \n\nlead tliis his favorite child ; and as for his sons, they were \nfurious against Joseph, and hated him yet the more. They \ngave way to their wicked thoughts, and suffei\'ed such sins \nas jealousy, and envy, and hatred to take possession of \nthem ; and, when once these terrible things grow up in our \nminds, we know not into what sin and misery they may \nlead us. By envy the brethren of Joseph were led on to \ncommit murder in their hearts. One day their brother \nJoseph was sent to them in the field, by their father Jacob : \nand Joseph went to a place called Dothan, where they \nwere feeding their flocks. And when they saw him ap- \nproach, they were filled with wicked, envious thoughts \nagainst the poor lad ; and they said one to another, " Be- \nhold, this dreamer cometh. Let us slay him, and cast him \ninto some pit, and we will say some evil beast hath de- \nvoured him ; and we shall see what will become of his \ndreams." But Eeuben, the eldest of the brethren, was \nnot cruel, like the others. He determined to save Joseph \nfrom the rest, and to bring him safely back to his father \nAvhen they were gone ; so he said, " Shed no blood, but \ncast him into the pit that is in the wilderness." \n\nAnd when Joseph was come to his brethren, they strip- \nped him of his coat of many colors, and took him and cast \nhim into a pit; but the pit was empty; there was no water \nin it. lieuben, meantime, Avent away, thinking Joseph was \nsafe; and the rest of tlie brethren sat down together to \neat. While they were thus employed, a company of Isli- \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJOSEPH SOLD TO THE ISHMAELITES. \n\n\n\nmaelltes came by on tlieir camels. They were carrying \nmerchandise to a land called Egypt, to sell it there. Seeing \nthis, Judah, another of the brethren, said, " What profit \nis it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood ? Come,^ \nlet us sell him to the Ishmaelites." And his bretliren \nagreed to this. So they drew Joseph out of the pit, and \nsold him as a slave to the Ishmaelites, for twenty pieces of \nsilver ; \xe2\x80\x94 and the Ishmaelites took him away. \n\nWhen Ivueben came back to the pit, and saw that \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN, \n\n\n\n79 \n\n\n\nJoseph was no longer there, he rent his clothes for grief; \nbut the rest of the brethren took Joseph\'s coat, and killed \na kid, and dipped the coat in the blood. And they carried \nhome the coat to their father, and said, "This have we found: \nknow now whether it be thy son\'s coat or no." And Jacob \nknew the coat, and said, " It is my son\'s coat ; an evil beast \nhath devoured him. Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." \nAnd Jacob rent his clothes, and mourned for his son \nmany days. His sons and daughters tried to comfort him ; \n\xe2\x80\x94 but he refused to be comforted, and wept long and bit- \nterly for his son. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II \n\n\n\nJOSEPH\'S CAPTIVITY \n\n\n\nEANWHILE, Joseph was traveling with \nthe Ishmaelites into the land of Egypt; \nand there he was sold to an officer named \nPotiphar, who vv^as a captain of the guard \nto Pharaoh, king of that country ; and \nby Potiphar he was placed as a servant \nin his house. And the blessing of the \n\nLord was with* Joseph; and God made whatever Joseph \n\nundertook to prosper. \n\nAnd Potiphar soon saw what a blessing had come into \n\nhis house with this serv^ant of the Lord. In time he came to \n\ntrust and to love Joseph so much that he made him over- \n\n\n\n80 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nseer, or steward, of his house, and of all. that belonged to \nhim ; and so much did he trust to Joseph\'s honesty, that \nhe did not even take account of his possessions, leaving \neverything to this faithful servant. And so Joseph grew \nto be a useful, handsome man. \n\nBut the wife of Potiphar was a wicked woman. She \ntried to tempt Joseph to sin ; and, when he refused to \nlisten to her, she was angry, as all bad people are when \nthey cannot persuade the good to join them. She told a \nwicked lie to Potiphar against Joseph ; and Potiphar was \nvery angry Avhen he heard the words of his wife. He be- \nlieved that Joseph had been unfaithful to him ; he never \ntook the trouble to find out the truth, but cast him into \nprison. Here Joseph remained for some time. But in the \ndark gloomy prison, as in the rich palace of Potiphar, \nthe Lord was with Joseph. Trust and confidence were \ninspired, even in that dreadful place, by this good man. \nGod gave Joseph grace and favor in the eyes of the keeper \nof the prison, who soon loved him, and gave him the \ncharge of the other prisoners. \n\nDear children, God is everywhere \xe2\x80\x94 in the palace or in \nthe prison, on the wild sea and in the deep mine \xe2\x80\x94 He is \npresent to watch over those who love and serve Him. He \nsees every action, and knows every thought of our hearts ; \nand, as he was present with Joseph, alike in the pit, and \nin Potiphar\'s house, and in the prison. He will be present \nwith each of you if you truly seek after Him. \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AXD HIS BRETHREN. \n\n\n\n81 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\n\n\nTHE DREAMS OF PHARAOH\'S SERVANTS. \n\n\n\n\nT happened that the chief butler and the \nchief baker in the house of Pharaoh, king \nof Egypt, had offended their lord \xe2\x80\x94 and he \ncaused them to be put into the same prison \nwhere Joseph was \xe2\x80\xa2 and they were placed, \nby the captain of the guard, under Joseph\'s \ncharge. While they were in prison, God \ncaused each of these men to dream a very \ndream. The subject of each man\'s dream was \nthe same ; and they both had this dream on the same \nnight. And when Joseph visited them in the morning, \nthey w^ere both very sad and anxious, because they could \nnot guess the meaning of their dreams. In those days \nGod frequently sent warnings into the minds of people, in \nthe form of dreams. When Joseph came to visit the men \nin the morning, he noticed how sad these two officers of \nPharaoh looked, and he asked them, \'\' Why look ye so \nsad to-day V They answered, \'\' Because we have dreamed \na dream, and there is no one to interpret (or explain) it." \nJoseph said to them, " Do not interpretations l)elong to \nGod \\ Tell me them, I pray you." The chief butler told \n\n\n\n^^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nhis dream to Joseph, and said, " In my dream, a vine was \nbefore me ; and the vine had three branches, and put forth \nblossoms, and the blossoms became ripe grapes. Phara- \noh\'s cup was in my hand ; and I pressed the grapes into \nthe cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh." \n\nAnd Joseph said, " This is the interpretation. The \nthree branches mean three days. In three days Pharaoh \nshall restore thee to thy place, and thou shalt deliver \nPharaoh\'s cup into his hand as thou didst when thou wast \nbutler." And Joseph begged the butler to remember \nhim when he was restored to his place, and to tell Pharaoh \nhow Joseph had been stolen away out of the land of the \nHebrews, and had done nothing for which they should \nput him into a dungeon. \n\nThen the cliief baker said, "I dreamed I had three \nbaskets on my head, and in the upper basket were bake- \nmeats for Pharaoh ; and the birds ate the bakemeats out \nof the basket." \n\nJoseph said, "The three baskets mean three days. In \nthree days Pharaoh will cause thee to be hanged on a tree; \nand then the birds shall eat thy flesh." \n\nAnd the words of Joseph came to pass exactly as he \nhad foretold. The butler was restored to his place, and \nthe baker was hanged. But the ungrateful butler forgot \nthe request of Joseph, who, like himself, had been a cap- \ntive, separated from his friends ; and made no mention to \nPharaoh of the prisoner wlio had interpreted his dream, \n\n10 \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETIIUEN. \n\n\n\n83 \n\n\n\ni H\\. \n\n\n\n\nJOSEPH WITH Pharaoh\'s chief butler and chief baker. \n\nand who was kept wrongfully in the dungeon. But, though \nthe butler forgot Joseph, God did not. \n\nAfter two full years the Lord caused Pharaoh to dream \nthat he saw seven fat kine feeding in a meadow. And, be- \nhold, seven other kine, lean and starved, came up out of \nthe river and devoured the seven well-favored kine. After \nthis Pharaoh awoke, but he fell asleep again ; and then he \nbeheld, in a dream, seven very fine ears of corn growing \n\n\n\noi HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n84 \n\nupon one stalk ; when, lo ! seven thin, shrivelled^ empty \nears sprang up beside them ; and the withered ears of corn \ndevoured the seven full eai\'s that had come up first. Now, \nthese two dreams troubled the mind of the king. No one \nwas found who could tell Pharaoh the meaning of his \ndreams. But the dreams of Phaiaoh brought Joseph to \nthe memory of the chief butler ; and he told Pharaoh what \nhad happened to him in the prison, and confessed his in- \ngratitude towards Joseph. Pharaoh sent at once for the \nyoung man out of the prison ; and, when he had dressed \nhimself neatly, Joseph stood before Pharaoh, and said, \n" God showeth Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven \ngood kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are \nseven years : the dream is one. And the seven thin and \nill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years ; \nand the seven empty ears shall be seven years of famine. \nThere shall come seven years of great 2:)lenty throughout \nall the land of Egypt, and after them shall arise seven \nyears of dearth and famine ; and the famine shall be so \ngrievous, that the years of plenty shall be forgotten." Jo- \nseph then advised Pharaoh to choose some wise man to \nrule over the land, and to appoint officers under him to lay \nby in store-houses a fifth part of the great produce of these \nseven years of plenty, that his people might not perish of \nhunger during the seven years of want. And when Pha- \nraoh listened to the words of this wise young man, in whom \nthe Spirit of God was, he knew that it would not be easy \n\n12 \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. r.p- \n\nto find another like him. So, turning to Joseph, he said, \n"Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, thou shalt \nbe over my house, and according to thy word shall my \npeople be ruled. See^ I have set thee over all the land of \nEgypt." And Pharaoh took a ring from his finger and put \nit upon Joseph\'s hand ; and he caused Joseph to be arrayed \nin beautiful garments, and put a gold chain round his neck, \nand gave him one of his best chariots to ride in. And the \npeo])le were ordered to bow down l>efore Joseph, who was \nmade ruler over all the land of Egypt ; and Joseph made \nlaws for the peoi:)le. He was about thirty years of age \nwhen he married Asenath, the daughter of the priest of \nOn. And (lod blessed Joseph in all that lie did, and made \nhim the father of two sons, whom Joseph named Manasseh \nand Ephraim (which names mean forgetting and fruitful) ; \nfor Joseph said, " The Lord hath made me forget all my \ntoil, and hath made me fruifful in the land of my capti- \nvity." And Joseph caused the people to fill all the barns \nand store-houses; and he stored up corn and provisions as \nthe sand of the sea. \n\n\n\n86 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nx^iK^ \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER lY. \n\nJOSEPH A RULER \n\n\n\nHE seven years of plenty passed, and then \nthe famine began to afflict the people of \nthe land. God\'s word is sure to be ful- \nfilled, whether we listen to it, or whether \nwe turn away from it and disbelieve. \nWhatever God says will surely happen. \n\\,r^ y- ]v^Q doubt, the Egyptians were very thank- \nful that Pharaoh had listened to the word of Joseph when \nhe interpreted the king\'s dream ; and Pharaoh must have \nbeen thankful that God had raised up this wise and pious \nman to help them when they were in need. For now the \nyears of famine began to come, as Joseph had said ; dearth \nand scarcity were in all lands, and the people cried unto \nPharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said, " Go unto Joseph ; \nand what he saith to you, do." And Joseph opened the \nstore-houses, and sold corn to the Egyptians ; and many \nother countries sent to Joseph in Egypt to buy corn. \n\nAll this time Jacob had been grieving for his dear son, \nwhom he supposed to be dead. He little thought that God \nhad spared Joseph to comfort him and all his family in \nhis old age. And now, when the famine came into the land \nwhere Jacob dwelt, there had been no careful governor to \nlay up corn for the time of scarcity, and Jacob\'s sons look- \ned at one another in doubt what to do. Then Jacob said \n\n\n\n! i \n\nII \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. r.>j \n\nto his sons, "Go ye clown into Egypt, and buy corn for us, \nthat we may live, and not die ;" for Jacob had heard that \nthere was plenty of corn in Egypt. \n\nSo Jacob\'s ten sons went down into Egypt to buy corn. \nYou remember I told you Jacob had another son, the \nyoungest child of his dear wife Kachel. Benjamin was \nonly a baby when his mother died ; and, after the loss of \nJoseph, Jacob could not bear his youngest son to leave him ; \nand he would not send him on the long journey, for he \nsaid, "Perhaps some mischief might befall him on the way." \n\nAnd so, after many }\'ears, the brethren who had plot- \nted to sla}\' Joseph stood before him again. He was now \na great and powerful man, and a whole nation looked up \nto him with respect and love, as their deliverer from want \nand all the horrors of f\\imine. Truly, God had been with \nhim. He knew his }>rothers when he saw them bowing \ndown before him Avith their faces to the earth. But they \ndid not recognise their poor, ill-used brother in the fine \nhandsome man who was ruler over the land of Egy])t, and \nwho spoke a different language from theirs. Although \nJoseph remembered his brothers immediately, he behaved \nlike a stranger, and spoke harshly to them ; and he ques- \ntioned them whence they came, and treated them as spies. \nThey solemnly declared the truth to Joseph, assuring him \nthat they were all the sons of one man, driven by necessity \nto take the long journey into Egypt to purchase food. \nJoseph felt quite glad when they spoke of their younger \n\n\n\n88 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nbrother, whom they had left at home with their father ; \nbut he would not show his joy. He told them that he \ncould not believe their story unless their younger brother \nappeared to prove the truth of their words ; and he even \ncaused them to be guarded for three days. And on the \nthird day he went to them, and said, " This do, and live ; \nfor I fear God : if ye be true men, let one of your breth- \nren be bound in the house of your prison (meaning. Let \nhim remain here as a surety or hostage in my hands) : go \nye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: but bring \nyour youngest brother unto me ; so shall your words be \nverified, and ye shall not die." Now Joseph spoke in the \nEgyptian language, and his words were explained to the \nbrethren by an interpreter. And they, not knowing he \ncould understand their words, said one to another, " This \nis the punishment of our wickedness, for we were verily \nguilty concerning our brother Joseph. We saw the anguish \nof his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear ; \ntherefore is this distress come upon us." And Reuben, the \neldest brother, who had interfered to save the life of Jo- \nseph when the others would have put him to death, re- \nproached them. \'\'Spake I not unto you," said he, "Do not \nsin against the child ; and ye would not hear ? and, no \ndoubt, for this cause his blood is required at our hands." \nAnd this is the case with many who do wrong. They \nforget their evil doings for a time ; but when sickness, \nand trouble, and sorrow come down upon them, they re- \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN- \n\n\n\n89 \n\n\n\nmember the sins of which they have been guilty, and find, \nin their distress, the just punishment for the wrong they \nhave done. So it was v\\ath Joseph\'s brethren. They \nmourned aloud for what they had done, and for the evil \nthat could never be undone. They could never make up \nto their poor father for all the years of grief he had suffer- \ned in the loss of Joseph, and they dreaded going to ask \nhim to allow Benjamin to leave his side. Joseph was \nobliged to turn away to hide the tears that fell from his eyes, \nwhen he heard his brother\'s words. Simeon had been the \nmost cruel among his brethren ; therefore Joseph returned \nand communed with them, and he took Simeon and bound \nhim before their eyes. And he commanded their sacks to \nbe filled with corn, and the money they had brought in \npayment to be restored to the sacks also; and he let them go. \nGreatly were they all astonished when they discovered \ntheir money in their sacks. Terrified and anxious, they \nhastened back to their father, and told him all that had \nbefallen them. Jacob also felt afraid when he saw the \nbundles of money which they had brought back ; and he \ntrembled at the idea of parting with Benjamin, for he \nsaid, " Me have ye bereaved of my children : Joseph is \nnot, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away. \nMy son shall not go down with you ; for his brother is \ndead, and he is left alone : if mischief befall him by the \nway in which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray \nhairs with sorrow to the grave." \n\n17 \n\n\n\n90 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V \n\n\n\nJOSEPHS REVENGE. \n\n\n\nUT the famine was still heavy in the land ; \nand in time they had eaten all the corn they \nhad brought from Egypt. At last Jacob \ndesired them to go down and buy food again \nin Egypt, for they knew not where else it \ncould be obtained. Then, with great diffi- \nculty, Judah prevailed upon his father to intrust Benjamin \nto his care; and he let them go with a prayer and a \nblessing, and desired them to carry a present to the ruler \nof Egypt \xe2\x80\x94 "a little balm, honey, spices, myrrh, almonds, \nand nuts.-\' And he told them to carry double money \nin their hands, including that which had been returned to \nthe mouth of their sacks. " Peradventure," he said, " it \nwas an oversight." And they went, and again bowed \nthemselves before Joseph, whose heart, no doubt, leaped \nfor joy when he beheld his brother Benjamin with them. \nHe bade the ruler of his house prepare a dinner for them \nall at noon. \n\nBut when the men were brought into Joseph\'s house, \nthey were afraid, because of the money they had found in \ntheir sacks; and they communed with the steward, and \nassured him that they had only come to buy food, and \nthat they had been alarmed at finding their money \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. \n\n\n\n91 \n\n\n\n\nJOSEPH EMBRACING BENJAMIN. \n\n\n\nrestored to them. The steward comforted them, and \nbrought out Simeon unto them. Joseph inquired kindly, \nsaying, "Is your father well \xe2\x80\x94 the old man of whom ye \nspake ^" He could hardly conceal his joy when they told \nhim Jacob was in good health ; and again they bowed \ndown before Jose2:>h, who said to Benjamin, God be gra- \ncious unto thee, my son." \n\nBut he could not keep from weeping at the sight \n\n\n\nqo HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nof his dear brother\'s face : so he went into his chamber \nand wept for joy. And afterwards he made the men sit \ndown to table-, while he sat at another table, because the \nEgyptians were not allowed by their law to eat with the \nHebrews ; and he sent them messes from his table, giving \nBenjamin five times as much as he gave the othei-s ; and \nthey ate, and drank, and were merry with him. But \nJoseph wished to make further trial of the good and evil \nthat was in the hearts of his brethren ; so he would not \nmake himself known to them, but desired the steward of \nhis house to fill the men\'s sacks with food, and to put every \nman\'s money in his sack\'s mouth, as he had done before. \nBut now he wanted an excuse to take Benjamin away from \nthem, wherefore he ordered the silver cup from which he \nwas accustomed to drink to be put into Benjamin\'s sack. \nSo this handsome cup, which was very costly and valuable, \nwas put, by Joseph\'s orders, into the sack of the youngest \nbrother, and the men were dismissed. But, before they \nhad gone very far on their journey, the sons of Jacob were \nquite surprised and frightened, when the steward of the \nruler overtook them, and said unto them, " Wherefore \nhave ye rewarded evil for good ? Is not the cup the one \nfrom which my lord is accustomed to drink ? Why did ye \nthis thing ?" And they replied, " Wherefore saith my lord \nthese words ? God forbid that thy servants should do this \nthing. Behold, the money that we found in our sack\'s \nmouths we brought again unto thee out of the land of \n\n20 \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. ^^ \n\nCanaan. How, then, should we steal out of thy lord\'s house \nsilver and gold ? With whomsoever it is found, let him \ndie ; and we, also, will be my lord\'s bondmen.\'\' And \nthey immediately began to open their sacks, and to search ; \nand the cup was found in Benjamin\'s sack. \n\nIn sorrow and dismay they rent their clothes, and, \nlaying the sacks upon the backs of their asses, they again \nreturned to the city, and hastened to throw themselves at \nthe feet of Joseph. He feigned to be veiy angry, and said, \n" What deed is this that ye have done?" And Judah said, \n*\' What can we say unto my lord ; or how shall we clear \nourselves? God is now punishing us for our former sins. \nBehold, we are my lord\'s servants ; both we and he also \nwith whom the cup is found." But Joseph answered, that \nhe would only take him for his servant in whose sack the 1 \ncup had been found, and the rest might return in peace to \ntheir father. But Judah begged the ruler to allow him to \nspeak, and said, "We have a father, an old man, and a \nchild of his old age, a little one ; and his. brother is dead, \nand he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth \nhim. Therefore," continued Judah, " we cannot go down \nif our youngest brother be not with us ; and, if mischief \nbefall the lad, his father will die, and thy servants shall \nbring down the gray hairs of our father with sorrow to the \ngrave ; for (I) thy servant became surety for the lad unto \nmy father. Now, therefore, 1 pray thee, let thy servant \nabide, instead of the lad, a bondman to my lord ; and let \n\n\n\n94 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nthe lad go with his brethren. For how shall I go up to \nray father and the lad be not with me ? Lest perad venture \nI see the evil that shall come upon my father." Was this \nnot kind and generous, as well as just, on the part of \nJudah ? He offered to be Joseph\'s slave, and to live away \nfrom his wife and children, and his father, and his brethren, \nthat Benjamin might go back and comfort poor old Jacob. \nJoseph was touched to the heart ; he could no longer \nrefrain from making himself known to his brethren, and \nembracing them after so many years\' absence. So he sent \naway all his servants and officers, and allowed no one else \nto be present while he made himself known, for he could \nnot refrain from weeping ; indeed, he sobbed aloud, so that \nthe Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard him. Then \nhe said to the wondering sons of Jacob, " I am Joseph ! \nDoth my father yet live?" His brethren were very much \nfrightened and troubled at his presence ; but he said unto \nthem kindly, " Come near to me, I pray you. I am Joseph \nyour brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. But be not \ngrieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; \nfor God did send me before you to save your lives by a \ngreat deliverance." And he fell upon his brother Ben- \njamin\'s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. \nAnd he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them, \nsaying, " Hasten, and go tell my father that God hath \nmade me lord of all Egypt, and ye shall tell him of all the \nglory which ye have seen ; and ye shall bring him, and \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 95 \n\nyour wives and children, and children\'s children, and come \ndown, with your flocks and herds; and ye shall dwell in \nthe land of Goshen, and I will nourish you all there ; only \nmake haste and bring my father down hither." And again \nJoseph threw his arms round his bi\'other Benjamin\'s neck \nand wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck ; and he kiss- \ned all his brethren, and they wept aloud for joy ; and then \nthey talked long and happily together. The Egyptians \nheard what had happened, and w^ent to tell Pharaoh, say \ning, "Joseph\'s brethren are come." And it pleased Pha- \nraoh well. lie not only rejoiced with Joseph in his joy, \nbut he desired Joseph to say to his brethi\'en that they \nshould lade their beasts and set off at once, and that they \nshould take with them wagons, to bring up their father, \nand their wives, and all their children, and to take no care \nfor the property they should leave behind them, for that \nall the good of the land of Egypt should be theirs. And \nthey who had come up to the land of Egypt in fear and \nsorrow, now returned laden with presents, wdth changes \nof raiment, and silver, and food. And Joseph sent to \nhis father Jacob ten asses laden with the good things of \nEgypt, and ten she asses, laden with corn, and bread, and \nmeat for his father. \n\nThe sons of Jacob arrived safely at their journeys end; \nand they said to their father, "Joseph is yet alive, and he \nis governor over all the land of Egypt." Then Jacob\'s \nheart fainted within him, for he could hardly believe the \n\n\n\n96 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THK BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\n! I \n\n\n\nDAVID, THE ROYAL PSALMIST \n\n\n\ngood news. And they told him all the words of Joseph \nthat he had said unto them ; and, when he saw the wagons \nwhich Joseph had sent to carry him down into Egypt^ \nJacob\'s spirit revived again, and he said, "It is enough \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. ^^ \n\nJoseph, my son, is yet alive. I will go and see liira before \nI die." \n\nLong after Jacob slept peacefully in his grave, the \nroyal psalmist. King David, sang to his harp of the bounty \nand mercy of God to his servant Isi\'ael and his children ; \nand very grand and beautiful these psalms are. As for \nJacob, he hasted to go down into that distant land, and \nhe took with him his children and grand-children \xe2\x80\x94 in all, \nseventy persons. And on the way, at Beersheba, God \nspoke to Jacob in the night, and pi\'omised to be with him \nin Egypt, and to bring his descendants out from thence, \nand to make them a great nation. And when Jacob came \nnear to Goshen, he sent Judah forward, to tell Joseph of \nhis arrival. \n\nAs soon as Joseph heard the good news, he had his \nchariot brought out, and went to meet his father ; and he \nfell upon his neck, and wept there for a good while. Oh! \nthe joy of meeting again, after so many long years ! The \nfather had grown old and gray ; the youthful Joseph, a \nman of middle age ; but they had not forgotten the love \nof former years. The old man could only exclaim, *\' Now \nlet me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art \nstill alive." \n\n\n\n2o \n\n\n\n98 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\n\n\nTHE END OF JOSEPH S CAREER \n\n\n\nOSEPH afterwards presented five of his breth- \nren to Pharaoh, and instructed them what to \nanswer when they should be questioned ; for \nthe Egyptians looked upon shepherds with \ncontempt, and the family of Jacob had al- \nways followed the occupation of shepherds, \nand he knew that they could not associate with the people \nof Egypt on that account. So Pharaoh gave them the \nland of Goshen to dwell in ; and when Joseph brought \nhis father before him, Pharaoh asked him, " How old art \nthou ?" And Jacob answered, " The days of the years of \nmy pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years : few and \nevil have the days of the years of my life been." By which \nJacob meant that he had seen many troubles and sorrows \nin his life ; but yet God had shown him many mercies, \neven when he thought all things were against him. God \nwas bringing good to pass in His own way; and if w^e \nreally love God, and are His servants, we shall find that \nour trials will soon pass away, and that we shall, in the \nend, have every needful good. \n\nNow, while Jacob and his sons were living in Goshen, \nand enjoying all they required, there were many poor peo- \nple dying of hunger in Canaan, and in all the country \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. \n\n\n\n99 \n\n\n\n\nJOSEPH MEETING HIS FRIENDS \n\n\n\naround ; for the famine was very dreadful, and there was \nno food for the people, or their sheep, and oxen, and horses. \nAnd when these poor people had no more money left to \nbuy food for their cattle, Joseph told them to bring theii- \ncattle to him, and he would give them bread in exchange \nfor their horses, or asses, or whatever they might have. And \nin the next year these poor hungry people had no more \n\n\n\n100 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nflocks and herds to give, so Joseph took their lands in ex- \nchange for bread ; and thus all the land became Pharaoh\'s. \nThe next year it came to pass that, when the people had \nno more land to give \xe2\x80\x94 for Joseph had bought all the lands \nof the Egyptians for Pharaoh \xe2\x80\x94 Joseph supplied them with \nfood for themselves and their families, and gave them seed \nto sow in the fields for Pharaoh, on condition that they \nbecame servants, or bondmen, to Pharaoh. "And they \nsaid, Thou hast saved our lives : let us find grace in the \nsight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh\'s servants." And \nJacob lived in Egypt, in the land of Goshen, for seven- \nteen years. And just before he died, Jacob made his son \nJoseph promise to him that he w^ould carry him out of \nEgypt, and bury him in the burying-place of his fathers. \nAnd Joseph promised to do so, as Jacob wished. \n\nSoon after this Joseph heard that his father was very \nill, and he went immediately, with his two sons, Ephraim \nand Manasseh, to visit him. And the eyes of Jacob w^ere \nvery dim, so that he could not distinguish them. But wdien \nhe heard Joseph was come, he sat up in the bed and call- \ned all his sons round him, and told them many wonderful \nthings which had happened to him, and of the mercies God \nhad shown him. And he blessed the children of Joseph, \nand kissed them, saying to Joseph, "I had not thought \nto see thy face : and, lo ! God hath showed me also thy \nchildren." Then Joseph bowled down before the old man \nof one hundred and forty-seven years, and he placed his \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS niiETHIiEN. \n\n\n\n101 \n\n\n\n\nJacob blessing the sons of Joseph. \n\n\n\nhands upon the heads of Joseph\'s sons, and blessed them ; \nand he prayed to God to bless them, and make them good \\ \nand prosperous ; and he foretold that the younger son I \nEphraim should be more fruitful and wealthy than the \nelder son. He afterwards blessed Joseph, and prayed the \n\n\n\n102 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nmighty God of his fathers to help and to bless Joseph, \nsaying, \'^ By the Almighty, who shall bless thee with \nblessings of heaven above: they shall be upon the head \nof Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was \nseparate from his brethren." And, having taken leave of \nall his family, Jacob died. Joseph wept over his father, \nand kissed him, and ordered his dead body to be embalm- \ned by the physicians, after the custom of the Egyptians. \nHe mourned for his father seventy days; and he sought \nthe permission of Pharaoh to go and carry his father\'s dead \nbody up into the land of Canaan, whither he went and a \ngreat company with him. And there he buried Jacob, in \nthe cave of Machpelah. And so the dust of the aged pa- \ntriarch rested at last in peace, with the ashes of Abraham \nand Sarah, of Isaac and Rebekah, and of his own faithful \nand loving wife Leah. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. \n\nJoseph\'s last years and death. \n\nFTER their return into Egypt, the brothers \nof Joseph began to be afraid that, now their \nfather was dead, Joseph might be unkind to \nthem, and punish them for their former ill \nconduct towards him. You see what cowards \nsin makes of us all. When we have done \nwhat we know to be wrong we cannot be \n\n\n\nJOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. -. ^o \n\nbappy, even if we escape punishment from man ; because \nGod has put into the hearts of all men a feeling called \nconscience, and this conscience is always troubling the wick- \ned and making them afraid. Very often, they tremble \nwhen there is nothing to make them afraid. And now, \nalthough Joseph had pardoned them and saved their lives, \nand made them presents, and been kind to them for seven- \nteen years, his brethren could not forget the evil they had \ndone to him in his youth, so they went and fell down be- \nfore him, and prayed him to forgive their ti\'espasses against \nhim, reminding him how it had been the wish of their dead \nfather Jacob that they should be forgiven. Joseph answer- \ned them with tears of love, and said, with touching humil- \nity, " Fear not : for I am in the place of God ? " He bade \nthem remember that God had turned the evil they meant \nagainst him into good for them all ; and not only them, \nbut all the land of Egypt. And he promised to take care \nof them and their little ones, and comforted them with \nkind words. \n\nHe knew \xe2\x80\x94 the gentle. God-fearing man \xe2\x80\x94 that to God \nalone belong vengeance and the repayment of injuries, anc \nthat God can take care of His own. Many hundreds of \nyears afterwards, our Lord Jesus Christ said to those who \ncame to hear Him, " If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if \nhe thirst, give him drink ; for in so doing thou shalt heap \ncoals of lire on his head." In this spirit had Joseph acted \nto his brethren. They had treated him as an enemy ; he \n\n\n\n1 r.4 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nin return fed and cherished them, and opened to them the \ngates of the land of Goshen, which he gave them for an \ninheritance ; and, with the spirit of a true servant of God, \nJoseph forgave the iniquity of his brethren, and returned \n"blessings for curses, and good for evil. Should not this be \na lesson to us all ? \n\nAfter this Joseph dwelt in Egypt many years. He saw \nhis children, his grandchildren, and their children, growing \nup around his knees ; and, having lived a good and useful \nlife, he made his children promise that, when God should \ncall them up out of Egypt, and give them the land of Ca- \nnaan, as He had promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to \nJacob, their fathers, they should also carry up his bones \nwith them. Joseph knew that God\'s promise never fails, \nand that although many years might pass away first, yet \nthat God would give the Jews the " land of promise." We \nshall read hereafter how this came to pass. And Joseph \ndied, being an hundred and ten years old ; and his body \nwas embalmed, and placed in a coffin ; and his soul was \nat peace with the God he had served so well. \n\n\n\nalf p0urs ioit| i\\t \xc2\xa7il)k. \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES, AND OF THE WANDERINGS OF \nTHE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN THE DESERT. