their country to make peace with Joshua. They said, though it was not true, that they had come from a very distant land, because they had heard of all the great things which God had done by Israel, both in Egypt, and also in the borders of Canaan; and to make Joshua believe their story, and think that they were just come from a very long journey, "they took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent, and bound up, and old shoes, and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy." "And they said to Joshua, This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry and mouldy; and these bottles of wine which we filled were new, and, behold, they be rent; and these our garments and shoes are become old, by reason of the very long journey."

But not a word of all this was true; for they came, as we have seen, from the city of Gibeon, which was only three days' journey from the camp of Israel.

E. What did they mean, Mamma, when they said, that their wine bottles were old and rent, and bound up?

M. I do not wonder that this should puzzle you a little, Edward; for I did not tell you that the people who live in eastern countries, such as Arabia, Persia, and others, do not make use of such bottles as we do, but have always had, and still have, leathern bottles made of goats' skins, for their water, milk, wine, and other liquors.

E. And do leathern bottles do as well as glass, mamma?

M. In some respects much better; for they are said to keep the liquors put into them much more fresh than any other kind of vessel would do, and then there is no danger of breaking them. When they are old they can be mended, either by sewing in a piece, or by tying up the broken place like the ends

of a purse.

Now, at this time, God was pleased to allow his people in all their difficulties, that is, whenever they were at a loss to know what they ought to do, to ask advice of him, that so they might not go wrong.

Had they done so in this case, the Gibeonites would never have been able to deceive them; for God, who sees every thing and knows every thing, would have made known to them the falsehood which that people had told. But the men of Israel trusted to themselves, and did not, as they ought to have done, ask counsel or advice of God.

So Joshua made peace with the Gibeonites, and promised to let them live. But it was not long before he found out how he had been deceived; for, at the end of three days after he had made a league with them, he heard that they were their neighbours, and lived close by. Joshua, however, and the princes of Israel had sworn, or promised solemnly before God, that the Gibeonites should live: therefore they could not put them to death, nor would they destroy the cities in which they dwelt; for they said, We have sworn unto them before all the congregation; therefore, we may not touch them : this will we do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them ; (that is, lest they should bring down upon themselves the

mighty power God made the battle to fall violently upon the nations, and destroyed them that resisted, that the nations might know all their strength; because Joshua fought in the sight of the Lord, and he followed the Mighty One."

Nor was this all; a greater wonder still was wrought on this day; for it seemed fit to God, that none of these people should escape. Therefore he permitted Joshua to command even the sun and moon to help him with their light, by staying in their places until he should have time to finish the vengeance of God upon the Amorites.

“ And Joshua said, in the sight of all Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that, before -- oftor it. that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man : for the Lord fought for Islarl.!

Think, my child, what a wonderful event this was! The sun now rolls on, and never stops : not all the commands or entreaties of all the kings of the earth and all their people could prevail either with the sun or with the moon to stay for one moment their course in heaven; but they hasten on, day by day, over our heads to give light to other lands. But on this occasion God was pleased to make one day as long as two, and to cause the lights in heaven to become signs to the whole world of his favour to Israel and his anger with the wicked inhabitants Canaan. For all people, Edward, even those