,transcriber's note3 ,unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed4 ,,god ,,and ,,mankind4 ,,volume ,i4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,family ,,catechising4 ,,theology ,,in ,,romance3 ,,or1 ,the ,catechism and the ,dermott family4 ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,madeline ,,leslie ,,author ,,of ,,home ,,life ,,and ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,leslie',s ,,juvenile ,,series ,,and ,,rev4 ,a4 ,r4 ,,baker ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,catechism ,,tested ,,by ,,the ,,bible1 ,,etc4 ---------------- ,,boston3 ,,john ,p4 ,,jewett ,,and ,,company4 ,,cleveland1 ,,ohio3 ,h4 ,p4 ,b4 ,,jewett4 ,,philadelphia3 ,,wm4 ,s4 ,,alfred ,,martien4 #ahei4 ,entered according to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #ahei1 by ,,john ,p4 ,,jewett ,,and ,,company1 ,in the ,clerk's ,office of the ,district ,court of the ,district of ,massachusetts4 ,,electrotyped ,,at ,,the ,,boston ,,stereotype ,,foundry4 ,,dedication4 ,illustration ,,the ,,volumes ,,of ,,this ,,work ,,are ,,most ,,affectionately ,,inscribed ,,by ,,the ,,authors ,,to ,,the ,y ,o ,u ,n ,g ,c ,o ,n ,v ,e ,r ,t ,s ,,in ,,the ,g ,r ,e ,a ,t ,r ,e ,v ,i ,v ,a ,l ,o ,f #a #h #e #h1 ,,in ,,the ,,humble ,,hope ,,of ,,aiding ,,their ,,progress ,,in ,,christian ,,knowledge ,,and ,,grace4 ,,introduction4 ,illustration ,,ten years have completed their course since one of the associate authors of these volumes published his first edition of ,,the ,,catechism ,,tested ,,by ,,the ,,bible4 ,it was sold in a few weeks4 ,that work1 in two #ahmo4 volumes1 was revised and stereotyped the same year2 and two corresponding volumes1 with the same title1 but more simple and explanatory1 and therefore better adapted to young children1 were prepared and published with them4 ,of these four books1 recently revised1 put into two1 one for children1 the other for adults1 and issued in a new stereotype edition1 more than two hundred thousand impressions have been printed4 ,they have been translated into several foreign languages2 as into the ,arabic by ,rev4 ,h4 ,m4 ,calhoun in ,syria1 where1 by the blessing of ,god1 they contribute to the fulfilment of prophecy1 and are helping to turn ,lebanon into a fruitful field4 ,in the ,sandwich ,islands1 we are informed1 they are used by government authority as national text books1 assisting to confirm those who were so lately idolaters in the faith which was once delivered to the saints4 ,they are helps at various missionary stations1 and have been widely circulated in the ,united ,states1 the ,british ,provinces1 and several transatlantic countries4 ,from highly respectable sources1 the author of that work has received applications for other volumes1 in illustration of the doctrines and duties of ,christianity1 as set forth in the admirable compend thereof1 drawn up by the ,westminster ,assembly1 and entitled ,the ,shorter ,catechism4 ,the first suggestion of this kind was received years ago in an interview with ,rev4 ,t4 ,h4 ,gallaudet1 of ,hartford1 ,conn41 whose numerous and popular works for the young demanded for his judgment grave consideration4 ,it was then that his rare gifts as a writer awakened the hope of his future aid in the preparation of these volumes--a hope the realization of which his death has precluded4 ,but ,providence has kindly enabled the author of the former treatise on the ,catechism to avail himself of the efficient aid of his wife1 whose ,home ,life1 consisting at present of ,cora and the ,doctor1 ,the ,courtesies of ,wedded ,life1 and ,the ,household ,angel1 and whose ,juvenile ,series1 of which four volumes1 ,the ,motherless ,children1 ,play and ,study1 ,howard and his ,teacher1 and ,trying to be ,useful1 have been very favorably noticed by the press and received by the public4 ,two other volumes of the same series1 ,striving and ,thriving1 and ,i'll ,try1 are in press1 and will shortly be issued4 ,the explanations and illustrations contained in the present volumes exhibit the method1 and in part the results1 of her weekly catechising of her own children1 and of her instruction in ,sabbath schools1 also of her husband's catechetical exercises with the children and youth of his pastoral charge1 for a long course of years4 ,they comprise the sum of their united experience1 reading1 and observation1 together with such anecdotes and fables as they have found interesting and useful in this department of ,christian nurture4 ,each catechetical answer has been analyzed1 and the subjects it contains carefully studied by us individually4 ,then we have unitedly agreed upon the method of explaining1 illustrating1 and enforcing its truths4 ,for the theology and ethics of these little volumes the author is mainly responsible2 but the background1 drapery1 and shading of the picture1 on which much of the interest and utility of the work depends1 is to be ascribed mainly to the authoress1 whose nom de plume is associated with his name upon the title page4 ,after a careful revision and preparation for the press1 the work is given to the public in the hope that it may aid parents1 ,sabbath school teachers1 and pastors in the religious education of the dear children committed to their care1 and may enable the rising generation better to understand these subjects of divine knowledge1 and more tenaciously to hold fast the form of sound words4 ,,contents ,,of ,,volume ,i4 ---------------------- ,,chapter ,i4 ,,man',s ,,chief ,,end2 ,,or1 ,,little ,,lotty ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,bible2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,sailor ,,boy ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,divine ,,rule2 ,,or1 ,,aola ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,character ,,of ,,god2 ,,or1 ,,prayer ,,in ,,the ,,assembly ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,god2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,mission ,,house ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,godhead2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,silenced ,,infidel ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,purpose ,,of ,,god2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,new ,,house ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,execution ,,of ,,god',s ,,purpose2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,poor ,,minister ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,the ,,world2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,patent ,,office ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,man2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,wax ,,doll ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,providence2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,ill-,,fated ,,boat ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,the ,,covenant ,,of ,,works2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,first ,,wedding ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,man2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,mysterious ,,box ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,sin2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,convict ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,the ,,forbidden ,,fruit2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,broken ,,rule ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,broken ,,covenant2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,family ,,of ,,thieves ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,man',s ,,fallen ,,state2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,deposed ,,minister ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,man',s ,,sinfulness2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,diseased ,,family ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,man',s ,,misery2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,battle ,,field ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,election ,,and ,,redemption2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,new ,,home ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,christ1 ,,the ,,redeemer2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,pardoned ,,rebels ,,theology ,,in ,,romance4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,i4 ,,man',s ,,chief ,,end2 ,,or1 ,,little ,,lotty4 ,,question ,i4 ,what is the chief end of man8 ,,answer4 ,man's chief end is to glorify ,god and to enjoy him forever4 ------------ ,,it was truly a pleasant scene2 the cheerful fire burned brightly in the grate1 as the little group gathered around their mother1 their eyes sparkling with the eager anticipation of pleasure4 ,the hour so much longed for had arrived2 and ,mrs4 ,dermott1 taking in her hand a nicely-bound volume of the ,catechism1 proceeded1 in fulfilment of her promise1 to explain and illustrate it to her youthful audience4 ,addressing her eldest son1 a bright1 active boy of twelve summers1 she asked1 ,walter1 what is the chief end of man8 ,in a low but distinct voice1 he replied1 ,man's chief end is to glorify ,god and to enjoy him forever4 ,what is the meaning of chief end8 ,principal object or business4 ,yes2 ,isabelle is just beginning to attend school4 ,can you tell me1 ,helen1 what her chief end is while there8 ,to learn to read and spell4 ,i learn geography1 too1 lisped the little one1 and can tell which is my right hand1 and which is my left hand4 ,mrs4 ,dermott and the children smiled1 while she continued3 ,if ,isabelle should go to school some day1 and spend all her time in whispering or drawing pictures on her slate1 what would be her chief end8 ,to play4 ,yes4 ,she would be like a great many men1 women1 and children1 whom ,god has sent into the world to glorify him1 but who pass their whole lives in seeking their own pleasure4 ,would that be right8 ,no1 mamma4 ,it would be very wicked4 ,the great object1 business1 or end1 then1 for which mankind were sent into the world1 is to glorify ,god and to enjoy him forever4 ,how can little children glorify ,god8 ,if they love him and keep his commands1 replied ,anna1 seriously4 ,how can little children show that they love ,god1 and that their chief end is to glorify him8 ,anna blushed1 and glanced at ,walter1 who replied for her4 ,if they are serious and devout in church and ,sabbath school4 ,if they listen attentively to what their teachers say about ,god1 and are not thinking about their plays1 toys1 or fine clothes1 but are trying to learn how to please him1 ,i think that would be glorifying ,god4 ,yes1 my dear boy1 replied ,mrs4 ,dermott1 gazing with moistened eyes upon the flushed1 eager countenance of her first-born4 ,god would see in that child's heart a desire to attain the chief aim of his existence1 and ,he would send his ,holy ,spirit to aid1 comfort1 and guide him1 and at last would take him to the full enjoyment of himself in heaven4 ,between two and three thousand years ago1 added ,mrs4 ,dermott1 there lived in ,greece a great many wise men1 called philosophers4 ,these were divided into numerous sects1 as ,christian people now are into different denominations4 ,the search of all these was for the highest good1 or 'the chief end' of man4 ,one sect claimed it was to be found in ease2 another in pleasure2 and still another in fame and renown4 ,some claimed the greatest good consisted in luxurious meats and drinks2 some placed it in one thing1 some in another4 ,their wisdom was but folly4 ,none of them attained the true idea which ,god in the ,bible has revealed to little children1 and which this answer of the ,catechism so beautifully and summarily expresses4 ,but an incident will explain my meaning4 ,there once lived a sweet little girl who was noticed by her mother to go to her chamber many times in a day2 and1 curious to know what led her there1 the lady softly followed4 ,as she approached the door1 she heard the voice of her child talking1 as she supposed1 with some one within2 but listening more attentively1 she perceived that ,lotty was asking her heavenly ,father to bless her4 ,with a grateful1 rejoicing heart1 the mother returned to the parlor1 where ,lotty soon followed1 and1 taking up her doll1 resumed her play4 ,she dressed and undressed the baby1 tried on a little bonnet and sack given her by her aunt1 all the while closely watched by her mother1 who soon saw her place ,dolly safely in the tiny bed1 and1 having tucked her in1 retire to her chamber again4 ,surprised and delighted1 ,mrs4 ,kidder only waited for her child to return to her play1 before she questioned her as to the cause of her frequent absence4 ',come here1 ,lotty1' she said1 affectionately1 as the little girl made her appearance4 ',may ,dolly come too1 mamma8' ',yes1 dear4' ',why do you leave your play so often8' ',o mamma1 ,i love ,god so6' was the touching reply1 as1 with her sweet face flushed with holy joy1 she turned to gaze into her mother's countenance4 ',every time ,i go into my room1 it seems just as if ,god was glad2 and he makes my heart so warm4 ,i think he loves to have me pray to him4' ,for two years more ,lotty was spared to her father and mother1 and all the time the love of ,god was growing in her heart4 ,it was the whole business of her life to love1 honor1 and glorify him4 ,by and by her heavenly ,father called her to his mansion above the skies1 where she will enjoy his love and presence forever and ever4 ,when the physician1 who had been hastily summoned1 told her weeping mother that a few hours would terminate her life1 ,lotty1 though suffering acutely1 pressed her little hands together1 exclaiming1 ',o1 ,i long to be there4 ,i shall see my dear ,saviour1 and live with him forever4 ,don't cry1 mamma1' she pleaded1 as her mother's tears flowed afresh4 ',jesus has forgiven all my sins1 and he will take care of me4 ,i will ask him to send for you and papa2 and then we'll sing praises to him forever and ever4' ,this little girl glorified and enjoyed ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,bible2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,sailor ,,boy4 ,,question ,,ii4 ,what rule hath ,god given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him8 ,,answer4 ,the word of ,god1 which is contained in the ,scriptures of the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him4 ------------ ,,anna ,,sherwin was an orphan child of ,mrs4 ,dermott's deceased brother4 ,for a year she