is not to be understood in the sense of placing an inducement before one to lead him to do wrong, but to subject his faith to a trial, in order to test its genuineness and strength. Such is the sense in which the word is used in other portions of scripture. The meaning of the historian, then, appears to be thisthat after these things God was pleased to place Abraham in circumstances which showed what was the real strength of his confidence and love towards him. Here we have undoubtedly the strongest illustration of the power of both faith and love which were ever evinced in our world. Who can tell what must have been the agonising emotions that wrought in the breast of the patriarch as he ascended the mount of sacrifice, his son by his side? Who can conceive what sentiments must have swelled his heart when the youth turned and said, "Behold the wood and the fire, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" And when ¦ Abraham took his son and bound him, and laid him on the wood, and took the knife to slay his child, what a trial was this of natural affection! but, more, what a trial of the patriarch's faith! Isaac, he knew, was the child of promise; in him all previous assurances of Jehovah respecting his family were to be fulfilled and substantiated; and on these assurances Abraham had for years been depending. But if Isaac is to be sacrificed, the death-blow is at once given to his future prospects. Still, "against hope he believed in hope." He "staggered not at the promise." With great deliberation he prepared the wood and the altar, "accounting," that if allowed to offer the sacrifice, "God was able to raise him up even from the dead," and that he would do so. That such was the expectation of Abraham is obvious, we think, from the 5th verse of the 22nd chapter. The offering of Isaac bears so striking an analogy to the offering of Jesus as a sacrifice for sin, that he that runs may read. Every circumstance seems significant, every object symbolical, and all beautifully harmonize with the fact, when the great purpose of God was actually fulfilled. After the trial, the promises were again renewed; and it is not unreasonable to suppose that the patriarch would receive, in connexion with it, the most specific information he ever possessed of New Testament discoveries. At this moment, probably, occurred what the Saviour stated concerning him. "Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad." To say that Abraham had his errors and his faults, would only be to say that he was human: these, however, bore no proportion to the diversified excellences of his character and the eminent purity of his life. On one or two occasions he was convicted of equivocation, as, for example, in Gen. xx. 2. Such conduct was neither religious nor manly, inconsistent with his general character; and the consequences were just what might have been expected. The very evil he thought to avoid by this means came upon him. Having arrived to the age of 175 years, this venerable man, emphatically called "the friend of God," James ii. 23, was gathered to his fathers. His sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, where he had deposited the remains of his beloved Sarah.-Ante A.D., 1817. EXERCISES. In what portion of sacred history does the name of Abraham first occur? What was his father's name? Where was he born? How old is it supposed Terah was when Abraham was born? Abraham is mentioned first in the genealogical history. Is it likely he was the first born? Did Abraham in early life enjoy the benefits of religious in- | fluence and example? What was the purport of the first intimation given to Abraham of God's gracious intentions towards him? Was the intimation so clear and satisfactory as to lead the patriarch to obey it as a Divine command? Is there any special allusion made to the subject in the New Testament? What practical lesson may we derive from this portion of his ! history? We have said there is an incidental allusion made to the wealth and power of Abraham. Where is that reference to be found? Did God give Abraham an inheritance in Canaan? ["Not so much asja foot."-A proverbial expression, denoting in an emphatic manner that he had no land.-Deut. ii. 5.] We read of Abraham going down into Egypt. What rendered his removal there necessary? When there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot, because the land was not large enough for their flocks, what sort of a spirit did Abraham manifest? What important lesson may the incident teach us? The duty of hospitality is enjoined in Scripture. Do you remember any circumstance in the history which would lead us to believe that Abraham was given to hospitality? What revelations in particular were made to Abraham during the visit of the angels; and by whom, according to general opinion, were they given? How long had Abraham been in Canaan when Isaac was born ? Many important events occurred in the history of Abraham. Which may be regarded as the most memorable? It is stated that God did tempt Abraham. What is the proper meaning to be attached to the word? In what respects was the command to offer up Isaac in sacrifice a trial of faith? Did Abraham believe not only that God could, but that he would, if Isaac were sacrificed, raise him up again from the dead? The offering of Isaac, we have said, bears a striking analogy to the offering of Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. Point out some features of analogy? To what period in the history of Abraham is it probable the Saviour referred when he told the Jews, "Your father Abraham rejoiced," &c. ? Did Abraham exhibit any of the common errors and infirmities of our nature? By whom is Abraham called the friend of God? Mention his age at the time of his death; the place of his interment, and the period when the event occurred.