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nMOSES\' INFANCY AND EARLY LIFE. \n\nGREAT number of years had passed away \nsince the Israelites settled in Egypt. \nA wicked king, Pharaoh, sat upon the \nthrone, and he made the Israelites work \nas bondmen or slaves, and ordered that \nall their male children should be killed. \nThen it was that God remembered His \npromise, and sent a deliverer to His \npeople. \n\nThere was a man of the tribe of Levi, named Amram ; \nand he married a woman of the same tribe, whose name \nwas Jochebed ; and God gave them a goodly child, a boy. \nYou may fancy what sorrow and distress Jochebed felt \nwhen God had made her the mother of this beautiful fair \n\n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa01 Qg HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nbabe. Lest the child should be snatched away from her, she \nmanaged, with a mother\'s love, to keep him hidden three \nmonths. Then God put a clever thought into her heart, \nand she made for Moses a little ark, or cradle, of strong \nrushes ; and she put pitch and clay on the outside to keep \nthe water from getting through. She laid her dear little \nbabe in this cradle, and carried him, with many prayers \nand tears, and him in the flags on the brink of the river \nNile. The merciful God heard her prayers, and preserved \nthe life of the child ; for when Pharaoh\'s daughter came \ndown to wash herself in the river, she saw the ark among \nthe flags, and sent her maid to fetch it. And when she \nhad opened it, she saw the child : and, behold, the babe \nwept. Then her heart was fllled with compassion ; she \nknew some poor Hebrew mother had hidden her helpless \nbabe there ; and she determined to save its life. \n\nNow, Jochebed had left her daughter near by to watch \nwhat would happen to the babe ; and the girl went for- \nward, and said to the princess, " Shall I go and call to \nthee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse \nthe child for thee V And Pharaoh\'s daughter said, \'^ Go." \nThen she went and called Jochebed, and Pharaoh\'s daugh- \nter said, " Take this child away, and nurse it for me." \nAnd the woman took the child, and nursed it. The prin- \ncess called the child MOSES ; and he throve and grew, \nand was brought up at the court of Pharaoh, as if he \nhad been the princess\'s own son. \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n107 \n\n\n\n\nMOSES DISCOVERED BY PHARAOH\'S DAUGHTER. \n\nBut althougli he was living in splendor and plenty, lie \nwas grieved at tte bondage of his own countrymen the \nHebrews, and angry when he saw the burdens the Egyp- \ntians laid upon them. \n\nOne day, when he had gone out to his brethren and \nlooked on their burdens, he saw an Egyptian smiting an \nHebrew, one of his brethren. He took the Hebrew\'s \npart, and in the fight the Egyptian was slain ; and Moses \n\n\n\nIQg HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nhid him in the sand, and thought no one had seen him. \nBut the next day, when he went out, two men of the He- \nbrews were fighting together ; and he said to him that did \nthe wrong, " Why smitest thou thy fellow ?" The man \nreplied, " Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us ? \nintendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ?" \nAnd Moses was afraid, for he saw that his deed was \nknown. Pharaoh came to hear of it, and was so angry \nthat he sought to slay Moses. So Moses fled into the \nland of Midian, where he became a shepherd, keeping the \nflocks of a priest named Jethro ; and Jethro gave Zippo- \nrah, his daughter, to Moses for a wife. \n\nHe often thought of the sorrows of his own people in \nEgypt. As for the Israelites, they were more unhappy \nthan ever. They sighed and groaned by reason of the \nbondage, and their cry came up unto God. And God re- \nmembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and \nwith Jacob, and looked graciously down upon their grief \n\nOne day, as Moses sat beside the desert keeping his \nsheep, he was surprised to see a bush not far off all spark- \nling with light, as though it were on fire ; but, although \nit appeared to be in flames, the leaves did not fall off, \nnor was the bush consumed. And the angel of the Lord \nappeared to him in the midst of the bush ; \xe2\x80\x94 and Moses \nsaid, \'\' I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, \nwhy the bush is not burnt." And the Lord called to \nMoses out of the bush, and said, \'\' Moses, Moses." And \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OP MOSES. \n\n\n\n109 \n\n\n\nHe said, "Here am I." Then God told liim not to come \nnearer, hut to draw his shoes from off his feet ; for the \nplace whereon he stood was holy ground. \n\nWhen God began to speak, Moses hid his face, for he \nwas afraid. But God spoke only words of comfort to \nMoses, and told him that He had seen the afflictions of \nHis people, and liad heard their cry for help, and that He \nwas no^v going to deliver them out of Egypt, and bring \nthem into a pleasant land, where there Avould be plenty \nof milk and honey. And God said, " Come now,\' there-\' \nfore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou niayest \nbring forth my people out of Egypt." Moses was very \nmuch afraid ^vhen he heard what God intended to do. \nHe kne^v that he had a very hesitating manner of speak- \ning, and had a difficulty in saying his Avords, and he tried \nto make this an excuse for not going. But God promised \nto be with him, and to help him. And God said, " Go \nand tell the people that I will deliver them ; and tell \nPharaoh that if he Avill not let my people go to sacrifice \nunto me, I will punish him, and send plagues upon the \nland." But Moses Avas still doubtful of his own poAvers, \nand unwillino; to 2:0. Then God bade him throw the rod \nhe held in his hand upon the ground. He obeyed, and \nthe rod became a serpent ; and Moses fled from before it. \nBut God told him to take the serpent by the tail. He \ndid so, and it 1)ecame a rod in his hand. Then, to give \nhim another proof of his power, God told Moses to put \n\n\n\nno \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nhis hand in his bosom ; and when he took it out it was \ncovered with a teriible disease called leprosy. He hade \nhim put his hand back into his bosom, \xe2\x80\x94 and when Moses \ndrew it out it was cured. \n\nEven these miracles did not convince Moses that he \nwas fit to be God\'s messenger. So God allowed Moses to \ntake his brother Aaron. When they came to the elders \nof the Israelites, and told them God\'s message, the elders \nwere glad and believed, and bowed down their heads and \nworshijDped. So Moses and Aaron went together to Pha- \nraoh, and told him that the great God had commanded \nhim to let the Israelites go, that they might serve Him. \nBut the haughty king answered that he did not know the \nLord, neither would he let the people go. And when \nMoses performed the miracle of changing the rod of \nAaron into a serpent, Pharaoh sent for his sorcerers and \nmagicians to turn their rods into serpents ; and although \nGod suffered the rods to become serpents, He caused \nAaron\'s rod to swallow up all the rods of the magicians. \n\nPharaoh was very angry. The iisual task of the \nHebrews was to make brick, and the taskmasters used \nto give them straw to put in the bricks, but now, by \nPharaoh\'s orders, the poor people were compelled to go \nout and find for themselves the straw they required, and \nyet to produce as many bricks as before. When the \npeople murmured at this cruelty, the taskmasters said, \n" Ye are idle, ye are idle : therefore ye say, Let us go and \n\n\n\n6 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\nIll \n\n\n\n\nHEBREWS AND TASKMASTERS. \n\n\n\ndo sacrifice to tlie Lord." So the poor people cried out \nthat Moses and Aaron had set Pharaoh against them, and \nmade their condition worse than before. Then Moses \nprayed to God for helj), and was told what to do. \n\nEarly the next day, when Pharaoh went out to the \nriver Nile, God told Moses to go out and meet Pharaoh, \nand to turn the Abaters of this beautiful river into blood. \nAnd no sooner did Moses stretch out his rod over the \n\n\n\n112 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nriver tlian it was turned into blood ; and not only the \nwater of the river, but every pond and stream, and even \nthe Avater that was in the vessels in the houses of the \nEgyptians became blood also, and had a horrid smell, so \nthat nobody could drink thereof, and all the fish died. \nBut even this punishment failed to make Pharaoh and his \npeople fear and obey God ; therefore He sent a second \nplague upon them. He ordered Moses to stretch out his \nhand again over the river after seven days ; and there came \nup such numbers of frogs that they covered the land, and \ncrawled over the tables and into the beds, and even into \nthe ovens of the Egyptians. But now the Egyptians \nwere glad to entreat Moses to ask his God to take the \nfrogs away. He listened to their prayers, and immediately \nall the frogs died. \n\nPharaoh still continued wicked and disobedient, \xe2\x80\x94 and \nGod sent a third plague. He ordered Moses to turn all \nthe dust in the land into lice ; and the lice covered the \npeople and the animals. The magicians of Egypt tried \nto imitate this miracle to deceive the people, but they \ncould not. Then the magicians became alarmed, and they \nsaid to Pharaoh, " This is the finger of God." But Pha- \nraoh\'s heart was hardened, and he would not hearken \nto them. Wherefore, God sent Moses to meet the king \nT)y the side of the river once more, and he bade him say \nto Pharaoh, " Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that \nthey may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\nIP, \n\n\n\ngo, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy \n2^eople ; Init upon niy people in the land of Goshen there \nshall l)e no flies." \n\nPharaoh refused to listen, and very dreadful swarms of \nstins^ino; flies came and covered the land. Nothinsr was \nto be seen for flies ; and Pharaoh, in his terror, called for \nMoses and Aaron, and told them to sacrifice to their God. \nBut they answered that they could not sacrifice to the \nLord their God in a heathen land, but they must go three \ndays\' journey into the wilderness first. Pharaoh made a \nhalf promise that he would let them go a short distance, \nif the swarms of flies were removed. So Moses entreated \nthe Lord, and He took away every fly out of the land ; \nbut, as soon as they were gone, Pharaoh hardened his \nheart, and would not suffer the Israelites to depart. \n\n\n\n\n114 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\ngod\'s judgments upon PHARACIi. \n\nHE Lord then sent Pharaoh another message, \nsaying that He would bring a dreadful dis- \nease, called a murrain, upon the cattle of \nEgypt if Pharaoh would not let the chil- \ndren of Israel go. But Pharaoh\'s heart was \nhardened. So the cattle, and the horses, and \nasses, the camels, and the sheep, and all the \nanimals that were useful to the Egyptians, \ngrew sick and died; and of the cattle be- \nlono^ins: to the Israelites there died not one. But still \nPharaoh remained unmoved. Then Moses took handfuls \nof ashes out of the furnace, and threw them up towards \nheaven, at God\'s command, and they came down as dust \nupon the people, and upon the beasts that were left, and \nbrought boils and painful sores upon them. \n\nThe magicians suffered so much pain from their boils, \nthat they were not able to stand, or to go to Pharaoh \nwhen he sent for them. But in spite of all this, he hard- \nened his heart, and would not hearken to the words of \nthe Lord spoken by Moses. The next day God sent a \ngrievous hail, which broke down the trees and all the \nherbs and plants. Though God had announced by the \nmouth of Moses what He was about to do, and had \n\n\n\n10 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n115 \n\n\n\nordered the Egyptians to take tlieir few remaining beasts \nout of the field, some of the wicked Egyptians would \nnot listen. So the hail fell upon them, and killed them. \nThere was hail, and fire mingled w^ith the hail : there had \nbetjn none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became \na nation. But God\'s people were quite safe. No hail fell \nnear their dwellings, or in the land of Groshen, where they \ndwelt. No harm came to those who trusted in Him. \n\nPharaoh still continued disobedient, in spite of the \ndreadful judgments God had sent upon him ; and he of- \nfered to let the men of Israel go, but not the women and \nchildren, the flocks and the herds ; and he drove Moses \nand Aaron forth from his presence. Then God said unto \nMoses \xe2\x80\x94 " Stretch forth thine hand over the land of Egypt \nfoi* the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt \nand eat every herb of the field that the hail hath left." \n\nLocusts are destructive insects, somewhat like grasshop- \npers in shape. They are very voracious. At last, when \nthey had destroyed all the fruit, every herb and leaf, and \nevery green thing, and the whole land was darkened with \nthese creatures, Pharaoh confessed that he had sinned \nagainst the Lord, and against Moses ; and Moses and \nAaron prayed, and God took away the locusts. But now \nthe ungrateful king again refused to let the people go. \n\nThen the Lord sent a new and a very awful plague upon \nthe land of Egypt : a thick darkness, that lasted foi\' three \ndays. There was no light from the sun or the moon \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\n11 \n\n\n\n116 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nnot the faintest ray. They saw not one another, nor did \nthey rise from where they sat for three days. But the \nIsraelites had light in their dwellings. \n\n\n\n\nDEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN. \n\nYet one more plague did God bring upon the Egyp- \ntians, and afterwards Pharaoh let them go. But this last \nplague was tenfold more terrible than any that had pre- \nceded it ; for it caused one universal cry of desolation to \ngo up from the land, and quelled even the stubborn heart \n\n12 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n117 \n\n\n\nof Pharaoh. This last plague was called the death of the \nfirst-born. Moses told his countrymen that the angel \nof the Lord would pass at midnight over all the houses, \nand that he would slay the first-born in every Egyptian \nhouse, from the first-born of Pharaoh upon the throne, to \nthe first-born of the maid-servant at the mill. God told \nMoses to instruct the Israelites how they should escape \nthe fate that should befall the Egyptians. They were to \ntake a lamb, without spot or blemish, and kill it in the \nevening ; and they were to sprinkle the blood of the lamb \nupon the lintel, and upon the two door-posts, that the \nangel might past over the door when he came forth to \nslay the Egyptians ; and afterwards they were to roast \nthe lamb whole, and to eat it. This lamb was a type \nof Christ \xe2\x80\x94 the Laml) of God \xe2\x80\x94 l)y the shedding of whose \nblood our sins are forgiven ; for he bore the punishment \nof death, that sinful men might be saved. \n\nAnd the Israelites listened to Moses, and did as he had \ntold them. They ate their lamlis, and packed up their \ngoods ready for a journey; for they had been commanded \nto get ready for departure. And lo ! from all the houses \nof the Egyptians there arose a dreadful cry of sorrow and \nmourning ; for the destroying angel had killed the first- \nborn in every house, from the eldest son of Pharaoh \ndown to the eldest of the poorest of his subjects. Even \nthe first-born of their cattle died, and there was not a \nhouse where there was not one dead. As for Pharaoh, \n\n\n\n13 \n\n\n\n118 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nhe was so distressed and liorriiied at this terrible caLim- \nity, that he I\'ose up in the night, and called for Moses and \nAaron in haste, and cried out, "Rise np, and go all of \nyou, ye children of Israel ; take your wives, your children, \nyour flocks and herds, and be gone ; and bless me also." \nThe Egy23tians, fearing that they should also be dead \nmen, were very anxious to send the Israelites away, and \nthey helped them to pack up their kneading-troughs and \ntheir dough, and gave them rich presents to take with \nthem. And thus, in the darkness of the night, this im- \nmense multitude of six hundred thousand men, with their \nwives, and children, and cattle, set forth on their hurried \njourney out of the land into which they had been brought, \nonly seventy in number, about four hundred years before. \nGod had watched over His people all this time ; and \nthough in His Avisdom He had suffered sorrow and afllic- \ntion to come upon them. He had remembered his pro- \nmises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and fulfilled these \npromises by bringing the Israelites out from among their \no]3pressors. How much sorrow and trouble would Pha- \nraoh have avoided had he listened to the words of Moses, \nand obeyed the commands of God at first ! Let this be a \nlesson to us, not to harden our hearts against God and \nHis words ; for He knows all things, and can do all \nthings, and He will punish us if we rebel. \n\n\n\n14 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n119 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER HI. \n\n\n\n\n>-v ^ WHAT BEPEL THE ISRAELITES AFTER LEAVING EGYPT. \n\nHOUGH the Israelites were thrust out of \nEgy})t in such haste, they remembered the \ndying words of Joseph, and they carried \nout his bones with them to the land of \nCanaan, whither God had promised to bring \nthem. They went through the wilderness \ntowards the Red Sea, encamj^ing now and \nthen to rest. First they went to a place \ncalled Succoth ; then they rested at Etham. \nGod had ordered that they should go by this way, and \navoid the country of the Philistines, who were strong, \nand miofht have attacked them and frisfhtened them back \nto Egypt ; and the Lord went before them by day in a \npillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a \npillar of fire, to give them light. Thus they journeyed \nsafe and happy under God\'s keeping, and following \nwherever He led, until they came to a narrow pass, called \nPi-hahiroth, on the borders of the Red Sea ; and they \nencamped there. \n\nWhen once the people were gone, the wicked Pharaoh \nwas sorry he had let them go ; and he took his horsemen \nand his chariots, and a great army, to j^ursue and bring \nthem back. The Israelites saw him coming, and they \n\n15 \n\n\n\nX20 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nwere sore afraid. They forgot for awhile all the wonders \nGod had wrought in Egypt for their deliverance; \xe2\x80\x94 in \ntheir fear, they began to blame Moses, and said, " Why \nhast thou brought us out here to die? It would have \nbeen better to stay in Egypt, and serve the Egyptians, \nthan to die in the wilderness." \n\nBut Moses said, " Fear ye not, stand still, and see the \nsalvation of the Lord : for the Egyptians ye have seen \nthis day, ye shall see no more for ever ; the Lord shall \niiglit for you." And the Lord said unto Moses, " Lift \nthou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, \nand divide it : and the children of Israel shall go on dry \nground through the midst of the sea. And the Egyptians \nshall know that I am the Lord." The night was coming \non, and while the Israelites rested, the pillar of cloud \npassed between them and their pursuers, from whom it \nhid the Israelites entirely; while the side which was \nturned towards them glowed with light like fire ; and all \nnight the two hosts came not near one another. And \nMoses stretched forth his hand over the sea ; and the \nLord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind \nall that night. In the morning there was a dry path \nthrough the midst of the sea ; and the Israelites passed \nthrough, having a wall of waves on their right hand and \non their left. When Pharaoh and his hosts beheld them \nby the light of day, most of the Israelites had passed \nthrough the Red Sea in safety. Then the Lord looked \n\n16 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n121 \n\n\n\n\nSONG OF MIRIAM. \n\n\n\non Pharaoh and his host through the pillar of cloud ; and \nthey were afraid, and would gladly have turned Lack \nand fled ; l)ut the waters rushed back upon them, and \ndrowned the Egyptians. And the children of Israel saw \nthe Egyptians lying dead upon the shore; not one of \nthem remained alive. \n\nMiriam, the sistei* of Moses and Aaron, and the women, \nsang songs of praises for this great deliverance ; and all \n\n\n\n17 \n\n\n\n-192 ^^LF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nthe Israelites danced for joy. They went on their way \nrejoicing, through the wilderness of Shur ; but they found \nno water until they came to a place called Marah. How \n"glad were they to behold the water ; but, alas ! it was \nbitter \xe2\x80\x94 too bitter to be fit for drinking. When a difii- \nculty came upon them, the Israelites forgot the mercies \nthey had received at the hand of Moses : they murmured \nagainst him, and were discontented and angry. Moses \nknew where to go in time of trouble ; he cried unto God \nfor help, and the Lord, Avhose ears are open to the prayers \nof all who call upon him, showed Mose^ a tree, which \nMoses cast into the bitter waters, and they were made \nsweet. Now, you know, the tree of itself could not make \nthe waters sweet, but it was God who gave it such power. \nHe could have made the waters sweet by His word only ; \nbut it seems as though He wished the people to see Moses \ndo some action that would make them feel their depend- \nence upon that zealous servant of the Lord, who was to \nbe their ruler and lawgiver for many years. When God \nhad shown Moses how to sweeten the bitter waters. He \npromised the people that, if they would obey His voice, \nand hearken to His words. He would not send upon them \nthe plagues and diseases He had sent upon the Egyptians, \nbut would help them. \n\nThey Avent forward and pitched their tents under sev- \nenty palm trees, and beside twelve wells of water, at Elim. \nFrom Elim the Israelites journeyed to the wilderness \n\n18 \n\n\n\n,( I \nI \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n123 \n\n\n\n\nGATHERING MANNA. \n\n\n\ncalled Sin ; and here a great and pressing trouble came \nupon them \xe2\x80\x94 they wanted bread. Again they murmured at \nMoses, and wished that they had died in Egypt. Stub- \nborn and unbelieving as they were, they forgot how God \nhad taken care of them day after day ; and they regretted \nthe life they had led in Egypt, where, in the midst of \ntheir servitude, they had always enough to eat. God, \nhowever, forgave their folly, and told them he would rain \nbread from heaven for them. And behold, the next \n\n\n\n19 \n\n\n\n224 ^^^^ HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nmorning, the earth was covered with a small round thin^, \nas small as hoar-frost ; and the children of Israel said to \neach other, \'\'What is it?" And Moses told them, " That \nis the bread which your God has sent from heaven for \nyou to eat." They called it Manna, which means, "What is \nit ?" And God fed them with this sweet food, which tasted \nlike wafers made with honey, for forty years. He sent it \ndown fresh every morning, for it would not keep good two \ndays, except upon the Sabbath day ; and Moses told the \npeople, on the day before the Sabbath, to gather enough \nfor two days, that they might rest upon the Sabbath day. \n\nIt happened not very long after this that the Israelites \nwere distressed for water ; not only the men and women, \nbut the cattle, were all fainting for thirst. At once they \nreproached their kind leader, and were almost ready to \nstone him to death in their cowardly impatience; and \nMoses went with their troubles to God. Then God told \nMoses to strike the hard rock with his rod, and out of the \ncold dry stone there came a stream of pure watei\', of \nwhich they and their cattle drank, and were refreshed. \n\nSoon after this, they had a battle with a i3eople called \nthe Amalekites ; and it was only through the prayers of \nMoses that the Israelites were victorious. Moses sat on a \nhill close by, and Aaron and Hur held u]) the old man\'s \nhands, that he might pray for the children of Israel ; and \nthe Israelites conquered. \n\nJethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came to see him, and \n\n20 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY Ol" MOSES. \n\n\n\n125 \n\n\n\n\nSMITING THE ROCK. \n\nbrought the wife and children of Moses, who had been \nleft with Jethro when Closes went into Egypt. Jethro \nAvas concerned when he saw that Moses had to settle \nevery dispute, and to judge every matter among the \nIsraelites ; for he saw that the burden of all this work was \ntoo great for the undaunted leader, who was now old. \n\nMoses hearkened gladly to the advice of Jethro, who \ntold him to choose out some of the w^isest and best of the \nIsraelites, to help him to judge and rule the people. \n\n21 \n\n\n\n126 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nWhen they were come to Mount Sinai, God thought fit \nto give to Moses some written laws for the guidance of \nthis great multitude of people, who were daily falling into \nsome kind of sin ; wherefore He called Moses up into the \nmountain, and told him to let the people prepare for a \ngreat solemnity, against the third day. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\n\n\nTHE IDOLATRY OF THE ISRAELITES. \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xbaHEN the third day was come, the Israelites \nsaw a thick black cloud covering the \nmountain; and out of the cloud came \nthunder and lightning, and smoke; until \nthe earth shook and the people trembled. \nThey heard the sound of the trumpet, \nwhich grew louder and louder ; and when \nMoses spoke to God, the Lord answered \nhim with a voice, and bade Moses go up \nto him on the mountain ; and Moses went up, with Joshua, \nhis servant. And there God spake to Moses, saying, " I \nam the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land \nof Egypt, out of the house of bondage ;" and then he went \non to give Moses the ten commandments, which you all \nknow so well that I need not write them down here. And \nyou will think how awful those words must have sounded, \n\n\n\n22 \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. -, c)y- \n\nwheii they were spoken by the voice, amidst the thunder \nand lightning, and the sound of the trumpet ! God gave \nMoses so many other laws, that Moses remained in the \nmountain forty days and forty nights. While Moses was \nthus absent, the Israelites fell into very grievous sin. \nThey began to think he would not return ; and, with \nequal disobedience and ingratitude, they went to x\\aron \nand said, " Up, make us gods which shall go before us ; \nfor as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of \nthe land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. \nAaron, instead of telling the people they were wrong, and \npersuading them to pray and to wait patiently, told them \nto bring him their golden ear-rings and trinkets ; and he \nbroke these to pieces, and melted the gold, and made it \ninto the shape of a calf, after the fashion of one of the \nEgyptian idols. And then he built up an altar, and put the \ncalf thereon ; and they burned offerings before this golden \ncalf, and they ate, and drank, and played before the image, \nand made merry. They forgot that the Lord could see all \nthey were doing, and how soon they were breaking the \npromise which they had made. \n\nWhen Moses and his servant Joshua, who had been \nwith him on the mountain, came down, and heard the \nsinging and the music, and saw the golden calf, and the \npeople singing and dancing before it, Moses was very \nangry too ; he was so wroth that tlie ungrateful people \nhad so soon forgotten their God and His mercies, and the \n\n23 \n\n\n\n128 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE \n\n\n\n\nMOSES BREAKING THE TABLES OF STONE. \n\nwonders He liad done for them, that he cast the tables \nout of his hands and broke them under the mountain. \nAnd Moses said unto Aaron, " What did this people unto \nthee, that thou has brought so great a sin upon them?" \nAnd Aaron tried to excuse himself by saying that the \npeople had compelled him to do what he did. \n\nMoses immediately took the calf and cast it into the \nfire, and afterwards ground it to powder, and sprinkled \nthe powder on the water, and made the children of Israel \n\n\n\n24 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n129 \n\n\n\ndrink of it. Then he called out, " Who is on the Lord\'s \nside ? let him come unto rae." And all the tribe of Levi \njoined him ; and he commanded them to put to death a \nnumber of the idolaters. And there fell at one time, by \nthe hands of the children of Levi, not less than three \nthousand men. The idolaters who were spared for a time \nsuffered many ])lagues and sorrows on account of their \ngolden calf; for, though the Lord protected them, He said, \n" In the day when I visit, I will visit their sins upon them."" \nMoses made two great tables of stone, on which the \ncommandments were written ; and he abode asrain in the \nmountain forty days ; and when he came down, his face \nshone so brightly with the glory of God, that the people \ncould not look upon him, and he was obliged to put on a \nveil, while he explained to the people the commands of \nGod upon the new tables. He told them that God had \ncommanded him to build a tabernacle, or temple, where \nHis people were to worship the Lord their God. Part of \nthis was to be covered with a veil, and called the " Holy \nof Holies," in which to keep safely the ark, or beautiful \nchest, containing the two tables of the law, likewise \nAaron\'s rod, which had brought forth almonds, and also \na golded pot, containing sonie of the manna with which \nGod had fed his people every day. The top of the ark \nwas called the Mercy Seat. It had a golden angel on each \nside thereof, and their outspread wings covered the top. \nAnd the cloud which had gone before the children of \n\n26 \n\n\n\n130 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nMOSES SHOWING THE TABLES OF STONE TO THE PEOPLE. \n\nIsrael rested upon the tabernacle when it was built ; and \nthis pillar, which was of cloud by day and of fire by night, \nstood still when the people were to rest ; but, when it \nmoved forward, then they journeyed. And Moses had \nsome beautiful garments made, according to God\'s orders, \nfor the priests to wear; and he put the garments upon \nAaron and upon his sons, and put oil upon their heads, \nand consecrated them as priests, who were to take charge \nof the tabernacle, and to offer sacrifices to God. \n\n26 \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OP MOSES. \n\n\n\n131 \n\n\n\nMoses then taught Aaron and his sons what they must \ndo, and told them what feasts they were to keep. Every \nseventh year was to be kept something like a Sabbath, \nand every fiftieth was to be a jubilee, or time of freedom \nand rejoicing. You would suppose the Israelites were all \nvery thankful to God for these new mercies ; but, alas ! \nsome of them, instead of being thankful, were discontented \nand disobedient. Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron\'s sons, \nwho were priests, took upon themselves to do what only \ntheir father, the high priest, was allowed to do ; and they \none day put into their censers some strange or unconse- \ncrated fire which the Lord had commanded should not be \nused. But God was displeased, and sent down fire from \nheaven and slew them both ; and their father and brothers \nwere not allowed to mourn for them. Not very long \nafterwards, some other Levites, named Korah, Dathan, \nand Abiram, were envious of the power given by God to \nMoses and Aaron ; and they murmured against them, and \nsaid they had as much right as Aaron had to be priests, \nand to offer sacrifices. Then Moses prayed God to help \nhim ; and God, on the next day, told all the people to \nremove to a great distance from Korah and his friends, \nand God allowed them to put fire into their censers, and \nto stand at the door of their tents. And Moses told the \npeople that God would now show them which were the \npriests that he had chosen, for he would cause all these \nmen and their families to sink down into the earth alive. \n\n27 \n\n\n\n132 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BTBLE. \n\n\n\nAnd the earth trembled and shook, and opened wide, and \nswallowed up all these three men, their wives and children, \nand their tents, and everything that belonged to them ; \nand God sent out a dreadful fire, which burned all those \nwho had encouraged Korah and the others in their rebel- \nlion. But although the people were dreadfully frightened \nat this awful sight, and fled away, yet were they not \nhumbled nor sorry for their sins ; but they murmured \nagainst Moses and Aaron, and accused them of having \nkilled their friends and companions. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\n^ov - THE LAST ACTS OF M S E S, A N D HIS DEATH. \n\nIPON one occasion, both Aaron and Miriam \nhad been jealous of their good brother \nMoses. They were vexed because they \nthought God loved and honored Moses \nmore than He honored them ; and this was \nthe very sin which had led Cain to murder \nhis innocent and unoifending brother. There- \nfore, when Miriam and Aaron spoke unkind- \nly to Moses, although he was so meek and \ngentle that he forgave them, and did not answer their \nunkind words, yet God could hear them, and He sent a \ndreadful punishment upon them. He came down in the \n\n28 \n\n\n\n\n133 \n\n\n\n\nSPIES AND GRAPES OF ESCHOL. \n\n\n\npillar of cloud to the door of the tabernacle, and rebuked \nthem for grieving his faithful servant Moses. And the \nLord said, " With him will I speak mouth to mouth, and \nnot in dark speeches ; wherefore, then, were ye not afraid \nto speak against my servant Moses ? " And when Aaron \nlooked upon Miriam, he saw that God had sent upon her \nthe dreadful disease called leprosy. Then was he sorry \nfor his wickedness, and he knew that he had been ecpially \nguilty with Miriam. He begged Moses to j^ardon him, \nand to pray to God with him, that God ^vould forgive \n\n\n\n134 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nMiriam, and heal her of this disease. But Miriam was \nobliged to be shut up alone for seven days, because she \nwas unclean ; and then God healed her. \n\nWhen the people drew near to Canaan, the Lord told \nMoses to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to search \nthe land which they were going to jDossess, according to \nhis promise, and to bring news whether it was fertile or \nbarren, and whether the j3eople who dwelt there were few \nor many, strong or weak. Joshua, the friend of Moses, \nand Caleb came back, and brought with them a cluster of \ngrapes, so large that they carried it between them on a \nstaff, and likewise some hgs and pomegranates, that the \npeople might see what delicious and fine fruits grew there. \nBut the others came back and said the land was full of \ngiants, and, that although the fruits and corn were good, \nthe people were so numerous they should never be able \nto conquer them ; and only Caleb and Joshua were brave, \nand remembered how God had always fought for them. \nThe rest began weakly to cry, " Would to God that we \nhad died in Egypt ! " \n\nThe people of Israel began again to murmur for water, \nand they reproached Moses and Aaron for bringing them \nout there to perish with thirst, and they wished they had \ndied with their brethren. \n\nNow comes the saddest part of all this story. Moses \xe2\x80\x94 \nthe meek and gentle Moses \xe2\x80\x94 who had borne with their \ningratitude, and shown the people kindness and forbear- \nance for many long years, became impatient and angry, \nand both he and Aaron sj)oke harshly to the people, and \ncalled them rebels ; and, instead of speaking to the rock, \nas God told him to do, Moses, in his anger, smote it twice \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF MOSES. \n\n\n\n\nDEATH OF AARON. \n\nwith his rod, and there came out abundance of water for \nthe Israelites and their cattle. But God was displeased \nwith Moses and with Aaron, and He told them that both \nhad sinned before Him, so they could not enter the prom- \nised land ; but Moses should be permitted to see it from a \ndistance. Soon after this Aaron died, and after his death \nthe people again murmured. So God sent out fiery ser- \npents to bite the people, and a great number of them \ndied. But Moses prayed to God to spare them ; and the \nLord told Moses to make a serpent of brass, and set it \n\n\n\n136 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nupon a pole, and Moses did so. And, behold, every one \nwho looked upon the serpent, recovered immediately. \nSatan is the serpent who bites us, and would kill us with \nsin, if Jesus, who was lifted up upon the cross for our \nsakes, did not save us from eternal death and. punishment. \n\nMoses was now one hundred and twenty years old ; and \nas the Israelites had wandered about until they were close \nto Canaan, God told Moses to go to the top of Mount \nPisgah, and there He would show the land where His \npeople were to live; and Joshua was to lead, and bring \nthe people into it when Moses was dead. So Moses called \nall the people together, and spoke to them of the com- \nmandments God had given them, and all that He had \ndone for them. And he told them what they must do, \nand how God would soon bring them into the promised \nland ; and he taught them a beautiful song of praise to \nGod, and he blessed them. And then Moses went up into \nMount Nebo, as God had told him to do ; and from one of \nthe points of this mountain, called Pisgah, Moses looked \ndown upon the lovely country of Canaan, with its hills \nand fields, and its vineyards, and so beautifully watered by \nthe river Jordan. Moses could see this good land from \none end to the other, and the Lord said unto him, " This \nis the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and \nunto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed : I have \ncaused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not \ngo over thither." \n\n" So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there, in the \nland of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He \nburied him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against \nBeth-peor ; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre to this \nday." \n\n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF JOSHUA. \n\nOSES was dead. That true servant of \nGod, so faithful to his trust, so watch- \nful for the Israelites, so zealous for the \nglory of his Master, had been with- \ndrawn by the command of the Master \nwhom he had served so well. But God \ndid not leave His people desolate. \nFrom time to time, as occasion required. \nHe raised up judges and mighty men in Israel, to lead \nthe people against their enemies in time of war, and to \njudge and rule them in time of peace ; and of these \njudges and mighty men we have now to speak Each \nhad his appointed work to do, like Moses ; but none was \nso great as that zealous leader, or enjoyed in so high a \ndegree the confidence and favour of the Lord. Yet from \nthe lives of these mighty men we may all learn lessons \nthat we should never forget. \n\n\n\noQ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nThe first of them was Joshua. He had been the friend \nand servant of Moses ; and after the death of Moses, God \nspake to this Joshua, the son of Nun, saying, " Moses my \nservant is dead : arise, therefore, go over this Jordan, \nthou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give \nto them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that \nthe sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given \nunto you, as I said unto Moses. There shall not any man \nbe able to stand before thee all the days of thy life ; as I \nwas with Moses, so I will be with thee : I will not fail \nthee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage ; \nfor unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance \nthe land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. \nOnly be thou strong and very courageous, that thou may- \nest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses \nmy servant commanded thee : turn not from it to the right \nhand or to the left, that thou may est prosper whitherso- \never thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart \nout of thy mouth ; but thou shalt meditate therein day \nand night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all \nthat is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way \nprosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have \nI not commanded thee ? Be strong and of a good cour- \nage ; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed : for the \nLord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." \n\nThen Joshua bade the people remember the promises \nof God, and the things Moses had commanded them to \n\n2 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n139 \n\n\n\ndo. They answered with one accord, " All that thou com- \nmandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us \nwe will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in \nall things, so will we hearken unto thee : only the Lord \nthy God be with thee, as he was with Moses." And God \nwas with Joshua, and did many wonderful things for him. \nThe first of these was the drying up of the river Jordan. \nJoshua commanded the people to solemnly prepare them- \nselves, and to be ready to follow the ark of the cove- \nnant wherever they should see it carried by the priests. \nThis ark was a kind of box made of precious wood, in- \nlaid with pure gold both within and without, and was \nmade by God\'s order, to contain the two tables of stone, \non which Moses had written the commandments; and it \nalso contained Aaron\'s rod, which had wrought so many \nmiracles for the Israelites, and a small pot of the manna \nwith which the Lord had fed the people in the wilderness. \nThe people obeyed Joshua ; and as soon as the feet of \nthe priests bearing the ark touched, the brim of the water \nof the river Jordan, the waters where driven back, so that \nthe people passed through the river on dry land, quite \nclose to the city of Jericho, which they were then going \nto conquer : and no sooner had they come into the land, \nwhere they could buy corn, than the manna ceased to fall \nfrom heaven. And the Lord made Joshua the captain and \nleader of His people, and instructed him how to conquer \nJeiicho, a great and strong city, with thick high walls. \n\n\n\n140 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJOSHUA AND THE ANGEL. \n\n\n\nOnce an angel appeared to Joshua. It came to pass, \nas J^oshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and \nlooked, and behold, there stood a man over against him, \nwith his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went \nunto him, and said unto him, ^^Art thou for us, or for \nour adversaries?" And he said, \'^Nay, but as captain \nof the host of the Lord am I now come." And Joshua \nfell on his face to the earth, and did worship. \n\n4 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. \n\n\n\n141 \n\n\n\n\nTHE WALLS OF JERICHO FALL DOWN. \n\n\n\nJericho was taken Ijy a miracle. The Priests were com- \nmanded to bear the ark round the city once every day. \nEach priest had a horn ; and on the seventh day they all \nencompassed the city seven times, and Joshua said to the \npeople, " Shout, for the Lord hath given you the city ! " \nAnd, behold, as the priests blew the trumpets, and the \npeople shouted, the walls of the city fell down flat, so \nthat every man walked straight before him into the city. \n\n\n\n142 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\n\n\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 :rOSHUA\'S TRIUMPHS. \n\n\'HE Israelites were often commanded to put \nto death the heathen, who were for that \nexpress purpose delivered into their hands. \nWhen Jericho was taken, only a woman \nnamed Kahab, and her family, were saved, \nbecause she had before shown kindness to \nsome of the children of Israel. Soon after \nthe taking of Jericho, the Israelites besieged \na city called Ai, and, to the surprise of Joshua, the peo- \nple were smitten by their enemies, for they had sinned \nagainst the Lord. Then Joshua prayed to God for help \nand instruction, and God told him that one of his people \nhad sinned, and He commanded him to draw lots to \ndiscover the sinner. So Joshua discovered that a man \nnamed Achan had hidden some gold and silv^er, and a \nhandsome garment, in the earth under his tent ; and Josh- \nua brought out the hidden things, and he took Achan, \nand all his family, and stoned them to death, and burned \nthe bodies and all the possessions of Achan with fire. \nAnd after they had done this, the Lord sufifered the Israel- \nites to conquer Ai. \n\nYou see, nothing can be hidden from the eye of God. \nHe knew who had taken the things, though Joshua did \n\n6 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n143 \n\n\n\n\nACHAN APPREHENDED. \n\n\n\nnot; and He made the man a public example, to show \nHis abhorrence of sin. \n\nSome of the heathen kings who lived near, combined \ntogether to fight against Israel, and they attacked a royal \ncity called Gibeon, with wdiose people Joshua had made \na league ; wherefore Joshua and his mighty men went up \nto fight for them ; and God not only suffered Joshua to \nconquer them with the sword, but he sent down upon \n\n7 \n\n\n\n144 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nthem such a dreadful storm of hail, that more men were \nkilled by the hailstones than those that fell in the war. \nAnd, in order to show His miraculous power to His peo- \nple and to their enemies, God told Joshua to commaud \nthe sun and the moon to stand still. And Joshua said, \n\'\' Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon ; and thou. Moon, in \nthe valley of Ajalon." And the sun stood still, and the \nmoon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves \nupon their enemies. Such a miracle as this had never \nbeen known before, neither has there ever been such a day \nsince then. The affrighted kings went and hid themselves \nin a cave at Makedah ; and Joshua was told that the men \nwere hidden there, and he caused great stones to be rolled \nbefore the mouth of the cave, to keep the kings there \nuntil the battle was over ; then he had them hanged upon \nfive trees, as an example to others, and he destroyed their \ncities. Nor did he return to the camp at Gilgal until he \nhad destroyed seven other kings, with all their posses- \nsions. \n\nWhen Joshua had grown very old, God instructed him \nhow to divide the land of Canaan by lot among the child- \nren of Israel, according to their tribes ; and he set up the \nTabernacle at a place called Shiloh, and placed the ark \ntherein. He gave them new laws, and exhorted, threat- \nened, and instructed the people. His last words to the \nIsraelites were very impressive. Among other things, he \nsaid : \xe2\x80\x94 " Behold, this day I am going the way of all the \n\n\n\nTHE JUDCxES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n145 \n\n\n\nearth (he meant that he was going to die) ; and ye know \nin all your hearts, and in all your souls, that not one thing \nhath failed of all the good things which the Lord your \nGod spake concerning you : all are come to pass unto you, \nand not one thing hath failed thereof" And he said, \n" Now, therefore, fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity \nand in truth ; and put away the gods which your fathers \nserved on the other side of the flood and in Egypt ; and \nserve ye the Lord." And. thus exhorting his followers to \ndo their duty, the brave warrior died. \n\nSimeon and Judali were mighty leaders for a time, after \nthe death of Joshua ; Othniel and Ehud did some service \nto their brethren, by subduing the heathen nations, and \nShamgar slew six hundred Philistines with an ox goad ; \nand, when they had no other leader, God raised them up \na brave defender in the person of Deborah the Prophet- \ness, who judged Israel for some years; and under her \nrule did Barak lead the Israelites against Jabin and Sise- \nra. Sisera was a Canaanite leader, who was slain\' by Jael, \nthe wife of Heber the Kenite, in whose tent he had taken \nrefuge after a great battle he had lost ; but God delivered \nhim into the hand of a woman, and the Canaanites were \nentirely subdued. There is a very beautiful song in the \nBible, sung by Deborah and the people of Israel after \nthey had subdued their enemies. \n\n\n\n146 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\n\n\n\nGIDEON, AND OTHER MIGHTY LEADERS. \n\nUT, after all this prosperity, sin crept in \namong the Israelites, and brought suffering \nwith it. A rest of forty years from war \nled the people to forget their God, until \nthey were sorely oppressed by the Midi- \nanites. Then, in their distress they cried \nunto the Lord, and He heard them out of \nHis holy hill. He sent an angel to a young \nman named Gideon. And the angel said unto him, " The \nLord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour ;" and he \ncommanded him to go forth and smite the Midianites. \nAnd when Gideon asked a sign of him, the angel told him \nto take some kid\'s flesh and unleavened cakes which he \nhad made, and to lay them upon a rock, and to pour out \nthe broth ; and, when he had doiie so, the angel of the \nLord touched them with the end of his staff, and there \nrose up fire out of the rock and consumed them. \n\nBy this miracle Gideon knew that he was indeed called \nof God to great deeds. So, in the night-time, Gideon took \nten men of his servants, and, by the Lord\'s direction, he \ncut down the grove, and cast down the altar of Baal, the \nfalse god. And when the people saw what Gideon had \n\n10 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDOES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. \n\n\n\n147 \n\n\n\n\nTHE MIRACLE WITH THE FLEECE. \n\n\n\ndone by night, they would have put him to death ; but \nGideon blew a trumpet, and many men were gathered \nunto him when they found that he was going to save \nIsrael. Then Gideon cried unto the Lord : " If thou wilt \nsave Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, behold I will \nput a fleece of wool in the floor ; and if the dew be in the \nfleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then \nshall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as \n\n\n\n-J io HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nthou hast said." And it was so : for he rose up early on \nthe morrow, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl \nfull of water. Then the brave Gideon knew that he was \nindeed called of God to deliver Israel. Soon a large army \nwas gathered together : two and twenty thousand men \nwere ready to follow Gideon. The Lord said unto Gideon, \n" The people that are with thee are too many for me to \ngive the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt \nthemselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved \nme. Now, therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people, \nsaying, \xe2\x80\x94 Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return, \nand depart early from Mount Gilead." And there re- \nturned twenty and two thousand ; and there remained \nten thousand. \n\nAnd the Lord said unto Gideon, ^\' The people are yet \ntoo many. Bring them down unto the water, and I will \ntry them for thee there." So he brought down the people \nunto the water. And the Lord said unto Gideon, "Every \none that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog \nlappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every \none that boweth down upon his knees to drink " \n\nAnd the Lord said unto Gideon, " By the three hundred \nmen that lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midian- \nites into thine hand ; and let all the other people go every \nman unto his place." \n\nThen the Lord told Gideon to take Phurah, his servant, \nand to go by night to the camp of the Midianites and \n\n\n\n12 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n149 \n\n\n\n\nGIDEON AND PHURAH. \n\n\n\nAmalekites, who lay along in the valley, like grasshoppers \nfor multitude. And Gideon heard one of the men tell \n. another a dream, of which the interpretation or meaning \nwas that God had delivered all the hoSt of Midian into \nGideon\'s hands. \n\nSo the three hundred took their victuals and their \ntrumpets ; and in each man\'s hand was an empty pitcher, \nand a lamp within the j^itcher. Then Gideon divided the \n\n13 \n\n\n\n250 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nthree liimdred into three companies, and desired them \nto follow him to the camp of the Midianites, and to do \nexactly as they saw him do. \n\nAbout the middle of the night, when most of the \nMidianites were asleep in their tents, Gideon and his fol- \nlowers came suddenly into the camp, and all at once they \nbrake their pitchers, which had each one a lighted lamp \nin it ; and they all blew their trumpets, crying aloud, \n" The Swoed of the Loed, ai^d of Gideon ! " The whole \nhost of the Midianites started up in affright. They cried \naloud, and tried to flee. They drew their swords, and, \nunable in the darkness to distinguish friend from foe, they \nkilled and wounded each other ; while those who managed \nto escape out of the camp were pursued and put to death \nby the Israelites. \n\nWhen Gideon and his people were faint and tired with \npursuing after their enemies, Gideon begged of the people \nof Succoth to give them a few loaves of bread for his \nhungry people, who were yet obliged to pursue Zebah \nand Zalmunna, kings of Midian, but they refused ; where- \nfore, after he had made an end of slaying the Midianites, \nGideon returned, as he had threatened to do, to chastise \nthese churlish men of Succoth ; and he punished the \nelders of the city with briars and thorns, and beat down \nthe tower of Penuel, another city, whose inhabitants had \nbeen as unkind to him as the men of Succoth. The Israel- \nites wanted to make Gideon their king. They said, " Rule \n\n14 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n151 \n\n\n\n\nGIDEON AND THE ELDERS OF SUCCOTH. \n\n\n\nthou over us, and thy son, and thy son\'s son likewise; for \nthou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian." But \nGideon answered, *\' I will not rule over you, neither shall \nmy son rule over you. The Lord shall rule over you." \n\n\n\nX52 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nAnd for forty years tliere was peace in the land, until \nGideon died. But the children of Israel were ungrate- \nful alike to God and to the family of Gideon, their de- \nliverer. This valiant man had no less than seventy-one \nsons. The name of one was Abimelech. He was a \nwicked and treacherous man. First, he made a covenant \nwith the Shechemites, and persuaded them that it was \ngood he should rule over them ; then he murdered all \nhis brethren, excepting one named Jotham, and made \nhimself a kino;. But the Shechemites could not love \na murderer, and, after awhile, they plotted against him \nwith a man named Gaal, and lay in wait for him to kill \nhim. \n\nAbimelech, having discovered their intention, deter- \nmined to revenge himself He went and fought against \ntheir city, and took it, and, having killed the inhabitants, \nhe destroyed the city, and sowed the place on which it \nhad stood with salt. The Shechemites who were spared \nran and hid themselves in the house of one of their gods : \nbut Abimelech went and set fire to the hold of the \nhouse, and burned all the people, about a thousand men, \nwomen, and children. \n\nGod, in his own good time, punishes wickedness and \ncruelty; He remembered how Abimelech had slain his \nbrothers, and cut this murderer off in his pride; for \nAbimelech fought against another strong city, called \nThebez, and when he found that a great many of the \n\n18 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. \n\n\n\n153 \n\n\n\n\nJEPHTHAH AND HIS DAUGHTER. \n\n\n\ninhabitants had shut themselves up in a strong tower, \nAbimelech thought to burn them also with iire : but, as \nhe went near to the door of the tower to set it on fire, a \ncertain woman cast down a piece of millstone from the top \nof the tower, and it fell upon the head of this cruel man. \nWounded to the death, he yet called hastily to his armour- \nbearer, and said, " Draw thy sword and slay me, that men \nsay not of me, A woman slew him." And his armour- \n\n\n\n17 \n\n\n\n154 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nbearer thrust him through, and he died. So did God re- \nquite him for his wickedness. \n\nTola and Jair successively judged Israel for about forty- \ntwo years, and then the Israelites were once more oppress- \ned by their enemies, until they made Jephthah their cap- \ntain, and he led them forth to conquer the Ammonites. \nJephthah was a great leader of the Israelites, but he is \nchiefly remarkable for having made a rash vow. He vowed \nthat if God would give him the victory over his enemies, \nhe would offer up as a sacrifice to the Lord the first thing \nthat he should meet at the entrance of his house on his \nreturn ; and the Lord so willed it that the daughter of \nJephthah, his only and much-beloved child, went forth to \nmeet her father, dancing and singing songs of welcome. \nAnd when Jephthah saw her he rent his clothes and ex- \nclaimed, " Alas, my daughter, thou hast brought me very \nlow ; for I have opened my mouth (or solemnly promised) \nunto the Lord, and I cannot go back." The poor maiden \nbehaved nobly. She said, with pious resignation, " My \nfather, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do \nto me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy \nmouth, forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for \nthee of thine enemies." And Jephthah was obliged to \nobey. He was a mighty man ; but he could never be a \nhappy man again, and he did not live many years. He \nhad thought himself strong and brave, but God tried his \nfaith, and showed him his weakness. \n\n\n\n18 \n\n\n\nJ \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. \n\n\n\n155 \n\n\n\n\nCHATTER IV \n\n\n\nTHE HISTORY OF SAMSON. \n\n\n\nEVERAL judges governed Israel after the death \nof Jephthali ; but they did evil in the eyes of \nGod, and were oppressed by the Philistines \nforty years ; and then the Lord raised them \nup a mighty deliverer, named Samson, who \nwas the strongest man that ever lived upon \nearth. His birth was foretold by an angel, \nand his parents were instructed by the angel, \nbefore his birth, of all that they should do unto him. The \nfirst time the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman \nshe was alone ; but the second time, she ran and called \nManoah, her husband ; and Manoah listened to the words \nof the angel, and talked with him, and asked him his \nname. But the angel would not tell his name, and reprov- \ned Manoah for asking the secrets of the Lord. \n\nNevertheless, the Lord accej)ted the offering which Ma- \nnoah sacrificed on an altar ; and it came to pass, that when \nthe flame of the sacrifice went up towards heaven from the \naltar, the angel of the Lord ascended to heaven in the \nflame. Then Manoah and his wife knew that it was an \nangel who had counselled them what to do. And the \nchild Samson was born, and grew, and the Lord blessed \nhim ; and the Spirit of the Lord began to move him. In \n\n19 \n\n\n\n156 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nSAMSON TEARING THE LION TO PIECES. \n\none tiling he distressed his parents. He desired to marry a \nbeautiful young Philistine, the daughter of their enemies ; \nand when they refused to consent to his wishes, Samson \nwent down himself to Timnath, where the maiden dwelt. \nOn the way he met a young lion, which roared after him ; \nand the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and \nhe rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had noth- \ning in his hand ; but he told not his father and mother. \nThen he went down and talked with the woman, and she \n\n20 \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n157 \n\n\n\npleased him well. And as he returned, after a time, to \ntake her, he found that a swarm of bees had taken posses- \nsion of the dead body of the lion which he had killed, and \nhad begun to store their honey there. So Samson took \nthe honey, and did eat of it, and he carried some of it \nhome to his father and his mother ; but he did not tell \nthem he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion. \nAnd Manoah went down, and assisted his son Samson \nto make a marriage feast at Timnath, and thirty of his \ncompanions were there. At the feast, Samson asked them \na riddle, which he allowed them seven days to guess: \nand they agreed to giv^e Samson thirty sheets and thirty \nchanges of garments if they were unable to find out the \nriddle during the seven days of the feast ; but, if any of \nthem should be able to declare the meaning of his riddle, \nthen was Samson to give them thirty sheets and thirty \nchanges of raiment. The riddle which Samson put forth \nwas this : \xe2\x80\x94 " Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of \nthe strong came forth sweetness." And three days passed, \nand none of them could guess the riddle. At length, on \nthe seventh day, they went and threatend the wife of Sam- \nson, that unless she would discover for them the meaning \nof Samson\'s words, they would burn her and all her family \nwith fire ; for they said she had invited them to make a \nmock of them. She was afraid, and she wept before Sam- \nson, and declared that he did not love her, because he had \nnot told her the meaning of the riddle ; and Samson said, \n\n\n\n^ 21 \n\n\n\n158 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n" I have not told it to my father and my mother, and shall \nI tell it to thee ? " But at last he suffered himself to be \npersuaded, and he told her the riddle, and she told it \nimmediately to the Philistines. \n\nSo on the seventh day the men of Timnath said unto \nSamson, " What is sweeter than honey, and what is strong- \ner than a lion ? " Samson knew directly by what means \nthey had learned his secret. He went out in anger among \nthe Philistines, and slew thirty men, and he took their \ngarments, and all that belonged to them, and gave the \nchanges of garments to the young men who had expound- \ned the riddle. Then he left them, and went back to his \nfather\'s house ; and his wife was given to one of his com- \npanions. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER Y \n\n\n\nSAMSON S FEATS OF STRENGTH. \n\nFTER some time, when his anger was abated, \nSamson took a young kid as a present, and \nwent to seek his wife. Her father refused \nto let him see her, and he found she had \nbeen given to another, wherefore he de- \ntermined again to punish the Philistines \nfor their fraud. He went and caught three \nhundred foxes, and he tied them two together, tail to tail, \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \\^^ \n\nvriih a lighted torch, or firehrand, between them, and he \nturned them into the corn-fields of the Philistines just at \nthe time of har\\\'est ; and the standing corn caught fire \nwherever the poor frightened animals ran, and the sheaves \nalso took fire, until the flames spread from field to field, and \nburned all the corn, and the vineyards, and olives. The \npersons to whom the corn belonged were very angry, and \nwhen they found out that Samson had done this unto \nthem because his wife had been give to another man, they \nburned her and her father with fire. Samson determined \nto be avenged on them for their cruelty, and as it was \nGod\'s will that Samson should destroy these ^vicked peo- \nple, He endued him with strength; and Samson went \nforth and slew the Philistines with great slaughter, and \ntook up his abode on the top of a rock, called Etam. \n\nThen the Philistines gathered themselves together, and \npitched their tents in Judah. And the men of Judah said, \n"Why are ye come up against us; and they replied, **To \nbind Samson, and to do to him as he hath done to us." \nAnd three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the \nrock Etam, and said to Samson, " Knowest thou not that \nthe Philistines are rulers over us ? " What is this that \nthou hast done unto us?" And he said unto them. "As \nthey did unto me, so have I done unto them." Then they \nsaid, " We are come to bind thee, that we may deliver thee \ninto the hand of the Philistines." And he said, \'^ Swear \nunto me that ye will not fall upon me yourselves." They \n\n23 \n\n\n\n160 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nSAMSON CARRYING AWAY THE GATES OF GAZA. \n\n\n\nsaid, " No ; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee \ninto their hand." And they bound his arms with two \nnew cords, and brought him from the rock. \n\nSo Samson suffered them to bring him bound to Lehi, \nwhere the Philistines received their captive with great \nshouts of joy. Then the Spirit of the Lord came might- \nily upon him, and he burst the strong ropes off his arms \nas though they had been flax that was burnt with fire ; \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n161 \n\n\n\nand, snatching up the jawbone of an ass that lay near, he \nrushed upon his enemies, and slew a thousand men there- \nwith. He called the name of the place Ramath-Lehi, \nwhich means, " the place of the jawbone." \n\nThe Israelites were comforted at the destruction of so \nmany of their oppressors, and they made Samson their \njudge, and he seems to have judged Israel peaceably for \ntwenty years. \n\nIt happened once, that Samson entered the house of a \nwoman who dwelt at Gaza, one of fhe cities belonging to \nthe enemies of the Israelites ; and it was told the Gazites \n" Samson is come hither." And they compassed him in, \nand lay in wait all night, in the hope of putting him to \ndeath as soon as he tried to pass through their gates in the \nmorning. But Samson was made wise by the Spirit of \nGod, as well as strong; and he lay quiet till midnight, \nand then arose, and, finding the gates all fastened, he took \nup the strong heavy gates, bar, posts, and all, and took \nthe whole away upon his shoulders, and carried them and \nleft them standing upon the top of a hill that is before \nHebron, so that all might see and know what he had \ndone. \n\n\n\n162 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER YI. \n\n\n\nSamson\'s fall and captivity \n\n\n\nAMSON afterwards gave the Philistines an \nopportunity of getting him into their power. \nHe loved a woman of the valley of Sorek, \nwho was very beautiful ; her name was Deli- \nlah. And the lords of the Philistines prom- \nised to give this woman a great many pieces \nof money if she would find out where Sam- \nson\'s great strength lay, so that they might \nbind him and afllict him. And she teased him constantly \nto inform her where his strength lay, and how he might be \ntaken prisoner and bound. At first he deceived her, and \ntold her if he were bound with seven green withs, or wil- \nlow branches, that had never been dried, he would be as \nweak as other men. Then the lords of the Philistines \nbrought her the Aviths, and she bound him with them, \nwhile several of the Philistines lay concealed c\\ose by. \nThen she said, " The Philistines be upon thee, Samson ! " \nBut he sprang up and brake the withs, as a thread of tow \nis broken when it toucheth the lire. At another time^ \nbeing entreated by her continually to make known the \ncause of his strength, he told her, \'\xe2\x80\xa2 If they bind me fast \nwith new ropes, that have never been used, I shall be weak \nas another man." \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n1()3 \n\n\n\n\nSAMSON SHORN, DELILAH ASKING FORGIVENESS. \n\nAnd Delilah tried Samson a second time, saying, " The \nPhilistines be upon thee, Samson !" while there were liers- \nin-wait in the chamber ; and again he brake the cords like \na thread from off his arms. A third time he made a false \nanswer, and told her that if she would weave seven locks \nof his hair with a weaver\'s beam, and fasten it with the \npin of the beam, he would become powerless. And she \ndid so, while Samson was asleep ; but when she told him \nthe Philistines were at hand, he waked up and went away \n\n27 \n\n\n\n104 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nsVMbON BOLND \n\n\n\nwith the pin of the beam and with the web. At last De- \nlilah said, " How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine \nheart is not with me ? Thou hast mocked me these three \ntimes, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength \nlieth." And she pressed him daily with her words, and \nurged him, so that his soul was vexed to death, till at last \nhe opened his heart to her, and told this wicked woman \nthe secret \xe2\x80\x94 that he had never had a razor upon his head ; \nand that, if he were shaven, all his strength would depart \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n165 \n\n\n\nfrom him, for he would no longer be a Nazarite, or holy \nman, to the Lord. Delilah knew that he had spoken truth. \nAnd she called the lords of the Philistines, and told them \nall that Samson had said ; and one day, when she had per- \nsuaded Samson to lie down and sleep, she called the Phil- \nistines, who brought with them the money they had prom- \nised to Delilah. And when the seven locks had been cut \nfrom Samson\'s head, the Philistines sprang on him, and \nput out his eyes. Then they took him down to Gaza, and \nbound him with fetters of brass, and made him grind in \nthe prison-house. So now he was obliged to work like a \nslave for the enemies who had so feared him. No doubt \nhe often reponted for his wickedness, and called upon God \nto help him in his trouble ; and so, as his hair grew again, \nGod imparted to him his former strength. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII \n\n\n\nTHE DEATH OF SAMSON. \n\n\n\nHE Philistines rejoiced greatly at the capture \nof Samson. They determined to make the \noffering of a sacrifice to Dagon, one of their \ngods ; for they believed that it was Dagon \nwho had delivered Samson into their hands. \nWhen the people saw him, they praised their \ngod for delivering Samson into their hands. \n\n29 \n\n\n\n166 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nThen they sent for the poor blind prisoner, to make sport \nfor them in the temple of the house of Dagon. \n\nHe was brought out of the prison, and they placed him \nbetween the strong pillars that supported the roof, and \nhe was compelled to make sport for them. Then Samson \ntook hold of the pillars with his hands ; and he prayed \nto the Lord, saying, \'\' O Lord God, remember me, I pray \nthee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O \nGod, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines \nfor my two eyes." And taking the two pillars, one with \nhis right hand and the other with his left, he bowed him- \nself with all his might, and pulled down the whole house, \nand killed all the thousands of Philistines that it contain- \ned. Samson was killed himself He knew that this must \nbe the case, but he felt that he destroyed more people at \nhis death than he had done while living. It was a sad \ndeath for him to die; but, you see, when he forgot the \nLord, and the Lord\'s people, the Lord forsook Samson, \nor, rather, suffered him to bring upon himself his own \npunishment. \n\nThe death of Samson left the Israelites without a lead- \ner, and every one did as he pleased. All was trouble and \nconfusion, until God raised up to them a righteous judge, \ncalled Samuel. God gave this child Samuel to a good \nwoman, named Hannah, in answer to her prayer. He was \nbrought up with the high priest, Eli, in the temple, and \nwas called by God to be a prophet in his early childhood. \n\n\n\nTHE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \n\n\n\n167 \n\n\n\n\nSAM SOX PULLING DOWN THE TEMPLE OF DAGON. \n\nAnd after the death of Eli and his sons, Samuel judged \nIsrael, and helped the people to overcome their enemies, \nthe Philistines ; for, in answer to the prayer of Samuel, \nGod sent thunder upon the Philistines, and so discomfited \nthem that they were smitten before Israel. And Samuel \njudged Israel righteously for many years, but his sons took \nbribes from the people, and were selfish, and fond of money \nand pleasure ; so that the Israelites were discontented, and \nmurmured, and besought Samuel to give them a king. \n\n\n\n1(38 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nSamuel warned them that any other king but God would \nbring much trouble upon them, but they would not \nhearken; wherefore God suffered them to have a kino*, \nand told Samuel whom he should anoint to be their king. \nAnd Samuel made Saul king over Israel; and although \nhe was then very old, he lived to see the troubles he had \nforetold brought upon the Israelites \xe2\x80\x94 he lived to see \nSaul rejected by the Lord, and to mourn over his sin. \n\nHe was afterwards employed by the Lord to anoint \nDavid, the son of Jesse, to be king over the Israelites in \nthe stead of Saul ; but he was not spared to see David \nupon the throne of Israel. He died at a great age, before \nSaul perished miserably in battle ; and all the Israelites \ngathered together and buried Samuel at Ramah, where he \nhad lived ; and they mourned for this good man, who was \none of the best, as he was the last, of the judges of Israel. \nBut it was not his valour, as with Joshua and Gideon, nor \nhis strength, as with Samson, but his justice and love of \nGod, that made him honoured and esteemed by his people. \nBy faith all these mighty men subdued kingdoms and \nwrought righteousness, for it was with the greatest of \nthem as with the least : so long as they wrought in the \nstrength of God, and for His glory, they were prosperous \nand mighty ; when they became cruel like Abimelech, or \nfoolish like Samson, or careless like Eli, their strength was \nturned to weakness, and they were compelled to confess \nthat it is the Lord who setteth up and who casteth down. \n\n32 \n\n\n\n169 \n\n\n\npalf fjmxs luitlj tljc ^lible. \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH \n\n\n\neyes \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nHOW THE KINGS CAME TO BE CHOSEN. \n\nis an evil thing for a countiy when there \nis no just judge \xe2\x80\x94 no one to see that the \nlaws are kept, to jirevent the lich from \noppressing the poor, and the poor from be- \ning idle and dishonest, and the evil-doer \nfrom troubling the just ; and so it w^as in \nV Israel at the time of which I have to speak. \nEvery man did what was right in his own \nThe Israelites, who had now settled down in the \n\n\n\n\npromised land, were surrounded by heathen enemies, and \nsome of their judges were not wise and equitable men. \nWliile the good Samuel swayed the scale of justice, they \nwere contented, and might have been happy, for they had \n\n\n\n^ H, HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nGod for tlieir king. But they became discontented, and \nimportuned Samuel, with many words, to give them a \nking. The Lord told Samuel to protest solemnly to the \npeople, and to show them the manner of king that \nshould reign; to tell them that the king would tax \nthem and oppress them, and make them fight his bat- \ntles, and use them as slaves, if they determined to elect \none. And when they would not listen, but persisted in \nhaving a king who might lead them to battle, God \nordered Samuel to anoint a king over them. Under God\'s \ndirection, there came to Samuel a young, tall, handsome \nman, of the tribe of Benjamin ; his name was Saul. Saul \ncame to Samuel for advice. And the Lord said unto Sam- \nuel, " Behold, this is the man that thou shalt anoint to be \nking over Israel." So, after some conversation, Samuel \npoured a vial of oil upon his head, and kissed him, and \nsaid to him, "The Lord hath anointed thee to be king \nover his inheritance ;\xe2\x80\xa2\'* and God blessed Saul, and sent His \nspirit upon him, so that Saul was enabled to prophesy. \nAnd soon after this, Samuel brought Saul and set him \nbefore the people; and the people saw that Saul Avas \ntaller by the head and shoulders than the rest of the \npeople ; and they shouted and cried, " God save the \nking !" \n\nMost of the people were delighted with their king, \nand a select company followed and remained with Saul. \nBut there were a few jealous, envious people, who despis- \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n171 \n\n\n\n\nDAVID PLAYING BEFORE SAUL. \n\neel Saul, and said, " How shall this man save us from our \nenemies?" He soon proved his bravery, however; for \nthe Ammonites besieged the people of Jabesh-Gillead, his \nneighbors, and Saul, hearing of their distress, gathered \nan army, and defeated the Ammonites, and put them to \n\n\n\n^ ^r) HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\niliglit. The people, overjoyed witli their conquest, wished \nto put to death the ungrateful men who had despised their \nking ; but Saul said, " There shall not a man be put to \ndeath this day, for to-day God hath wrought salvation in \nIsrael." And the people followed Saul to Gilgal, and \nthere they offered peace offerings before the Lord; and \nSaul, and all the men of Israel, rejoiced greatly. \n\nSoon after this, Saul was sent to execute judgment \nupon the Amalekites, and God, being justly displeased \nwith this heathen nation, had ordered Saul to put every \nliving thing, man and woman, child, and four-footed beast, \nto the sword. Saul, however, again disobeyed his Heav- \nenly King, and saved the king, Agag, and the finest \nof the cattle and sheep. But when Samuel came, Saul \nfirst wanted him to believe that he had fulfilled the com- \nmand of the Lord. Samuel asked, " What meaneth, then, \nthis bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and this lowing of \nthe oxen that I hear ? " Saul then wished to excuse him- \nself, and pretended he had spared the cattle for sacrifice. \nBut Samuel made this solemn and impressive answer ; \xe2\x80\x94 \n" Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt ofi\'erings and \nsacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to \nobey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of \nrams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stub- \nborness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast \nrejected the word of the Lord, He also hath rejected thee \nfrom being king." And Saul said unto Samuel, " I have \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OP ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n173 \n\n\n\nsinned, for I liave transgressed the commandment of the \nLord and his words; because I feared the people, and \nobeyed their voice. Now, therefore, I pray thee, pardon \nmy sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the \nLord." But Samuel said, " The Lord hath rent the king- \ndom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a \nneighbour of thine, who is better than thou." And Sam- \nuel with his own hand carried out the sentence that the \nLord had pronounced against Agag, king of the Amale- \nkites. \n\nSamuel came no more to see Saul to the day of his \ndeath. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul. And the \nspirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit \ntroubled him. He could not even sleep in peace. So \nsome of his friends brought before him a young shepherd \nlad, named David, who was skilled in playing the harj:), \nand they hoped that his sweet music might divert the \nmind of the unhappy king. And Saul sent messengers \nto Jesse, David\'s father, requesting that David might \nremain ^\\dth him, for he found favor in Saul\'s sight. \nAnd when David took his harp and played, the evi] \nspirit departed from Saul. \n\n\n\n174 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\n\n\n\nDavid\' f 3 early exploits. \n\nOT only was David a clever musician, but lie \nwas very brave, altliougli lie was so young. \nOne day, wlien lie ^vas keeping liis father\'s \nslieep, there came a lion and a bear to steal \nthe sheep ; but l)y the help of God, David \nslew both these fierce and strong animals, \nwithout any other assistance. And when \n(xod suffered the Philistines, with a gi\'eat \ngiant at their head, to go and terrify Saul \nand his people with their threats, God put it into the \nheart of the young shepherd to go forth and meet this \nstrong and warlike giant, who was armed with a sword \nand a spear. David, however, took only a sling, which is \na slip of leather, and a few stones in his hand ; and, while \nthe huge giant, Goliath, was threatening to kill David, \nand give his flesh to the fowls of the air, David put a \nstone into his sling, and let it fly ; and the stone hit the \ngiant on the forehead, and sank into his head, so that \nGoliath fell dead upon the ground. Then David cut off \nthe head of the giant, and the terrifled Philistines fled. \nBut the Israelites, when they saw the giant was dead, fol- \nlowed after their enemies, and put numbers of them to \ndeath, and then returned and plundered the tents of the \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OP ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n175 \n\n\n\n\nDAVID AND GOLIATH. \n\n\n\nPhilistines. And the people sang a iine song in praise of \nDavid and his bravery, saying, " Saul hath slain his thou- \nsands, and David his ten thousands." Now this made \nSaul very jealous \xe2\x80\x94 that to him should be ascribed thou- \nsands only, and to David tens of thousands ; and, forget- \nting the great service David had done for Israel, he tried \non several occasions to kill the youth. But God preserved \nDavid\'s life, although once he was obliged to pretend to \nbe mad, and had to hide himself in a cave, and Saul hunt- \ned to and fro after him. \n\n\n\n176 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nDAVID TAKES SAUL\'S SPEAR, \n\n\n\nWhile David was roaming about in fear of Saul, he \nonce sent to a rich man named Nabal, and begged that he \nwould supply him and his followers with some food ; l)ut \nNabal was covetous, and would not give them so much as \na drop of water. This man had a beautiful young wife, \nnamed Abigail ; she was sorry when she heard what her \nhusband had done, and she immediately took some wine, \nand bread, and fruits, and herself carried the provisions \nto David. God punished Nabal for his greediness by \ndeath, and David afterwards married Abigail. \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n177 \n\n\n\nSaul had promised to give liis daughter Michal, as a \nwife, to whosoever should kill the giant ; and Michal and \nher brother Jonathan, Saul\'s son, loved David very dear- \nly, and they both helped to save David from the fury \nof their father ; and David again spared the life of Sanl, \nwhen he was marching about to slay him. But God pun- \nished Saul for his cruelty by means of the Philistines, who \nharassed and distressed the kingdom. At last there was \na terrible battle, at Gilboa, in which Jonathan and two \nother sons of Saul were killed ; and Saul, in his despair, \nkilled himself \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nDAVID\'S LATER DAYS, AND THE STORY OF SOLOMON. \n\nAVID grieved very much for Jonathan, \nalthough he was now made King of Judah. \nFor a short time the other tribes claimed \nIshbosheth, a son of Saul,,for their king; \nbut Ishbosheth w^as murdered by his own \ncaptains, and David was king over the \ntwelve tribes. As soon as he was peaceably \nsettled in his kingdom, David wished to \nbuild a temple to the Lord, but God only \nallowed David to get the materials ready for the building, \nbecause he had been a man of w^ar. And David showed \n\n\n\n\n-J H.r, HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\ngreat kindness to all tlie descendants of Jonathan, for liis \nfriend\'s sake. But noAV that David was happy and in \nhigh station, he fell into temptation, and sinned against \nGod ; he wished to marry Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, \none of his captains ; and, because he wished to have her \nfor a wife, David sent Uriah, her husband, out into the \nbattle, and had the poor man placed in front of the battle, \nso that he was killed ; and then David took Bathsheba as \nhis wife. The Lord was greatly angered, and He sent the \nproj^het Nathan to shoAV David the wickedness of his con- \nduct, and to reprove him for it ; and He moreover, smote \nwith sickness the poor little child who had been born to \nDavid, so that it died. And David mourned, and prayed \nto (xod in vain to spare its life. Thus God punished the \nfather by the death of his child ; and, all through the re- \nmainder of David\'s days, God suffered the sons of David \nto cause sorrow to their father by deeds of blood. \n\nOne of his sons, a very handsome youth, named Absa- \nlom, rebelled against his father, collected an army and \nfought against David, and drove him away from Jerusa- \nlem, and tried to make himself king in his father\'s stead; \nbut after a time, his army was conquered by the army of \nDavid; and, as he tried to ride quickly away, to hide \nhimself in a wood, Absalom\'s long, beautiful hair, of which \nhe had been very proud, caught in the boughs of an oak \ntree, and he was dragged off his mule, and hung suspend- \ned in the air, until one of the king\'s officers, a captain \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL. \n\n\n\n179 \n\n\n\n\nTHE DEATH OF ABSALOM. \n\n\n\nnamed Joab, went and put him to death. But David \nmourned for Absalom very bitterly. \n\nDavid died when he was about seventy years of age, \nand left his kingdom, and much good advice, to his son \nSolomon, who was the wisest among all the kings who \nreio^ned over Israel. \n\nSolomon was at first opposed by Adonijah, one of the \nsons of David, who wished to make himself king by the \nhelp of Joab, captain of the host, and Abiathar, the priest. \n\n\n\n11 \n\n\n\n180 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nDAVID\'S PARTING ADVICE \n\n\n\nBut Adonijah and Joab were put to death^ and Abiathar \nwas deprived of his office. Then Solomon took possession \nof Ms kingdom. He at once gave all his attention to the \nbuilding of a beautiful temple, in which to worship the \nLord, for he loved God ; and, in a vision, he asked of the \nLord wisdom, in preference to long life, honor, or riches. \nOne of the wise judgments of Solomon has been recorded \nfor our instruction. The matter was this : \xe2\x80\x94 Two women \ncame before his throne, and one of them said, " O king, \nthis woman and I dwelt in the same house, and each of \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. -. n-. \n\nUS had a babe three days old. In the night, her chihl \ndied ; and she rose at midnight, while I was asleep, and \ntook away my living child, and