had been residing in the family of her aunt1 who treated her with all the tenderness which she manifested for her own children4 ,with the buoyancy natural to youth1 ,anna had ceased to mourn her parents' loss1 though she loved to call to mind their instructions1 and to govern her conduct as she thought would please them4 ,with the enthusiasm of a child1 she looked forward to the catechising1 as her cousins had styled the teaching of their mother1 and was the first to take her seat and to be in readiness for the second question4 ,when the others were in their places1 ,mrs4 ,dermott requested ,anna to repeat the answer given at the head of this chapter1 and then asked1 ,what volume contains the word of ,god8 ,the ,bible1 or ',the ,book4' ,how do we know it is the word of ,god8 ,because--because-- ,the little ones looked at each other1 but could not answer the question4 ,i will ask another question4 ,how do we know1 ,walter1 that the ,shorter ,catechism was written by the ,westminster ,assembly8 ,because we have always heard so1 replied the boy4 ,i suppose people who lived then told their children1 and they told theirs1 until it has come down to us4 ,i once saw an old gentleman1 remarked the mother1 who told me some interesting circumstances respecting that most remarkable body of men4 ,his father had told him that his great-great-grandfather was a member of the ,assembly2 that he knew and had conversed with those who wrote the ,catechism1 and that he had related many interesting facts1 which1 with letters and other papers1 were now preserved in an antiquarian library4 ,in the same manner we know that the books of the ,bible were written by the men whose names they bear1 and can distinctly retrace them to their authors1 both by history and tradition4 ,besides1 ,god enabled them to perform many miracles1 such as healing the sick1 opening the eyes of the blind1 raising the dead to life1 to prove that they had received authority from him4 ,ha also enabled them to foretell many events which have since taken place1 and thereby has set his seal to their commission4 ,a poor negro was once asked1 ',what reasons have you for believing the ,bible to be the word of ,god8' ',me have no reasons1 massa1' was the good man's artless reply4 ',me want no reasons4 ,me read the precious book1 and me feel it in here1' putting his hand upon his heart4 ',me know ,god wrote it for poor creatures just like me4' ,the ,bible carries its own arguments with it4 ,its writers often refer to this internal evidence of its truth4 ',he that believeth shall know of the doctrine4' ',be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds1 that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable1 and perfect will of ,god4' ,multitudes have in this way learned the divine truth and power of the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,many years ago ,i read of a pious widow who lived in the northern part of ,england4 ,she had one son4 ,this boy1 whose name was ,charles1 from being her pet and darling1 became her scourge and her cross4 ,he loved bad company1 and at length declared his intention of going to sea4 ,his mother1 with many tears and sad forebodings1 bade him farewell2 but as she did so1 she put into his hand a ,new ,testament inscribed with her name and his own1 solemnly and tenderly entreating that he would keep it and read it for her sake4 ,year after year elapsed1 bearing to heaven the record of her prayers and tears1 and still no tidings of her boy6 ,at length her maternal anxiety could brook no longer delay4 ,she set out alone for ,london1 where she went about making inquiries concerning the vessel in which ,charles had sailed4 ,she one day mot a sea captain1 who told her the ship had been wrecked long before1 adding1 ',they were a wicked crew1 especially a cabin boy by the name of ,charles--4 ,he was so depraved and profligate1 that it were a good thing if he and all like him were at the bottom of the sea4' ,pierced to her inmost soul1 this unhappy mother withdrew from the house1 and hastened to her retired home4 ,the language of her heart was1 ',i shall go down to the grave mourning for my son4' ,some years elapsed1 when one night1 a half-naked sailor knocked at her door to ask relief4 ,he had seen great perils in the deep1 had been several times wrecked1 but1 said he1 ',i have never been so dreadfully destitute as ,i was some years back1 when ,i and a fine young gentleman were the only ones saved of a whole ship's crew4 ,we were cast upon a desert island1 where1 after seven days1 ,i closed his eyes4 ,poor fellow6 ,i never shall forget him2' ,and here the tears stole down his weather-beaten cheeks4 ',he read day and night1' continued the sailor1 'in a little book which he said his mother gave him1 and which was the only thing he saved from the wreck4 ,it was his companion every moment4 ,he wept for his sins2 he prayed2 he kissed the volume2 he talked of nothing but this book and his mother2 and when he died1 he gave it to me1 with many thanks for my poor services4 ',there1 ,jack1' said he1 'take this book1 and keep it and read it1 and may ,god bless you2 it's all ,i've got4' ,and then he clasped my hand1 and died in peace4 ',is this all true8' said the trembling1 astonished mother1 hope whispering to her heart that the dying youth was her own ,charles4 ',yes1 madam1 every word of it4' ,and then1 dragging from his ragged jacket a little book1 much tattered and time-worn1 he held it up1 exclaiming1 ',and here's the very book too4' ,she seized it1 descried her own handwriting1 and beheld the name of her son coupled with her own upon the fly leaf4 ,she gazed1 she read1 she wept1 she rejoiced4 ,she seemed to hear a voice saying1 ',thy son liveth2' and from her heart she was ready to exclaim1 ',now1 ,lord1 lettest thou thy servant depart in peace1 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation4' ',will you part with that book1 my honest fellow8' said she1 anxious to possess the precious relic4 ',no1 madam1' was the answer1 'not for any money--not for all the world4 ,he gave it to me with his dying hand4 ,i have more than once lost my all since ,i got it1 without losing this treasure1 the truths of which have1 ,i hope1 been blessed to my soul2 and ,i will never part with it till ,i part with the breath out of my body4' ,the ,bible1 continued ,mrs4 ,dermott1 has this transforming power1 because holy men wrote it as they were moved by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,god put into their hearts what they wrote1 and he renders it effectual to our salvation4 ,what other names do we sometimes give to the ,bible8 ,the ,scriptures1 or ,testaments1 replied ,walter1 quickly4 ,a testament is a will or writing1 such as persons leave to tell what they wish to have done with their property after their death4 ,how many ,testaments are there in the ,bible1 ,helen8 ,two2 the ,old ,testament and the ,new ,testament4 ,do you see why these two portions of the ,bible are called ,testaments8 ,no1 mamma4 ,it is because in them ,god has revealed to us his will4 ,in them he tells who shall be heirs to his vast possessions4 ,i should think every body would want to read them1 then1 exclaimed ,walter in