-[Ante A.D., means before Christ.] Halifax. OUR CHILDREN'S PORTION. EVIL THOUGHTS. YOUNG people should have a particular care of evil thoughts. Oh, the mischief they have done in the world! Bad thoughts come first, bad words follow after, and bad deeds bring up the rear. Strive against them; watch against them; pray against them. They prepare the way for the enemy. "Bad thought is a thief! He acts his part, Creeps through the windows of And if he once his way can win, LOOK UP. A MAN once took his little boy, who was a Sunday scholar, with him into his neighbour's field to steal corn. The man looked about in several directions to see if any one was J. H. coming, and seeing nobody, was ONLY ONE BRICK ON AN- EDWIN was one day looking at a large building which the masons were putting up just opposite his father's house. He watched the workmen from day to day as they carried the bricks and mortar, and then placed them in their proper order. 1 His father said to him, "Ed- hat and pelisse, and a fine feawin, you seem to be very much ther in my hat; I know that taken up with the bricklayers, my dress cost a great deal of pray, what may you be thinking money." about? Have you any notion of learning the trade?" "No, father," said Edwin, smiling; "but I was just thinking what a little thing a brick is, and yet that great house is built by laying one brick on another." "Very true, my boy," replied the father; "never forget it. Just so it is in all great works. All your learning is only one little lesson added to another. If a man could walk around the globe, it would be by putting one foot before the other. Your whole life will be made up of one little moment after another. Drop added to drop makes the ocean.' Learn from this not to despise little things. Learn also not to be discouraged by great labours. The greatest labours become easy if divided into parts. You could not jump over a mountain, but step by step takes you to the other side. Do not fear, therefore, to attempt great things. PRIDE IN DRESS. A FABLE. A LITTLE boy and girl were once seated on a flowery bank, and talked proudly about their dress. "Not so much as mine," said the boy, "I know.” "Hold your peace," said a caterpillar, crawling near the hedge; "you have neither of you any reason to be so proud of your clothes, for they are only second-hand, and have all been worn by some creature or other, of which you think but meanly, before they were put upon you. Why, that silk hat first wrapped up such a worm as I am. "There, miss, what do you say to that?" said the boy. "And the feather," exclaimed a bird, perched upon a tree, "was stolen from, or cast off by,. one of my race." "What do you say to that, miss?" repeated the boy. "Well, my clothes were neither worn by birds nor worms. "True," said a sheep grazing close by, "but they were worn on the back of some of my family before they were yours; and as for your hat, I know that the beavers have supplied the fur for that article; and my friends, the calves and oxen in that field, were killed not merely for their flesh to eat, but also to get their skins to make shoes for you." See the folly of being proud "See," said the boy, "what a of our clothes, since we are isbeautiful new hat I have got; debted to the meanest of creawhat a fine blue jacket and trow-tures for them! and even then sers; and what a nice pair of we could not use them, if God shoes: it is not every one who is dressed so finely as I am!" "Indeed, sir," said the little girl, "I think I am dressed finer than you, for have on a silk fort. did not give the wisdom to con> · trive the best way of making them fit to wear, and the means of procuring them for our comCOBBIN 1 MISCELLANEA. JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. to ROCHDALE. On Sunday, Penny," by Ellen Ward; and April 9th, we held an interesting that beautiful dialogue about Juvenile Missionary Meeting in Canada, &c., by Mary Ann our chapel, when our esteemed Skidmore and Sarah Ellen Asminister, the Rev. Wm.Reynolds, ton. The proceeds from the presided. He called upon the cards, and the sum realized at secretary to read the report; the collection, amounted after which, selections from £3 16s. 6d.,being £1 6s. 6d. more prose and poetry were recited than last year. May God still by several of the scholars, bless the efforts of the children! and addresses delivered by BENJAMIN Bradbury. Messrs. C. Taylor, J. Travis, Langley Green. and two of the scholars. The WALLBROOK, DUDLEY EAST. public collection is a little in- Dear Sir, On Sunday, advance of last year; but I am April 2nd, 1854, we held our sorry to state that the amount second. Juvenile Missionary collected by the scholars is Meeting at Wallbrook. Mr. below that of last year. I hope J. Hughes presided. The rein the forthcoming year they port being read, several pieces will redouble their exertions, as were recited by the children, and their success depends upon their addresses delivered by Messrs. activity and perseverance. R. Evans, T. Fleming, B. BaiH. BUTTERWORTH, ley, and J. Sparrow, who are Secretary. all warm advocates of the MisRochdale, April 18, 1854. sion cause; and truly we can TAT BANK. Dear Sir,-On say the meeting was the best we Sunday, April 30th, we held ever had. I think we have taken our second Juvenile Missionary a step in the right direction; Meeting at Tat Bank, Dudley and you will readily agree with East Circuit. The meeting was me when I tell you that the opened by the Rev. T. D. sum we raised this year is more Crothers. The writer was then than double the last. voted to the chair. The report Collected by cards. £1 60 having been read, the meeting The school missionary was addressed by Messrs. W. Lewis, J. Pardoe, and the Rev. T. D. Crothers. The meeting was also delightfully interested by the recital of the following pieces and dialogue :-" The Fields already White to Harvest," by Lydia Cash; "The Spread of the Gospel," by Catharine Turley; "The First Missionary Voyage," by John Bayliss ; "The Best Use of a box. Collected at the meet- 0 5 6 2 16 3 13 0 Total.. Dear Sir,-In our chapel at |