laid her dead child in my \narms." And the other woman said, " Nay ; but the living \nson is mine, and the dead son is hers." Now Solomon \nknew that the real mother would not allow any harm to \ncome to her child ; so he said, " Bring me a sword ;" and \nthey brought a sword. Then he said, " Divide the living \nchild in two ; and give the half to one, and the half to the \nother." Then the woman to whom the child belonged \ncried out, " O, my lord, give her the child, and in no wise \nslay it ! " But the other said, " Divide it ! " Then Solo- \nmon gave the child to the woman who had compassion \non it. \n\nWhen the tem]3le was finished, it exceeded in beauty \nall the buildings of the earth ; and, when the ark was \nplaced therein by the priests, the glory of the Lord filled \nthe house. Solomon offered a very devout prayer to God, \nbegging him to hear the j)rayers that should be offered \nin the temple, and to avert all evil, and to forgive all the \nfaults of His people, and their shortcomings, when they \ncried to Him for pardon. And the fame of Solomon\'s tem- \nple, and of his house, his riches, and his wisdom, went \nover all the earth. The Queen of Sheba travelled from \nher own distant country to see and hear the wisdom of \nSolomon, and she tried him with hard questions, but he \nanswered them all. But, alas ! in his old age Solomon \n\n13 \n\n\n\n182 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON. \n\nforgot all that God liad given to him and done for him. \nHe fell into sin, and suffered his heathen wives to lead \nhim into idolatry ; and, to please them, he built temples \nfor the worship of idols. Justly was God displeased with \nhim, and He threatened Solomon that he would take away \na great portion of the kingdom from his son, on account \nof Solomon\'s wickedness. And Solomon died, after he \nhad reigned forty years over Israel. \n\n\n\nu \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n183 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV \n\n\n\n\n. , SOLOMON\'S SUCCESSORS. \n\nEHOBOAM, the son of Solomon, was made \nking after the death of his father. His con- \nduct soon gave offence to many of the old \nand wise counsellors who had helped his \nfather to govern. He scorned their good \nadvice, and threatened to increase the bur- \ndens of the people. He said, " Whereas my \nfather did lade you with a heavy yoke, I \nwill add to your yoke. My father hath \nchastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with \nscorpions." Ten of the tribes of Israel Avere so much of- \nfended that they threw off his yoke, and made Jeroboam, \na bold, ambitious youth, their king. There were now two \ndistinct kingdoms. One was called Israel, and the other, \nwhich consisted only of the tribes of Judali and Benjamin, \nwas called the kingdom of Judah. Of this latter king- \ndom, Jerusalem, with its beautiful temple, was the capital. \nSometimes there was war between these two kingdoms. \nRehoboam raised an army of an hundred and eighty thou- \nsand chosen men, and wished to make war upon the Israel- \nites ; but Shemaiah, the prophet, brought him a message \nfrom the Lord, forbidding him to go to war ; and Reho- \n\n\n\n]^g4 H^^^^ HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nboam and his raen hearkened to the word of the Lord, \nand gave up their design. The king, however, gave him- \nself up to his idle companions, to wickedness, and idolatry, \nuntil the Lord, in His anger, permitted the Egyptians to \nenter Jerusalem, and to take away the treasures out of \nthe temple and out of the king\'s house. Rehoboam reign- \ned seventeen years. After his death, Abijam, his son, \nbecame king, and he at once went to war against Jerobo- \nam ; and he recovered many cities and strong places from \nthe Israelites. Yet the Bible tells that Abijam walked \nin the sins of his father, Rehoboam, and that his heart \nwas not perfect with the Lord. \n\nHe was succeeded by his son Asa, who began his reign \nwell, by serving the Lord. He removed the idols and \ntheir temples out of his kingdom, and banished many \npersons who did evil. He even banished his own mother, \nMaacLah, from the palace^ where she had reigned as queen, \nbecause she had broken the commandments, and made an \nidol, to which she bowed down ; and Asa destroyed her \nidol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. \n\nJehoshaphat, Asa\'s son, the next king, entirely des- \ntroyed the idolators and their idols, and sent holy men to \ninstruct his subjects in their duty to God. His own peo- \nple loved their good king, and the neighboring nations \nhonored him ; but he suffered his son to marry the daugh- \nter of an idolator, and he foolishly made a league with \nthe King of Syria, who was also an idolator ; and God, to \n\n\n\niG \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. t or \n\nshow his displeasure, suffered the Moabites and Am \nmoiiites to invade Jehoshaphat\'s dominions ; and, upon \nhis re])entance, the Lord deceived the heatlien armies, so \nthat they killed each other in their dismay ; and Jehosha- \nphat ended his reign in peace. \n\nAfter the death of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram became king, \nand, under the influence of his wicked Avife, he murdered \nall his own brothers, and then worshij)ped Baal, and other \nidols, as she did. The Lord punished his idolatry by \nsufferinir the Edomites, Philistines, and Ammonites to \ninvade the country and plunder Jerusalem, and he died \nmiseral)ly of a very painful disorder. \n\nAhaziah, his son, made a friendship Avith Jehoram, \nking of Israel, and ^vent ^,vith him to flght against Jehu, \nthe son of Jehoshaphat, Avlioni the Lord had chosen to \nrule over Israel; and both were killed in the l)attle. \nAfter his death, his wicked mother. Queen Athaliah, \nput most of her grandchildren to death, and made herself \ngovernor of the kingdom. Joash, the youngest son, was, \nhowever, secretly saved, and hidden, with liis nurse, in \nthe temple for six years. Then the high priest and others \nplaced Joash on the throne, and the people cried " God \nsave the king ! " Then the wicked queen Athaliah was \nin her turn murdered. So long as Joash continued under \nthe care and advice of Jehoiada, the good priest, he Avas \npious and amia])le, l)ut as soon as Jehoiada died, and \nJoash was left to himself, he forsook God, and began to \n\n\n\n17 \n\n\n\n-.op HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nfollow idols ; and, forgetting all the kindness lie owed to \nthe good Jehoiada, he was so ungrateful as to put his son \nto death, because he had reproved the king for his wick- \nedness. The Lord then suffered great troubles and dis- \neases to fall upon Joash; He permitted the Syrians to \nspoil his country, and to carry away his treasures, and to \nslay his subjects ; and, last of all, his own servants con- \nspired against the unhappy king, and they murdered him \nin his bed. \n\nAmaziah, his son, was struck by the solemn judgments \nthat had happened to Joash, and he began his reign with \npiety and moderation. He was successful in his battles \nwith the neio-hborino;; nations. But these victories filled \nhis heart with pride, and he began to worship) idols. He \nwas defeated by the king of Israel. His own subjects \nconspired against him, and he fled away from Jerusalem ; \nbut they followed after him, and slew him at Lachish. \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH, \n\n\n\n187 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V \n\n\n\n\n_r> ,K r. KINGS OF JUDAH. \n\n/ZZIAII, also called Azariah, succeeded to the \nthrone of Judali. He, too, began his reign \nwell ; he was Avise and good, and the land \nprospered under his rule. But it was witli \nhim as with almost every one of these kings. \nWhen he was full, he forgot the Giver, and \nbecame puffed up with pride, and took uj^oii \nhimself the office of a priest ; but Avhen he \nattempted to burn incense to the Lord, he \nwas struck with a dreadful disease called leprosy, so that \nhe was obliged to leave his throne, and hide himself from \nhis subjects for the rest of his days. How many lessons \nwe may learn from God\'s dealings with his ancient peo- \nple ! How ought we to strive to avoid the feelings of \npride and other faults, which brought such heavy punish- \nment upon them ! Let us say with all our hearts \xe2\x80\x94 " Lead \nus not into temptation." \n\nWhen Uzziah was thus unable to attend to his affairs, \nhis son Jotham took the government into his hands. He \nwas a good youth, and reigned with greater wisdom than \nhis father ; but after his death, Ahaz his son reigned over \nJudah, and Ahaz was an idolator, and a wickeder man \nthan any who had reigned over Judah. He not only sac- \nrificed to heathen gods, l)ut he went so far as to shut up \n\n19 \n\n\n\n188 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nISAIAH BEFORE HEZEKIAH. \n\n\n\nthe doors of the temple of the Lord. His kingdom was \ninvaded by the Syrians, and the Israelites his people were \ncarried away captives ; until the Lord put an end to the \nwickedness of Ahaz by cutting him off in his youth. His \nson, Hezekiah, did all he could to remedy the distresses \nof his country as soon as he became king ; he destroyed \nthe idols and their temples, opened the holy temple, and \nencouraged the priests and people to worship the Lord \nGod Almighty, and he offered burnt offerings and sang \n\n\n\n20 \n\n\n\nTHE KTNCxS OF ISRAEL AND juDAH. i oq \n\npraises to God. He sent letters to tlie Israelites, as well \nas to Lis own subjects, inviting tliem to attend tlie services \nin the temple and to keep the feast. \n\nBeing seized with a j)ainful disorder, he was visited \nby the prophet Isaiah, who told him to set his house in \norder because he must die. Hezekiah was much distress- \ned to hear this message ; he grieved that he must die and \nleave his country to the Assyrians, who were then invading \nit; and he prayed earnestly to God that he might be spared \na little longer. The merciful Lord hearkened to his prayer, \nand spared his life for fifteen years longer. But before \nthis sickness befell him, Hezekiah had received an infa- \nmous letter from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, threaten- \ning to destroy Jerusalem. Hezekiah, trusting in the \nLord\'s promise, prej^ared for the defence, and the Lord \npromised him help by the mouth of Isaiah the prophet ; \nand during the night the Lord sent an angel and smote \nall the Assyrians, and when Hezekiah and his people arose \nin the morning, the city was surrounded with the dead \nbodies of their enemies. Although the Assyrian king, \nSennacherib, escaped for a while, he was soon after killed \nby his own sons. After this, Hezekiah increased in honor \nand riches, and had many treasures ; but, when the king \nof Babylon sent him a present, he was vain enough to \nexpose all his possessions to the messengers, and Isaiah \nwas sent by God to reprove him for his folly, and to tell \nhim that all these things would be liereafter carried away \n\n\n\n190 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nto Babylon, where Ilezekiali\'s clescenclaiits slioulcl be \nslaves in the king\'s palace. \n\nHezekiah ended his life in peace, and left the crown to \nhis son Manasseh. Manasseh was twelve years old when \nhe began to reign, and he reigned fifty-iive years in Jeru- \nsalem ; and he did that which was wicked in the sight of \nthe Lord, and abandoned himself to the worship of idols. \nHe went on from one wickedness to another, putting the \nLord\'s prophets to death, and we are told that he seduced \nthe people to do more wickedness than those nations whom \nthe Lord destroyed before the children of Israel ; and he \nshed innocent blood. Then the Assyrians came and took \nhim prisoner, and carried him in chains to Babylon ; but, \nupon his repentance, he was restored to his throne, and \nled a humble and pious life for many years, and was buri- \ned at last in the garden of his own house at Uzza. \n\nHis son. Anion, however, was a wicked man, and did \nevil for two years, and then his servants killed him. The \ncrown now came to Anion\'s son, Josiah, w^ho was one of \nthe good children of the Bible. He put down all j)laces \nof idolatrous worship, and caused the book of God\'s laws \nto be publicly read and explained to his people by the \npriests in the temple, which he had restored and repaired; \nbut he died of a wound received in battle with the Egypt- \nians, and was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz, who was \nsoon dethroned by the king of Egypt, wdao placed Elia> \nkim, his brother, on the throne of Judah, and changed his \nname to Jehoiakim. 22 \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n191 \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER YI. \n\n\n\nCRIME AND PUNISHMENT \n\n\n\n-HIS prince ^vas deaf to the warnings of the \nprophet Jeremiah, and soon fell into the po^v- \ner of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who \ncarried away Daniel and several other princes \nas captives to Babylon. He, however, per- \nmitted Jehoialvim to retain his crown, on con- \ndition of his 23aying large sums of tribute \nmoney ; and when the king failed to pay this, \nNebuchadnezzar deprived him of his crown, \nput him to death, and made his son Jehoiachin king in his \nstead \xe2\x80\x94 at least, for a short time. But his love of riches \nsoon prevailed, and Nebuchadnezzar came and carried \naway all the treasures, even the gold and silver vessels \nout of the temple ; and as God had before threatened, the \nking and the greater number of the Jews were led into \ncaptivity in Babylon. Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoia- \nkim, succeeded to the throne, after the departure of his \nnephew; but he also offended the powerful Nebuchadnez- \nzai\', and brought destruction upon himself, his subjects, \nand his country. Such was the fate of the Jews, or of \nthose two tribes of the Israelites who continued faithful \nto the descendants of David. They had rebelled against \nthe Lord. Discontented and turbulent, they had despised \nthe rule of the judges He had set over them, and in their \n\n\n\nL\': \n\n\n\n192 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nobstinacy persisted in having kings who should lead them \nto battle ; and what had been the result ? These kings, \nso greatly desired, had been tyrants, oppressors, and idola- \nters, and thus the fulfilment of their own wish had brought \nruin on the people who forsook God, who had brought \nthem out of Egypt, and given them the land of Canaan \nfor a j)ossession. Let us beware of disobedience. \n\nNow let us see what became of the rest of the Israel- \nites who were oftended with Rehoboam, the son of Solo- \nmon, and who refused to obey his laws, but revolted and \nchose for themselves a king named Jeroboam. I told you \nhe was bold and ambitious, and proud of being chosen to \ngovern so many people. He soon built himself a great \npalace at Shechem, and adorned the city ; and then, fear- \ning his subjects would want to go to Jerusalem to worship \nin the beautiful temple which Solomon had built, he made \ntwo large calves of gold, and set them up in difterent parts \nof his kingdom; then he called himself the high priest, \nand taught the people to offer sacrifices to these golden \nimages, which he called their gods. One day, as he was \nabout to offer sacrifices at Bethel, there came a prophet \nand told him that at some future time there Avould arise \na pious king of Judah, named Josiah, who would destroy \nthis altar. Jeroboam was very angry with this prophet ; \nand as Jeroboam stretched out his hand to seize the pro- \nphet, God dried up his arm, so that he could not pull his \nhand back again ; and the altar on which Jeroboam was \n\n\n\n24 \n\n\n\nTHE KIXCJS OP JUDAH AND ISRAEL \n\n\n\n193 \n\n\n\noffering the sacrifices to the golden calf was rent to pieces, \nand the ashes were thrown off, to prove the truth of the \nprophet\'s words. Now, Jeroboam felt that it was of no \nuse to pray to the golden calf to restore his hand, but he \nentreated the man of God to pray for him to the Lord \nthat his hand might be restored to him, and the prayer \n^^\'as granted. Every word the prophet told to the king \ncame to pass : his people were killed in battle, his cities \ntaken, and he spent his days in guilt and misery, and died \nunregretted. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER YII. \n\nIMORE ABOUT THE KINGS. \n\nEROBOAM was succeeded by his son Nadab, \nwho followed in his evil ways, and, like \nhim, set a l:)ad example to his subjects. But \nhis reign was short, and as he went to lay \nsiege to a city of the Philistines, Baasha, \none of his own subjects, smote him to death, \nand made himself king in his stead. Not \ncontent with having killed Nadab, Baasha \nrested not until he had put every member of the house of \nJeroboam to death, which judgment had been foretold by \nthe prophet to Jeroboam\'s wife. Baasha continued the \nAvar which his predecessors had begun against the king of \nJudah, and he built the city of Ramah, which w^as in the \n\n25 \n\n\n\n\nX94 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n})orclers of the kingdom of Judali ; but Asa, who, as we \nhave heard, was a good king, conquered several cities by \nthe aid of the king of Syria, and Baasha, finding Asa too \nstrong for him, left off building Ramah. His life and his \nworks were evil. He died, and his son Elah succeeded \nhim. But the crown which had been gained by murder \nwas not long worn in peace by the murderer\'s son ; for, \nless than two years afterwards, Zimri, one of his captains, \nfound him drinking in the house of his steward, and put \nhim and all his household to death. Zimri then made \nhimself king, but he only enjoyed the throne for a few \ndays. His peo2:)le consj)ired against him, and insisted on \nmaking Omri their king; and Zimri, being besieged in \nthe city of Tirzah, in despair set fire to his palace, and \ndied in the ruins. There is no peace or comfort for the \nwicked. Fearfully true is the warning given to us in \nanother part of the Bible, were we are told that mischief \nshall hunt the violent man. % \n\nOmri built himself a new palace at Samaria, and there \nhe made the capital of his country. He was a wicked, seM- \nish king, and taught his people to sin ; and his son Ahab \nwas more wicked than any king who had gone before him. \nAhab married a handsome but very wicked heathen wife, \nwho persuaded him to build an aitar and make a grove \nfor the worship of an idol called Baal. In his reign the \nprophet Elijah lived. This good man went to Ahab, and \nannounced to him that the Lord would, as a punishment \n\n26 \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n195 \n\n\n\n\nELIJAH S SACRIFICK. \n\n\n\nfor his wickedness, send a grievous famine upon his coun- \ntry. Many poor peoj^le suffered the pains of hunger and \nthirst for the sin of their ruler, and for following his evil \nexample. On one occasion, he proved to Ahab, by tire \nthat descended from heaven upon a sacrifice, that Baal \nwas no God, and that only the Lord God Almighty was \nable to liear and answer prayer ; and the people, being con- \nvinced of tlieir error, put all the j)riests of Baal to death, \nhardened his heart, and only strove to \n\n\n\nAhab, however \n\n\n\n27 \n\n\n\n196 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nkill tlie holy j^rophet; and liis pride, obstinacy, and cru- \nelty became greater every day. He, however, proved that \nhe believed in the truth of Elijah\'s ]_3redictions, though he \nwould not reform, by asking the prophet to pray for rain, \nto save his perishing cattle; and the Lord sent rain at the \nprophet\'s j)rayer. \n\nAhab, soon after, looked with covetous eyes upon a \nvineyard belonging to a man of Israel named Naboth, and \nwhich joined the king\'s palace. He wished to purchase \nthis vineyard, or to give another in exchange to Naboth ; \nbut Naboth refused to part with his portion. Jezebel, \nthe heathen wife of Ahab, no sooner discovered that her \nhusband was fretting himself ill for envy that he could \nnot obtain Naboth\'s vineyard, than she wrote false letters, \nand bribed some wicked men to go and bear false witness \nao^ainst the innocent Nabotli, declarino; that Naboth had \nblasphemed God and the king. So Naboth was stoned to \ndeath, and the wicked king took possession of the vine- \nyard he had coveted. His wicked action brought him no \nenjoyment, for God sent a prophet to meet him in the \nvineyard, and to tell him what dreadful judgments He \nwould send upon him and his family. Ahab was killed \nin battle some time after, and was succeeded by his son \nAhaziah, also an ungodly prince, and a worshipper of idols. \nOnce Ahaziah fell through the lattice of an upper cham- \nber, and hurt himself grievously. He sent messengers to \ninquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, whether he might \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. -. qh, \n\nrecover of liis injuries ; but Elijah tlie prophet met them \non their way, and desired the messengers to return and \ntell the king that he should never again come down off \nhis bed. Ahaziah then sent a captain with fifty soldiers, \nto fetch Elijah; and Elijah, instead of going down, sat \nupon a hill, and called down fire from lieaven ; and God \nsent down fire from heaven, and consumed the captain \nwith his fifty men. Then Ahaziah sent a second captain, \nAvith his fifty; and again did Elijah call down fire from \nheaven, and consumed them. The king sent out a third \ncaptain Avith his fifty soldiers, and, because he cried to \nElijah for mercy, Elijah spared their lives, and went down \nwith them to the king, and there he told Ahaziah that he \nshould surely die. After Ahaziah\'s death, Jehoram, his \nbrother, reigned over Israel. He Avas not quite so sinful \nas the rest of the kings of Israel. He made a friendship \nAvith Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, Avho Avas married to his \nsister Athaliah, and these tAVO kings subdued the Moab- \nites, Avho had rebelled. Then came the Syrians to Avar \nagainst Israel, and God j^jermitted Elisha, another of his \npro])hets, to disclose the plans of the Syrians to the king \nof Israel. And Avhen the king of Syria discovered this, \nhe sent an army to take Elisha prisoner ; but Elisha smote \nthem all Avith blindness, and then led them as captives \ninto the midst of Samaria; and Avhen their eyes Avere open- \ned, the Syrians found themselves in the presence of the \nking of Israel. The ]dncr asked Elisha Avhat he should do \n\n29 \n\n\n\n198 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nto the men, and Elislia told him to give them food and \nsend them l^ack to their master. Benhadad, however, was \nnot grateful for this generous conduct; he laid siege to \nSamaria, and shut it up so closely that the poor j)eople \nwere all nearly starved for w^ant of food ; they could not \nget out of their gates to buy any provisions, and so horri- \nble was the famine, that the poor mothers ate their own \nchildren to appease their hunger. When the king saw to \nwhat misery they were reduced, he threatened to kill Eli- \nsha as the cause of it, but Elisha told him that the next day \nfood would be plentiful. That same night the Lord fright- \nened the Syrian army so that they fled, and left behind \nthem all their provisions : and the Israelites went out and \nplundered the tents, and took the food, and all the gar- \nments and valuables the Syrians had left. \n\nIn due time, the Lord brought to pass the judgments \nHe had pronounced against the descendants of Ahab. He \nsent Elisha to a young captain named Jehu, and desired \nhim to anoint him king of Israel ; and then Jehu went at \nonce to Jezreel, and he shot Jehoram through the heart, \nand made himself king. And when Jezebel, the king\'s \nmother, looked out at a window, Jehu called out and de- \nsired her attendants to throw her down ; and they threw \nher out of the window ; and Jehu trampled her under the \nfeet of his horses, so that the dogs devoured her, as the \nprophet Elijah had foretold. Jehu then destroyed all the \nchildren of Ahab, and his grandchildren, and caused all \n\n\n\nTHE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. \n\n\n\n199 \n\n\n\n\nDEATH OF JEZEBKL, \n\n\n\nthe worshippers of Baal to be put to death. Jehu him- \nself did many wicked acts, and permitted his subjects to \nworship the golden calves I spoke of before. After his \ndeath the crown came to his son Jehoahaz, who, by his sins, \nincurred the anger of the Lord ; and the Syrians oppressed \nthe Israelites, so that they were obliged to dwell in tents. \nAfter Jehoahaz, reigned Joash, his son. Although Joash \nwas not a good man, he was a great warrior, and gained \nthree victories over the Syrians, and even conquered \nAmaziah, king of Judah ; and, as we have before read, he \n\n\n\n200 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nSpoiled tlie temple and carried off the treasures. His son, \nJeroboam, also followed the evil ways of his forefathers ; \nhis people were oppressed by their enemies, but Jeroboam \nwas a brave king, and fought for them, and recovered \nseveral towns which the Syrians had taken from the Jews ; \nand when he died there was great confusion, and no king \nwas placed upon the throne for some years. At length \nZachariah, the son of Jeroboam, was made king, but was \nkilled after a reign of a few months ; and others filled the \nthrone, for a few days or weeks, until the Assyrians over- \nran the whole country, and took Samaria by storm, after \na siege of three years, and took Hoshea, the king, prisoner, \nand shut him up, and carried away most of his subjects as \ncaptives, about the same time that the Jews were taken \ncaptives to Babylon. You know God had threatened the \npeople that their kings would cause them great sorrow ; \nand yet He for many years bore ivith their ingratitude \nand wickedness, and beheld the very people for whom He \nhad wrought such great wonders bowing down to blocks \nof wood and stone; but when they became too much \nhardened to understand His mercy, then the Lord suffer- \ned their kingdom to be destroyed. Yet, upon their repent- \nance and amendment, His merciful ear was open to their \ncry. He brought them, a small remnant, back again to \ntheir own land, and permitted them to rebuild the beau- \ntiful temple, prompted and assisted by their prophets, \nEzra and Neheiniah. \n\n\n\nI r \nI I \n\n\n\n201 \n\n\n\npitlf |l0ur$ toit^ tlje ^lible. \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I . \n\nM E L C H I Z E D E K , BALAAM, AND GIDEON. \n\nROM the time of Moses, the great leader who \nbroiiglit the IsraeHtes out of Egypt, through \naH the time of the judges and kings of Is- \nrael, it frequently hap2:>ened that the Lord \nmade use of the mouths of men, whereby to \nannounce his intentions towards the Jews. \nThus men were sent from God to proclaim \nwhat the Lord would do for the deliverance \nor for the punishment of his people. Alas ! \nit was generally God\'s wrath for disobedience and idolatry \nthat these good men had to announce ; for the Jews w^ere \na hard-hearted and stubborn people. These men were \ncalled prophets. They were inspired by God\'s Spirit to \nforetell what would happen to others at a time when there \nwas no Bi})le ; and some of these prophets suffered many \n\n\n\n\nn/^9 ^^^^ HOURS WITH THP: BIBLE. \n\nliardsliips for their love to God, and for doing his service. \nFrom their history we may learn how wonderfully God \ntook care of his servants, and hoAV he preserved the lives \nof those who obeyed his words. \n\nThe first pro23het mentioned in Scripture after the \nflood was Melchizedek, who Avas a prophet, a priest, and \na king. He lived in the time of Abraham, whom he \nblessed, saying, " Blessed be Abram of the most high \nGod." Moses was a prophet; indeed, he Avas in some \nrespects the greatest of the prophets. Joshua, his suc- \ncessor, prophesied for the benefit of the people over whom \nGod had appointed him to judge. After the death of \nJoshua, a prophetess, named Deboi-ah, dwelt under a \npalm tree ; and judged the j)eople of Israel, whom she \ndirected to go out against their enemies, and to win a \ngreat battle. One of her songs, giving an account of the \nbattle, and of God\'s mercy, is written in the Book of \nJudges. This song sets forth that it was God, and not \nthe ten thousand fighting men of the Israelites, who had \ngained the victory ; for it is God alone who can enable \nus to conquer. Without his help we are lost. \n\nA very great example and warning is offered to us in \nthe history of a prophet who lived at the time when the \nIsraelites had not yet conquered Canaan. His name was \nBalaam. His history shows how a man may bring ruin \non himself by being greedy and covetous. \n\nBalak, a heathen prince, who lived near the camp of \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n203 \n\n\n\n\nBAJ.AAM AND THE ANGKJ,. \n\n\n\nthe Israelites, before they reached the land of Canaan, \nai)plied to Balaam, and offered him great gifts if he woidd \ncurse the Lord\'s people. Balaam would liave done so for \ntlie sake of gain, had n(jt the Lord refused to let him go \n^N\'itli the messengers. But afterwards, when he persisted \nin going on liis wicked errand, God sent an angel to meet \nhim on the way with a drawn sword. The ai-^s on which \nBalaam rode sa^v the angel, though Balaam did not ; and \nthree; times the ass turned aside out of the way to avoid \nthe angel. Balaam struck the ass each tim(\\ Tlie third \n\n\n\n204 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\ntime lie did this, God miraculously opened the mouth of \nthis poor dumb beast, who spoke to Balaam, and justified \nher conduct. Balaam\'s eyes were opened, and he saw the \nangel, and said, " I have sinned." Then God sufi\'ered \nBalaam to proceed on his journey, and told him that the \nwords he was to speak should be put into his mouth. So? \ninstead of cursing the Israelites, all his words M^ere words \nof blessing. He lost the reAvard that Balak had promised \nto bestow upon him, and was afterwards killed by the \nIsraelites in their war with the Midianites. Gideon, the \nson of Joash, was another great prophet. The angel of \nthe Lord found him threshing Avheat, and said to him, \n" Hail, thou mighty man of valour." And Gideon became \na great leader of the Israelites, and proj)hesied. unto them. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\nABOUT THE PROPHET SAMUEL. \n\nA MITEL was the next j)rc)phet of whom \nwe read in the Bible. At the time of \nhis birth, the word of the Lord seldom \ncame to his people, and no prophet seems \nto have been able to foretell events for \nsome time, until God called Samuel, \nwhen he was but a little child, and told \nhim what evil He would bring upon the \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa0201 \n\n\n\n\nSAMUEr, ANOINTING DAVID. \n\n\n\nliigli priest Eli, and his disobedient sons, Ho2:)hni and \nPhinehas. After the death of Eli, Samuel was priest and \nruler of the Israelites. lie helped them to fight against \ntheir enemies, the Philistines, and he judged the Israelites \nfor many }\'ears. While the}\' h(*arkened to his voice and \nol)eyed him, they Avere safe and happ}\', because he taught \nthem to love the Lord their (rod, and to serve him. \n\nThe people became self-Avilled, discontented, and un- \nhappy. The}\' declared they woidd have a king of their \n\n\n\nr)^vp HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nown to rule over tliem. The 2:ood Samuel went to his \nGod for counsel in all his difficulties; so he prayed to \nGod to tell him what to do. God was very angry at the \ningratitude of the Israelites ; but he granted their request, \nand told Samuel to anoint Saul, who was a very tall, fine \nyoung man, to be king over the people ; and, instead of \nbeing jealous or angry, Samuel tried very hard to teach \nSaul to do his duty as a king. After he had anointed \nSaul to be king over Israel, he taught the people their \nduty to their new king, and wrote it down in a book, to \nhelp them to remember it. \n\nAlthough Samuel knew that God would disappoint \nthe people, and make Saul an occasion of much sorrow to \nhis subjects, he called them together again not long be- \nfore his death, and talked to them very kindly and very \nsolemnly. He reminded them how they had dwelt in \nsafety without a king, and yet had not been content, but \nhad insisted upon having one. And now he said, " Be- \nhold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have \ndesired. If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and obey \nhis voice, and not rebel against the commandment of \nthe Lord, then shall ye also, and the king that reigneth \nover you, continue following the Lord your God. But if \nye will not obey, then shall the hand of the Lord be \nagainst you, as it was against your fathers." And to prove \nthat the words he spoke were put into his heart by God, \nSamuel called unto the Lord, and the Lord sent a storm \n\n\n\nTHE PIIOIMIETS. \n\nof tlnmdcn* and rnin, and the people feared greatly, and \nacknowledged their sin. TIkui Samuel comforted them \nvery kindly, promising tliat if they ^vould folloAv^ after \n(rod, all would be well. He continued \xe2\x80\x94 " Th(> Lord will \nnot forsake his people, for his great nanie\\s sake ; for it \nhath pleased the Lord to make }\'ou his i)eople. Only fear \nthe Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heai\'t ; for \nconsider what great things he hath done for you. But if \nye shall still do wicked things, ye shall he consumed, hotli \nye and your king." \n\nTlien Samuel went home ; and he judged tlu^ people \nno more. But he lived long enough to see Saul proud \nand self-willed, bringing trouble on himself and his people, \nand going on from one disol)edience to anothei-, imtil he \ntook upon himself to oifer sacrifices to (rod, instead of \nAvaiting for Samuel, who alone, as a priest and a prophet, \nought to have done this. Then (lod sent Samuel to tell \nSaul that he was so much displeased at his pride and im- \npatience, that he would presently take away his kingdom, \nand give it to a better man than he. Samuel obeyed (lod, \ntliough he was very sorry in his heart for Saul, whom lie \nhad loved very much ever since he had anointed him king. \nBut the Lord told him not to mourn for Saul any longer, \nbut to go and find a young shepherd lad named David, \nwhom he shoidd anoint as king over Israel in the stead \nof Saul. And Samuel obeyed the Lord, and went and \nanointed David to be king; but David did not royally \n\n\n\n208 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nreign over tlie people until after the deatli of Saul. And \nSamuel . returned and dwelt at Ilamali, Avliere lie died, \nl)eing old and full of years ; and tlie Israelites mourned \nfor Samuel many days. He had spent his long life in \nloving and serving God, and now his soul was taken to \nheaven to be happy with his Maker in glory. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\n\n\nNATHAN AND OTHER PROPHETS. \n\n\' ATHAX Avas a prophet who was sent to \nrej)roach king David when he fell into sin, \nand he also counselled and instructed him \nho^v to I)uild a house for the Lord. But \nthat same night, after he had spoken to \nDavid, the Avord of the Lord came to Na- \nthan, and told him that David should not \nbuild the house which he w ished to build, \nbut that his son should be a man of peace, \nand he should build a beautiful temple. And Nathan \ncame and told David all that God had said. Some years \nafter this, Nathan Avas appointed by God to anoint Solo- \nmon, the son of David, to be king in the room of his \nfather; and Ave are told in the Bible hoAv Zadok the \npriest, and Nathan the prophet, anointed Solomon king; \nand all the ])eople cried, " (xod save king Solomon !" \n\n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n200 \n\n\n\n\nNATHAN THE PROPHET. \n\nOne prophet there is whose name we do not know. \nHe is- mentioned in the Bible only as "the disobedient \nprophet ;" and the history of his fate may be read with \nadvantage by us all. God had given him the gift of pro- \nphecy, lie who had been endowed with that wonderful \nl)ower, so that he could tell what would happen, knew \nwhat was right ; but, alas ! he did that which was sinful, \nand God punished him for his sins. Kehoboam, the son \nof Solomon, who was anointed king after his father\'s \ndeatli, displeased the peoj)le, so some of them rebelled \n\n\n\n,^-. ^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nagainst him, and chose another man, named JeroT)oam, to \nbe king over them. This JeroLoam, who was styled the \nking of Israel, was a very Avicked maiL He not only fol- \nlowed false gods himself, but he persuaded the people \nthat they need not go up to the holy temple at Jerusalem, \nwhere Rehoboam the king of Judah, dwelt, but that they \nwould do better to worshi]) two golden calves that he \nhad set up in Bethel and in Dan. One day, when he \nw^as burning incense upon one of these altars, God sent a \n]^rophet to warn him what would happen hereafter. And \nwhen the prophet spoke to the altar, behold, it was rent, \nand the ashes were poured out upon the ground. Then \nJeroboam, in great anger, put out his hand to seize hold \nof the pro])het ; but, behold, the hand of the king was \nwithered up in an instant, so that he had no more power to \nmove it again. Jeroboam was greatly alarmed, and very \npenitent for his sin ; and he said unto the man of Grod, " In- \ntreat for me that my hand may be restored me again." \n\nWicked as he was, Jeroboam believed that Clod\'s pro- \nphet was able to do whatever God permitted; and he felt \nthat his own prayers would be of no avail, because he \nhad followed after idols, and had not worshipped the one \ntrue God^ and trusted in him. 80 the prophet besought \nthe Lord, and the hand of Jeroboam Avas restored to him \nagain. Then Jeroboam offered the man of God a reward, \nand wished him to go into his house and refresh himself; \nbut the pro])het answered, " If thou wilt give me half \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n211 \n\n\n\nthine house, I will not go in witli thee, neither will I eat \nbread nor drink water in this place. For so it was charged \nme by the word of the Lord, saying. Eat no bread nor \ndrink water, nor return again by the v/ay thou earnest." \nSo he returned home by a different road, and thus far all \n\n\n\n\nTHE MEETING OF THE TWO PROPHETS. \n\n\n\nwas well. The prophet had performed his errand, and \nhad discharged his office faithfully. But now he grew \ncareless, so that, in the time of temptation, he was not \n\n\n\nwatching, and he fell. \n\n\n\nThere met him by the way an old prophet. This old \n\n\n\nI \n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. I \n\nAlA \' \n\nprophet had heard of the wonderful things that had been \ndone in Bethel; and he followed after the man of God \nand persuaded him to return with him, saying, " Come \nhome and eat bread with me." And when the man of \nGod refused, the old. prophet again tempted him, by tell- \ning him that an angel had appeared unto him, and told \nliim to bring the man of God back to his house, and there \nto provide him with bread and water. Now this was \nquite false, and the man of God should have hearkened to \nthe words of the Lord, and to none other ; but he per- \nsuaded himself that the words of the old prophet were \ntrue, because he wished to believe them ; and he went \nand ate with him. While they sat at table, there came \na message from God, saying that the man who had diso- \nbeyed the Lord should not be buried in tlie sej^ulchre \nof his fathers. \n\nAnd it came to pass that, as he rode homewards upon \nan ass, a lion came forth and slew him ; but the lion did \nnot devour the dead body, nor did he kill the ass. The j \nlion was found standing by the side of the body, to the | \nsurprise of all who heard it. This was the punishment of I \ndisobedience. And ^vhen the old proj)het, who had de- \nceived the man of God and lured him from his duty, heard \nwhat had happened, he mourned over him, and went after \nthe body, and buried it in his own sepulchre. But his \nsorrow could not undo the mischief that had been done, | \nnor could his tears restore life to the disobedient prophet. \n\n\n\n12 \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n213 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\n\n\n\n.AI R E G Pt E A T PROPHETS. \n\nIRACLES and messages had no effect \nupon Jeroboam ; he still continued very \nwicked. Then God sent sickness and \nsorrow into his house. His little son \nwas very ill indeed : and, in his trouble, \nJeroboam remembered another prophet, \nnamed Ahijah, who had foretold his \nbeing made king many years before, and \nwho was now a very old man. So lie \nsent his ^vife with a present, to ask the prophet God\'s \nwill concerning the child ; and, although she disguised \nherself, because she did not wish to be known, Ahijah, to \nwhom God had made his will known, heard her as soon \nas she reached the door, and cried out, " Come in, thou \nwife of Jeroboam; I know thee, and I have a fearful mes- \nsage unto thee from the Lord. God will punish Jeroboam, \nwhom He hath made king over ten tribes ; He will send \nevil upon thy house, and on thy family ; the dogs shall \neat their flesh in the city, and the birds shall eat their \ndead bodies in the field. But the child who is sick shall \ndie in peace, and be buried and mourned, because he loves \nGod ; and God in mercy will take him to heaven, and \nfrom the trouble to come. Go home, and when thou \n\n13 \n\n\n\n214 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\ncomest tliither, tlie child shall die." And so it was, that \nas the mother\'s feet entered the door of the house, the \nLord took away the soul of the child, and he was dead. \nThis was another instance of God\'s showing His prophets \nwhat would be done in time to come. \n\nSome time after the death of Jeroboam, God raised up \nd very holy prophet, one of the greatest and wisest among \nall Avho Avere sent to the Jews. His name was Elijah. \nHe lived in the days of Ahab, a very wicked king, who \nworshipj)ed idols, and one idol in particular, called Baal; \nand on account of this idolatry, God sent many troubles \nupon Ahab and his people. One of these trials was a \nsore famine. To show the people that it was not by \nchance that this sore calamity came upon them, God sent \nhis prophet Elijah to tell Ahab that there should be nei- \nther dew nor rain upon the land for a long time, and that, \nin conserpience of this, there would be neither corn, nor \nfruits, nor grass, nor even a drop of water to drink. All \nthis came to pass ; but, for fear Ahab should ])ut him to \ndeath as the cause of this famine, Elijah was obliged to \nhide himself among the rocks. God, however, took care \nof him ; for near his hiding-place was a little brook, called \nClierith, and for a long time the brook was well supj)lied \nwith water, and ravens came every morning and every \nevening, and brought him ])read and flesh to eat. After \na time, however, the l)rook was quite dried up ; but God \ndid not suffer his servant to thirst, for the Avord of the \n\n14 \n\n\n\nTHE PROPllKTS. ^, ^ \n\nLord came to Elijali, saying, " Arise, get thee to Zarcpliatli, \nwliicli heloiigetli to Zidoii, and dwell tkere ; behold, I \nhave coinmaiided a widow woman there to sustain thee." \nSo Elijali obeyed the voice of tlie Lord. And wlien he \ncame to the gate of Zarejdiath, he saw a poor woman \ngathering sticks. He called to lier, and said, " Fetch me, \nI j)ray tliee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink ;\'\' \nand as she was going to fetch it, he called to her and said, \n" Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." \nAnd she said, "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a \ncake, but only a handful of meal in a barrel and a little \noil in a cruse ;" and she went on to say that she was gath- \nering a few sticks to bake a cake of this for herself and \nher son, and when that was done they must die of hunger. \nBut Elijah told her not to fear, for tliat the barrel of meal \nshould not waste, nor should the cruse of oil ftiil, until \nthe Lord should send rain upon the earth. And it was \nas he had said. Upon this meal and this oil they were \nall supported many days. God, however, thought fit to \ntry the poor woman\'s fiiith, and to show her the wonder- \nful power of his prophet, by taking the life of her child. \nWhile Elijah al)ode in the house with her, her child died. \nShe thought God had done this to punish her for her sins, \nand she ran to tell the prophet of her ^voe ; so he took \nthe poor dead child out of his motluir\'s arms, and carried \nliim u[) to his own room, and there he prayed earnestly \nto God that the child miglit live again. And the Lord \n\n\n\n216 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nELIJAH KAISETH THE WIDOW\'s SON. \n\nheard the prayer of Elijah, and the soul of the child came \ninto him again, and he revived. . And Elijah brought \ndown the child alive, gave him to his mother, and said \nto her, "See, thy son liveth !" And the woman said \nto Elijah, \'^ Now by this I know that thou art a man \nof God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is \ntruth." \n\n\n\n16 \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n217 \n\n\n\nCHAP T E R V \n\n\n\n\nELIJAH A N I) \n\n\n\nAB \n\n\n\nFTER til is God sent the prophet to meet \nAhal), Avho, with 01)a(liali, the governor \nof his lioiise, was searchinc: throuij^h the \nLand for water and for grass for tlieir \nhoi\'ses. Obadiah was a good man, and he \nwas gLad when he saw Elijah ; but Ahal) \nhated Elijah, and asked him, " Art thou \nhe that trou1)leth Israel f Elijah told \nAhal) that the cause of the troubles was \n])ecause Aliab and his people were worshippei\'s of Baal ; \n" and now come with the pi-iests of Baal to Mount Car- \nmel," he said, " and let us see who is the true God." So \nAhab and all his wicked prophets, four hundred and fifty \nof them, came to meet Elijah, and many of the peoj)le \nof Isi\'ael were there also. Then Elijah said to them all, \n" Choose now this day whom ye wnll serve. If Baal be \nthe true God, serve Baal ; but if God be the Lord, then \nfollow him." And he commanded the priests of Baal to \nbuild an altar, and to put wood upon it ; to put no fire \nunder, but to call upon Baal to answer them by sending \nfire, if he were really God. But they waited, and prayed, \nand called upon Baal in vain, for there was no fire come \n\n\n\nHALF HOUKb WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n218 \n\nupon the sacrifice. Then they l)ecame desperate, and cut \nthemselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed \nout upon them. Baal, who was only an idol of wood or \nstone, could neither hear nor answer them. Then Elijah \nbuilt up an altar and laid a bullock upon it, and j^oured \nwater upon it ; and then he prayed to his God, the Lord \nGod of Israel. And the Lord heard the prayer of Elijah, \nand he sent fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice \nand the wood, and dried up the water ; and the people \nwho saw it cried aloud, " The Lord, he is God ! the Lord, \nhe is God!" Then Elijah commanded those who really \nbelieved in God to put all the followers of Baal to death, \nand they did so ; but Ahab and his people w^ere spared. \nAnd not long after this, God sent rain upon the earth in \nanswer to the seven times repeated prayer of his holy \nprophet. There came a little cloud out of the sea like \na man\'s hand, and it spread over all the sky, and the rain \ngushed plentifully down. But, although all the people \nw^ere thankful, Jezebel, the wicked wife of AhaT), sought \nto kill Elijah. After having been fed by an angel, and \nafterwards enabled to fast forty days, Elijah w^as sent to \nanoint Hazael to be king of Syria, and Jehu to be king of \nIsrael ; and Elisha, a good man, wdio was ploughing in the \nfield, to be his servant, that he might learn to prophesy \nafter Elijah should have gone. \n\nVery peaceful and glorious was the departure of the \ngood and righteous Elijah. When God had no long(3r \n\n18 \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. ,^-. ^ \n\nany work for him to do, He suffered liiiii to go to Bethel, \naccompanied by Elisha, the servant whom he had chosen, \nand he told him that he was going away to heaven, but \nthat after he was gone Elisha would have to do God\'s \nmessages in his place. And all the prophets knew that \nGod was going to take Elijah from the earth : but Elisha \ncould not l)ear to speak or to hear about losing his dear \nmaster, l:)ut he watched and listened to all Elijah \nsaid and did ; and he saw him smite the waters of the \nriver Jordan with his mantle, and the waters divided, so \nthat Elisha and his master walked over on dry ground. \nAnd when Elijah asked him what he should give him, or \nwhat he should do for him before they parted, Elisha \nanswered, " Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon \nme." But Elijah could not give the Holy Spirit to his \nservant. No ; he could only pray to God to bestow his \ngrace upon him. And while he was talking to him, and \ngiving Elisha good advice, there ap^^eared beside them \nhorses of fire, and a chariot of fire ; and Elijah was taken \naway from Elisha, and carried up into heaven in a whirl- \nwind ; And Elisha could only cry after him, saying, " My \nfather, my father ; the chariot of Israel and the horsemen \nthereof!" When Elisha could no lono:er see his master, \nhe rent his clothes, and gathered up the mantle that had \nfallen from Elijah, and he carried it in great anxiety to \nthe bank of the river. He lono-ed to know whether hie \nprayer had been granted ; and he smote the waters of \n\n19 \n\n\n\n220 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BTBLR. \n\n\n\n\nELISHA IN THE FIERY CHARIOT. \n\n\n\nJordan witli the mantle, as Elijah had done; and, behold, \nthe waters fled back as they had done before, and Elisha \ncrossed on dry land. He felt that God had granted the \ny)rayers of Elijah, and he knew that His Spirit would \nenable him to work miracles : and the other prophets saw \nit, and said, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest upon Elisha," \nand they treated him with great respect. And Elisha \nwas enabled, l)y God\'s Spirit, to work many miracles for \nthe sons of the prophets. While he was at Jericho, the \npeople were grieving because their land was barren, and \n\n\n\n20 \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. .-),^-j \n\nthe waters were hitter ; so, when Elisha heard their com- \n})haints, he said, " Bring me a cruse of salt ;" and he went \nto the spring of the waters and thre^v in the salt, and \nsaid, " Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters. \nThere shall be no more dry and barren land." And this \nwas found to be true ; the people now had fertile land \nand good, pure water. And, as God gave liim power to \nhelp the needy, so he had also the means of 2)unishing the \nwicked. Some wicked children followed him, jeering and \nmocking at him, and crying, " Go up, thou bald-head !" \nThen Elisha cursed them in the name of the Lord ; and \nthere came two she-bears out of the wood, and tore forty- \ntwo of them to pieces. \n\nThe poor widow of one of the prophets came to Elisha \nin great distress, because her husband had died in debt. \nThe person to whom the money was due, finding that the \nwidow had nothing ^v^herewitli to pay him, had threaten- \ned to sell both her sons for slaves. Elisha pitied this \npoor woman ; he said, " What hast thou in the house V \nShe replied that she had only a pot of oil. Elisha told \nher to borrow of her neighbours a great many empty ves- \nsels ; and when she had obtained them, he told her to go \nhome, and shut the door, and to fill as many of these ves- \nsels as she could from the pot of oil ; and when she had \nfilled them, there was still as much oil left in the pot \nas before. God multiplied it, as he had done the meal \nof the poor widow at Zarephath. When all the vessels \n\n\n\n! 1 \n\nI I \n\xe2\x96\xa0 i \n\n\n\n222 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE WIDOW S on. MULTIPLIED \n\n\n\nwere filled, Elisha told the widow to sell the oil, and first \nto pay her debts, and then there would be still money to \nsupply the wants of the family. Elisha was always glad \nto show kindness to the poor and humble, and he Avas \ngrateful to those who were kind to him. A good woman \nat Shunem always kept a room ready for him, and was \npleased when he went to her house. She had no child, \nand Elisha, wishing to show his gratitude to her, asked \nGod to give her a son. She was very happy, and thank- \ned God and Elisha for this dear child. One day the child \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\nwent out in the field with his father, and he was ill, and \ncried to his father, \'\' My head, my head !" and he sat on \nhis mother\'s knees till noon, and then died. When the \npoor mother saw that her child was dead, she carried him \nup, and laid him on Elisha\'s bed ; and then she went to \nfind the prophet and tell him her grief. As soon as the \ngood man knew what had happened, he sent his servant, \nGehazi, to go before and lay his staff upon the child\'s \nface ; but the child was stiff and cold. Elisha followed \nwith the poor mother, and he went in, and j^rayed to God \nto restore the child to life. He was not able of himself \nto raise the dead, but God heard his prayers, and the \nbreath came back into the body of the dead child ; and \nhe called the woman, and said, " Take up thy son." Her \nchild was alive and well, and she bowed herself to the \nground in thankfulness, and took up her child, and went \nout. At another time he found the sons of the j^rophets \nalmost starving: with huno:ei\\ for there was a famine in \nthe land. He advised them to make some pottage, or \nvegetable soup, into which, by accident, one of the men \nput some poisonous herb, and when they came to eat it \ntogether, they cried out, " There is death in the pot !" \nHungry as they were, they knew that the poison would \nkill them ; so they dared not eat of it until Elisha cast \nsome meal into it, which made it good and wholesome. \nGod it was, and not the meal, who removed the poison ; \nbut on this account did Elisha receive the more honour \n\n\n\ncfc,^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nfrom those who beheld the miracle. He had a kind friend, \nwho j)rovided him with food during the famine ; but Eli- \nsha would not keep all for himself, and he fed an hundred \nmen with a few loaves, and when they had satisfied their \nhunger, some was left for another day. One of his great- \nest deeds was when he cured the leprosy of Naaman, a \nrich captain from the land of Syria ; but he would take \nno reward for this, and because Gehazi, his servant, told \na lie to induce Naaman to give him money and garments, \nhe was made the instrument of punishing this Gehazi, \nwho was covetous, false, and deceitful. Although Elisha \nknew God would punish him in another world if he did \nnot repent, yet he brought a dreadful punishment upon \nhim: Gehazi was smitten with leprosy, that he might \nprove an example to others. \n\nIn time, the proj)hets, who were very numerous, came \nand asked Elisha to let them build a dwelling-place on \nthe banks of the Jordan ; and, while they were cutting \ndown wood, the axe, which was made of iron, slipped, \nand fell into the river. The man was very sorry, and ran \nto Elisha, saying, " Alas, master !" for it was borrowed, \nand he was too poor to buy another. Elisha was always \nready to help the jioor and unfortunate. He had no \nmoney to give him, but he cut down a stick, and threw \nit into the water just where the heavy iron had sunk \ndown, and the axe head rose directly to the top, and \nswam on the water. Then Elisha said, "Take it up;" \n\n24 \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. oon \n\nand tlie poor man went thankfully to his work again. \nGod\'s powoi\', at Elisha\'s ^vord, made a heavy piece of \niron to swim; and the ])eople, who saw the miracles which \nElisha i^erformed, respected him, and feared God. And \nsoon after this the king of Syria, having discovered that \nElisha was aide to reveal all his doings and his move- \nments to Joram, the king of Israel, whom he was trying \nto conquer, sent, therefore, his soldiers by night to take \nElisha prisoner. The servant of this good man was fright- \nened when he saw the city surrounded with soldiers and \nhorses ; but Elisha, who trusted in God, was not afraid. \nlie first opened the eyes of his servant to behold the \nchariots and horses of fire which God had placed around \nto protect them, and he afterwards struck the whole army \nof the Syrians with blindness, and in this state he led \nthem into the heart of the city, and there he prayed to \nGod to open their eyes again. You may believe the \nSyi\'ians were much alarmed when they found themselves \nsurrounded by their enemies; but, instead of having them \nput to death, he advised the king to give them meat and \ndrink, and let them go home to tell the wonderful story. \nBut, when the famine grew sore in the land, the foolish \nking of Israel began to fancy that Elisha was the cause \nof the famine, for the enemies were all round the city, \nlieaded by their king. So he came and threatened to put \nElisha to death, but Elisha had no fear : he only told the \nking and his followers that food should be plentiful " by \n\n25 \n\n\n\n226 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nELISHA ON HIS DEATH BED. \n\nthis time to-morrow." One nobleman would not believe \nthis, and the next day, when the words of Elisha came \ntrue, he was trodden to death in the crowd. After per- \nforming many other miracles, and serving God very faith- \nfully for many more years, he fell ill and died, and was \nburied ; but even after his death God made manifest the \nwonderful powers with which he had invested this good \nman ; for, long after, as the Israelites were burying a man, \nthey were surprised by some robbers. They threw the \n\n\n\n26 \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n227 \n\nbody of the dead in their fright into the tomh of Elisha, \nand ran away; hut no sooner did the dead body foil \nupon the l)ones of Elisha, than the man was restored to \nlife, so that even the bones of Elisha were honoured and \nesteemed. \n\nSome time after Elisha\'s death, the Ten Tribes of Israel \nwere carried into captivity, and during the years of capti- \nvity God raised up to them two prophets, named Ezra \nand Nehemiah. They assisted the Jews to rel)uild the \n" Temple," after their return to their own land. Each of \nthem wrote a })ook, which is called after the name of the \npro])het, and although they did not live before others \nthat are afterwards mentioned, they are first placed in the \nBible, and therefore I mention them here also. \n\n\n\n27 \n\n\n\n228 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI, \n\n\n\n\nTHE REMAINING PROPHETS. \n\n\n\nHE \n\n\n\nstory of Jon all is full of interest. He \nwas not so good a man as Elisha, but lie \nwas sent by God to preaeli to the people of \nNineveh, and to tell them what punishment \nGod would bring upon them if they contin- \nued in sin ; but Jonah was disobedient, and \ngot into a ship, and tried to sail away into \nanother country. Then God sent a fright- \nful storm, and Jonah was cast into the sea, \nand swallowed by a large fish, which God had prepar- \ned to swallow him ; and for three days and nights God \nkept him alive in the belly of the whale, until God order- \ned the fisli to cast Jonah up on the dry land again. Jonah \n^vas humbled by this punishment, and grateful for his \ndeliverance, so he made haste to go to Nineveh and fulfil \nthe Lord\'s commands. \n\nAfter him arose a good prophet, named Isaiah, who \nwrote a great many chapters in the Bible, and foretold \nthe birth and sufferings of the Messiah ; and he was sent \nwith messages to Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and with \nAvords of warning to the people of Israel and Judah. \n\nThe next book was written by a prophet called Jere- \nmiah, Avdio was descended from Aaron. He prophesied \nfor several years, principally foretelling the miseries God \nwould bring upon the Jews. as \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n229 \n\n\n\n\nJONAH WAS CAST INTO THE SEA. \n\n\n\nEzekiel foretold the ruin of tlie Jews and of their \nenemies, and promised that after their captivity God \nwould visit his people. \n\nDaniel, a young Jewish prince, and a captive, was call- \ned to interpret a very wonderful dream, wdiicli had troul)- \nled the mind of King Nebuchadnezzar, and which none \nof the king\'s astrologer\'s or magicians were able to com- \nprehend. But God revealed the meaning to Daniel during \nthe night, and when he had interpreted the dream the \nking fell upon his face and worsliip])ed Daniel and his \n\n\n\nr)OA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nGod ; and lie gave him gifts, and made him ruler of the \nwhole province. Daniel afterwards interpreted to Bel- \nshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, the meaning of some \nwords that were traced upon the wall by a part of a hand \nduring a feast given by the king, and that night the king- \ndom was taken by Darius, the Mede, and Belshazzar was \nslain, even as Daniel had foretold. Darius, the concpieror, \nhaving heard of the wonderful talents of Daniel, made him \na chief ruler among the people, and had intended to put \nthe whole kingdom under him. This made others jealous \nand envious ; but because they could find no fault in Dan- \niel, nor aught to accuse him of, they persuaded the king \nthat no person should ask anything for thirty days, save \nof the king himself; and the king listened to their foolish \ncounsel, and made a decree that whosoever should break \nthe law should be cast into the den of lions. \n\nThe fear of this dreadful death did not deter Daniel \nfrom praying three times a day. So the envious princes \ntold the king that Daniel " regarded neither the king nor \nthe decree which he had signed," and that he must be \nput to death. In vain did the king regret the folly he \nhad been guilty of, and strive all day to find some means \nof saving Daniel ; for his word\'s sake, he was obliged to \nhave him cast into the den of lions, which was covered \nwith a stone, and sealed with the king\'s seal. God, how- \never, shut the mouths of the lions, so that Daniel took no \nharm ; and Darius the king was overjoyed to find him \n\n\n\nTHE PROPHETS. \n\n\n\n231 \n\n\n\n\nDANIEL CAST INTO THE DEX OF LIONS. \n\nalive in the morning. And lie made a decree that all the \npeople of the kindom should fear and tremble before the \nGod of Daniel, for that there was no other God, who \ncould deliver after this manner. So Daniel lived in hon- \nour, and prophesied many years ; and the book in which \nthese things are written is called by his name. \n\nThe books of Hosea and Joel follow. Many and sad \nare the denunciations against Egypt and the enemies of \nthe Lord\'s people. \n\nAmos also denounces vengeance upon the enemies of the \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nJews ; he warns his fellow-countryiiien of their sins, of idol- \natry, their ingratitude, and their contempt of the Sabbath. \n\nObadiah wrote one short prophecy, predicting Christ\'s \nkingdom. \n\nMicah strove hard to convince the Jews of their sin \nand danger, and bring them to repentance. His book \nalso foretells the coming and the mercy of Christ. \n\nNahum writes principally a]>out the fall of Nineveh. \n\nHabakkuk mourns over the wickedness of the Jews, \nand concludes his book with a beautiful prayer to God, \nin whom he rejoices. \n\nZephaniah foretold the desolation of Judah and Jerusa- \nlem, and predicted the future glory of the Jewish nation. \n\nHaggai is supposed to have flourished during the ciii> \ntivity of the Jews in Babylon ; but his prophecies were not \nmade j)ublic until sixteen years after their return to Canaan \nwhen he encouraged them in rebuilding their Temple. \n\nZechariah was a prophet who aided Haggai in his \nefforts to direct the Jews, and to bring them to repent- \nance. He mentions nine different visions which had been \nrevealed to him by God ; and 23reaches to them of deliv- \nerance, and of the triumphs of the Gospel. \n\nMalachi, though last mentioned in the Bible, is not \npositively the last prophet who prophesied to the Jews. \nHe forbade, in God\'s name, their heathen marriages and \nother things which were displeasing to God, and warned \ndiem of the coming of OUR LOED JESUS CHRIST. \n\n32 \n\n\n\n233 \n\n\n\npitlf Doitrs h)it| !|e ^ihlt \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n\xe2\x80\x94 #> \xe2\x99\xa6 \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I . \n\n\n\nTHE CHILDREN ISHMAEL AND ISAAC \n\n\n\nAM \n\n\n\ngoing to tell you some short stories \n\n\n\nabout the good cliiklren that are mentioned \nin tlie Bible, that you may hear what hap- \npened to them ; and then you may all try to \nfollow their good examples. Solomon, who \nwas a very wise king, has Avritten, " Even a \nchild is known by his doings, whether his \nwork be pure, and whether it be right." \n\nThe heart of a cliild is like a garden in spring-time, all \nready to bring forth flowers and fruit, according to the seed \nthat is planted therein. The good seed is the instruction \nthat is given by kind parents and teachers; but if this good \nseed do not sink into the heart, there grow up evil weeds \n\n\n\nOQ^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\xe2\x80\x94 pride, obstinacy, and deceit. Now, just as tlie gardener \nwatctes for these weeds, to pull tbem up so soon as they \nappear, so should every child watch and pray to be deliv- \nered from sin, and try to pluck out each bad feeling from \nits heart. Then be grateful, dear children, to those who \nteach you, and lielp you to store your minds in early youth; \nbecause where good lessons are unlearned, there is the more \nroom left for evil thoughts and bad feelings to grow. \n\nThe best store of knowledge that can make even a little \nchild wise and good is to be found in the Holy Scriptures ; \nand our Lord Jesus Christ said to those who came to hear \nhim, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have \neverlasting life ; and those are they which testify of me." \n\nIshmael is the first child mentioned in the Bible ; he \nwas a son of Abraham and of a bondwoman named Hagar, \nwho lived with Sarah, Abraham\'s wife. Ishmael was a \nquick, clever boy, and was very kindly treated by Abra- \nham ; but it came to pass that God gave Sarah a son, ac- \ncording to His promise. Ishmael was at that time old \nenough to know right from wrong, and to refrain from giv- \ning offence by his conduct; but he behaved very rudely, \nand roughly mocked at his little brother, and also at Sarah ; \nso that to appease Sarah, who was very angry, Abraham \nwas obliged to send him away with Hagar his mother. \nThey would both have perished of thirst and heat in the \nwilderness, had not God in His mercy sent an angel to Ha- \ngar to show her a well of water ; and the angel comforted \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 9ocr \n\nher, and told her that God Avoiild make Ishmael the head \nof a great nation. So the child was spared, and he lived \nto be a great and rich prince among the Arabs. \n\nMeanwhile Isaac, who was called the child of pi\'omise, \nand with reason, for he had been promised by God to \nAbraham and Sarah, and was also to inherit the promi- \nses made by God to Abi\'aham, grew np. He was good \nand gentle, and obedient to his parents in all things. \nWhen he was grown a great lad, God wished to try the \nfaith of both Abi\'aham and Isaac. He knew the liearts of \nboth, but still he made a trial of the love of the one, and \nof the obedience of the other. To prove that Abraham \nreally loved his God more than he loved his only child, \nGod ordered the kind father to take his son and offer him \nup, as lambs and other animals used to be offered on an \naltar, as a sacrifice to Him. Abraham saddled his ass, cut \ndown wood for burnt offering, and went to the land of Mo- \nriah, where God had told him to offer this terrible sacrifice. \nWhen they came to the place, Isaac carried the wood, upon \nwhich his father intended to sacrifice him; and he suffered \nhimself to be bound, and laid upon the altar ; and Abra- \nham stretched forth his hand, armed with a knife, to slay \nhis son, whom he loved, because God had commanded it. \nBut when God had thus proved his faithful servants. He \nstayed the hand of Abraham, just as he had raised the \nknife to slay his darling son; and God, by the mouth of an \nangel, showed him a ram that was caught by the horns, in \n\n\n\nct^n HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nZoo \n\na thicket close by ; and tlie Lord told Abraham to offer up \nthis ram as a sacrifice instead of his son. \n\nAnd God made a promise to Abraham, saying, \'^Be- \ncause thoa hast not withheld from me thy son, thine only \nson ; in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will \nmultiply thy seed (or family) as the stars of heaven, and \nas the sand which is upon the sea shore, because thou hast \nobeyed my voice.\'\'^ \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\nTHE CHILDHOOD OF JOSEPH. \n\nOSEPH, the grandson of Isaac, was the eldest \nson of Kachel his mother, who died wdien he \nwas young ; wherefore, he became the favor- \nite child of the patriarch Jacob, his father; \nwho loved him so very dearly, that he in- \ndulged him more than all the rest of his \nchildren ; and he gave him a pretty coat \nof many colors. This roused the jealousy and ill-will of \nJoseph\'s brothers. Each new proof of their father\'s affec- \ntion to Joseph made them hate him the more bitterly. \n\nHowever, the good little Joseph dreamed two very \nwonderful dreams, which he related to his brethren ; they \nwere indeed dreams sent by God, to prepare the mind of \nJoseph for the changes that would occur. His dreams \n\n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. ^qfr \n\nforeshadowed tliat bis father and brethren would one day \nbow down before him. His brethren, and even his father \nrebuked him, for supposing that any such things as he fore- \ntold were likely to occur. But the envy of his brethren \nAvas now so great that they determined to kill the poor \nl)oy. So one day, when he went out to them in the field \nwhere they were keeping their flocks at some distance from \nhomo, they wished to put him to death. One of the breth- \nren, named Reuben, tried to save him, and advised them \nto cast him into a deep pit. Reuben intended to take Jo- \nseph out w^hen they went aw^ay, and to take him back to \nhis father. As for the others, they would have left him \nin the pit to starve, or be devoured by wild beasts. But \nwhile they were sitting together eating and drinking, there \ncame by a company of Midianites. To these men they sold \ntheir brother Joseph as a slave for twenty pieces of silver; \nthen they killed a kid, and dipped his pretty coat into the \nblood, to make it appear that the boy had been killed by \nsome wild beast. They brought the coat to Jacob their \nfather, and said, " This have we found ; see wdiether it be \nthy son\'s coat or no." And the poor father knew the coat. \nHe said, "It is my son\'s coat; an evil beast hath devoured \nhim; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." And he \nrefused to be comforted, and wept bitterly for his son. \nWhat lesson must we learn from this story? To be meek \nand quiet, forgiving and submissive ; for we never find that \nJoseph, either in word or in deed, returned the ill-will of \nhis unkind brothers ^ \n\n\n\n238 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nTHE CHILD SA]\\IUEL. \n\nT is very pleasant to write and to read about \nthe childhood of Samuel, the great prophet \nin Israel, He was indeed a good and happy \nchild: the meaning of his name is "Asked of \nGod." His mother, who had no children, \nprayed very earnestly to God for a child ; \nand Gocl, after he had tried her patience for \nsome time, gave her a little son, whom she called Samuel. \nHannah sang a psalm to God in her joy ; she was so thank- \nful to her Heavenly Father for this child, that she resolved \nto make the boy God^s servant as soon as he could speak. \nWhen he was only four years old, she brought him to Eli, \nthe high priest, at Shiloh. The Jews had different formr> \nof religion from ours; that is, they worshipped God in a \ndifferent manner; and the high priest was at the head of \ntheir religious ceremonies, and taught the people what they \nmust do. Therefore, he lived almost always in the house \nof God: and Hannah wished this good man to teach her \nlittle son how to serve the Lord Jehovah. So she placed \nhim under Eli\'s care, to be taught ; but every year she came \nup to see her beloved child ; for she lived a long way off \nfrom Shiloh ; and she used to bring him a present of a little \ndiess, made of linen. This dress was similar to those worn \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n239 \n\n\n\n\nSAMUEL AND ELI. \n\n\n\nIt had long sleeves, and came down to his \n\n\n\nby the priests. \n\nfeet, and was called an "ephod." And so Samuel dwelt \nwith Eli ; he was a happy child as he ministered or waited \nupon Eli, and upon the Lord, whose eyes are ever open, \nbeholding the evil and the Cfood; but while the Lord was \n\n\n\n240 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\npleased to behold the seeds of good that were daily expand- \ning in the boy\'s young heart, He beheld with grief and dis- \npleasure the bad conduct and wickedness of the two sons of \nEii. This old man loved his God, and in many ways served \nHim truly ; but he over indulged his own children. When \nthey did evil in their childhood, their father was too fond of \nthem to correct or punish them as he ought to have done ; \nand as they grew older, they grew more and moi\'e wicked, \nand disobeyed the commands of God and their kind parent: \nthey cared for nothing but good eating and drinking, and \ntheir own pleasures and amusements; and thus they went \non from bad to worse, w^hile their father said, " My sons, \nwhy do ye so ? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this \npeople. Nay, my sons ; for it is no good report that I hear: \nye make the Lord\'s people to transgress." By this he \nmeant that the bad example of the high priest\'s sons led \nother people to do evil. But these wicked men paid no \nheed to the words of their Either, and they went on still \nmore wickedly ; neither did a dreadful message which God \nsent to their father affect them at all. This was, that he \nshould cause both of these sons to be killed in one day, and \nthat none of Eli\'s family should be priests after him, because \nhe had not controlled his children better. \n\nYet for all this they went on in their sins ; until one \nnight, w^hen Samuel was sleeping in his little bed some dis- \ntance from Eli, he heard a ^^oice calling, " Samuel ! " Sam- \nuel thought that Eli, who was now very old, and whosf? \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n241 \n\n\n\neyes were so dim that he could hardly see to wait upon \nhimself, wanted him ; so he answered cj^uickly, " Here am I ;" \nand he jumped up and ran to Eli to know what he wanted. \n\nEli, however, answered him, and said, " I called not, lie \ndown again :" and the kind little boy obeyed Eli, and went \nand lay down. And the Lord called yet again, " Samuel !" \nand Samuel arose, and went to Eli, and said, " Here am I ; \nfor thou didst call me." And Eli answered, " I called not, \nmy son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know \nthe Lord, neither was the word of the Lord revealed unto \nhim. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time ; \nand he arose and went to Eli, and said, " Here am I ; foi* \nthou didst call me." And now Eli understood that the \nLord himself must have called the child ; so he said unto \nhim, \'\'\xe2\x96\xa0 Go, lie down ; and it shall be if He call thee again, \nthat thou shalt say, Speak, Lord : for thy servant hear- \neth :" so Samuel went and lay down in his place. \n\nWhen God called again, "Samuel, Samuel," then Sam- \nuel answered, "Speak; for thy servant heareth." And \nvery sorrowful were the words which the Lord spake unto \nthe child ; for He told him of all the evil and punishment \nthat He was going to bring upon Eli and his house, because \nthe weak old man had not restrained his sons from sinnins: \nagainst Him. And the boy dreaded the task of telling Eli \nthe sad truths that God had told him. He did not go near \nthe old man, but went about his business, and began to \nopen the doors round about the tabernacle. This was a \n\n\n\n242 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\npart of Lis duty. However, when Eli called Samuel, the \nchild obeyed at once, and, in answer to the questions of \nEli, told him truly all the words that God had said unto \nhim. And Eli, although he was a foolish, weak father, was \nresigned and submissive to the decrees and commands of \nGod, however grieved he might have felt for all the sorrow \nthat was threatened. He very meekly and properly re- \nplied, " It is the Lord : let him do what seemeth him good." \nYes, Eli loved God, though he had done wrong, and he \nnow knew that Samuel was a " prophet" \xe2\x80\x94 that is, a person \nto whom God shows the things that are to happen at a \nfuture time. And then God permitted the Philistines to \nmake war against the Israelites, who told the priests to \nbring out the ark into the field ; for they wished to be very \nbrave, and to fight like men. God was already displeased \nwith His own people, so He suffered them to be conquered. \nA very, very great number of the Israelites were killed, \nand among them were Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of \nEli, who had charge of the ark, which also fell into the \nhands of the Philistines ; and they carried it away to one of \ntheir own towns. Neither Eli nor Samuel went out to see \nthe battle ; but the poor, blind old man sat waiting on a \nhigh seat by the gate of Shiloh ; for he was very anxious \nto hear tidings of the ark and of his disobedient sons. \nAnd when he heard the sounds of crying, and the tumult, \nhe asked the reason. So a man told him, saying, " Israel is \nfled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great \n\n\n\n10 \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n243 \n\n\n\nslaughter among tlie people, and thy two sons, Hophni and \nPhinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken." As soon \nas this poor old man ninety years of age and upwards, heard \nthese sad tidings, and that the ark was taken, he fell down \n\n\n\n\nTHE DEATH OF ELI. \n\n\n\nbackwards off his high seat, and his neck was broken in \nthe fall; so he died. Was not this a sad end for a man \nwho had been God\'s high priest for so many years ? How \ngrieved Samuel must have been for the loss of his kind \nfriend ! But he strove the more earnestly to please and \n\n\n\n.^ . , HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLF, \n\nserve God ; and when the people beheld that the prophe- \ncies of this young servant of God came true, they honored \nhim, and believed in his prophecies, and he lived many \nyears as a judge and a prophet in Israel. I dare say you \nhave learned the little hymn about this : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" When little Samuel woke, \n\nAnd heard his Maker\'s voice, \nAt every word He spoke \n\nHow much did he rejoice ! \nOh, blessed, happy child, to find \nThe God of Heaven so near and kind 1 \n\nLike Samuel, let me say, \n\nWhenever I read thy word, \n\' Speak, Lord, I would obey \n\nThe voice that I have heard. \nAnd when I in thy house appear, \n\nSpeak, for thy servant waits to hear.\'" \n\nAnd this should be the prayer of your own lips, my \nchildren, that you may learn in your youthful days to hear \nthe voice of God in your hearts, to love Him, and obey \nHim. \n\nI must now tell you something that happened when \nSamuel was an old man. God sent him to choose a very \nyoung lad, and to anoint him king over Israel. The merci- \nful Lord had granted the prayers of his discontented peo- \nple, and given them an earthly king, contrary to His own \nwishes; and then He suffered this king, who was named \n\n12 \n\n\n\nniE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 9 ^r \n\nSaul, to act wickedly, aud to bring many troubles on his \nsubjects. At length Saul became quite depraved, and God \ndetermined to put another king in his place. \n\nSo God desired Samuel to fill his horn with oil, and go \nto Jesse the Beth-lehemite, and anoint one of his sons as \nking. Six sons of Jesse passed before Samuel, and yet he \nfound that none of them were pleasing to the Lord. So he \nsaid to Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" Then Jesse \nanswered, "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, \nhe keepeth the sheep." Then Samuel desired Jesse to send \nfor him ; and when David came before Samuel, he beheld \nonly a boy, with a lovely color on his cheeks, and a sweet, \npleasant smile, and eyes that looked full of love to God \nand every one. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him: \nfor this is he." And Samuel anointed David kins:. Then \nSamuel ^vent back to his own house, and David returned \nto his occupation of keeping his father\'s sheep. For, although \nGod gave His spirit to the good lad from that day. He did \nnot wish to make him a kins: while Saul was alive. David \nhad many things to do to win the love and trust of the Is- \nraelites before he must be their king. But God had chosen \nDavid while he was a mere child, because he knew the \nlad was humble, and honest, and brave ; and David used to \nlove to play sweet psalms and holy songs upon his harp, to \ntell of God\'s wonders and mercies, and of his love to Him. \nThe psalms that we read every day in our prayer books : \n\n13 \n\n\n\n246 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nDAVID WITH HIS SHEEP. \n\n\n\nwere some of the sweet songs that David used to sing while \nhe was watching his sheep. \n\nHow should we strive, when we read these psalms of \npraise and thanksgiving, to feel like David in our hearts, \nthat we may deserve, through the blood of Jesus, to wear \na crown of gold in heaven, which would be far better than \nto be a king or a queen on earth ! \n\n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. c)a^ \n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\nTHE CHILDHOOD OF JOASH. \n\nOME time after David\'s death, there was \na little boy made king, his father Ahaziah \nhaving been killed. His grandmother, \nwho was a very Avicked woman named \nAthaliah, endeavored to put all her grand- \nsons to death, in order that she herself \nmight be made queen. One of them, how- \never, quite a baby, was hidden with his \nnurse for six years in the house of the \nLord ; but when he was seven years old, the priests brought \nthis little boy, Joash, into the temple ; and, having placed \nguards at every door, they put the crown upon his head, \nand all the peo2)le shouted, " God save the king." When \nthe wicked queen came out to see the cause of rejoicing, \nshe rent her clothes, and tried to escape , but the soldiers \nwent after her, and put her to death. \n\nAnd Joash, under the care of the good high priest \nJehoiada, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. \nHe caused a chest to be made, with a hole bored in the \nlid, and placed it outside the gate of the Lord, that every \none of the princes and people might put in what they \npleased ; and thus they collected a great deal of money to \npay for the repairs of the temple, and the priests offered \nburnt oflerings in the house of the Lord continually. \n\n\n\n248 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nThe good old priest lived to be an hundred and thirty \nyears old; but after his death, Joash, by degrees, learned \nto do evil. He listened to the flattery and foolish words \nof the princes of Judah ; and, forgetting all the kindnesses \nhe had received from the good Jehoiada, he suffered Zecha- \nriah, the priest\'s son, to be stoned to death by these idola- \ntors, because he reproved them for their sins. How much \nthe Lord must have been displeased with the ingratitude \nand cruelty of Joash ! \n\n\n\n\'C^ \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V \n\n\n\nMORE BIBLE CHILDREN. \n\n\n\nMUST not forget to mention some children \nwho are spoken of among the prophets, be- \ncause you will see that God at all times pun- \nished the wicked, whether young or old, and \nrewarded the good. \n\nThere was a very good man named Elijah, \nwho was sent by God to live with a poor \n^ widow and her son during the time of the \n\nfamine. This poor woman had only a little meal, and a \nvery small quantity of oil; and just as the prophet Elijah \ncame to her, she was going to make a little cake of this \nfearing it was the last meal they were ever likely to ge(, \nand knowing that they must soon die of hunger; however, \nshe cheerfully obeyed the word of Elijah, when he desired \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n249 \n\n\n\nher first to make a little cake for liim ; and, according to \nhis promise, the barrel of meal and the oil lasted, although \nshe used some every day, until the rain came and the famine \nwas over. But during this time the little boy fell sick and \ndied, and the poor mother grieved sorely. She feared that \nElijah had caused the death of the child, as a punishment \nfor the sins she had committed during her life. But Elijah \ntook the child and carried him up into a loft, and laid him \non his own bed. And there he prayed earnestly to God, and \nstretched himself three times upon the child, and cried to \nGod, saying, " Oh, Lord, my God, I pray thee let this child\'s \nsoul come into him again." And the Lord heard the prayer \nof Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, \nand he revived. So Elijah carried him down to his mother, \nand said, \'\'See, tliy Son liveth." And the woman said, \n" Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and the \nword of thy mouth is truth." How could the widow help \nbelieving in God, or in his kind prophet Elijah, who had, \nin the first place, kept her and her son from dying of star- \nvation when many poor people went for days without food, \nor even water, for when there is no rain for a long time the \nwater springs are dried uj); and, still more, for having \nmade her child alive again? \xe2\x80\x94 You also should learn from \nthis, that God can do all things. He can hear the softest \nprayer you make to him ; and He will, after your death, \nmake you alive again if you love Him truly ; not to live \nagain in this world, but to dwell with Him in heaven. No \n\n\n\nr)crA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\ndoubt, his good servant Elisha is also there ; he lived with \nElijah a long time, and saw many wonderful things which \nhe did ; and so, after God had taken Elijah to heaven. He \nsent His Holy Spirit upon this faithful servant, and He \npermitted Elisha to perform almost the same miracles that \nElijah had done before. Elisha also restored a little boy \nto life whose mother had been kind to him. She had built \na nice little room in her house on purpose for Elisha to \nsleep in whenever he pleased. \n\nHow pleasant is was for him, when he returned from \ntraveling about in God\'s service, to have a nice quiet room^ \nwhere he could pray and commune with his Maker ! Elisha \nwished very much to show himself grateful to this good \nwoman, and, after thinking of various things to please her, \nhe remembered, or rather his servant did, that perhaps she \nwould like to have a child. So he sent to call her, and \npromised her a son; she was very pleased, and after the \nbirth of her dear baby she loved Elisha and his God better \nthan ever for having made her so happy : and she liked to | \nsee hei" child grow strong, and run about after his father. \nOne day, when he had become a great boy, he followed his \nfather into the harvest field, to see the men reaping the \ncorn: but the sun was very hot, and the poor child cried \nout, "My head, my head !" The father sent one of his ser- \nvants to carry the child home to his mother. He was in \ngreat pain ; his mother took him on her knees, and nursed \nhim ; but, in spite of all her care, he died at twelve o\'clock \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDKEN OP SCEIPTUEE. \n\n\n\n251 \n\n\n\n\nKLISIIA RAISING THK WIDOW S 6UX. \n\n\n\nOil the same day. You may believe that she was in great \ngrief for the loss of her only child. But in her trouble, \nshe thought of her kind friend Elisha : she knew that he \nhad prayed to God to give her this child : and perhaps she \nhad heard that Elijah had restored the child of the poor \nwidow. So she laid the body of her darling on Elisha\'s \nbed, and she shut the door, and begged her husband would \nlet her have one of the asses to ride upon, that she might \ngo in search of Elisha ; and he allowed her to go, and sent \none of his servants with her. As soon as Elisha saw her \n\n\n\n19 \n\n\n\n252 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\ncoming so quickly, he fancied something must have hap- \npened, and he sent his servant to meet her, and ask if all \nwas well ; and though her heart was almost breaking with \nsorrow, she answered, "It is well," for she knew that all \nwas right that God did. But when she threw herself at his \nfeet, and said, "Did I ask my Lord for a son?" the pro- \nphet undei\'stood that her child was dead. And he went \nwith the poor mother, and prayed to God, and he sti-etched \nhimself over the child, and the child sneezed seven times, \nand then opened his eyes. And then Elisha called the \nhappy mother, and told her "to take up her son." No \ndoubt, the boy was taught by his mother to love Elisha, \nand to reverence one to whom God showed such favor. \n\nGod also gave Elisha power to punish wicked children. \nHe used to travel about from place to place where God \nsent him. He was no longer a young man, and his hair \nw^as thinned by age and toil. So one day, as Elisha w^as \ngoing up to a town where the people worshipped idols, a \ngreat many idle, wicked children came out of the city to \nplay, and when they met Elisha they began to laugh at \nhim, and to mock him, saying, "Go up, thou bald head; \ngo up, thou bald head ! " \n\nNow^ God, who wdll not hold them guiltless who take \nHis name in vain, was very angry with these wicked \nchildren, and Elisha was also angry. He turned round, \nand told them something dreadful would happen to them ; \nand scarcely had he spoken when two bears came rush- \n\n\n\n.1 I \ni \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n253 \n\n\n\nIng out of a wood near by, and tore forty-and-two of \nthem to pieces. \n\nTeai\'s and screams were all in vain ; they could not run \naway from the punishment God had sent upon them, any \nmore than you could run away from sickness or death. \nHow careful you must be not to treat God\'s name, or any \nof His holy things, with mockery, for fear God should pun- \nish you ! Neither should you laugh at the lame or the \nblind, nor at any one who is sent to teach you holy things. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\nTHE STORY OF THE LITTLE MAID ; ANITOF CTHER CHILDRFK. \n\n"^ \' T is, however, more pleasant to hear of good \nchildren and good people than naughty ones, \nso I shall change the subject, and tell you \nof a little captive maid, who had been car- \nried away by the Syrians out of the land \nof Israel ; and she was a slave who waited \nupon Naaman\'s wife. Naaman was a great, \nrich, and honorable captain, but he had a \nbad disorder called leprosy. This little Hebrew girl loved \nher mistress and her master, but she remembered her God \nand His prophet Elisha, whom she reverenced and loved in \nher early home ; and she knew that Elisha could perform \nwonderful cures. She told her mistress, and at last Naaman \n\n\n\n\n254 IJ-^LF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nwas persuaded to go to Israel ; and there, by God\'s mercy, \nhe was sent by Elisha to wash in the river Jordan, and his \nleprosy was cured. See how much good was done by this \npioas and affectionate little captive girl ! Remember that \nnone are too young to be kind and thoughtful. \n\nJosiah was one of the good kings who came to the crown \nof Judah when he was only eight years old. He seems to \nhave had a pious mother, and good advisei\'s, for the Bible \nsays " he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord," \nand turned not aside from "His ways," to the right hand, \nor to the left. As soon as he was old enough to give orders, \nlie had the Temple repaired. He caused the book of God\'s \nlaws to be read in the hearing of the people, and ho des- \ntroyed the temple of the idolaters, and kept a most solemn \npassover; and there was no Jewish king before or after \nhim that turned to the Lord so faithfully as did the youth- \nful Josiah. Should not his example be a precious one to \nyou ? It shows you that even a young king may serve God, \nand make his people and his countrymen better and happier. \n\nGod had not sent His dear Son down on earth to die, \nwhen these children were on earth, of whom I have been \nwriting. But you know that more than eighteen hundred \nyears ago He did come upon earth in the form of a little \nhelpless baby, and was called Jesus; that He was worship- \nped by the wise men in the stable at Bethlehem ; that He \nwas saved from the vengeance of Herod by the flight of \nHis mother into Egypt by night ; that He lived with His \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE, \n\n\n\n255 \n\n\n\n\nFLIGHT INTO EOYPT. \n\nparents at Nazareth, and was subject, or obedient, to them, \ngrowing daily in wisdom and strength, and the grace of \nGod was upon Him. When He was only twelve years old, \nHe was found in the Temple, sitting amidst the most clever \nmen of those times, both Ifstening to their discourse, and \nasking them Cjuestions, so that all that heard him were \nastonished at His understanding and His answers. \n\nJesus, however, immediately answered to the call of His \nmother, and retiirned with her to a humble home at Naza- \nreth, where He set to all children an example of dutiful \n\n23 \n\n\n\n256 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nconduct and humility. And such are the children that \nJesus loves. When He was on earth He showed His love \neven for the youngest child. He was pleased when their \nmothers brought their little children to His feet. He took \n\n\n\n\nCHILDHOOD OF JESUS. \n\nthem in His arms ; He put His hands on them, and blessed \nthem, saying, " Suffer little children to come unto me, and \nforbid them not ; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."" \nAnd though Jesus now lives in heaven, on His bright \nthrone. He still loves little children. He calls them to \ncome to Him by prayer, and by faitli, and by love ; and \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n25* \n\n\n\nwLile on earth He condescended to go to the house of the \nruler, and restore to life his little daughter, lie took her \nby the hand, and said unto her, " Maid, I say unto thee, \naiise ;" and He restored her to her parents. \n\n\n\n\nMARY AND MARTHA AND JESUS, HERE. \n\nJesus was kind to the mothers of these children. He \nloved his own mother IVIary, although she was hut a poor \nwoman, and He was the Son of God. Mary Magdalene, \nMary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and the poor \nwidow, the woman who had faith, and was cured by touch- \ning his garment, all loved him. He taught the truth to \n\n\n\n258 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nDAVID AND ABIGAIL. \n\nthe woman of Samaria; to the Syrophenician woman He \nrestored her sick daughter, and to many others He showed \nmercy. There are also several good women mentioned in \nthe Bible who deserve to be noticed in this book. \n\nOne is Abigail, who showed kindness to the good King \nDavid, when her husband Nabal refused to supply his fol- \nlowers with bread and water in their need. Abigail no \nsooner heard what had happened than she hasted to go \nforth and meet David with corn and wine, and two hund- \nred loaves of bread, with raisins and figs, and other neces \n\n\n\n26 \n\n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHif.UREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n251) \n\n\n\n\nRL\'TH AND NAOMI. \n\n\n\nsaries, and she bowed herself before David, who was just \nuttering threats against Nabal and his house, and she beg- \nged him to accept her offering. So David blessed Abigail \nfor liaving prevented bloodshed ; and, after her husband\'s \ndeath, he sent for Abigail, and married her. \n\nKutb, too, the dutiful daughter, who refused to leave \nher widowed mother-in-law, but followed her into a strano:e \nland, and worked for and comforted hei\\ God did not \nsuffer her filial duty to go unrewarded, for he caused her to \nfind favor in the eyes of Boaz, a wealthy farmer, in whose \n\n\n\n260 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nfields she went to glean corn for lier mother\'s use; and \nafterwards she became his wife, and the mother of a son, \nfrom whom Jesus descended. \n\nEsther, a beautiful young Jewess, had been born while \nthe Jews were in captivity ; but her beauty and modesty so \npleased the King Ahasuerus, or Artaxerxes, as he is some- \ntimes called, that he made her his queen. This king had a \nminister, named Haman, who greatly disliked the Jews, \nnot knowing that the Queen was a Jewess ; he persuaded \nthe king that the Jews were going to rebel against him, \nand advised, him to put them all to death. The king gave \nhis (fonsent to this : and when Mordecai, the queen\'s uncle, \nheai\'d this, he went to the palace gate in mourniug, and \nwhen Esther sent to know the cause, he told her that she \nand all her people were to be put to death by the king\'s \norder, unless she could save them ; and the good Esther \ndid really risk her life to save them, by entering the king\'s \npresence without being sent for. God, however, moved the \nheart of the king to speak kindly to Esther; and she then \ninvited the king and Haman to a banquet, and when the \nking bade her ask any I\'equest of him, and it should be \ngranted, she begged for her own life, and that the lives of \nher people might be spared at her request. The king bade \nher explain her meaning ; and when he found what Haman \nhad done, he ordered him to be hanged, with his ten sons, \nupon a gallows that he had prepared for Moixiecai, of whom \nhe was envious, and whom he had, the day before, been \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n261 \n\n\n\n\nHAMAN AND ilORDKCAl. \n\nobliged to lead through the city, seated upon the king^s \nown horse, and dressed in royal robes, and to cry before \nhim, *\'Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king \ndelighteth to honor." Hainan\'s envy wan the cause of his \ndeath, and the bravery of Queen Esther saved her uncle\'s \nlife, and all the Jewish captives. \n\nThe wife of Job was not a good woman, although she \nhad for a husband the most patient man that ever lived. \nGod suffered the devil to tempt him, and try him w;ith \npains, losses, and bereavements ; but nothing could shake \n\n\n\n262 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH TEE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJOB HEARING THK EVIL NEWS. \n\n\n\nhis faith in God. God sent the thunderbolts, and slew his \nservants. He caused the housetop to fall in and bury all \nhis children, his oxen and servants were carried aw^ay by \nthe Sabeans, his sheep were destroyed by fire; but Job \nstill worshipped God ; and when a servant came running \nto tell him of all these disasters, he did not repine, or rebel \nagainst God ; but he bowed his head, and said meekly ; \n" The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away : blessed \nbe the name of the Lord ! " \n\nThis was the right way to speak, and thus should we \n\n\n\nTHE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. \n\n\n\n263 \n\n\n\n\nJOB IN HIS MISFOKTLNES. \n\nbear sorrow when it pleases God to afflict us. And you \nmay see him in the picture covered with sores, his house \nin flames, deserted by his friends, ridiculed by his unholy \nwife \xe2\x80\x94 calmly answering, " What, shall we receive good at \nthe hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? " What \na lesson of patience and gratitude to God is taught us by \nJob ! But, in the midst of his troubles, God answered him \nout of the whirlwind. He accepted the submission of Job, \nwho once or twice had been tempted to despair, and to \nforget the goodness of God, in the depth of his misery and \n\n\n\n31 \n\n\n\n264 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nAND GOD ANSWERED JOB OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND. \n\n\n\nthe greatness of his misfortune. God restored him to health \nand to his friends, and gave him more riches and comforts \nthan he had before possessed. Truly, God can do all \nthings ; he may try us, but he can reward those who bear \ntheir trials patiently. May we all learn to say, with our \nwhole hearts, " Thy will be done." \n\n\n\n205 \n\n\n\nfialf |)0iirs bit| tfjc ^^ihlt. \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa0*-\xe2\x99\xa6\xc2\xbb \xe2\x99\xa6 \'\xc2\xbb \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I \n\n\n\nTHE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. \n\nMERRY Christmas and a Happy New \nYear to one and all of my little readers? \nThese are pleasant words and good wish- \np^ as, such as we hope to utter and to listen to \nfor many a year, trusting that these good \nwishes may be realised. But why is it, my \nyoung readers, that Christmas is such a joy- \nous season? Not because the branch of \nholly trembles in the huge plum pudding, \nand the mince pies make their daily appearance on the \ndinner table, around which are gathered the father, the \nmother, and all the merry group of children, who spend \nthe greater part of the year at some distant school ; not \n\n\n\n\ncfnn HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nbecause the rooms are decked with holly, and red berries \nmingle with ivy leaves in the old churches ; but because on \nChristmas morning, smiling faces and glad voices sing with \none accord that Christ was born in Bethlehem. Yes, this \nis indeed a festal day \xe2\x80\x94 the anniversary of a birthday that \nall Christians love to celebrate, and rejoice in the fulfilment \nof Isaiah\'s prophecy, saying, "Unto us a child is born, \nunto us a son is given : and his name shall be called Won- \nderful, Counseller, The mighty God, the Everlasting Father, \nThe Prince of Peace." \n\nI once heard of a dear little girl who was assisting some \nfriends to decorate a Christmas-tree; and being told the \ntoys and ornaments were intended as presents for the differ- \nent members of the family, she anxiously inquired, "What \npresent they could make to the Lord upon his birthday ? " \nSome of you may think this a vain question, but many of \nyou would doubtless be glad to have something worthy to \noffer to the Saviour ; and so you have. There is only one \nthing which you could freely offer to Christ, that would \nsatisfy and please him, and that is your hearts. \n\nIf you really love him, and lift up your hearts to him, \nfeeble as they are, Jesus will accept and sanctify the gift. \nPerhaps you can repeat the hymn \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nJesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, \n\nOnce became a child like me ; \nOh ! that in my whole behaviour, \n\nHe my pattern still might be. \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n267 \n\n\n\n\nTHE BIRTH OF JESUS AT BETHLKHEM, \n\n\n\nI do not know any sweeter words than these. What can \nbe more wonderful than to know that the holy and al- \nmighty Saviour should come down into the world, in tlie \nform of a helpless child, like us, to suffer pain and weak- \nness, and to feel hunger and thirst, and sorrow like unto \nourselves? And what can furnish a more appropriate \nprayer for every reader, than the desire to copy Jesus in \nhis whole behaviour and conduct ? and what can aftbrd us \ngreater happiness, than to feel that Jesus, our pattern and \n\n\n\n268 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nour Redeemer, is also our friend, ever ready to hear us, \nand to help us, to pity and to intercede for us ? \n\nThe birth of this wonderful child had been foretold \nby the different prophets many years before Christ really \noame upon the earth. Some foretold where he would be \nborn, and others Avhat would be his mission, and his suffer- \nings; and just before his birth an angel was sent to Mary, \nthe mother of Jesus, to tell her by what name the child \nshould be called. Jesus, you know, means "a Saviour," \nand Christ siirnifies " the Anointed, the Messiah, or He \nthat should come." You may remember that I told you \nhow the kings were anointed with oil, and Christ, or " the \nAnointed," signifies that Christ was also " King of Heav- \nen." At the time appointed by God the child Jesus was \nborn, as the angel had foretold, and the mother of Jesus \nbeing away from home on a long journey, she was obliged \nto sleep in a stable Avhere the oxen were kept, because \nthere was no other room at liberty ; and there God gave \nMary the promised infant, who had no other bed for her \nsweet baby than the manger in which she laid him ; but \neven here, while unnoticed and unattended, God sent wise \nmen from a distant land to worship him. These wise and \ngood men had heard, in their distant country, of the prom- \nised Saviour, and one evening, when they were gazing up \ninto the heavens, they saw a very bright and peculiar star. \nGod put it into their minds that this star would lead them \nto Christ ; so they immediately went in the direction in \n\n4 \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. OHQ \n\nwhich it appeared. This star went before them until it \nbrought them near to Jerusalem, where Plerod the king \nwas living, and as they knew by inspiration that Christ was \na king, they went to the palace to inquire, saying, " Where \nis he that is born King of the Jews ? for we have seen his \nstar in the east, and have come to worship him." Herod \nwas alai\'ined at the idea of having a rival, but he did not \nsay so; lie merely inquired of the priests wliere Christ \nshould be born, and when they told him "In Bethlehem," \nhe advised the wise men to go and seek for the child tliere; \nand desired them to bring liim word when tliey had found \nhim. So the wise men again followed the star until it \nbrought them to the feet of Jesus, and they rejoiced with \nexceeding great joy, and fell down and worshipped the \ninfant Saviour ; and they presented to him gold and frank- \nincense and myrrh. Ah, my children, we need not travel \na long way to seek the Saviour. lie is always near \xe2\x80\x94 he \ncan hear our softest prayer. He is our Saviour and our \nfriend, and although he now sits at the right hand of God, \nhe will be always ready to hear the praises of the youngest \nchild. These men I\'eturned to their homes happy at having \nfound the Christ ; but the Avicked Herod, who did not love \nthe Saviour, was frightened lest he should lose his crown, \nand his power, and his riches, so he determined to kill the \nLord Jesus, if he could. He sent his soldiers to Bethle- \nhem, and desired them to kill e\\ ery little baby in the town, \nhoping that one of these would be the promised king. \n\n\n\n270 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nMany a poor mother\'s heart was grieved at the death of \nher helpless baby, killed by the soldiers ; yet Herod was \nnot able to kill Christ, because God put it into the mind of \nJoseph in a dream to arise by night, and take the young \nchild and his mother into another country, called Egypt ; \nso when the other poor babes were put to death Christ was \nin safety, and all his cruelty was vain. A successor of this \nwicked man, also named Herod, afterwards put to death a \ngood prophet, called John the Baptist. This young man, \nwho had been born to his parents in their old age, a few \nmonths before the birth of Christ, had been sent by God \nto be a forerunner or preacher about Christ, \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\n\n\nChrist\'s baptism and first ]\\iiracles. \n\n\n\n\nHEN Jesus wns eight days old, he was \ncarried to Jerusalem, and circumcised ac- \ncording to the law of the Jews, who did \nnot baptize their children as the Christians \ndo ; and while he was in the Temple a very \nold man, named Simeon, was led by the \nSpirit to behold the Lord\'s Christ; and he \nrejoiced, and took the dear baby into his \narms, and said, \'\' Lord, now lettest thou \nthy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OK JESUS CHRIST. OUK SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n271 \n\n\n\n\nJOHN THE BAITIST IN THE WILDERNESS- \n\nhave seen thy salvation." He meant that he was ready to \ndie in peace, having seen the Saviour. A good old pro- \nphetess, named Anna, came into the Temple to worship \nGod, and she also knew by inspiration, that it was her \nSaviour, and she blessed and praised God. \n\n\n\n272 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJESUS WITH THE DOCTORS IN THE TEMPLE. \n\nTwelve years after this, Jesus came up with his parents \nagain to Jerusalem to keep the feast of the passover ; but \nwhen Joseph and Mary set off to return home, Jesus stayed \nbehind. As there was a large company of their friends \nand neighbors, Mary supposed that Jesus was with some \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 273 \n\nother children ; but when they stopped to rest at night, he \nwas nowhere to be found. Joseph and Mary immediately \nturned back to Jerusalem, and after three days, they found \nJesus sitting in the Temple with the most learned men, \nhearing tliem and asking them questions ; and when Mary \ntold him what sorrow his absence had occasioned them, he \nsaid, " Why did you seek me, wist ye not that I must be \nabout my Father\'s business ? " But although they under- \nstood not his meaning, Jesus obeyed the voice of his moth- \ner, and returned with her at once. In all tilings Jesus \nobeyed his motlier\'s voice, and therefore he cannot love " a \ndisobedient child." \n\nI must now tell you a little more about John, who lived \nin the wilderness, and wore clothing made of camel\'s hair, \nflistened round his loins Avith a leathern girdle, living upon \nlocusts, a kind of bean, and wild honey, he went about \npreaching, and saying, " Prepare ye the way of the Lord, \nand make his paths straight ; " and he baptized all those \nwho would listen to him, and believe in the cominc: of \nChrist. Even Jesus himself, because he wished to teach \npeople to fulfil all the rites and mysteries of religion, went \ndown to John to be baptized of him. John, knowing that \nChrist was without sin, answered that he had need to be \nbaptized of Jesus, but when he found that Christ desired \nit he baptized him; and just as Jesus went up out of the \nwater, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God de- \nscended like a dove upon him, and a voice was heard from \n\n\n\n274 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nheaven, saying, " This is my beloved Son, in whom 1 am \nwell pleased." \n\nJesus soon after this went into one of the Jewish syna- \ngogues (or churches), and there he opened the book of the \nprophet Isaiah, and read where it was written, " The Spirit \nof the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to \npreach the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent me to lieal the \nbroken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, and \nrecovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that \nare bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.\'\' \nSo we must pra}^ to Jesus to keep sin out of our hearts, \nand to pour his love into them instead. If we be holy, we \nshall be happy ; and we can never pray too often, " Lead \nus not into temptation." \n\nJesus sat down upon the side of a high mountain, and \nbegan to preach to the people, saying : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" Blessed are tlie poor in spirit : for theirs is the kingdom \nof heaven. Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall \nbe comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit \nthe earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst \nafter righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are \nthe merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the \npure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessad are the \npeace-makers : for they shall be called the children of God." \nAnd Jesus taught the people the little prayer which we \nsay every day to " Our Father in heaven," and which is, \non that account, called " The Lord\'s Prayer." About this \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n275 \n\n\n\ntime Jesus was invited to be present at a wedding feast, \nand there he is supposed to have wrought his first miracle. \nThe bridegroom was probably a poor man, and unable to \n\n\n\n\nCHRIST CHANGING WATER INTO WINE. \n\n\n\nbuy wine to set before his guests, and Mary, the mother of \nJesus, said unto her son, " They have no wine." Jesus then \nprivately desired the servants to fill the six stone waterpots \nwith water, and when they had filled them, he desired them \nto draw out wine. The governor of the feast, having tasted \nthe wine, was astonished, and he said unto the bridegroom, \n\n\n\n^^jn HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n" Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine ; \nand when men have well drunk, then that which is w^orse \' \nbut thou hast kept the good wine until now." One day, a \nleper came and worshipped before him, saying, " Lord, if \nthou wilt, thou canst make me clean ? " Jesus put forth his \nhand and touched him, and said, "I will; be thou clean," \nand the man was healed immediately ; but Jesus sent him \nto show himself to the priests, and to offer the offering ac- \ncording to the law of Moses. \n\nWhen Jesus was entering into Capernaum, a centurion \n(that is, a captain over one hundred soldiers) met him, and \nbegged Jesus would heal his servant, who was sick of a \ndisease called the palsy. Jesus said, " I will come and heal \nhim." But the centurion answered, \'\' Lord, I am not worthy \nthat thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the \nword only, and my servant shall be healed." Jesus himself \nwas astonished at the faith of this good man, and he said \nto his followers, " I have not found so great faith, no, not \nin Israel." And he told the centurion to go his way, and \nas he had believed, so should his pi-ayer be granted. The \ncenturion went home quite happy, for he knew that Jesus \ncould cure the sickness and sorrow of all who cry to him, \nand he found his servant quite restored to health. \n\n\n\n12 \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n277 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\n\n\n\nCHRIST IN THE TEMPLE, AND IN SAMARIA. \n\nT the time of the Jews\' Passover, Jesus went \nup to Jerusalem, and he entered into the \ntemple, not the temple which Solomon had \nbuilt, for that was destroyed by the army \nof Nebuchadnezzar, but another temple \nwhich Ezra and Nehemiali had helped the \nJews to build after they came out of capti- \nvity ; and it was very beautiful ; but Jesus \nfound a great many doves and animals \nbrought there and exposed for sale, so tliat people Avho \nwished to offer theii\' sacrifices need have no trouble in pro- \ncuring them, because they could buy them within the gates \nof the temple ; and when Jesus saw this, he was displeased, \nand he cast out the buyers and sellers, and overthrew the \ntables of the money-changers, and the seats of those who \nsold doves; and he said unto them, "Take these things \nhence ; make not my father\'s house an house of merchan- \ndise." He would not suffer the temple of his Father to be \ndishonoured, and he is displeased with all those who go to \nthe house of prayer with worldly thoughts and feelings. \nAnd these sayings and doings of Jesus were much talked \nof by those who had seen him and his miracles ; and one \nof the rulers of the Jews, a Pharisee, named Nicodemus, \n\n13 \n\n\n\n278 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHRIST DRIVING THE MONEY-CHANGERS FROM THE TEMPLE. \n\nthought a great deal about these things ; he was a good \nman, and he wished to know what was good, and to see \nJesus, but he was afraid to go to him openly, for fear of \nhis proud and conceited brethren ; so he came privately to \nJesus by night, and said unto him, "Rabbi, we know that \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESFS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n279 \n\n\n\nthou art a teacher come from God ; for no man can do \nthese miracles which thou doest, except God be with him." \nJesus then explained to him that he must have a changed \nheart, and become a good and holy man, before he could \nhope to be a child of God. And Nicodemus went away \nwith s,tronger faith, and more love to Jesus ; and he after- \nwards became a disciple. \n\nI must now tell you of some other miracles performed \nby Christ, as he went about from place to place doing good. \nOne day he went into the house of Peter, and found the \nmother of Peter\'s wife very ill with a fever. Jesus went \nand touched her hand, and immediately the fever left her, \nand she got up and waited upon them : and he also cured \na great many other sick persons before he entered into a \nship with his disciples, with the intention of crossing the \nsea. Jesus was tired with preaching and walking so far> \nand he lay down on a pillow to sleep ; but soon there arose \na violent storm, and the ship was tossed up and down upon \nthe waves, until the disciples, forgetting that Jesus was \nwith them, and that they must be safe in his keeping, be- \ncame so terj\'ified that they awoke Jesus, saying, " Lord, save \nus: we pei\'ish." And he saith unto them, *\' Why are fear- \nful, O ye of little faith V Then he arose and rebuked the \nwinds and the sea, and there was a great calm. You see \none word from Jesus could bring peace and comfort: he \nsaid, "Peace" and all was still. This marvellous change \nastonished even those who had seen his miracles, and they \n\n\n\n280 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. \n\n\n\ncould not forbear saying, ^\' What manner of man is this \nthat even the winds and the sea obey him ? " \n\nOn liis way to Nazareth, Jesus had passed through Sa- \nmaria; the weather was very warm, and Jesus sat down \nbeside the well of Sychar, while his disciples were gone \ninto the city to buy food. Jesus was hungry, weary, and \nthirsty, and as he sat there a woman came out of the city to \ndraw water at the well. And Jesus said unto her, " Give \nme to drink."" The woman was surprised that a Jew should \nask water of a Samaritan woman, because the Jews despised \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n281 \n\n\n\nthe people of Samaria, on account of their having built a \ntemple for themselves, after the Jewish captivity, when \nthey had endeavoured to prevent the Jews from re-building \none at Jerusalem. Jesus, hovvevei*, was kind and good to \nthe m-eatest sinners, and he said to the woman, *\' If thou \nknewest who it is that saith, Give me to drink, thou would- \nest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living \nwater, of which whosoever drinketh thirsteth no more." \nThe woman said, " Sir, give me this water, that I thirst \nnot, neither come hither to draw." The good Jesus then \ntold her that he was the Messias, and that she must worship \nGod in spirit and in truth. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\n\n\nQ \n\n\n\noil R 1 S T S WONDERFUL DEEDS AND JII li A C L E S . \n\n\n\nJj^^^vpHEN Jesus came again to Cana, a rich \n\n\n\nnobleman came to him from Capernaum \nin great sorrow, because his dear son was \nso ill that the physicians said he must soon \ndie, for they had tried in vain to make him \nbetter ; and the weeping father, having \nheard of Jesus, came and begged the Sa- \nviour most earnestly that he would go to \nCapernaum and heal his son. Jesus did \n\n\n\n\n282 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE NOBI-EMAN AT CAPERNAUM. \n\n\n\nnot go : he wished to try the faith of the nobleman, say- \ning, " Unless ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." \nThe father was anxious that no time should be lost, so he \nagain besought Jesus, saying, " Sir, come down, ere my \nchild die." Jesus said, " Go thy way ; thy son liveth." \n\n\n\n/HE LIFE OP JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n283 \n\n\n\n\nTHE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES. \n\n\n\nThe nobleman believed the word that Jesus had spoken, \nand before he reached home he met his servant, who was \ncoining to tell him the good news ; and he inquired of his \nservant at what hour the child began to amend, and the \nservant told him that the fever had left the child at the \nseventh hour, which was the precise time at which Jesus \nhad told the father that his son lived. \n\nOne day Jesus sat in a little ship belonging to one of \n\n\n\n19 \n\n\n\ncfHA HALF HOURS WIITH THE BIBLE. \n\nthe disciples, and taught a large crowd of people who had \nfollowed him. Afterwards he told Simon to let down his \nnets into the sea for a draught; but Simon answered, \n" Master, we have toiled all night and taken nothing ; nev- \nertheless, at thy word I will let down the net;" and on \ndoing so they caught such a multitude of fishes that their \nnet brake ; and Simon Peter was so much astonished that \nhe threw himself at the feet of the Saviour, saying, "De- \npart fi\'om me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." After this \nJesus healed other sick, and some afflicted with evil spirits, \nand at Jerusalem he saw a sick man lying beside the pool \nof Bethesda. God used to send an ans^el to disturb the \nwaters at certain times, and the first person who afterwards \ngot into the pool was healed of his disease. This poor man \nhad laid there thirty-eight years in pain and suffering, close \nto the pool, but, being too ill and weak to get into the \nwater, some other sufferer, who had friends to assist him, \nwould get in first, and the virtue of the water was gone. \nJesus knew all this ; he therefore came and asked the man, \nsaying, "Wilt thou be made whole?" and the poor man \nno sooner expressed his wish to be cured than Jesus, who \nknew his heart, said, "Rise, take up thy bed and walk;" \nand, as the man went off with his bed, the loving Saviour \nwarned him to leave off sinning, lest God should inflict a \nworse punishment upon him. Jesus had called together \ntwelve men, who were called his apostles, and he used to \nteach these disciples many things in parables. A parable \n\n\n\n20 \n\n\n\n.1 I \n. I \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n9\xc2\xab^^ \n\n\n\n85 \n\n\n\n\nCHRIST HKALING A SICK MAN. \n\nis a kind of easy story which has two meanings ; and the \nparables which were spoken by Christ, could only be under- \nstood by those to whom God gave the spirit of understand- \ning. I will tell you some of these parables : \xe2\x80\x94 One was of \nthe sower, who went out to sow his seed. Some fell by \nthe wayside ; some upon a rock, and was dried up ; some \namong the thorns, that choked it ; and some fell upon good \nground, and flourished ; and to his disciples he explained \nthat the seed on the wayside were those who listened to \n\n\n\n21 \n\n\n\n286 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS ^YTTH THE BTBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE SOWER SOWING THE SEED. \n\n\n\nthe Gospel, and then went away and forgot what they had \n6een taught ; the seed on the rock are those who are peni- \ntent for a little while, but fall away at tlie first temptation \nto evil ; the seed among thorns represented those who wei\'e \ntoo busy with their gains or their pleasures to attend; \nwhile the good seed where those who heard the word and \nkept it. \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR, \n\n\n\n287 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\n\n\nCHRIST IS TRANSFIGURED, AND WALKETH ON THE SEA. \n\n\xe2\x82\xac^f^ NOTHER parable he told them, to warn \n\xe2\x80\xa2tif^vl them against covetousness, and to show them \n\n^\'^/\'^Mt^xL ^^^^ t^^y could not cany their possessions \nwith them when they died. A certain man \nsaid he had great possessions : his crops were \nso abundant that he knew not where to \nstore them ; so he determined to pull down \nhis barns and build greatei\'; and then he \nthought he might say to his soul, " Soul, thou hast much \ngoods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, \nand be merry." But God said, " Thou fool, this night thy \nsoul shall be required of thee : then whose shall those \nthings be which thou hast provided ? " So is he that pro- \nvideth and careth for this world only. Another parable \nhe told them of the man whose enemy sowed tares in the \nfield with his wheat, and that at the harvest, or end of the \nworld, the good people should be gathered like the wheat \ninto the barn, or heaven, and the wicked, like the tares, \nshould be burned in the fire. Jesus, having heard that John \nthe Baptist had been put to death by Herod, went away \nin a ship to a desert place, followed by the poor whom he \ntaught and comforted. When night came on, the disci- \nples begged their Master to send the tired, hungry people \nback to their dwellings ; but Jesus, knowing their wants, \n\n23 \n\n\n\n288 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE ENEMY SOWING TARES. \n\nsaid, " Give ye them to eat." The disciples had only five \nloaves for themselves, and two small fishes. Yet Jesus \ncommanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and he \nblessed the food, and brake, and gave to the disciples, who \ngave to the multitude ; and they all did eat, and were \nfilled. And when all had eaten \xe2\x80\x94 about five thousand men, \nbesides women and children \xe2\x80\x94 they gathered up twelve \nbaskets full of pieces. \n\nJesus one day took three of his disciples with him on \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n289 \n\n\n\n\nTHE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES. \n\nto a liigli mountain, and while there he became transfigured, \nor changed like a God, and his clothes looked white as \nsnow, and his face was dazzling as the sun ; and there ap- \npeared Moses and Elias, who talked with Jesus. Peter \nsaid, "Lord, it is good for us to be here;" and while he \nwas speaking, a bi\'iglit cloud covered them, and they heard \na voice, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am \nwell pleased ; hear ye him." The disciples fell upon their \nfaces with fear; but Jesus said, "Arise, and be not afaid;" \nand they lifted up their eyes, and found Jesus alone. \n\n\n\n290 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHRIST IS TRANSFIGURED. \n\n\n\nHe soon after this performed a cure on the lunatic son \nof an unhappy father who had brought his child to Jesas for \nhelp and mercy. And when they came to Jesus to demand \nhis share of the taxes paid to the Roman emperor, he was \nwithout money; but he sent his disciple Peter, and desired \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OP JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n291 \n\n\n\n\nCHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA. \n\nliim to cast a hook into the sea, and in the mouth of the \nfirst fish which came up he should find a piece of money \nsufficient to pay the demand made upon hotli. And \nscarcely was tliis done before they were followed by two \nbHnd men, who followed Jesus, crying, " Have mercy on \nus, O Lord, thou son of David." Nor were their cries in \nvain, for Christ restored to both tlieir eye-sight. \n\nIt was on a dark and stormy night the disciples were \ntrying to cross the sea in their little ship, but the wind and \n\n\n\n292 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nwaves were both contrary. They were tossed about, and \nunable to get forward, when all at once they saw Jesus \nwalking on the sea; but they knew him not, and were \nfrightened, saying, " It is a spirit." But Jesus spake, say- \ning, " It is I, be not afraid." Then Peter cried, " Lord, if \nit be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Jesus \nsaid, " Come." But as soon as Peter began to w^alk upon \nthe water his faith failed him, and he began to sink, and \nhe could only cry out, \'^Lord save me." And Jesus caught \nhim by the hand, and said, " O thou of little faith, where- \nfore didst thou doubt ? " And as soon as Jesus had come \ninto the ship the storm jceased,-and they were close to the \nland. He also spake the parable of the lost sheep and the \nprodigal son, the householder and his vineyard, and assured \nthem that it was difficult for a rich man to enter into the \nkingdom of heaven. On one occasion he took a little child \n(for Jesus loved children, and was kind to them, and bless- \ned them), and told his disciples that unless they became \nhumble and guileless as a little child, they could not enter \ninto the kingdom of heaven. \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUIl SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n293 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI \n\n\n\n\nJESUS RAISETII THE DEAD. \n\nHERE were two other miracles which \nJesus performed that you will be surpris- \ned to hear of. He raised to life those \nwho were dead, and one of these was a \nyoung girl ; but the first was the son of a \npoor widow, who was following her only \nchild to the grave, and weeping bitterly \nas she went. But Jesus mt!t her at the \ngate of the city, and when he beheld her \nbitter grief, he said to her kindly, " Weep not." Then he \ntouched the bier upon which the body was carried, and the \nbearers stood still, and Jesus said, "Young man, I say unto \nthee, Arise ! " and he that was dead sat up, and began to \nspeak, to the great joy of his broken-hearted mother. How \nhappy was she to take him home again, and how much \nthey ought to have loved the gentle and compassionate \nSaviour, who, not long after, restored to a sorrowing father \nhis only child. Jairus was a ruler among the Jews, and a \nrich man, but his riches and power could not save his only \nchild from death. When she was so ill that the doctors \ncould do no more for her, her father ran to seek Jesus, but \nbefore he could bring him to his house a messenger was \nsent after him, saying, "Trouble not the master, for thy \n\n\n\n294 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WIITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE RAISING OF JAIRUS\'S DAUGHTER \n\n\n\nchild is dead." But Jesus bade him not to be afraid, only \nto believe. When they were come to the house, and heard \nthe mourning and weeping, Jesus said, " Why make ye \nthis ado and weep ? the maiden is not dead, but sleepeth." \nAnd he went in, and took her by the hand, and said, \n"Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise!" And she arose, and \nwalked, and did eat and drink, and was cured. \n\n\n\nTHE LIFK OF JESUS OHUIST, OUR SAVIOUR. \n\n\n\n295 \n\n\n\n\nLAZARUS I-YING SICK. \n\n\n\nThere was a family at Bethany whom Jesus loved \xe2\x80\x94 \ntwo sisters and a brother. One sister loved to hear of the \nthings of God, when Jesus visited them ; but Martha was \nalways more anxious to wait upon Jesus. Lazarus their \nbrother died, and although the sisters sent to Jesus, he did \nnot go to them until Lazarus had been laid in the tomb \nfour days. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, \nshe ran out to meet him, and said, "Lord, if thou hadst \nbeen here, my brother had not died." But Jesus wept with \n\n\n\n296 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nthem, and went with them to the grave ; and the people \nwere astonished to see Jesus weeping for Lazarus at the \nmouth of the cave; and he ordered them to remove the \nstone from the mouth of the tomb, and, after praying to \nhis heavenly Father, he cried with a loud voice, " Lazarus, \ncome forth ! " And he that was dead came forth, tied u]) \nin his grave-clothes, and Jesus said, " Loose him, and let \nhim go." How happy were the sisters to see their dear \nbrother again, and how they must have loved and 23raised \nthe gracious Saviour, who was soon going to lay down his \nlife for them, and all other poor sinners, even little child- \nren ! I have told you Jesus loved children, and when their \nmothers brought their little ones to him, Christ took them \nin his arms and said, " Suffer the little children to come \nunto me.\'" And the kindest wishes that we can frame for \nthe welfare of our young readers are, that they may learn \nto know and fear him, go to him with joy and gladness, \nand seek his blessing; for though he is now in heaven, \nhe can bless them and keep them ; and whoever inherits \nChrist\'s blessing here on earth, will be blessed for ever \nwith the Saviour in heaven. \n\n\n\nOUR SAVIOUR\'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nHOW JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE. \n\n^ T is, and must be, a great comfort to every \none who can read the Bible, or who can hear \nit read, to know that the Bible is all true, \nand that it was given to us by a holy and \n^^ just God, who cannot lie; and the faithful \n^ saying that God has given to us in it con- \ncerning his Son Jesus Christ is the most pre- \ncious word that can be spoken. \n"^X^ We have heard many wondrous things the \n\nLord has done for his people, since the creation of the \nworld, and we have heard how many years the prophets \nand holy men of old prophesied, or foretold, the coming \nof Christ, and that he was to be the ransom for lost sin- \nners : and we know that through the disobedience of our \nfirst parents all are born in sin, " the children of wrath ;" \nand that only by the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, \n\n\n\n\n298 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nJESUS IN THE TEMPLE. \n\n\n\nby faitli in his death, we are made the children of grace ; \nand that to all those who believe in the Lord Jesus, and in \nhis gospel, will God grant forgiveness, mercy, and life ever- \nlasting. You must have heard how Jesus was born into \nthe world a helpless baby, feeling all the pains and tempt- \nations that other children feel ; and that he grew up auiong \nthe children of this world, setting them an example of du- \ntiful obedience to their parents, of love to our heavenly \nFather, of love to others, of gentleness, patience, meekness, \n\n\n\nOUR SAVIOURS TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 9^^ \n\nand industry. All the time of his stay upon earth Jesus \nwas never idle ; he was always going about doing good, \nfeeding the hungry, curing the sick, teaching the ignorant, \nreproving the wicked, comforting the sad and sorrowful, \nand sometimes raising the dead to life. \n\nIt would be almost impossible to hear of these wonder- \nful works that Jesus did, to read of the parables and gra- \ncious words that fell from his lips, without feeling that he \nwas indeed the Christy the Saviour that should come into \nthe world ; and we ought to thank him eveiy day of our \nlives that we are living in times when all these truths are \nbeing taught and acknowledged. \n\nThere w^ere many things which Jesus taught his disci- \nples which the proud Scribes and Pharisees would not un- \nderstand ; and he used to tell them little instructive stories \ncalled Parables. One of these was about an unkind servant. \nPeter had asked him how often he must forgive a person \nwho had offended him, and Jesus told him seventy times \nseven. He meant very, very often ; and if Peter did not \nforgive those who offended him, he could not hope God \nwould forgive his many sins. So Jesus told his disciples of \na certain king, whose servant owed him a very large sum of \nmoney, which he would never be able to pay ; \xe2\x80\x94 even if he \nhad been sold as a slave, with his wife and children, still \nthe money w^ould not pay the debt ; so he fell down before \nthe king, cind pi-ayed him to have patience with him, and \nhe would pay him all. But the king forgave him the whole \n\n\xe2\x96\xa06 \n\n\n\n300 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nPARABLE OE THE UiNKIND SERVANT. \n\ndebt. Not long after one of his fellow-servants got into \nhis debt, when the unkind servant refused to listen to the \nexcuses and prayers of his fellow-servant, but seized him \nrudely by the throat, and said, " Pay me that thou owest." \nThe poor man was unable to do this, and the unkind servant \ncast him into prison. When his lord heard this he was \nangry, saying, " Oh, thou wicked servant, I forgave thee \nall that debt, because thou desiredst me : shouldst not thou \nalso have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I \n\n\n\nOUP. SAVIOURS TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. \n\n\n\n301 \n\n\n\n\nTHK LORD OF THE VINEYARD HIRING LABORERS. \n\nhad pity on thee ?" Then the king delivered him to tlie \ntormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. By \nthis lesson Jesus teaches all to be kind and forgiving. One \nof his parables was of a house-holder who went out early \nin the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard : and he \nagreed to give them a penny a day. After this he hired \nother laborers, and some hours after he hired others, and \nquite late in the day he found others standing idle, and said \nunto them, " Why stand ye here all the day idle ? Go ye \nalso into the vineyard ; and whatsoever is right that ye shall \n\n\n\n302 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nreceive." So when the even was come, and the laborers \ncame to be paid for their work, they received every man a \npenny. Then those laborers who had been hired early in \nthe day were dissatisfied, because they had no more pay than \nthe others, and they murmured against the goodman of the \nhouse, saying, " These last have wrought but one hour, and \nthou hast made them equal to us, which have borne the \nburden and heat of the day." But he answered them thus : \n" Friend, didst not thou agree with me for a penny ? Take \nthat thine is, and go thy way. Is it not lawful for me to \ndo what I will with mine own?" And thus he taught \nthem that to whom God will he is able to give the gift or \nwages of life eternal. \n\n\n\nv<^- \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\nPARABLES OF THE RICH MAN AND OF THE \nGOOD SAMARITAN. \n\n\n\nv) HE parable of the rich man and Lazarus \nwas told to the disciples to prevent them \nfrom seeking to be rich and prosperous \nin this world, and, above all, to be kind \nand charitable to the poor and afflicted. \nThere was a rich man, who lived in a fine \nhouse, and had rich clothing, and the daintiest fare ; but \nhe took little heed of a poor beggar, named Lazarus, who, \n\n\n\nOUR SAVIOURS TEACHTNOS AND SUFFERINGS. \n\n\n\n303 \n\n\n\n\nmmiiummi\'mim^fr^t^mm^\'*\'^ \n\n\n\nLAZARUS AT THE RICH MAN S GATE. \n\n\n\nhaving no home, used to lie at the gate of the rich man\'s \nhouse, hoping to be fed with the broken pieces wliich the \nservants did not care to eat, for he was too sick to work or \nhelp himself The very dogs took pity upon this poor man : \nthey came and licked his sores, and tried to comfort him ; \nbut in all his pain he was happier than the rich man, for \nhe loved God, and he looked forward to a better home in \nheaven, and when the angels came to carry him there, he \nwould be happy for ever. And soon after the rich man \n\n\n\n3Q4 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\ndied ; lie could only enjoy liis riches and his good things as \nlong as God gave him breath ; and he had a grand funeral, \nand his body was laid in a fine tomb, and his soul was sent \ninto a place of torment, where he could only look up to \nheaven, and see Lazarus resting on Abraham\'s bosom. In \nvain the rich man cried to Abraham for a drop of water to \ncool his burning tongue : he had carried no water to Laza- \nrus in his suffering ; he had only cared for himself; and now \nAbraham tells him that Lazarus, having suffered evils in \nhis life with patience and submission, is rewarded ; but that \nhe, who had only cared for the riches, pleasures, and hon- \nors of the world, must now suffer for the bad use he had \nmade of them. Then Jesus told them of the good Samari- \ntan. You must remember that the Jews did not like the \nSamaritans: they considered themselves much better and \nholier ; but Jesus wished to show them that their doings \ndid not always agree with their professions; so one day, \nwhen the Jews were troubling Jesus with questions, hoping \nto make him say something contrary to their law, a lawyer \nasked him, saying, " Master, what shall I do to inherit eter- \nnal life?" Jesus, having asked him what was written in \nthe law, told him that according to that law he must serve \nGod, and love his neighbor. "Who is my neighbor?" \nquestioned the wily lawyer; and Jesus answered in a para- \nble, of a certain Jew, who, traveling from Jerusalem to \nJericho, fell among thieves, and was stripped, robbed, \nwounded, and left half dead. The first who came by was \n\n\n\nOUR saviour\'s teachings and SUrrERINGS. \n\n\n\n305 \n\n\n\n\nTHE GOOD SAMARITAN. \n\n\n\na priest. He and a Levite also, seeing liim, passed by on \nthe other side. But a Samaritan bound up his wounds, \npoured wine into his parched lips, and, when sufficiently \nrecovered, placed him on his own beast, accompanied him \nto the inn, and gave him in charge of the host, giving mo- \nney, and promising more on his return. Then Jesus askeii \nthe lawyer, " Which of the three was neighbor to the \nman who fell among thieves ?" The lawyer answered, " He \nwho showed mercy." Then said Jesus, " Go and do thon \nlikewise." \n\n\n\n306 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nPROPHECIES OF JESUS, AND MORE PARABLES. \n\nLL these things had been foretold by a pro- \nphet before the birth of Jesus, who now went \ninto the Temple, and drove out those who \nwere buying and selling in his Father\'s house. \nJesus did not remain long at Jerusalem, but \nreturned to Bethany. On the way thither \nhe cursed a fig-tree that bore no fruit ; and \nwlien they passed by again they found the fig-tree quite \nwithered away already. I hope you are not like trees tliat \nproduce no good fruit. He knows whether you love him. \nHe knew that when the poor widow threw her two mites \ninto God\'s treasury, that that one farthing was all the \nmoney she had in the world, and he praised her faith and \nlove to his disciples. Surely the blessing of Jesus was \nworth more than all the gold and silver in the world. And \nsoon after this Jesus saw his disciples admire the beautiful \nstones of the temple, and he told them that there soon \nshould not be one stone left upon another. Then he took \nsome of his disciples into a quiet place on the Mount of \nOlives, and explained to them some of the dreadful things \nthat would happen to the beautiful city, and what should \ncome to pass when he would come again in his glory at \nthe end of the world. You will feel very shocked and \nsorry when you are old enough to read of the distresses \n\n\n\nOUR SAVIOUR\'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. \n\n\n\n307 \n\n\n\nthat befell the Jews at the destruction of their fine city. \nAnd then he taught them again by parables. First he \nlikened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins, who took \nlamps in their hands, and went out to meet the bridegroom. \nFive of them were wise, and five of them wei-e foolish \nvirgins, who forgot to provide any oil in their lamps. At \nmidnight \xe2\x80\x94 for in Jewish lands it is usual for marriages to \nbe made in the evening \xe2\x80\x94 a cry was made, " Behold the \nbridegroom cometh. Go ye out to meet him." The virgins \narose, and began to trim their lamps ; but the foolish virgins, \nhaving no oil of their own, begged of the wise virgins, \nsaying, " Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out." \nThe wise virgins, however, having none to spare, told them \nto purchase oil for themselves. But while the foolish \nvirgins were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom passed, and \nthose who were ready went in with him to the marriage- \nfeast, and the door was closed. In vain they cried at the \ndoor, " Lord, lord, open to us." The answer was, " I know \nyou not." It was too late. Jesus, you know, is the bride- \ngroom, the hour of whose coming is not known to us ; the \noil is the grace and love of God, and if our hearts are not \nfilled with these when the Lord comes to call us to judg- \nment, it will be too late to pray and repent afterwards. \nOnly those who are prepared to meet him can go with \nJesus to heaven. Another parable he told them of the \ngood master, who gave talents (the money then in use in \nthat country) to his servants \xe2\x80\x94 to one ten, to another two \n\n\n\n308 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE PARABLE OF THE FEAST. \n\n\n\ntalents, and to another one \xe2\x80\x94 and the master went away; \nbut, upon his return, he called the servants to give an \naccount. The servants who had received five talents and \ntwo talei^ts had made good use of their lord\'s money, \nand doubled it ; while the other had hid his money in the \nground, and the king punished him accordingly. Jesus also \nlikened the kingdom of heaven to a certain king, who \nmade a marriage for his son, and invited many guests to \nthe marriage feast ; but the invited guests paid no heed to \n\n\n\n12 \n\n\n\nOUR SAVIOUR\'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. \n\n\n\n309 \n\n\n\n\nTHE WEDDING GARMENT. \n\n\n\nhis kind invitation. So he sent his servants out into the \nhighways and lanes, to bring in as many as they found, to \npartake of the feast. These poor people were all provided \nat the entrance with garments fit for a marriage /east ; but \nwhen the king came in to see the guests, he found there a \nman who had not chosen to array himself in the beautiful \ndress. Then the king desired his servants to bind him hand \nand foot, and to cast him into outer darkness. \n\n\n\n13 \n\n\n\n\no-j A HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE, \n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\nTHE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. \n\nND now tlie time drew near when Jesus \nwas to die, to be oifered np as a sinless \nsacrifice for the sins of mankind, so he be- \ngan his journey towards Jerusalem ; and \nat Bethany, where Lazarus and his sistei-s \ndwelt, there was a feast made for Jesus by \na rich man named Simon, and Mary sat \ndown at the feet of Jesus. She had with her a box of very \nexpensive ointment, with which she anointed his feet, and \nshe wiped them with her long, soft hair. Judas, who was to \nbetray the Saviour, grumbled at her, and thought it great \nwaste to spend this valuable ointment in this way. He \nwould have liked to sell it, and get the money, as he pre- \ntended, out of love to the poor. But Jesus, who could read \nall the thoughts of his heart, said, \'\' Why trouble ye the \nwoman ? she hath wrought a good work upon me." And \nhe went on to tell them that they could always find oppor- \ntunities of doing good to the poor, for there were always \npoor people to be found who needed help and comfort ; \nbut that he was going to die, and Mary was anointing his \nbody for burial, according to the custom of the country. \nAnd Jesus said, also, " Wheresoever this gospel shall be \npreached throughout the whole world, this also that she \nhath done shall be spoken for a memorial of her." But a \n\n\n\nOUR saviour\'s teachings and sufferings. o-i-i \n\ngreat many of the people who were present were even then \nwishing for the death of Jesus; and some of them took \ncounsel together to put Lazarus to death, because Jesus had \nraised him to life, and many people believed on the kind \nSaviour on that account. Jesus knew all their bad thoughts \nand desires, but he went on his way doing his Father\'s work. \nSo the next day he sent his disci])les forward from the \nMount of Olives, and told them to go into the village, and \nthey would find an ass tied and a colt by her, and that \nthey should loose them and bring them to him ; and as the \ndisciples were untying the ass their owner inquired of them \nwhy they did so, and they said, " The Lord hath need of \nthem;" and the man let them go. So they brought the \nass to Jesus, and they spread their garments over it, and \nJesus mounted thereon, to ride into Jerusalem. And when \nthe people saw him coming they spread branches of trees, \nand possibly flowers, before him, and those who had fine \ngarments spread them in the way, for the ass to walk over \nthem, and they all cried and shouted for joy, saying, " Ho- \nsanna in the highest: Blessed is He that cometli in the \nname of the Lord ! " There were many little children who \njoined in the cry, " Hosanna in the highest;" and Jesus \nwas pleased to hear the little ones sing his praises. And \nwhen he came into the temple he found the people buying \nand selling doves, and a second time he drove them away \nfrom his Father\'s house, and desired them to keep it holy. \nA good prophet, named Zechariah, had foretold that Jesus \n\n15 \n\n\n\n312 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nChrist\'s entry into Jerusalem. \nwould come riding upon an ass lowly and humbly, although \nthe king of heaven and earth. Jesus did not stay long in \nJerusalem. He went to Bethany, and on the way he saw \na fig-tree, which bore no fruit, and Jesus cursed the barren \nfig-tree, and immediately it withered away ; and this will \n\n\n\n16 \n\n\n\nOUR saviour\'s teachings and sufferings. 3-1^0 \n\nbe the sad end of all who are not really good, but only \npretend to do well that men may praise them. Jesus told \nhis disciples some other parables. One was about a man \nwho had a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, who \nrefused to give their lord the fruit thereof, and they beat \nand ill-used his servants and his messengers. The OAvner \nthen sent his own son, hoping that the husbandmen would \nhonor and reverence him, but they did not, for they said, \n" Come, let us kill him." And they cast him out of the \nvineyard, and put him to death. When the lord of the \nvineyard heard this, he came and destroyed those wicked \nmen, and let out their vineyard to others. In this parable \nJesus reproved the wickedness of the Jews, who had killed \nthe prophets, and foretold the salvation of the Gentiles, \nwho should become Christians. We must try to obey God \nand love Jesus, if we would escape the punishment due to \nunbelievers. Another parable was of the prodigal son, \nwho begged of his father to give him his portion, and he \nwent away and spent it in rioting and extravagance. At \nlast the money was all gone, his gay companions forsook \nhim, and he was nearly starving with hunger. He was fain \nto eat the shells and husks that were given to the pigs, and \nhe was very miserable when he thought of the happy home \nhe had left. At length he determined to go back to his \nkind father, and tell him how sorry he was for his folly and \nwickedness. He said, " I will arise and go to my fjxther, \nand will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven \n\n17 \n\n\n\n314 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE prodigal\'s RETURN. \n\nand before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy \nson : make me as one of thy hired servants." Then Jesus \npoints out the mercy of our Heavenly Father. He tells us \nthat when the penitent sinner was yet a great way off the \nfather saw him, and had pity on him, and went out to meet \nhim, and kissed him, and even, while the sorrowing son \nconfesses his guilt, the tender parent calls for a fine robe, \nand provides all his necessities, and makes a feast for very \njoy that his lost son is restored to him ; and, when the elder \n\n\n\n.i I \n. I \n\n\n\nOUR SAVIOUR S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. \n\n\n\n315 \n\n\n\nbrother murmured at the joyous welcome that was given to \nthe wanderer, and turned away because he was too jealous \nto join in the merriment, his kind father came and begged \nliim to go in, saying, "Thou art always with me, and all \nthat I have is thine ; but we must now make merry and \nrejoice over this thy brother, who was lost, and is found." \nHow glad should we be when any poor sinner is brought \nback to the fold of God, for we know that the angels \nrejoice in heaven over penitent sinners ! \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\nTHE L R D \'S SUPPER. \n\nESUS, with some of his disciples, went up in* \nto the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem, and \nlooked over the beautiful city ; and there he \nforetold the sorrows that would come upon \nthe Jews, and of wars, and famines, and trou- \nbles that would precede the destruction of \nthe Jews ; and thei-e he promised his disci- \nples to be with them in all their trials and sufferings for \ntheir Master\'s sake, and the destruction of Jerusalem would \nbe a type of the coming of our Lord in power and glory. \nAnd not long after our Saviour\'s death the Romans came \nand besieged the city, inflicted unheard of cruelties upon \nthe Jews, burned the holy temple, and totally destroyed \n\n\n\n\no-i n HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nthe city, carrying away many captives. And Jesus told \nthem of the day when he should come with his holy angels, \nand divide the sheep from the goats, putting the righteous \non his right hand, and sinners on the left, and warned them \nto be ready at that day, the coming of which would be as a \nthief in the night. And all this time that Jesus was teach- \ning his disciples, the wicked Judas was covenanting with \nthe high priests to betray his master into their hands for \nthirty pieces of silver. It was just at the season when the \nJews from all parts came up to Jerusalem to keep the feast \nof the passover, and to partake of the paschal lamb ; and \nJesus also came with his disciples, and he called two of \nthem, and desired them to go into the city, where they \nwould find a man bearing a pitcher of water, whom they \nshould follow, and, entering into the same house, inquire of \nthe good-man of the house, saying, " The master saith, where \nis the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with \nmy disciples ? " and he would show them a room in which \nto prepare the feast. And the disciples went and found \neverything as Jesus had said, and when the passover was \nready, Jesus came in the evening with his disciples to eat \nit. And while they were eating- their supper Jesus was \nvery sorrowful, for he knew all that was going to happen \nto him; and he said unto the twelve, "Verih^, I say unto \nyou, that one of you shall betray me." Most of the dis- \nciples wondered what their master meant, and questioned, \nsaying, \' Lord, is it I ? " The Saviour answered that one \n\n20 \n\n\n\nOUR saviour\'s teachings and SUFFERINGb. 3^7 \n\n\n\n\nTHE LAST SUPPER. \n\n\n\nwho dipped his hand in the same dish with him should be- \ntray him. Judas alone understood the Saviour\'s meaning, \nbut he also pretended to wonder, saying, " Master, is it I ? " \nJesus answered, " Thou hast said." Then Jesus brake the \nbread, and blessed it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, \n"Take, eat, this is my body;" and he took the cup, and \ngave thanks, saying, "Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood, \nwhich is shed for the remission of sins." And since Jesus \ngave these his last commands to his disciples, all good \nChristians are happy to be allowed to partake of the Lord\'s \n\n\n\n318 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nSupper. Then Jesus rose from the table, and took a basin \nof water, and washed the feet of his disciples, as an ex- \nample to be lowly and humble. So they passed over the \nbrook Cedron, and came into the garden of Gethsemane, \nand there Jesus left some of his disciples to pray, while he \nwent on farther with three of his disciples, whom he de- \nsired to watch while he went on to pray by himself. \nWhile Jesus was praying, the tired disciples fell asleep; \nthey could not see the large drops of sweat that fell in drops \nof blood from the Saviour\'s forehead. Three times he came \nback to his disciples, and found them sleeping, not watch- \ning and praying against temptation. Still he said kindly \nto them, " Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, he \nis at hand that doth betray me." \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI \n\n\n\nTHE CRUCIFIXION. \n\n\n\nCARCELY had Jesus finished speaking \nwhen he saw Judas coming with a band of \nmen, with swords and staves, to take him. \nJudas came up and kissed Jesus, saying, \n" Hail, master ; " and immediately they \nlaid hold of Jesus: he had not tried to \nescape. He said, boldly, "1 am Jesus of \nNazareth ; " and they were so astonished \nat his majesty and gentleness, that some of them fell back- \n\n22 \n\n\n\nOUR saviour\'s teachings and sufferings. \n\n\n\n319 \n\n\n\n\nPETER SMITES OFF MALCHUS\' EAR. \n\n\n\nwai\'ds to the ground. One of the disciples drew ix sword \nand smote Malchus, the servant of the high priest, and cut \noff his ear. The kind and gentle Saviour reproved Peter \nfor his rashness, and although he knew the man to be his \nbitter enemy, he touched his ear and healed it : and the \n\n\n\n320 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nPETER DENIES CHRIST. \n\n\n\ndisciples were so alarmed at the savage multitude that they \nall ran away and left Jesus, who was taken away to Caia- \nphas, the high priest. Peter, however, followed behind, \ntrying to hide himself in the crowd. After he was come \nto the palace he was again taxed Avith being a Galilean, and \nPeter began to declare that he knew nothing of Jesus ; but \nwhile he was speaking the cock crew, and Peter, remem- \nbering the words of his loving master, went out and wept \nbitterly for his ingratitude and his sin. Meantime some \n\n\n\n:^2i \n\nhilse witnesses, telling the priests that Jesus had spoken \nuntruly, and tlie high priest asked Jesus what answer he \ncould make. Jesus answered not a word until the higli \npriest said, " Art thou the Christj the Son of God ?" Jesus \nanswered, " I am ; and hereafter you shall see me coming \nin the clouds of heaven ; " but the high priest would not \nbelieve him. He cried out that Jesus was speaking blas- \nphemy, and deserved to be put to death, and the people \nmocked and spat upon him ; but Jesus, our example, bore \nthese insults with meekness and patience : he was free from \nsin. But Judas, who had betrayed his Lord to death, \nwhen he knew that he was condemned, and saw him led \naway bound to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, felt \nvery sad and \'miserable. The money gave him no peace : \nit reproached him so that he could not bear to look at or \nkeep it. He brought the thirty pieces of silver back to \nthe priests, and told them he had betrayed the innocent \nblood, but they felt no pity for him. They said, "See \nthou to that." So in his despair Judas threw down the \npieces of silver in the temple, and went out and hanged \nhimself He did not weep and pray for pardon, as Peter \nhad done ; and his soul went to everlasting misery. \n\nWhen Jesus was brought before the Roman governor, \nPilate could find no fault in him, and wished to set him \nfree ; but he was afraid of offending the rich Jews, so he \nsent him to Herod, wlio questioned him, mocked and railed \nat Jesus, and sent him back to Pilate. The wife of Pilate \n\n\n\n322 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nhad begged her husband not to condemn Jesus; but, \nalthough he knew him to be guiltless, he only tried to save \nhimself from the blame, and he took water and washed his \nhands, saying, " I am innocent of the blood of this just \nman ; see you to it." So the people cried out, " His blood \nbe on us, and on our children." So Pilate, who feared man \nmore than he feared God, gave the innocent Jesus into the \nhands of his enemies, and set free from prison a wicked \nthief named Barabbas. God did not free Pilate from blame, \nfor we hear and read every day that Jesus was crucified, \nand suffered under Pontius Pilate. And the Jews have \nsuffered many sorrows for their sins. \n\nThe soldiers then took Jesus, tore off his raiment, and \nput on him a purple robe ; and they platted a crown of \nthorns, and put it upon his head, and made him hold a \nreed in his right hand for a sceptre ; and they mocked him, \nbowdng down before him, saying, " Hail, King of the Jews !" \nThen these cruel men smote him, and spat upon him, and \ninsulted him, after which they put on his own raiment \nagain, and led him away out of the city to crucify him. \nThey made Jesus carry the large wooden cross upon his \nback ; but when he was unable to carry the load any long- \ner, they compelled a man named Simon, whom they met \non the road, to carry it for him. The women, and many \npeople to whom the Saviour had shown kindness, follow- \ned him in tears ; and Jesus turned, and told them " Not to \nweep for him, but to weep for their own sorrows, and those \n\n\n\nOUR saviour\'s teachings and sufferings. \n\n\n\n323 \n\n\n\nI ! ^ \n\n\n\n\nJESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS. \n\n27 \n\n\n\nOCfA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nof their children." He knew what trouble was coming on \nthem. \n\nAt last they came to Mount Calvary, and, on a spot \ncalled Golgotha, they drove large nails through his hands \nand his feet, and then they set the cross in the ground, and \nlet Jesus hang upon it until he died. \n\nWhile Jesus hung upon the cross he complained of \nthirst, but instead of giving him the spiced wine usual on \nsuch occasions, they gave him wine mingled with gall, and \nwhen Jesus had tasted the bitter cup, he would not drink. \nHe was willing to bear all the pain for us, from nine o\'clock \nin the morning until three in the afternoon. The soldiers \ntook the garments and divided them among them, except \nthe vesture, which was woven without a seam, and for this \nthey cast lots, fulfilling the prophecy of David, saying, ^\'They \nlook and stare upon me; they part my garments among \nthem, and cast lots upon my vesture." They then sat down \nand watched him, while many wicked men jeered him, say- \ning, " He saved others, himself he cannot save ; " while the \ngentle Saviour only pitied them, and cried, \'* Father, for- \ngive them, for they know not what they do." Pilate wrote \na title in three languages, and placed over the head of \nJesus, " This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." \n\nAgain did he cry out, " I thirst ; " and one of the sol- \ndiers gave him a sponge sopped in vinegar, on the top of a \nreed, to suck. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he \nsaid, -\'It is finished;" after which he cried, with a load \n\n\n\nOUR saviour\'s teachings and sufferings. \n\n\n\n325 \n\n\n\nvoice, \'\' Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," and \nhe bowed his head and died. \n\nThere was a rich man called Joseph of Arimathea, who \nwent to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus, so Pilate \ngave him leave to bury the body in his own tomb. So Jo- \nseph and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus down from \nthe cross, and wrapped it in linen, with sweet scents and \nspices, and laid it in a new tomb hewn out in a garden, \nfollowed by the holy Avomen, who had loved and honored \nthe Son of God. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. \n\nTHE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. \n\n\n\n\n^ N the third day, as soon as the morning dawn- \ned, after keeping holy the Sabbath day, these \ngood women came with spices to anoint the \nbody of Jesus ; but while they were consider- \ning how they should roll away the large stone \nthat had been sealed over the door of the \ntomb, they saw that the stone was gone. \nYes ! The angel of the Lord had I\'olled away \nthe stone, and the grave had given up its dead. \nJesus was alive again, and an angel sat upon \nthe stone, whose face shone like lightning, and his raiment \nwas white as snow. Mary Magdalen left the other two \n\n\n\n?9 \n\n\n\n326 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE RESURRECTION, \n\nwomen while she ran back to tell the disciples that theii \nLord was risen, and the angel told the other women to gc \nlikewise and teU Peter and his disciples that Jesus was \ngone to Galilee. \n\nYou see Peter\'s sin had been forgiven, because he re- \npented; and when he heard from Mary Magdalen that \nJesus was not in the tomb, both he and John ran to the \nsepulchre, and saw the linen clothes lying empty, and then \nthey believed that Jesus had risen again, so they went \naway, but Mary remained near the tomb weeping. Two \n\n\n\n30 \n\n\n\nOUR SAVIOUR\'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 09^7 \n\nangels clothed in white were sitting in the sepulchre, and \nthey said to Mary, \'\'Why weepest thou?" She answered, \n" Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not \nwhere they have laid him." And as she turned round some \none asked her the same question, " Why weepest thou?" \nMary did not know that it was Jesus when she saw him, \nbut she said, \'\'Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me \nwhere thou hast laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus \nsaith unto her, " Mary ! " She who so loved her Saviour \nknew his voice at once, and in tones of joy she answered, \n" Master ;" She would have embraced his feet, but Jesus \nforbade her, and desired her to go and tell his brethren, \nsaying, " I ascend to my Father, and to your Father ; to \nmy God, and to your God." Jesus afterwards appeared to \nthe other two Avom^n, who fell down and worshipped him. \nThe same evening he appeared to all his disciples, who were \nassembled together to prayer, and said unto them, "Peace \nbe unto you ;" and, having showed them the scars in his \nhands and his side, he breathed on them, and said. *\' Re- \nceive ye the Holy Ghost." Thomas, one of his discipleg \nwho was not present, refused to credit the glad tidings ; \nbut Jesus afterwards appeared to them again, and convinc- \ned Thomas that he was the risen Lord. \n\nHe appeared to other disciples and followers until forty \ndays after his resurrection, and then he led them out once \nmore to the village of Bethany, and promised them the \ngift of the Holy Ghost, and, having desired them to preach \n\n\n\n328 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\n! I \n\n\n\nCHRIST APPEARING TO HIS DISCIPLES. \n\n\n\nthe gospel througli the world, he was suddenly taken up \nout of their sight, and ascended up into heaven, where He \nhas promised to prepare a place for all who love and be- \nlieve in Him. May our sins be washed away by his blood, \nand may we be ready to reign with him hereafter in glory ! \n\n\n\n329 \n\n\n\n\nains bit| t|e ^ible. \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES \n\n\n\nCHxVPTER I. \n\n\n\n\nOF THE DISCIPLES\xe2\x80\x94 ESPECIALLY THOMAS. \n\nOU do not require me to remind you, my \ndear little readers, that you have a dear \nFriend who loves and watches over you at \nall times, whether rich or poor ; He is always \nat hand to help you, and He loves you more \ndearly than the kindest father. This Friend \nis Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven, \nand took upon him the form of a poor little \nhelpless baby ; who grew up to be a man, and taught us \nhow to live, and to obey our Father in heaven, that we \nmay go to be with Him when we die. You often say that \n" Christ was crucified for us, and He rose again from the \ndead ;" and you read that He appeared to His disciples and \nmany others before He ascended into heaven. His disci- \n\n\n\nooA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\npies were twelve poor men, whom He had chosen to be His \nfriends, and to go about with Him and hear His teachings, \nand see His wonderful works that He performed, that \nthey might be able to bear witness of the truth of His \nsaying, and to teach others after He had gone back to heav- \nen. One of these disciples, however, named Thomas, could \nnot believe that Jesus had appeared to the other disciples \nin his absence ; he could not understand, although he had \nseen our Saviour restore others to life, that Jesus should be \nalive again. With two of his disciples, he had taken a \nlong walk, explaining to them the meaning of many won- \nders, which they had not before understood ; and when \nthey arrived at a place called Emmaus, He had sat down \nwith them to supper ; but they knew not who it was that \ntalked with them until Jesus took the bread, and brake it, \nand blessed it. Then their eyes were opened, and they \nknew their Lord again. But Thomas could not believe these \nthings. He said, " Except I put my finger into the print of \nthe nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not be- \nlieve." Now Jesus loved Thomas in spite of his unbelief; \nso He came again when the disciples were all met together \nfor prayer, and He stood in the midst, although the doors \nwere close shut, and said, " Peace be unto you." Then he \nrepeated the very words of Thomas, saying, " Keach hither \nthy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy \nhand, and thrust it into my side ; and be not faithless, but \nbelieving." And the humbled and believing Thomas an- \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n331 \n\n\n\n\nTHE UNBELIEF OF THOMAS. \n\n\n\nswered, " My Lord and my God." You., my little children, \ncannot in this world see Jesus; but you may believe that \nHe is also your Lord and your God ; and you must love \nHim and believe in the Son of God, *\' that believing, ye \nmight have life through His name." Thomas did this after- \nwards. He is said to have travelled through Persia and \nIndia, preaching about Christ ; and there he was, many \nyears after, put to death by the idolatrous priests. Jesus \nthen appeared to some of his disciples, who had been all \nnight fishing, without being able to catch anything. The \n\n3 \n\n\n\n09 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\ndisciples did not know their Lord until He bade them " cast \ntheir net on the right side of the ship," which instantly \nbecame filled with a hundred and fifty -three large fishes. \nHe then fed them with some of the fishes, which they broil- \ned over a fire, and with bread ; and having dined, Jesus gave \nthem good counsel, and prophesied unto them, until they \nwere fully convinced that Jesus was indeed the very Christ \nwho had been raised up on the cross for them. A few days \nafter, when they were all assembled with Him, a short dis- \ntance from Jerusalem, He ascended up into heaven, and a \ncloud received Him out of their sight. And they all re- \nturned to Jerusalem, where they appointed a new disciple \nin the place of Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Christ, \nand afterwards hanged himself, in despair for what he had \ndone. On the day of Pentecost, one of the feasts of the \nJews, these disciples were all gathered together for prayer, \nwhen suddenly there came a wondrous sound, like a rush- \ning mighty wind, that filled the house; and tongues of fire \nappeared to rest upon the head of each of them, and they \nwere enabled, by the mighty power of God, to speak and \npreach in different tongues and languages, such as they \nhad never heard or understood before. \n\nAll the Jews who saw and heard this wonderful mira- \ncle were astonished ; but Peter stood up boldly, and preach- \ned to them of Jesus, until many of them repented, and \nwere baptized by the disciples, and were received as mem- \nbers of the Church of Christ. \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n333 \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\nOF PETER AND JOHN. \xe2\x80\x94 ANANIAS AND SAPPHTRA. \n\n\n\nETER and John went one day into the Tem- \nple to pray. At the entrance-gate, called \n" Beautiful," lay a poor lame man, who had \nonly the charity of those Avho entered the \ngate to subsist upon. He had been carried \nthere as usual, and began to ask alms of Peter \nand John. These disciples were themselves \nqJ poor, but they had something better than \nmoney to bestow. So Peter said to the poor cripple, " Look \non us ; " and as he gazed earnestly on them, Peter said, \n" Silver and gold have I none ; but such as I have give I \nthee." And taking him by the hand, he lifted him up, \nsaying, " In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk." \nAnd instantly strength was restoi\'ed to his ancle bones ; he \nstood, and walked, and entered the Temple of God, leap- \ning, walking, and praising Him. And all who saw this \nmiracle were astonished. But Peter explained to them \nthat not by their ow^n power or holiness had they given \nthe lame man ability to walk, but that God had done this \nmiracle by His own power and mercy ; and he preached \nto them of Christ crucified, and touched their hearts ; so \nthat al)out five thousand niore were added to the Church, \nThe Sadducees, and the high priest and others, being griev- \n\n\n\n334 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nPETER HEALING THE LAME MAN. \n\n\n\ned that the disciples taught the people, had Peter and John \nbrought before them, and questioned them ; but not being \nable to punish them, they commanded them not to teach \nin the name of Jesus. But Peter prayed to God so earnest- \nly that God would give them boldness and grace to preach \nand perform miracles in His name, that the place they were \nin was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy \nGhost, and most of those preseut were convinced of the \ntruth of their preaching ; and they sold their houses and \nlands, and gave the money for the use of the disciples. \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n335 \n\n\n\nAnd now comes a sad story. A man named Ananias, \nwho wished to apjiear as good and noble as the rest, went \nand sold a piece of land ; and keeping back a part of the \nmoney, he took the remainder, and laid it at the apostles\' \nfeet. Now God had given His disciples power to understand \nmany hidden things, as well as to speak in foreign tongues ; \nand Peter knew quite well what Ananias had done, so \nhe said unto him, " Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine \nheai\'t to lie to the Holy Ghost, and keep back part of the \npi\'ice of the land ? Thou hast not lied unto men, but uato \nGod." And as Peter said these words, Ananias fell down \ndead at his feet, and some young men carried out the body, \nand buried it. \n\nHis wife Sapphira knew quite well what had been done \nwith the money, and she soon after came into the presence \nof the apostles, not knowing of her husband\'s death, and \nPeter asked her, saying : \xe2\x80\x94 " Tell me, did you sell the land \nfor so much?" and she answered, "Yea, for so much." \n\nBut Peter said, " How is it that ye have agreed togeth- \ner to tempt the Spirit of the Lord ? Behold the feet of \nthem which have buried thy husband are at the door, and \nshall carry thee out." Then Sapphira also fell down, and \ndied instantly, and they carried her out, and buried her be- \nside the body of her husband ; but their souls were gone : \nnot up to heaven to be with Jesus, but to Satan, who is \nthe father of lies, and who had tempted them to lie. All \nwho saw these things were in great fear ; and many believed. \n\n\n\n336 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III \n\n\n\nTHE FIRST MARTYR. \n\n\n\n*HE word martyr signifies a person who dies in \ndefence of his religion, and many of the first \nfollowers of the Lord were martyred, or put \nto death, for loving Jesus, and teaching in his \nname. The disciples had chosen, from among \nthe many newly converted Christians, seven \nholy and wise men, who were called deacons, \nto assist them in visiting the sick, and giving \nalms to the needy ; and one among them, named Stephen, \ndid many miracles and wonders; for God had sent the \nHoly Spirit into his heart, and the poor loved Stephen. \nBut the powerful enemies of Christ rose up against Stephen, \nand accused him of preaching things contrary to their law. \nWhen Stephen stood up to defend himself, he looked so calm \nand holy, that his face appeared like " the face of an angel." \nHe told them all the thinsfs that had been foretold of Jesus \nby Moses and the prophets ; and that destruction would \ncome upon those who rejected and denied their Saviour, \nand put him to death. His enemies, the greatest of whom \nwas a young man, named Smd (who afterwards became a \nChristian himself), grew so angry, that he bade the people \ncast great stones at him to kill him. Even in his sufi^er- \nings, the good and gentle Stephen prayed for his murder- \ners, following the example of our blessed Saviour. Stephen \n\n\n\nTHE STOEY OP THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n337 \n\n\n\n\nTHE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN. \n\nprayed, looking up to heaven, "Lord Jesus, receive my \nspirit;" and kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, \n" Lord, lay not this sin to their charge ! " \n\nStephen died peacefully, very. His friends buried him \nwnth great mourning; Lut Saul and his enemies treated \nthem so cruelly that they were all obliged to separate, and \nleave Jerusalem. \n\n\n\n338 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE SIN OF SIMON THE SORCERER. \n\n\n\nPhilip went to Samaria. Many of the Samaritans were \nconverted, and one of them, a sorcerer, also joined himself \nwith the believers and was baptized. Simon wished to \nwork miracles ; he offered money to the disciples, that they \nmight give him the Holy Ghost, and enable him to bestow \nit on others. Peter, however, reproved him sharply, say- \ning, *\'Thy money perish with thee, Simon, because thou \nhast thought the gift of God can be bought with money." \n\nIn a distant country called Ethiopia, lived the officer of \n\n\n\n10 \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES, \n\n\n\n339 \n\n\n\n\nPHILIP AND THE EUNUCH. \n\n\n\na great queen, named Canclace ; and this eunuch, or officer, \nwas returning from Jerusalem in his chariot, reading very \nattentively the prophecies of Isaiah. And God sent Philip \nto the side of the chariot, and he asked the officer if he \nunderstood the meaning of the words he was reading ? The \neunuch answered, "That he required some one to explain \nit to him," and Philip, getting into the chariot, taught the \nofficer about Jesus : and the eunuch understood and be- \nlieved ; and when they came to some water Philip baptized \nhim. \n\n\n\n11 \n\n\n\n340 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nC HAPTER lY \n\n\n\n\nDORCAS. \n\nEFORE I tell you anything more about Saul, \nafterwards called Paul, I will mention the \nmiracles and acts of Peter. He went to a \nplace called Lydda, whei\'e he cured a sick \nman, named Eneas, who had been ill for eight \nyears ; then he went to Joppa, where a very \ngood woman lived, whose name was Tabitha, \nor Dorcas ; she spent all her time in visiting \nand working for the poor and the needy, until at last she \nfell sick and died : and all the poor people in Joppa were \ngrieved at her death. \n\nWhen Peter heard this he went directly to the house, \nwhere the friends of Dorcas were weeping over her dead \nbody. And the poor widows were showing each other the \ncoats and garments Dorcas had made for them. So Peter \nsent them all away, and prayed to God that he would res- \ntore Dorcas to life again. He took her by the hand, and \nsaid, "Tabitha arise;" and God answered the prayer of \nPeter, for she opened her eyes and sat up, and Peter res- \ntored her to her friends, alive and well, because God loved \nDorcas, for her charity and kindness to the poor. \n\nHerod, the wicked king of Judea \xe2\x80\x94 having put to death \nwith the sword James, the brother of John \xe2\x80\x94 heard soon \n\nV2 \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n341 \n\n\n\n\nTHK RAISING OF DORCAS. \n\n\n\nafter that Peter was come to Jerusalem ; so he caught him \nand put him in prison, with a number of soldiers to guard \nhim safely. But God heard the prayers of his people, and \ndid not suffer Peter to be killed just then. The night be- \nfore he was to be tried, Peter lay sleeping in the prison, \nbound with two strong chains, and soldiers guarding the \ndoor, suddenly a light shone in the prison, and an angel \nbade him " Arise up quickly. Gird thyself (which meant \ndress thyself), and follow me." Peter\'s chains fell off, and \nhe rose up, and put on his garments, and followed the angel, \n\n\n\n342 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nPETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON. \n\nbelieving that it was a vision. They passed through the \ndoors until they came to the iron gate that led into the \ncity ; and the gate opened of its own accord, and Peter and \nthe angel passed through, and down one street, and then \nthe angel disappeared. Peter soon came to himself, and \nsaid, " Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his \nangel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod ; " \nand after a little thought he walked straight to the house \nof Mary, the mother of Mark, at whose house were assem- \n\n14 \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n343 \n\n\n\nbled several Christians, who \n\n\n\nwere mourning \n\n\n\nand \n\n\n\npraying \n\n\n\nfor Peter. First they feared that Herod had put him to \ndeath, and that his spirit had appeared to them ; but, when \nthe knocking continued, they joyfully admitted Peter, and \nlistened to all that God had done to deliver him. Peter \nthen bade them " Go and tell the good news to the breth- \nren ; " and he departed to another place. Herod and the \nJews were very wroth when they found Peter had escaped, \nand Herod cruelly put the keepers of the prison to death ; \nbut God punished Herod for his wickedness. One day he \nsat on the throne, dressed in his robes, and made a fine \nspeech; but God struck him with a fearful illness, and he \nsoon after died a very miserable death : and Peter, after \npreaching many years, was crucified, as Jesus had foretold. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\n\n\nc/TT^^ \n\n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF PAUL. \n\nHERE was a rich and clever young Jew of \nTarsus, who studied the law at Jerusalem, \nunder Gamaliel, and he became very learned, \nand was very strict in keeping the laws of \nMoses, and thought himself very righteous. \nSo when he first heard of Jesus and his fol- \nlowers, he despised and rejected \'Him, and \npersecuted every one who loved and believed \n\n15 \n\n\n\n344 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nTHE CONVERSION OF SAUL. \n\n\n\niu the Saviour. He went to Damascus, to hunt out the \nChristians there, and put them to death. But God in his \nmercy had other work for Saul ; so God met him on his \njourney. On a sudden a great light shone from heaven, \nand Saul fell to the ground. He heard a voice crying, \n" Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? " And Saul said, \n*\' Who art thou ? " And the Lord said, \'\' I am Jesus, whom \nthou persecutest." \n\nSaul, trembling and astonished, asked, " Lord, what \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n345 \n\n\n\nwilt thou have me to do?" And the Lord said unto him, \n" Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what \nthou must do." Blinded, dazzled, and astonished, Saul arose \nfrom the earth, and was obliged to be led by those who \njourneyed with him, and who were also dismayed at hear- \ning the voice when no person was visible ; and they brought \nSaul to Damascus, where he continued three days, without \nsight and without food. Then a certain good man, named \nAnanias, to whom the Lord appeared in a vision, and gave \nhim instructions what to do, came in search of Saul. Ana- \nnias entered into the house, and, putting his hands upon \nhim, said, \'\' Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appear- \ned to thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that \nthou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy \nGhost." And Saul received his sight instantly, and arose \nand was baptized, and partook of some food, and continued \nsome days with the disciples at Damascus, where he boldly \npreached Christ in their synagogues, to the astonishment \nof all those who heard the late persecutor of Christ\'s fol- \nlowers telling that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Saul \nwas persecuted in his turn by the Jews ; and the disciples, \nin order to save his life, were obliged to drop him over the \nwall of the city in a basket. So Saul escaped to Jerusalem ; \nbut the disciples were at first afraid to receive him, until \nBarnabas took him by the hand, and immediately Saul dis- \nputed with the Grecians, and boldly and openly taught \nthat Jesus was the Saviour of the world. \n\n\n\n\no i f. HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n346 \n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\nELYMAS THE SORCERER. \n\nAUL, who was now called Paul, went to \nTarsus, where he remained until Barna- \nbas joined him, and took him away to \nAntioch, where they both boldly preach- \ned the name of Jesus Christ: and heo-e \nit was that the followers of our Lord \nwere first called Christians, which means \na servant or follower of Christ. I hope \nnone of my little readers are ashamed of this name, but \nthat they really and truly mean to be Christians, as Paul \nwas. The disciples at Antioch sent money, by the hands \nof Paul and Barnabas, to the poor Christians at Jerusalem, \nwho, when they finished their work, returned again to Anti- \noch, and from thence the Holy Spirit sent them to preach \nat other places. At Paj)hos, in the Isle of Cyprus, they \nfound a governor, named Sergius Paulus, who wished to be \ngood and wise, and he listened to the preaching of the dis- \nciples ; but there was also a very wicked man, called Ely- \nmas, who hated the truth, and wished to prevent others \nfrom hearing it. Then Paul, looking earnestly on him, said \nto Elymas, " Thou child of the devil, behold the hand of \nthe Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing \nthe sun for a season." And his sight was gone immediate- \nly, so that he was obliged to be led by the hand ; and all \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n347 \n\n\n\n\nTHE SACRIFICE AT LYSTRA. \n\nwho saw this miracle were astonished, and many believed \non the Lord Jesus ; but in some places they were driven \nout, fearing they might be stoned to death. At Lystra, \nPaul had mercy upon a poor cripple and healed him, which, \nwhen the people beheld the lame man walking and leaping, \nthey brought oxen decked with garlands to sacrifice unto the \ndisciples, believing that they were gods. Paul and Barna- \nbas, however, rent their clothes, and ran among the people, \ncrying, \'\' Sirs, we are but men of like passions with your- \n\n19 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n348 \n\nselves, who seek to turn you from the vanities of earth to \nserve the living God," but with great difficulty they kept \nthe people from offering sacrifices unto them. Meanwhile, \nsome of the Jews, their enemies, came from Antioch, and \npersuaded the people that they were wicked men, and they \nstoned Paul, and then dragged him out of the city, suppos- \ning that he was dead. But as the disciples stood mourning \naround him, God gave Paul strength, and he arose and went \nback into the city. \n\nThe vision of a man from Macedonia seemed to cry unto \nPaul, saying, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us."" \nSo Paul answered this appeal by starting at once to Philip- \npi, where he began to teach and to preach, and he accosted \nthe women who resorted to the side of the river, where they \nsometimes met for prayer. And God touched the heart of \nLydia, a seller of the fine purple linen of those days, and \nmade her attend to the words of Paul ; so she became a \nChristian and was baptized, and all her household ; and she \ninvited the disciples to lodge at her house, which they did \nfor a season, but again the Lord suffered them to be perse- \ncuted for His name\'s sake. \n\nSo the multitude rose up against the disciples, and the \nmagistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded that they \nshould be beaten. And having beaten them very cruelly, \nthey cast them into the prison, desiring the jailor to keep \nthem safely. This man was cruel and hard-hearted, so he \nput them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n349 \n\n\n\nthe stockg, so they could not move. But although they \nwere chained and unable to help themselves, they were still \nable to call upon God, for whose sake they had borne all \nthis suffering. They were in too much pain to sleep ; they \ncould not lie down ; but they could still pray to God and \npraise him ; so they sang praises to God at midnight, and \ntheir hymns of praises were heard by the other prisoners, \nwhen all on a sudden the whole prison was shaken by a \ngreat earthquake, so that all the doors which had been fast \nbolted flew open, and the chains fell off from the prisoners. \nThe keeper of the prison, being startled out of his sleep, \nand seeing all the doors open, w^as in a great fright, fearing \nthe prisoners had escaped ; he knew that he would be very \nseverely punished if such were the case, and he got a sword \nand was going to kill himself at once. But Paul, who, by \nthe Spirit of God, knew all things, cried out to him in the \ndark, \'\' Do thyself no harm, for w^e are all here." Then the \njailor, knowing that this was the work of God, called for a \nlight, and sprang in trembling, and fell down before Paul \nand Silas. Then he brought them out, and said, "Sirs \nwhat must I do to be saved ? " \n\nAnd they said, " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and \nthou shalt be saved, and thy house." And they spake to \nhim, and to all his household, the words and works of the \nLord. \n\nThen was the jailor sorry for his cruelty to his prison- \ners ; so he took them the same hour of the night, and he \n\n\n\n350 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\nbathed the wounds that had been made upon them when \nthey were beaten ; and behaved kindly to them ; and he \nwas baptized, he and all his family, and he brought the \ndisciples into his own house, and set meat before them, and \nrejoiced in the Lord, in whom he believed. See how easy \nit is for the love of God to change the heart. A few hours \nbefore, this jailor hated Paul, and did everything to hurt \nand grieve him ; but now he was gentle, and sorry for his \nunkindness, and anxious to do everything to please God. \nHe had found out the only way to be saved is to believe \nin the Lord Jesus Christ. The earthquake had frightened \nothers besides the jailor and the prisonei\'s ; the magistrates \nwere frightened ; they wanted to get rid of these strangers, \nso in the morning they sent to the jailor desiring him to let \nthem go. Then the keeper of the prison came at once to \nPaul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; \nnow therefore depart, and go in peace." But Paul said \nunto them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, \nbeing Romans, and have cast us into prison ; and now do \nthey thrust us out privily ? nay, verily, but let them come \nthemselves and fetch us out." The magistrates were in \ngreat fear when they heard that they were Romans v/hom \nthey had beaten so unceremoniously, so they came to the \nprison, and besought them and brought them out, and beg- \nged them also to leave the city, which, after visiting the \nhouse of Lydia, and comforting the brethren, they did, pass \ning through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica ; and \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n351 \n\n\n\n\nPAUL PREACHING TO HIS FRIENDS. \n\n\n\nthere the preaching of Paul for three Sabbath-days added \nmany to the Church. Paul was obliged to depart into \nAthens, where his heart was grieved at the idolatry of the \npeople, and he commenced at once teaching and preaching \nthe name of Jesus. So they brought Paul before the court \nof philosophers, or wise men, and asked him what these \nthings meant, and Paul told them that the \'\'unknown God" \nto whom they had built an altar was Lord of heaven and \nearth, and he told them that Jesus would come to judge them. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII \n\n\n\nTHE DEEDS OF ST. PAUL. \n\n\n\nHERE was a Jew named Aquila, Avho, with his \nwife Priscilla, had been banished from Eome \nbecause they were Christians, and they had \ngone to live at Corinth, whither Paul jour- \nneyed, and on his arrival at their city they \nreceived Paul very kindly ; and as they had all \nto work for their daily bread, Paul lived with \nthem, and worked at tent-making. There \nwas one season of the year when the Jews all left their \nhouses and dwelt under a tent, and they call this the feast \nof tabernacles ; and Paul made tents for the Jews on the \nweek days, but on the Sabbath-days and at other seasons \nhe preached in their synagogues, and instructed both Jews \nand Greeks. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and many \nothers, became followers of Christ; but Paul had also his \nenemies. God, however, comforted Paul by a vision, bid- \nding him ^\' not be afraid, but to speak boldly." And when \nthey brought him before Gallio, the Roman governor, he \ncould see that they had a spite against Paul, and Gallio \nwould not listen to them or punish Paul. During his stay \nat Corinth, Paul wrote several letters or epistles to the dif- \nferent churches, and he afterwards wrote to the Corinthi- \nans, for he loved them very much, At Ephesus, Paul part- \ned from his fi\'iends Priscilla and x^quila, and during his \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n353 \n\n\n\nabsence a young Jew, named Apollos, learned a great many \ngood tilings from tliem ; and lie, being a true Christian, \nwas very thankful for their instructions, and he soon became \na very useful pi\'eacher, and went away, like St. Paul, to \nteach those who knew not Christ. After the return of \nPaul to Ephesus, some of the unbelieving Jews pretended \nto heal diseases and work miracles, like that apostle ; and \nthey pretended to cure one man who had an evil spirit, but \nthe man ci-ied out, " Who are ye ? Jesus I knoW; and Paul \nI know, but who are ye ? " He knew tliat they were not \nholy men and followers of Christ, so he rushed upon them, \nand wounded them, so that they were glad to escape with \ntheir lives. And this so much terrified those who had done \nthe like, that they came to Paul and burnt all their wicked \nbooks, and no more pretended to work magic and sorcery. \nBut in a short time so many of the people became Chris- \ntians, that the silversmiths who made little images of Diana, \nwhom they called their goddess, had no sale for their ima- \nges, because the people worshipped Jesus instead of Diana. \nWherefore one of these smiths, named Demetrius, made a \ngreat uproar in the city against Paul, and a great crowd of \npeople ran about, crying, " Great is Diana of the Ephe- \nsians ! " And they tried to get hold of Paul, until the town \nclerk came out and addressed the people, advising them to \nbe quiet, and to let Demetrius carry the matter to the law. \nAt length the people dispersed, and Paul took leave of his \nfriends, and once more went forth on his mission. One \n\n\n\n354 H^L^ HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\nevening, when a company of Christians were gathered to- \ngether at Troas to hear Paul, there sat beside one of the \nhigh windows a young man, named Eutychus, listening to \nhis discourse ; but Paul (being anxious to say a great deal \nin the short time he was with them) preached till past mid- \nnight, and Eutychus, falling asleep, overbalanced himself, \nand fell down, being picked up for dead. This caused much \nsorrow and dismay among the disciples; but Paul said, \n^\'Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him," and he em- \nbraced Eutychus, and brought him alive again, to the joy \nand comfort of all ; and when he had given them the sacra- \nment, Paul took leave of them, and went away at day-break \nto Miletus, where he appointed to meet some of the disci- \nples on his way to Jerusalem. And after warning them \nand praying w^ith them, he bade them farewell ; but they \nall wept sore, and clung about him, and kissed Pa*ul and \nSilas, and went with them even to the ship, for they were \ngrieved at their departure. \n\nAt Cesarea Paul dwelt in the house of Philip the evan- \ngelist, who had four daughters who did prophesy. And a \nprophet named Agabus came thither, and binding his hands \nand feet with Paul\'s girdle, foretold what should happen to \nhim at Jerusalem ; wherefore his friends wept and tried to \npersuade Paul not to go there. But Paul would not be \nturned from his duty. He went, but he had no sooner be- \ngan his mission than the unbelievers drew Paul out of the \nTemple and tried to kill him, and they beat and ill-treated \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OP THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n355 \n\n\n\n\nDEPARTURE OF PAUL FOR JERUSALEM. \n\n\n\nhim, as they had done our Saviour. At length the chief \ncaptain got him safely to the castle, and then, having per- \nmission to speak, Paul told them all his history. The Jews \nheard him for some time patiently ; but when he began to \ntell of Jesus, they would not listen, and again began beat- \ning Paul, until they found he was a Koman ; and then he \nwas ordered to appear before the council, w^here he defend- \ned himself Ananias, the hight priest, commanded them to \nsmite him on the mouth. Paul cried out to Ananias, " God \nshall smite thee," for breaking the law, while pretending \nto judge according to the law. 27 \n\n\n\n356 \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. \n\n\n\nFESTUS AND PAUL. \n\n\n\nESTUS, the new goyernor, having heard about \nPaul from the Jews, commanded the prisoner \nto be brought before him. Paul again answer- \ned for himself that "he had done nothing \ncontrary to the Jewish law, and that having \nbeen unjustly imprisoned for two years, he \nwould now be judged by Csesar, the Roman \nEmperor, being himself a Koman." Festus said, \n" Hast thou appealed unto Caesar ? unto Caesar shalt thou \ngo." But after some days King Agrippa, with his sister \nBernice, came to Cesarea to see Festus, and Festus having \ntold Agrippa a great deal about Paul, they became very \nanxious to see him ; so the next day, when all the nobles \nand captains were assembled in the place of hearing, Paul \nwas brought before them. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, \n"Thou art permitted to speak for thyself" Paul was \nalways glad to have the chance of telling what Jesus had \ndone for him, so he told them his whole story ; how, from \nbeing a persecutor, God had called him to bear witness of \nthe Lord Jesus, of whom Moses prophesied, who had suffer- \ned and risen again from the dead. When he heard this, \nFestus cried out, "Paul, thou art beside thyself: much \nlearning doth make thee mad." But Paul answered calmly \nthat his words were "words of soberness and truth;" and \n\n\n\nTHE STOKY OP THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n357 \n\n\n\n\nPAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA. \n\n\n\nhe turned to the king and said, " King Agrippa, thou know- \nest these things. Belie vest thou the prophets ? I know \nthat thou believest." And Agrippa felt the power of Paul\'s \nwords, for he answered, " Ahnost thou persuadest me to be \na Christian ! \'\' And Paul said, " I would to God that all \nwho hear me this day were as I am, except these bonds." \nSo the king and all rose up, and decided that Paul had \ndone nothing wrong; but that, as he had appealed to the \nEmperor, he must be sent to Eome. So Paul and some \n\n\n\nHALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. \n\n358 \n\nother prisoners were sent in a ship under the care of a cen^ \nturion. When they had got part of the way, Paul, finding \nit very stormy, tried to persuade the captain to stay there \nfor the winter ; but no one would listen to Paul, and in a \nfew days a great wind arose and wrecked the ship. But \nthe Lord comforted Paul, and he stood up and bade his \ncompanions " fear not, for the angel stood by me this night, \nand hath given me the lives of all who sail with me ; nev- \nertheless we must be cast on a certain island." All that \nPaul said came true ; the ship was driven on the rocks at \nMelita, and all broken to pieces ; but some of them man- \naged to swim ashore, others in boats or on planks and \nfragments of the ship ; all got safely to land. \n\nThe island of Melita, now called Malta, was inhabited \nby heathens ; but although ignorant, they were very kind \nto Paul and his shipwrecked companions, and they lighted a \nfire of sticks to warm them, for it was very cold, rainy weath- \ner. Paul gathered some sticks together and threw on the \nfire, and a viper, which had been concealed among them, \nsprang up, and fastened on his hand. The people knew \nthat the bite of the viper was poisonous, and expected to \nsee Paul fall down dead, but God did not permit him to be \nhurt ; he shook the viper off into the fire, and felt no harm. \nThe people thought he must be a god, when they saw this \nmiracle ; but Paul soon taught them about Jesus, and he \ncured the father of Publius, one of the chief men of the \nisland, who was sick of a fever. \n\n30 \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\n859 \n\n\n\n\nPAUL AT MELITA. \n\nThree months after this Paul left Melita, and sailed in \nanother ship to Rome, where he was kindly received, and \nallowed to live in a house by himself, where many Jews \nwere converted. Here he wrote most of his epistles, and a \nfew years after he was put to death for the love of his \nSaviour, with whom he now lives in heaven, where Christ \nis gone to prepare a place for those who believe in his \nname. \n\nMost of the disciples suffered also in the service of their \nDivine Master. The apostle who lived longest was John, \n\n\n\n31 \n\n\n\n360 \n\n\n\nTHE STORY OP THE APOSTLES. \n\n\n\nthe disciple whom Jesus loved, and to whose care he had \ngiven his mother, when dying on the cross. After being \ncruelly persecuted, he was banished to an island in the sea \ncalled Patmos, where he lived in a cave or grotto, which is \nstill shown to visitors as the place where he wrote his Epis- \ntle to the Seven Churches, his three Epistles, and a won- \nderful book called the Revelation, because it is the history \nof things which were revealed to him by the Holy Spirit in \na vision. One in the form of the Saviour appeared there to \ncomfort him, and he told John what to write to the Seven \nChurches, which have now most of them passed away. \nJohn saw, in his vision, the Lord sitting on his throne with \na rainbow round his head, and in the midst of the throne \nwas a Lamb as it had been slain \xe2\x80\x94 the Lamb of God, that \ntaketh away the sins of the world \xe2\x80\x94 and all round the throne \nwere the redeemed and happy people, clothed in white and \nwith golden crowns upon their heads. John afterwards left \nPatmos, and died at Ephesus, a very old man. In his epis- \ntles he begs all little children \'\' to love one another," and \nas long as he lived he tried to teach others the way to heav- \nen. And I trust all those who may read these " Half-hours \nwith the Bible" may one day join that glorious throng, \nand sing with them that holy song, saying, " Amen. Bless- \ning, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, \nand power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. \nAmen." \n\n\n\nDeacidified using the Bookkeeper process. \nNeutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide \nTreatment Date: May 2005 \n\nPreservationTechnologies \n\nA WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION \n\n1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive \nCranberry Township. PA if"^ ^ \n(724)779-2111 \n\n\n\nfl \n\n\n\nLIBRARY OF CONGRESS \n\n\n\n014 241 286 A \xc2\xa7 \n\n\n\n/ \n\n\n\n/ \n\n\n\n/\xe2\x96\xa0 \n\n\n\n\'0ft^\' \n\n\n\nVv \n\n\n\nz \n\n\n\n"1^,^- \n\n\n\n/^- \n\n\n\nY \n\n\n\niJ^ \n\n\n\n^i \n\n\n\nmm \n\n\n\n/> \n\n\n\n/ ^\\ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n/ \n\n\n^ \n\n\n^\\A ^fs\\ \n\n\n/ \n\n\nJ^l \n\n\nTB \n\n\nfc^WL^^^-jx^-^. ..- \n\n\nm.^wrl \n\n\nwll \n\n\n\n\ninmi \n\n\n\nAtt \n\n\n\n'