11. Elisha, the man of God, hearing of it, sent a messenger to the king, that he might desire the diseased foreigner to call upon him, when he should have a proof that God had a prophet in Israel.

12. Accordingly, the Syrian general, with high ideas of his own importance, went in great state to the prophet's house, at the door of which his chariot stopped.

13. To show that Elisha was not elated by this honour, which the Syrian supposed he conferred upon him, and to bring down the Syrian's pride, he did not come out, but desired a messenger to say to him, "Go and wash seven times in Jordan, and thou shalt be clean."

14. Displeased that the prophet did not come out and treat him with respect, he ordered his chariot to be driven off with speed.

15. He likewise laughed at the prophet desiring him to wash in the river Jordan, for, said he, "Are not Ab'a-nà and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean?"

16. So he turned, and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, 'Wash, and be clean ?'”

17. "Your reasoning is good," said he; "I will go and wash in Jordan." He did so, and was completely cured.

18. He perceived the finger of the God of Israel in this matter,-hastened to the prophet, and made a profession of his faith in the true God, saying, "I now know that there is no other God in all the earth, but the God that is known and worshipped in Israel."

19. He then begged that Elisha would accept of a present, but he would not ;-again he urged him, but he persisted in refusing.

20. Na'a-man then prayed that God would pardon his past idolatry; and departed to his own land.

21. When but a little way off, Ge-haʼzi, the servant of the prophet, grieved that his master had let slip so fine an opportunity of obtaining riches, determined to try if he could not procure something for himself, unknown to his master.

22. He made haste to overtake the Syrian, which he effected, and framed a falsehood, in order to deceive, and extort money from him.

23. Na'a-man's heart was so filled with gratitude for the benefit he had received, that he treated the very servant like a prince. When he perceived him coming, he alighted from his chariot, and ran to meet him.

24. He said the prophet had sent him for some money, as an unexpected opportunity for doing good with it had occurred immediately after his departure.

25. The servant asked one talent of silver, but Na'a-man urged him to take two, which amount

ed, as is suppposed, to upwards of three thousand dollars of our money.

26. When Ge-haʼzi returned home, he carefully concealed the money, hoping his master would know nothing of it; but God, whose eyes see every action, revealed to Elisha the whole matter.

27. When he came into his master's apartment, he inquired where he had been. He ventured to cover his guilt by another lie, saying, he had been no where.

28. Upon this, the prophet related to him all that he had done, and sharply reproved him for his wickedness.

29. He then pronounced his doom, viz. that Na'a-man's leprosy should come upon him, and continue to afflict his family for many generations.

30. The prophet had no sooner ended this sentence, than Ge-haʼzi was seized with the leprosy, and went out as white as snow.

14

LESSON LVII.

ANECDOTES.

A THOUGHTLESS BOY.

1. A BOY, near Philadelphia, having a book under his arm, was asked what book it was? He said the New Testament.

2. Have you read about Jesus Christ in it? he was asked. "No," said he, "I am only in at Luke," and immediately ran off.

3. Thus the boy showed, that though he had read two lives of Jesus Christ, viz. by Matthew and Mark, yet he had not considered whose life he was reading.

4. You pity this little boy for being so careless, but remember that if you are not so thoughtless, you are as wicked as he, if, knowing what is right, you neglect it.

THE SILVER BUCKLES.

1. THREE boys, the sons of the Earl of Elgin, were one day at play near their father' house.

2. Being called to dinner, a lad who was playing with them said, "I will wait till you return;

there is no dinner for me at home." with us, then," said the Earl's sons.

"Come

3. The poor boy refused, thinking it would not be right to accept their kind offer; and when they asked him if he had any money to buy a dinner, he answered, "No."

4. "Papa," said the elder of the boys, when they got home, "what was the price of the silver buckles which you gave me?" "Five shillings."

5. "Will you let me have the money, and I will give you the buckles?" His father consented, and the youth gave the money to the lad who had no dinner.

THE PIOUS WISH.

1. MASTER BRKELEY was the son of the learned Bishop Berkely. One day, while a child, he said, "Papa, what is the meaning of the words Cherubim and Seraphim in Scripture ?"

2. "Cherubim," replied his father, "is a Hebrew word, signifying Knowledge; Seraphim signifies Flame; from hence it has been supposed that the Cherubim excel in knowledge, and the Seraphim in love to God."

3. "I hope then, (said the child,) when I die I shall be a Seraph, for I would rather love God than know all things."

4. We ought to love God, for "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,