an animated tone4 ,yes1 my son4 ,if a book were now to be published1 telling how any one who wished might inherit a crown1 and be heir to an immense estate1 how eagerly would the volume be perused6 ,and how exactly would the directions be followed4 ,but here is a book which ,god has given as a rule or guide to lead us to heaven1 where a crown of glory1 which cannot fade1 is awaiting us1 and where we may be co-heirs with ,christ to an eternal and immortal inheritance4 ,alas1 that so many should neglect it6 ,a little boy was once sent by his mother to a small shop to buy a bar of soap4 ,the shopwoman took it from the shelf1 and having received the money from the child1 took a thick book from the floor1 and was just about to tear out some of the leaves1 when the boy exclaimed1 ',is not that the ,bible8' ',yes2 but what of that8' ',o1 do not tear the ,bible6 ,it is so precious4' ',pshaw6 ,it is only fit for wrapping paper4' ',o1 will you not give it to me8' ',yes1 if you will give me its weight in waste paper4' ,leaving his soap1 the boy ran swiftly home1 and rushing up to his mother1 exclaimed1 ',o mother1 the shopwoman will give me a ,bible1 a whole ,bible1 if ,i can get as much waste paper as it will weigh4' ,with his mother's consent1 he then searched the house2 but the quantity he obtained was far too scanty for him to procure the prize4 ,determined1 however1 not to give up1 he went round among the neighbors1 told them his story1 and soon obtained a supply4 ,he then carried it to the shopwoman1 and watched her with breathless interest as she placed the precious ,bible in one scale and the old newspapers in the other1 gave a bound of joy as he saw the former was more than balanced by the latter1 and received the precious volume in his arms4 ',it is my own ,bible4 ,o1 what a treasure6' he exclaimed1 pressing it repeatedly to his breast4 ,we can easily imagine with what delight the dear boy sat down to peruse the sacred pages2 how joyfully he adopted it as the lamp to his feet and the light to his path1 as his only rule of faith and practice4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,divine ,,rule2 ,,or1 ,,aola4 ,,question ,,iii4 ,what do the ,scriptures principally teach8 ,,answer4 ,the ,scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning ,god1 and what duty ,god requires of man4 ------------ ,,mr4 ,,dermott was the wife of a merchant residing in the suburbs of a large city4 ,her husband was frequently called from home for several months together2 and she1 in accordance with his wishes1 had taken up the doctrines and duties of ,christian faith1 with the endeavor to render them both simple and attractive to her children4 ,thus far her efforts had been attended with unusual success1 and the little ones looked forward with impatience for the evening when the lessons should be continued4 ,all being in their places1 and the answer repeated with which this chapter commences1 the lady inquired1 ,did you notice1 ,walter1 into how many parts the teachings of ,scripture are divided in this answer8 ,after a moment's hesitation1 the boy replied1 ,into two parts3 what we are to believe1 and what we are to do4 ,very well1 my dear4 ,in the first place1 the ,bible teaches us to believe2 or it presupposes the existence of ,god1 the ,creator of all things4 ,he made the world and all that is therein2 the sun to rule the day1 and the moon and stars to rule the night4 ,the beasts of the field1 the birds of the air1 and the fish of the sea1 even the little insects which swarm in the air1 were all fashioned by his forming hand4 ,but what is of more importance to us than all else1 is the fact contained in ,scripture1 that ,god sent his only ,son to provide a way of salvation for poor1 guilty sinners4 ,this is what we are to believe concerning ,god4 ,the duties required of us are comprehensively and beautifully summed up in the ten commandments4 ,these relate both to our duties toward ,god and our duties toward our follow-creatures4 ,the ,bible teaches little children to whom they are indebted for life and all that makes life pleasant1 and it also teaches them to obey their parents1 and how to treat each other4 ,the ,bible says1 ',little children1 love one another1' urged ,helen1 speaking quickly2 now1 mother1 will you tell us a story8 ,mrs4 ,dermott smilingly assented1 and commenced4 ,far1 far away among the ,rocky ,mountains1 many hundred miles beyond where the foot of the white man had ever trod1 there once lived an ,indian maiden1 the daughter of a sachem4 ,she married one of the young warriors of her tribe1 and for many years followed him from one hunting field to another1 her heart kept warm by her love for him and for her papooses4 ,this is the ,indian name for children1 of which she had four4 ,at length her husband grew sick1 and1 according to the custom of the poor1 deluded tribe1 ,nola presented offerings to their idols in his behalf4 ,but1 notwithstanding her sacrifices and her prayers1 the warrior grew rapidly worse1 and soon died4 ,aola was now a widow1 and had no one to draw the bow for her1 except her eldest son4 ,in a few months1 he returned hurriedly from the chase to his mother's wigwam1 and throwing himself upon his father's hunting robe1 said1 ',i am sick4' ',this time1' said ,aola1 ',i will surely appease the wrath of our gods4' ,she deprived herself of many comforts to offer more costly sacrifices2 but all in vain3 her first-born soon breathed his last4 ,before twelve moons had waxed and waned1 two more dear ones1 precious remembrances of her past joys1 had sickened1 and in spite of her agonizing prayers to the idols1 had passed forever from her sight4 ,at length her sweet little ,lola1 who1 in her repeated trials1 had entwined herself closer and closer to her heart1 grew wan and pale1 like the others who had preceded it to the world of spirits4 ,aola1 in her anguish1 beat her breast4 ,suddenly she grew more calm1 and1 taking ,lola in her arms1 hastened to a huge pine tree near her wigwam4 ,she seated herself on a little mound at the foot of the tree1 and began to look into her own heart4 ,illustration3 ,i will pray to the ,god of my ,lola4 ',aola1' she asked herself1 'where is the ,god who gave you your papoose8' ,she gazed far into the deep1 dark forest1 then up toward the bright blue sky1 and a voice whispered to her soul1 ',i am ,god1 who made the heavens and the earth4 ,plead your cause with me4' ,with streaming eyes ,aola replied1 ',i will no longer bow down to the gods who would not hear my prayers4 ,i will pray to the ,god of my ,lola4' ,she then laid her babe upon the soft grass at her feet1 and prostrating herself upon her knees1 with her lips touching the ground1 her cries and her supplications ascended to the ,most ,high4 ,he heard her prayer2 and when ,aola returned to her wigwam1 it was with a smile of hope upon her lip4 ,fourteen years later1 when ,mr4 ,kingsbury1 one of the first missionaries to the ,indians1 reached her tribe1 and began to talk about the white man's ,god1 ,aola1 catching her child by the hand1 led her to the good man1 exclaiming1 in her native language1 ',white man's ,god my ,god1 ,lola's ,god too4' ,and then began to tell him that for fourteen