war until that duty was performed. An Altar was erected on mount Ebal, the law was inscribed and sacrifices were offered on it. The tribes then divided after the manner prescribed by Moses, and took their stations on either mount, the priests standing on each side of the ark, and the whole congregated people, women, children, and strangers all attending, the statutes of Moses were read to them by Joshua, and the blessings and the cursings were pronounced in their hearing.*

Whilst they were thus piously engaged, the Canaanitish princes were combining to attack the Israelites, regarded with so much terror! At the same time an embassy, with all the appearance of having travelled from a very distant country arrived at the camp at Gilgal, soliciting the friendship of Joshua. Knowing himself to be surrounded by enemies, he enquired particularly whence they came. "From a far distant country," they said, and they exhi bited their faded garments and worn-out sandals---their wine bottles, now empty, and rent with long use, and their bread which they had taken fresh from their ovens, now moulded---as evidences of the length of their journey.

FANNY, These bottles, which are said to have been rent, must have been the leathern bottles which were in use in ancient times.

MRS. M. They are still in use, not only for carrying wine, in several countries of the East, and in the South of Europe, but for the transportation of honey and other liquids, especially for water in their dreary journeys across the deserts of Arabia.

* Deut. 27.

FANNY. Were not bottles of glass also used by the Israelites?

MRS. M. They are said to have been invented only in the fifteenth century. Earthen bottles are supposed to have been used in very early times.

The people of Israel were somewhat suspicious of the integrity of these envoys-yet without asking that "council" which the mystic breast-plate of the High Priest would have imparted, the princes made a league with them. But they were awakened to a sense of their erroneous precipitancy, when in a few days they received an application from their new allies imploring their aid against the neighbouring kings, who had turned their arms against them, because they had deserted the league against the strangers, and made a peace with their chiefs. This discovery exasperated the common people, especially when they learned that Gibeon, the chief city of the impostors, was very large and wealthy, and they would have taken instant vengeance had they not been restrained by their officers. "We have plighted our faith," said they, "to protect them, we must therefore let them live; but they shall not be admitted to the dignities of free citizensthey shall be hewers of wood and drawers of water, to the congregation-because they have deceived us."

The army of Joshua, appeased in some degree by this compromise, yielded to the pressing entreaty of the Gibeonites" come up quickly and save us," for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us." But the Amorites, though they fought desperately for their lives, could make no stand against the invincible Israelites. They fled, and

drew the pursuers from the open plain into their vallies and mountains. Evening approached, and Joshua beheld his people in the heart of a country entirely unknown to them-the darkness of night might enable their adversaries to surround them—and all might be lost before the return of day. In this perilous situation he ventured to lift up his hands to Jehovah, the Lord of the Universe, and implore his immediate interposition-" Sun, stand thou still," cried he, " upon Gibeon-and thou Moon in the valley of Ajalon!" His prayer was heard, the Sun stood still, and the Moon rested, the whole length of a day-the elements of nature contributed their aid-hail stones of enormous size descended, and together with the heaven-directed sword of Joshua, completed the slaughter of the devoted Amorites!

CHARLES. Dear mother, are we to believe that the sun and the moon were literally stayed in their course?

MRS. M. Why should we question the reality of this miracle more than that of others? Our imagination cannot reach the immensity of unlimited power, to which all things are possible. Nor is this stupendous prodigy represented as of common occurrence. The inspired writer affirms, that "there was no day like that either before, or since, that the Lord harkened in such an extraordinary manner to the voice of a man," and he confirms his own relation by an appeal to another record-" the book of Jasher."

FANNY. Where is that book to be found?

MRS. M. It has been lost many ages; but that it once existed, is plain, from the frequent mention of it in sacred history.

These unquestionable indications of the splendid des

tiny of this peculiar people, did not yet intimidate the natives of Canaan.

Other confederacies were formed and successively subdued. Six or seven years were spent in continual warfare, until one and thirty kingdoms were taken, when far advanced in years, and having yet to make arrangements for the future government of Israel, Joshua "rested from war." The first work of this interval of peace, was to provide a place for public worship. Shiloh, in the portion of Ephraim, was chosen, and there the Tabernacle was established in the presence of the whole nation, and from this epoch the Israelites began to reckon their year of Jubilee.

Although much of the territory remained yet to be conquered, the venerable chief of Israel, persuaded of the faithfulness of the Lord of hosts, considered the whole as already in their possession, and proceeded to the division of Canaan, agreeably to the directions left by Moses. The coast of the Great Sea or Mediterranean, was still inhabited by idolaters-from Philistia, on the South, to Phoenicia on the North, but commissioners were nevertheless sent to examine and describe, in writing, the whole land. When they returned, the whole was divided, and solemnly distributed by lot before the Tabernacle at Shiloh.

Cities of refuge, at the same time were appointed, and provision made for the Levites, who, you will recollect, were not to have a common inheritance in lands like the other tribes.

The immediate superintendence of the Deity over this remarkable people, is in no respect more evident than in -this; that after the lapse of ages, and under circumstances

the least favourable to the preservation of records, and all the observances requisite to that end-they should now be able to trace their genealogies throughout the twelve tribes, and distribute the component families so exactly, that Joshua could arrange them in the order commanded by Moses, separating the tribes distinctly, and providing equally for all.

CATHERINE. I have heard you question the lawfulness of dividing by lot; and yet in this instance it is sanctioned by the highest authority.

MRS. M. If we could, in any case, obtain such a sanction, and cast lots with the same solemnity that was observed in this, and other instances, mentioned in scripture, that is, by a direct appeal to Heaven for the result, the action would not be unlawful. But we think of no such re

ference; our appeal is to something called Chance; a perfect nonentity; an act of great levity at least, if not sacrilegious. Because no event can possibly take place without the permission of a Sovereign whose government is as immediate as it is universal.

The result of all our operations in the common affairs of life, we know, remains with Him; but while we employ our physical strength, or natural ability, we use the talents he has given. In casting a lot, we are endeavouring to obtain a benefit without using the appointed means.

Although I have told you that we are not immediately concerned with the blessings or predictions which Jacob pronounced on his sons at the time of his death, and have therefore left you to read the full accomplishment at your leisure, yet I will not deny your curiosity the gratification of remarking in this place, and hereafter, as it may inci