When they saw the kine move in a direct line to the land of Israel, they were, no doubt, filled with wonder at the manifold proofs of the presence and power of the God of Israel."

"And the people of Bethshemesh," whither the kine brought the Ark, "were reaping their wheatharvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the Ark, and rejoiced to see it." And there was a great stone there, and on this they placed the Ark.

Then they brake up the cart for fuel for God's altar, that it might not be used for any common purpose; and, on the same account, they offered the kine as "a burnt-offering unto the Lord."

But what became of Dagon? Did they fasten on his head and hands again, and once more fix him up with nails as their god? Or did they get some plaster, and make a new god? They were so foolish, and depraved, that most likely they did either the one or the other.

The Lord, the God of Irael, he is the living and the true God. His smile is life, and his frown is

death. He alone hath made the heavens and the

earth, the sea and the dry land.

and we are the people of his

"He is our God;

pasture, and the

sheep of his hand. He is a great God, and a great king above all gods. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

99 10

QUESTIONS.

1. Why was the lid of the Ark called the Mercy-seat? 2. What is setting up false religion like?

3. What is a vain effort?

4. What shall surely fall?

5. How can God bring down the proudest of his foes? 6. What is the best way to get rid of our troubles?

7. What did the Philistines confess by sending back the Ark with the images of gold?

8. How was the Ark brought back into the land of Israel? 9. What did the movement of the kine prove?

10. Repeat the paragraph which ends the story.

STORY XVII.

THE CHILD OF DAVID.

KING DAVID greatly sinned against the Lord, and the Lord said he would punish him for his sin; and he did so in several ways. He afflicted, and took away a child who was very dear to him; and, no doubt, for wise ends; he has good reasons for his conduct, whether we may see them or not.

Besides, we are sure that nothing can happen by chance: we are told in the Bible, that " troubles do not spring out of the ground;" and that "a sparrow does not fall" without our heavenly Father. So, we are sure, the Lord's hand was to be seen in the illness of the child of the king. And, if we do indeed love him, he will change our sorrows into blessings.'

Joseph saw God's hand in the events of his life. "It was not you who sent me into Egypt," said he to his brethren," but God, to save much people alive." The Sabeans and Chaldeans took away Job's cattle; but he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Sin and suffering are always found together. How is it, then, that a babe, who has never sinned, becomes ill, and suffers, and dies? Is not God wise, and good, and just, and gracious? How, then, can these things be? Can God be less good and kind than an earthly parent? Surely not.

No one can answer these questions without the Bible. There we learn, that, as all are the children of Adam, all are sinful,-even the little babe; for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No, not one." Hence it is, that even children suffer and die;

"They die, for Adam sinned: they live, for Christ has died." 2

"By one man sin entered into the world, and

death by sin; and so death passed upon all, for But no one was ever lost,

that all have sinned."3

except on account of his own sins.

The child of the king was taken very ill; and he was much troubled; and betook himself to earnest prayer. He knew that prayer had moved, and that it does move the hand which moves the world.* He knew, that in answer to his own prayers, God had often been better to him than all his fears; and so, as he had found help from prayer, he prayed; and he humbled himself for his sin. And he said, "I acknowledge my transgression. Have mercy upon me, O God. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice."

Pardon of sin is always connected with true repentance. And God never forgives any one who is not really sorry for his sins, and who does not forsake them; this was the case with David, and God forgave his sins, but he did not answer his prayer in sparing the life of the child.

For though he fasted, and would not sit down