years she had prayed to the good ,being who had whispered to her heart1 and who had saved the life of her child4 ,a station was subsequently established at that place1 and ,aola was received into the ,christian church4 ,lola was taught to read the ,bible2 and ,o1 how eagerly did her mother drink in the precious words which revealed to her so fully the greatness and goodness of that gracious ,being1 whom1 not knowing1 she had loved6 ,but her history is very unlike that of most of the heathen4 ,it teaches us of what the power of conscience and the light of nature are capable1 and confirms the words of the apostle3 ',the invisible things of ,god1 from the creation of the world1 are clearly seen1 being understood by the things that are made1 even his eternal power and ,godhead2 so that they are without excuse4' ,the multitude of them have 'changed the glory of the uncorruptible ,god into an image made like to corruptible man1 to birds1 and four-footed beasts1 and creeping things4' ,they need the ,bible to teach them what they ought to believe concerning ,god1 and what duty ,god requires of them4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,character ,,of ,,god2 ,,or1 ,,prayer ,,in ,,the ,,assembly4 ,,question ,,iv4 ,what is ,god8 ,,answer4 ,god is a ,spirit1 infinite1 eternal1 and unchangeable in his being1 wisdom1 power1 holiness1 justice1 goodness1 and truth4 ------------ ,,isabelle ,,dermott was a lovely child4 ,she had just attained her seventh year4 ,from her birth she had occasioned her parents groat solicitude on account of the peculiar delicacy of her constitution4 ,her mind was precocious2 and until within a few months1 she had been withheld from mental labor4 ,now1 however1 she had commenced attending school1 and was advancing rapidly in her studies4 ,when the question for the day had been asked and answered1 ,mrs4 ,dermott began the lesson by the inquiry1-- ,anna1 what is that within you which thinks and feels8 ,my soul4 ,yes1 your soul1 or spirit4 ,can we see it8 ,no1 mamma1 replied ,helen1 gravely4 ,do you remember that dreadful thunder shower last summer1 when ,isabelle was so much alarmed8 ,i do6 ,and ,i6 ,and ,i6 called out one and another4 ,you know1 ,helen1 ,i told you to look for the next flash of lightning4 ,it came as ,i was speaking1 and almost blinded you4 ,the air was full of electricity1 which causes the lightning2 but you could not see it until it flashed4 ,just so it is with ,god1 who is a ,spirit4 ,he is everywhere1 and makes himself known by what he does4 ,he is in the air we breathe1 in the sunshine and in the storm1 in the merry warbling of the birds1 in the pleasant gurgling of the brooks1 in the sighing of the forest1 and in the blooming of the tiniest flower4 ,it is ,god who swells the buds in the spring1 clothes the trees with foliage1 forms and ripens the pleasant fruit1 causes the sun to shine1 and the rain to fall4 ',he causeth the grass to grow for the cattle1 and herb for the service of man 4 4 4 ,the young lions roar after their prey1 and seek their meat from ,god4' ,can you tell me1 ,walter1 the meaning of the word infinite8 ,yes1 mamma2 father explained it to me4 ,god is infinite because he extends through all space1 and without limit4 ,mrs4 ,dermott rose1 and drawing up the window curtain1 called her young audience to view the beautiful stars which spangled the sky4 ,fixing their attention upon one brighter than the rest1 she said1 ,isabelle1 does not that seem a great way off8 ,o1 yes1 mamma4 ,well1 if you could approach it1 and look out just as far beyond1 you would only be looking upon the beginning of the infinite space filled by ,god4 ,eternal means the same with regard to time as infinite does with regard to space4 ,when we have lived hundreds of thousands of years in the eternal world1 we shall be not one minute nearer the end of our existence4 ,god never began to live1 and he never will cease to live4 ,helen1 the other day you were complaining that the rules or regulations of your school were so often changed that you could not remember them4 ,you can never complain thus of ,god1 for he is unchangeable4 ,the apostle ,james says1-- ',every good gift and every perfect gift is from above1 and cometh down from the ,father of lights1 with whom is no variableness1 neither shadow of turning4' ,god says of himself1-- ',i am the ,lord2 ,i change not4' ,what a wonderful blessing is this attribute of ,god6 ,with what certainty we can rely upon his promises6 ,we can be sure that his designs of mercy toward the children of men will never1 never fail4 ,we learn by this answer that ,god is without bounds as to space1 and as to time1 never varying in himself1 nor in the counsels of his mind4 ,can you tell me1 ,walter1 the meaning of the word wisdom8 ,i suppose it means very skilful1 and able to do a great many things4 ,yes1 ,solomon says1-- ',the ,lord by wisdom hath founded the earth4' ,god is infinite not only in wisdom1 but also in power4 ,he can not only devise wonderful things1 but he can accomplish whatever he pleases4 ,luke1 in his ,gospel1 says of the ,jews1-- ',and they were all amazed at the mighty power of ,god4' ,they had been witnessing the miracles he had wrought1 and their hearts were filled with wonder and awe4 ,anna1 can you think of any thing which we call holy8 ,anna hesitated a moment1 and then replied1 ,the ,sabbath is holy1 because it is ,god's day4 ,god is unchangeable in holiness4 ',who is like thee1 glorious in holiness8' ,he is also immutable in justice4 ',justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne4' ,he is infinite1 eternal1 and unchangeable1 also1 in goodness and truth4 ',the earth is full of the goodness of the ,lord4' ',just and true are thy ways1 thou ,king of saints4' ,in #afdc1 the ,westminster ,assembly1 of one hundred and fifty-one laymen and divines1 met by order of ,parliament4 ,one committee of that body framed a ,catechism which expresses the common faith of the reformed churches1 and is adapted to general use4 ,when they came to the question1 ',what is ,god8' an awful solemnity fell upon them4 ,who could venture to express in words the momentous truth8 ,all shrunk from the too sacred idea4 ,at length it was resolved1 as an expression of the committee's deep humility1 that the youngest member should make the first attempt4 ,he consented1 but begged that the brethren would first unite with him in prayer for divine enlightenment4 ,then1 in slow and solemn accents1 he thus began his prayer3 ',o ,god6 ,thou art a spirit1 infinite1 eternal1 unchangeable in thy being1 wisdom1 power1 holiness1 justice1 goodness1 and truth6' ,when he ceased1 the first sentence of his prayer was immediately written down and adopted1 as the most perfect answer that could be conceived2 as1 indeed1 in a very sacred sense1 ,god's own answer1 descriptive of himself4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,god2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,mission ,,house4 ,,question ,v4 ,are there more ,gods than one8 ,,answer4 ,there is but one only1 the living and true ,god4 ------------ ,,before the evening on which the next lesson of the ,catechism occurred1 ,mr4 ,dermott unexpectedly returned home4 ,he was