which it is plain awaited any poor laggard who might slacken his pace."

In our next number we shall notice some further illustrations of Scripture in the Sculptures of Nineveh.

HEATHEN IDOLS.

"When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools, and changed the glory of God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things."-Romans i. 21-23.

MY YOUNG FRIENDS,-We speak to you upon paper to help you in forming a taste for many kinds of knowledge. There are but few things on which we can have right views, without getting a knowledge of many other things. It is thought by some that mankind had begun to worship idols in the days of Abraham. The earth was very thinly peopled, and the ancient nations had full scope to wander about and choose such places, and adopt such ways as pleased them. When the early settlers, who sought fruitful places to dwell in, left the homes of their parents, what they knew of the true God they soon forgot. All sane men know that they have not made themselves. In looking around them to find out God they failed to get any right views of him, and then erred very much in thinking him like even the greatest of created beings. They felt they could not keep themselves in life, and when they had lost the knowledge of their Creator they worshipped many things-sometimes even stones and trunks of trees; and preserved these rude things with the greatest care, after they were able to make and carve the most beautiful images of their idol gods. In all lands, only in the land of Israel, men fell away from the knowledge of the true God. As they knew less of their Creator, they became more subject to fear, and made for themselves many gods and goddesses. When they learned to build very well, and to carve images, they put the best they could make in the temples of their gods.

In ancient Greece there were to be found the most beautiful and costly idols. In the temple at the city of Elis, there was one twenty yards high, in a reposing form: the lower limbs were clothed in a robe gemmed with golden flowers; the hair was of gold, bound with a splendid crown; the eyes were of precious stones; the other parts of ivory. A figure so imposing as to strike the beholder with astonishment, made to repose upon a throne. The untaught people thought their greatest God was pleased when they worshipped this image

of him. It was set up more than four hundred years before the birth of Christ, and took ten years to finish it. The Greeks made wisdom a goddess.

At Athens there was an idol more than thirteen yards high, all made of gold and ivory, with a spear and shield te represent Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and war; so very well carved as to be reckoned one of the very choicest works of art ever finished to this day. The temples were splendid buildings in which these idols were fixed, and the people were very willing to part with their property in the service of their gods. The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. The heathens thought, that by making offerings to their gods, who could neither see nor hear, they should incline them to answer their prayers. The first historian who wrote of the affairs of Europe tells us Croesus, King of Lydia, offered at one time, to the idol of the sun, three thousand chosen victims, and many golden and silver goblets and purple vests, which were all consumed at one time; of three other individuals, who offered one hundred cattle each at a time.

What the Scriptures say about changing the glory of God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and beasts, is literally true. Jupiter, Venus, Minerva, and many others, were formed after the human shape. But other gods were formed and worshipped in the shape of birds, as the eagle among the Romans; the ibis and the hawk among the Egyptians. Others were made and worshipped in the form of beasts, as the apis or bull, the monkey, and the dog; and even creeping things, as the crocodile, the serpent, and the beetle. Indeed, when man forsook his God, nothing was too mean for him to worship.

How thankful we ought to be that God has made himself known in the Gospel of his Son. There you are taught that God is a Spirit. He has no form or likeness. Wherever you go there he is. You may have friends in America, in the East Indies, in far-off Australia-he is with them there as he is with you here. You may look at a star on your right hand, he is there; or, turn your eye to the left hand, and behold the most distant twinkling star, he is there. He is the same everywhere all good, all powerful, all wise, unchanging Jehovah. As he alone made you, he deserves your best services and your warmest gratitude. He preserves you, too. Your parents only purchase things for you-God provides all things for man and beast. Do you live without thinking of God? without loving him? without praying to him? If you neglect your duty to God, you turn your back on your nearest

and very best friend. He only can keep you in all your ways. The Bible says his very name is a strong tower, into which the righteous run and are safe. You are told in the Word of God that if you seek him early he will be found of you, and guide your footsteps in the paths of peace. Never forget your first and most important duty is to seek the favour of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, and then to please him in your lives. If you do this, he will be your God and your guide even unto death, and after death your portion for ever. SAMUEL MOLLART.

THE BIBLE CLASS.

NAAMAN'S CURE AND CONVERSION.-2 KINGS, V. LET the teacher direct the young persons who comprise his charge to read and study with care the fifth chapter in the second book of Kings. It is full of interest and instruction. Naaman was an officer in the Syrian army, and a great favourite with the king; because by him it had pleased God to give victory to the Syrians: he was also a man of extraordinary valour; but he was afflicted with a most distressing disease, called leprosy.

The Syrians had many wars with the Israelites; and in these wars captives were taken; and it happened that the Syrians had taken captive out of Israel a girl, whom the wife of Naaman took to be her waiting-maid.

This girl had often heard in her own country of the wonderful things that were done by means of the faith and fervent prayers of the Prophet Elisha; and, on observing the afflicted state of her master, she one day ventured to tell her mistress how much she wished he was with, or near, the Prophet in Samaria, meaning Elisha; for that she was sure he would cure his leprosy.

It soon came to the ears of the King, who instantly planned for Naaman's going to Samaria, and said he would write a letter to the King of Israel. So a letter was written for Naaman to take with him; a splendid present was also prepared: but the King of Syria's letter and splendid present were intended, not for the Prophet in Samaria, but for the King; and, accordingly, to the King Naaman took them.

The King, on opening the letter, read to this effect:—that the King of Syria had sent his servant Naaman, that he might cure him of his leprosy. We might imagine that, on reading this letter, the King of Israel would say to the afflicted officer who brought it, "I cannot cure you, but there is a Prophet

in Samaria, a man of faith and prayer, through whom God has been pleased to raise the very dead to life: I will therefore send you to him." But, no; instead of so doing, when he had read the letter, he rent his clothes, as if some grievous calamity had befallen him, saying, the King of Syria sought a quarrel against him, by asking him to perform an impossibility. When Elisha heard what he had done, he sent to him, mildly reproved him for the consternation he had betrayed by rending his clothes; and said, if the Syrian officer would come to him, he should know there was a Prophet in Israel.

Naaman, on being informed what Elisha had said, immediately went; and, with his horses and his chariot, stood at the door of Elisha. But Elisha, instead of coming out to him and performing the cure, only sent out a messenger to tell him that by washing himself seven times in the river Jordan he should be cured. Nothing could be easier; and it might have rejoiced the heart of the afflicted Naaman to think the cure of his distressing malady was to be obtained by such a pleasant as well as easy means. But, instead of being pleased, he became very angry, and treated Elisha's messenger with contempt. He had expected a pompous display. He could not associate the idea of a cure with the simple words of, "Wash, and be clean:" the simplicity of the means was to him an insurmountable difficulty, and a trial of faith which he was not at all prepared to meet. "I thought," said he, "he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper." In this way, perhaps, the idolatrous priests of his country would have done; and this he could have understood. But what was bathing to do for him? Had he not often bathed, and in better rivers than the Jordan? If bathing was to be of any use, why was he not told to wash in the rivers of Damascus? Were they not better than all the waters of Israel? Thus did he put from him the words of Elisha; and, instead of going to the river Jordan, he proudly turned his chariot, and went away; did not even stay to thank Elisha; but went away in a rage.

Naaman's servants showed great affection for their master on this occasion. They knew how afflicted he was, for the leprosy was more afflictive than any other malady, and so contagious that it was dangerous to venture near the person who had it. They, however, ventured near, being grieved to see him refuse the cure he came so far to seek. It is highly probable that they had heard much more about the Prophet Elisha, and about the wonders that had been wrought in Israel, both by him and Elijah before him,