stones ?" And "that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty."

FANNY. If the river were deep, as it is represented to have been, the twelve stones erected in the midst of it, would be covered by the waters, not answering the design of a monument.

MRS. M. Those which were carried to the eastern border, are said to be " such as a man might carry on his shoulder." Those which "Joshua set up where the feet of the priests stood firm on dry ground," are not so described. They may have been of enormous size, for they had thousands of men to labour at the work, and the historian assures us, they were yet to be seen at the time of his writing.

The posterity of Abraham began now to realize the promise that had been given to their forefathers. Immediately after their entrance into Canaan, the manna ceased to fall, and they feasted on the fruits of that delightful land! And it is remarkable that this event took place at a season when they might formally express their gratitude by a national act of religious worship---the time of their Annual Passover. On the tenth day of the first month, they first set their feet on the land of promise---and on the fourteenth, according to their law, precisely forty years from its institution on the night of their departure from Egypt, they celebrated that festival. Thus was the prophecy delivered to Moses* exactly accomplished. [B. C. 1451.]

This last miracle, added to all that had gone before, operated powerfull in favour of the progress of the Israelites.

* Numbers, 14, 33.

The inhabitants of Canaan trembled before the omnipotence of the God of Israel-but they did not repent of their sins, and endeavour to avert his anger. The king of Jericho did not, like his subject, Rahab, submit to the appointed conqueror, and make terms for himself and his people, but foolishly determined on resistance. His "city was strictly shut up, none went out, and none came in," they trusted in the strength of their bulwarks: nor was the singular mode of warfare, adopted by the Hebrew general, at all calculated to weaken their confidence. No preparations adapted to a siege could be discerned from the wall of Jericho---nothing could be seen, but the formidable invaders armed indeed in warlike array with their standards waving and bearing their sacred shrine, encircling the city day after day, and returning peaceably at night to their camp. No rude noise---not a voice assailed the ear---the solemn march was alone interrupted by the sound of trumpets, continually blown by the priests who carried the Ark. In these mysterious circuits, the superstitious heathens might imagine some preparatory ceremony like their own futile incantations to propitiate their deities: but while no step more decidedly hostile was taken, they would still rely on their barriers for security. Six days, their flattering hopes deceived them---on the seventh, instead of retiring as usual after a single circuit, the strangers encompassed the city seven times; at the conclusion of the seventh---a long, and louder blast was heard,---the tremendous shout of victory ascended to heaven, and the walls of Jericho fell prostrate before the Ark of the covenant! The ministers of divine justice poured in on every side, and the astonished inhabitants received the punish ment decreed to their multiplied offences!

FANNY. I hope the promise made to Rahab, was now remembered?

MRS. M. It was faithfully observed.

She was con

ducted with all her relatives, and all their moveable property, to the suburbs of the Hebrew camp.

CATHERINE. Why to the suburbs ?-why not into the heart of the camp, where she would be most secure from the resentment of her countrymen ?

MRS. M. Because aliens might not enter the camp of Israel, until they were at least legally purified; which could not be done in this moment of confusion. They were effectually protected, however: Rahab herself, became afterwards a proselyte to the Hebrew religion, and married Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah, and the ancestor in a direct line, of the celebrated David, king of Israel.

Before the city was attacked, it was strictly enjoined, that no part of the spoil should be appropriated by any individual. The silver and gold-the vessels of brass and of iron, were to be reserved for the service of the sanctuary: all else, to be utterly destroyed by fire: nay, so exceedingly obnoxious had it become, for its pre-eminent guilt, that a malediction was pronounced on him who should attempt to rebuild it. "He shall lay the foundation thereof (said Joshua) in his first-born, and in his youngest son, shall he set up the gates of it."

Soon after the fall of this execrated city, Joshua despatched a small party to take a little place called Ai, on the eastern side of Beth-el, a name familiar in the history of their ancestor, Jacob. Insignificant, however, as it appeared to an army accustomed only to victory, they

were driven back to the plains of Jordan, with the loss of six and thirty men.

- Confident of the support of his Sovereign, while obedience was rendered to the divine commands-Joshua, attended by the elders, repaired to the mercy-seat, and prostrating themselves, enquired humbly, by what sin they had forfeited His wonted protection. The captivating treasures of Jericho, they were answered, had occasioned the crime. An individual had been tempted to violate the command. The criminal should be discovered by casting the lot, and the goods he had stolen would be found buried under his tent.

The awful investigation was pursued without delaythe tribe and the family of the offender were ascertained→→→→ and lastly, a man named Achan, stood charged with the guilt of having drawn the displeasure of their beneficent Patron on his people. The fact was not to be denied -costly robes of Babylonian manufacture,-silver, and gold, were brought out from his tent, and spread before the judges. His guilt thus manifested and acknowledged by himself, the unhappy Achan with his sons and his daughters, his cattle and his household goods, together with all the forbidden treasures, were committed to the flames!

CHARLES. What! the innocent children destroyed for the guilt of their father! such a procedure is very contrary to our notions of equity.

MRS. M. How can we pretend, my dear, to answer for their innocence? The sons and daughters of Achan, may have participated in his guilt-they may have assisted in concealing the treasures. But should it be other wise in this, or in any other instance recorded in scrip

ture,where the innocent appear to have suffered with the guilty by the express command of a just Sovereign,→our cavils are for ever prevented by the emphatic question--"shall not the Judge of the earth do right?" Besides, this high act of sovereignty is the exclusive prerogative of Deity, and never intended for our imitation. The Mo saical law expressly delivered the equitable precept--"The father shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the father--every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”*

But since we are unquestionably taught by our own experience, that our personal vices very often involve our dearest connexions inevitably, in suffering, how careful ought each of us to be of our own conduct!

After this painful expiation, the town of Ai was taken by an ambuscade, the first of which we read in historyand the army was gratified with the spoil.

CATHERINE. An ambuscade is a deception: was this mode of warfare sanctioned by divine command ?

MRS. M. It was expressly commanded in this instance; nor are we obliged to refer its vindication to the arbitrary laws by which the war upon the Canaanites was directed. Stratagems in war are not moral deceptions--they are expected by both parties---and both are prepared---so that they would be disappointed did they not

occur.

The Israelites being now in the neighbourhood of the mountains Ebal and Gerizzim, where they had been commanded by Moses to build an Altar, and promulgate the Law, they desisted from the further prosecution of the