welcomed by the children with almost boisterous affection4 ,and after relating many incidents which had occurred during his absence1 ,helen exclaimed1 ,o papa1 we do have such nice times at the catechising6 ,i never liked the ,catechism before1 because ,i did not understand the meaning of the words4 ,but now you may ask me any question that you like4 ,i mean about those mother has explained to us4 ,indeed6 cried ,mr4 ,dermott1 with an arch smile4 ,i must obtain permission to join this wonderful class2 for ,i confess there is much that ,i could learn about these sublime truths4 ,what is the lesson for to-night8 ,we don't have to look out any of the references1 as we did at the ,sabbath school1 exclaimed ,walter1 earnestly4 ,we only commit the answer to the question2 and when it's ,belle's turn1 mother lets her read it from the book4 ,helen1 having easily obtained permission for her father to be present1 gayly seated him between ,isabelle and herself1 and clasping his hands affectionately1 informed her mother they were ready for her to commence4 ,anna having repeated the answer to the question in course1 ,mrs4 ,dermott asked1 ,what are the gods of the heathen called8 ,o mamma6 cried ,isabelle4 ,ask father first2 he is the oldest6 ,the lady smilingly nodded assent1 and ,mr4 ,dermott replied1 ,i think it is the prophet ,jeremiah who calls them idols and images4 ,of what1 ,walter1 do the heathen make their idols8 ,of wood and stone4 ,that great one1 we saw at the ,mission ,house was made of gold1 cried ,helen1 and another was made of some old straw1 stuck all over with elegant red feathers4 ,some of them were worn off1 and ,i peeped inside4 ,it was an ugly-looking thing4 ,here is an idol made of brass1 added ,mrs4 ,dermott1 rising and taking from the mantel a small calf1 about an inch in length4 ,dreadful as it may seem1 this little image has had a human sacrifice offered to it4 ,this was afterward given up to the missionaries1 who sent it to me4 ,probably this was made in imitation of the golden calf which the ,israelites worshipped2 the sight of which caused ,moses such wrath that he threw down the tables of stone upon which the commandments were written1 and broke them4 ,beside images of every imaginable shape and size1 remarked the gentleman1 the poor deluded heathen worship many objects in nature1 such as the sun and moon1 very many kinds of animals--cows1 dogs1 crocodiles1 and even mice4 ,when ,i was in ,india1 ,i saw the ,hindoos engaged in offering sacrifices to the sun4 ,early in the morning1 men1 women1 and children gathered together in an open field1 carrying fruits1 sweetmeats1 pigeons1 kids1 c4 ,these were all set in a row1 and a small pot of water placed by each person's offering1 around the edge of which they wove a kind of wreath in imitation of the sun4 ,they also had a small vessel of coals for incense1 and a lamp1 which was kept burning all day1 by each sacrifice4 ,at sunrise they walked four times around the whole row of offerings1 with the smoking censers on their heads2 after this they returned to their former station1 where1 ,i was informed1 they stood erect all day1 occasionally throwing a little incense into the fire1 but without tasting food4 ,about sunset1 when ,i was told their ceremonies would be concluded1 ,i returned4 ,they again took their censers1 and walked three times around the field4 ,the pigeons were thrown into the air1 and scrambled after for food1 when each one threw his lamp away1 and hastened home4 ,this was merely a senseless and foolish idolatry4 ,the next day one of the missionaries invited me to the hook swinging1 in which the deluded ,hindoos had iron hooks fastened into the flesh of their backs1 and swung through the air1 to appease the wrath of their gods4 ,i had no heart to witness so cruel an exhibition4 ,but no matter where ,i went1 in every part of ,india there were idols of wood1 stone1 and clay2 some ornamented with silver and gold1 others in forms the most hideous and repulsive4 ,how can they be so silly as to worship idols8 inquired the impulsive ,helen4 ,i stuck a pin through that old feather god1 and it could feel nothing2 it only kept grinning with its two rows of ugly teeth2 and ,i might have screamed in its ears all day1 it could never have heard me4 ,the children smiled1 but ,mrs4 ,dermott said1 gravely1 ,in contrast with these senseless images1 which have eyes1 ears1 and hands1 but can neither see1 hear1 nor dispense favors1 how great and glorious appears the one living and true ,god1 whose throne is in the heavens1 but who is so condescending that he stoops to listen to the earnest prayer of the humblest child6 ,walter1 inquired ,mr4 ,dermott1 is there no duty we owe these poor heathen8 ,yes1 sir2 we ought to send ,bibles and missionaries to teach them about our ,god2 and then they would throw away their idols1 as the ,sandwich ,islanders did4 ,yes1 my child2 and we ought to pray for them1 that their hearts may be enlightened to see the folly of their worship4 ,i pray for the heathen every night1 faltered ,isabelle1 with tearful eyes1 and ,i mean to save all my pennies to send them ,bibles4 ,a missionary1 said ,mr4 ,dermott1 once gave an account of a poor man who came into his house4 ',when he had sat down1 he took up a book of missions which lay upon the table1 in which were plates of heathen idols1 hideous and ugly in their appearance4' ',what game is this8' he asked my daughter4 ',they are not game1' replied the little girl2 'there are nations who worship those things4' ',o1' said he1 'how you tell fibs6' ',no1 ,i am not telling fibs4 ,my mamma said so1 and she does not tell fibs4' ',well1' he said again1 'tell me what games they are4' ',they are things that people worship1 just as we worship ,jehovah and ,jesus4 ,if you do not believe it1 go and ask papa4' ,he then came to me1 and said1 ',look at that6' ,and repeated what ,mary had told him4 ',is it true8' he asked4 ',it is1' was the reply4 ,having gazed at me for a moment1 in astonishment1 he said1 ',i know you do not lie2 but how can it be8' ,and laying the book down upon a piece of timber ,i was planing1 he looked at it1 putting his hands to both sides of his head1 and waving it backward and forward4 ,presently he asked1 ',have those people that make these things of wood and stone1 heads like me8' ',yes4' ',have they got legs8' ',yes4' ',can they talk and think8 ,can they explain a difficult thing8 ,can they speak in a public meeting1 like our senators8' ',yes4' ',then never say that our people are foolish or ignorant4' ,taking from his neck a whistle1 made of ivory1 and carved with some device1 perhaps a man's face1 he nodded his head to it in a most solemn manner1 and said1 ',if my people should see me worshipping my whistle1 which looks much better than those monsters1 they would think ,i was mad4 ,they would throw me over a precipice1 and cover me with stones4' ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,godhead2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,silenced ,,infidel4 ,,question ,,vi4 ,how many persons are there in the ,godhead8 ,,answer4 ,there are three persons in the ,godhead--the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost2 and these three are one ,god1 the same in substance1 equal in power and glory4 ------------ ,i ,,don',t believe this lesson will be as interesting as the last1 whispered ,helen to her cousin ,anna1 as they sat together an hour or two before the exercise commenced4 ,i'm sure ,i can never understand about the ,godhead4 ,i hope mother will tell us a good1 long story4 ,o1 ,i dare say we shall understand it1 replied ,anna1 promptly4 ,aunty makes it so clear and plain2 and then uncle will be here too4 ,what a dreadful thing it is to worship idols1 as he saw the poor heathen in ,india6 ,children1 are you ready for the lesson1 called out ,mr4 ,dermott1 taking a seat near the fire4 ,the mother smiled as she saw how eagerly her young audience arranged themselves in order1 and1 having listened to a correct answer of the question in course1 asked1 ,anna1 what name do we commonly give to the ,son of ,god8 ,jesus ,christ4 ,can you think of no other8 ,yes1 ma'am2 ,saviour and ,redeemer4 ,and what name do we generally apply to the ,holy ,ghost8 ,the ,spirit--the ,holy ,spirit1 responded ,walter4 ,that is right2 and the ,bible teaches us that ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son1 and ,god the ,holy ,spirit1 are three persons1 not separate1 but united in one ,god1 and that they are equal in substance or nature1 in power and glory4 ,what is the union of these three persons called8 ,the children not being able to reply1 ,mr4 ,dermott answered1 ,the ,godhead4 ,we cannot understand how these three distinct persons can be one ,god1 continued the lady2 but neither can we understand a thousandth part of what we see every day1 and believe to be true4 ,for instance1 we do not know1 when an acorn is put into the ground1 how a little sapling springs up1 which1 in due time1 becomes a tall1 giant oak2 nor why1 on the same stalk1 a green leaf and a red rose should grow2 neither can we fully understand the framework of our bodies1 the curious mechanism of the arteries1 and veins1 and nerves2 nor the structure of our minds2 how we can think1 and weep1 and rejoice2 how we can call to mind events long passed4 ,still less can we understand the silken cord which unites the body and soul4 ,but we do not hesitate to believe that these things are so4 ,now1 in the word of ,god we are expressly taught that 'the ,lord our ,god is one ,god2' and we are also taught that ,jesus ,christ is ,god4 ',unto the ,son he saith1 ,thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is forever and ever2 a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom4' ,then1 in the sad story of ,ananias and ,sapphira1 ,peter said to the former1-- ',why hath ,satan filled thine heart to lie to the ,holy ,ghost4 ,thou hast not lied unto men1 but unto ,god4' ,the ,bible abounds in passages teaching this doctrine1 such as these3 ,christ says1-- ',i and my ,father are one4' ,paul writes to the ,philippians1-- ',let this mind be in you which was also in ,christ ,jesus2 who1 being in the form of ,god1 thought it not robbery to be equal with ,god4' ',god also hath highly exalted him1 and given him a name which is above every name1 that every tongue should confess that ,jesus ,christ is ,lord1 to the glory of ,god the ,father4' ,and it is equally explicit with reference to the ,holy ,ghost1 added ,mr4 ,dermott4 ,john says1-- ',there are three that bear record in heaven1--the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost1--and these three are one4' ,he is called 'the ,comforter1 who will teach all things1' knowing 'the mind of ,god1' preserving and governing the world4 ,after a moment's pause1 the gentleman added1 ,i remember to have heard an account of an infidel which well illustrates the point your mother has explained1 that though we cannot understand1 we must believe spiritual and experimental truths4 ,this infidel was sitting with many others in a public room belonging to a hotel4 ,at length he began to talk upon the absurdities of the ,christian religion1 quoting these expressions--1',i and my ,father are one2' ',i in them and thou in me2' and 'three persons1' 'in one ,god4' ,finding his auditors were not disposed to applaud his blasphemy1 he turned to one gentleman and said1 with an oath1 ',do you believe such nonsense8' ',tell me1' asked the gentleman1 in reply1 'how that candle burns4' ',why1' answered he1 'the tallow1 the cotton1 and the atmospheric air produce the light4' ',then they make one light1 do they not8' ',yes4' ',will you tell me how they are one in the other1 how the three unite and form but one light8' ',no1 ,i cannot4' ',but you believe it8' ,he could not say he did not4 ,the company all smiled at the man's inconsistency and folly2 and the conversation was changed4 ,so1 my dear children1 if you believe only what you can understand1 and can explain1 you may as well part with your senses1 as you are surrounded by the wonderful works of ,god1 whose ways are past finding out4 ,jehovah6--,father1 ,spirit1 ,son6 ,eternal ,godhead6 ,three in ,one6 ,before ,thy throne we sinners bend2 ,grace1 pardon1 life1 to us extend4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,purpose ,,of ,,god2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,new ,,house4 ,,question ,,vii4 ,what are the decrees of ,god8 ,,answer4 ,the decrees of ,god are his eternal purpose1 according to the counsel of his will1 whereby1 for his own glory1 he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass4 ------------ ,a ,,few days succeeding the last lesson1 ,mr4 ,dermott received letters which rendered it necessary for him to leave home sooner than he had anticipated4 ,his wife keenly regretted this1 as1 aside from the great pleasure she experienced in his society1 she had been so much assisted by him in the catechisings4 ,as he must leave two days before the evening for another lesson1 it was proposed by the children that the exercise should be anticipated that length of time2 and ,mrs4 ,dermott requested him to assume the character of teacher for the occasion4 ,this she would at all times have preferred him to do2 but he thought her gifted with a peculiar tact at imparting instruction2 and then he was so liable to be called away4 ,it was ,isabelle's turn to answer the question1 but she begged her mother1 who sat by her side1 to do it for her2 when ,mr4 ,dermott inquired1 ,wife1 where is the plan of our new house8 ,in the secretary4 ,walter1 pass it to your father4 ,the boy opened wide his eyes with astonishment1 but immediately obeyed1 while little ,belle whispered to her mother1 ,shan't we have any story1 then8 ,i think so1 my dear2 but hear what papa is saying4 ,who drew this plan1 ,walter8 ,i heard you say1 sir1 that ,mr4 ,bond1 the architect1 did1 and that you gave him fifty dollars for doing it4 ,yes1 and it was cheap enough too2 a very nice house it is2 and how comfortable we have been since we moved into it6 ,i remember well how pleased ,i was when he showed me this plan2 and that after your mother and ,i had passed a whole evening in carefully examining every part1 ,i determined1 or purposed1 that my house should be like it4 ,the children had gathered around their father1 though wondering not a little that he had so entirely forgotten their lesson4 ,see here1 added the gentleman1 turning the large sheet of stiff paper1 at which they had been looking4 ,here is what is called a framing plan1 so that the carpenters may know1 before they buy their lumber1 exactly how much they shall need1 and of what size4 ,and here at the corner is a little sketch of the pillars to support the piazza1 and the form of the brackets that go around the coving4 ,i heard the carpenters say1 exclaimed ,walter1 that it was a great help to have such a plan1 and prevented much misunderstanding and unkind feeling2 for often the carpenter will understand the contract one way1 and his employer quite another2 and he wished every man1 who was going to build a house1 would have an exact framing plan1 as well as a profile of the rooms4 ,yes1 it is very important1 replied the gentleman4 ,the house we rented while ours was building1 is an illustration of the folly of not having a plan4 ,mr4 ,longworth wished to build a house4 ,he wanted one that would look handsomely outside2 but his own family was small1 and so he concluded to make a building with two tenements4 ,he consulted ,mr4 ,bond about it1 and found that an exact plan of the building1 and of framing1 with specifications1 would cost him sixty-five dollars4 ,it was to be larger than mine4 ,sixty-five dollars was quite too much money1 he thought1 to pay for the plan of a house1 when he could make one just as well himself4 ,i told him he would find it would be a saving of money in the end4 ,but he thought otherwise1 and1 having engaged the carpenters1 set them to work4 ,as ,i was to have the tenement when it was ready1 ,i felt an interest to watch the job4 ,the workmen knew that they were to put up a frame forty-four feet front and forty deep2 and so far they went on tolerably well1 though even here there were some hard words about the size of timbers1 c4 ,but after that1 every thing went 'at sixes and sevens1' as old ,mr4 ,carter used to say4 ,the men would go on from day to day1 receiving their directions from ,mr4 ,longworth2 but as he was a hatter1 and not a mechanic1 he did not make his plans aright1 and the men used often to pull down one day what they had built up the preceding4 ,you know the consequences1 for we all suffered from living in an ill-contrived1 sham-built house2 and we were glad enough to get away from it4 ,now1 ,mr4 ,longworth cannot rent it at all2 and he told me1 a few days since1 that if he had followed my advice1 and let ,mr4 ,bond make a plan1 he should have been a thousand dollars better off than he is at present4 ,now1 children1 ,i am going to apply this to your lesson4 ,more than six thousand years ago1 before ,god had said1-- ',let there be light1 and there was light4'-- ,he took counsel of himself1 and determined to create a world2 and1 first of all1 he made a plan1 or1 as the ,catechism calls it1 a decree4 ,there should be in the new world a great light for the day1 called the sun1 and a lesser light for the night1 called the moon4 ,there should be trees1 and fruits1 and flowers1 each in their season4 ,there should be beasts1 and birds1 and fishes1 and insects4 ,he also determined to make a man and woman1 with souls to think and feel4 ,these would be at the head of a race of beings capable of worshipping him1 and enjoying him forever4 ,if ,i lived a hundred years1 and talked all the time1 ,i could not begin to tell you all the little minuti of ,god's plan1 or decree1 about his new world4 ,now1 ,i can only give a very imperfect outline4 ,god decreed1 or planned1 or determined1 that when ,adam was formed1 he should be a holy being2 but as he wished to try him1 and see whether he would obey ,god's holy laws1 he decreed that ,satan should tempt him to eat the forbidden fruit2 and1 as he knew that neither ,adam nor ,eve would resist the temptation1 but would fall from holiness to sin1 he formed a wonderful plan of redemption through his own ,son1 who should suffer for the guilty race1 that those who accepted him as their ransom1 might be saved1 and1 at length restored to holiness and happiness4 ,god is a being of wondrous power1 and he knew exactly who would love this dear ,saviour whom he had sent into the world4 ,he knew from all eternity that there would be this catechising this evening1 and what would be the thoughts of each one of our hearts4 ,yes1 he made a plan of it all1 though it seems as insignificant as the planning where a little screw should go in one of our door handles2 and he determined1 or ordained1 beforehand1--or foreordained1 as the ,catechism has it1--that whatsoever should come to pass should be for his own glory4 ,it seems the most blessed thing for us that ,god did make such a plan1 remarked ,mrs4 ,dermott1 as her husband ceased speaking4 ,yes1 indeed1 we can see the sad effects of the want of plan in ,mr4 ,longworth's house2 but we cannot conceive the awful results which would have followed had ,god been changeable2 one day governing the world in one way1 and the next in another way2 and we must bless him to all eternity4 ,what does ,god call this plan8 asked ,mrs4 ,dermott4 ,i think in the ,bible it is nowhere called a decree4 ,no1 that word is not used4 ,in ,proverbs it is called ,god's counsel4 ',the counsel of the ,lord1 that shall stand4' ,in ,paul's ,epistle to the ,ephesians1 he calls the plan of ,god his purpose4 ',according to the eternal purpose1 which he purposed in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4' ,in ,romans it is called foreknowledge and predestination4 ',for whom he did foreknow1 he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his ,son1 that he might be the first-born among many brethren4 ,moreover1 whom he did predestinate1 them he also called2 and whom he called1 them he also justified2 and whom he justified1 them he also glorified4' ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,execution ,,of ,,god',s ,,purpose2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,poor ,,minister4 ,,question ,,viii4 ,how doth ,god execute his decrees8 ,,answer4 ,god executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence4 ------------ ,,after being absent three days1 ,mr4 ,dermott wrote his wife that he hoped to be with them before the close of the week1 and if they chose to put off the catechising until ,saturday night1 he should be most happy to go through the exercise with them4 ,when the lady read the letter to the children1 they unanimously requested that the lesson be postponed until their father returned4 ,mrs4 ,dermott was much pleased to see that the questions which had been explained were frequently talked of during the day1 and the illustrations repeated4 ,the account of little ,lotty1 and of the boy who prized his ,bible1 were commented upon again and again4 ,saturday evening arrived1 and great was the disappointment that their father had not yet returned4 ,it was now quite dark1 and as ,ruth was bringing in the tea1 their mother called them to drop the curtains1 and take their places at the table4 ,they were scarcely seated1 however1 when they heard a firm step on the piazza1 and all sprang toward the door to welcome the traveller4 ,you see ,i have kept my word1 he said1 as an hour later they were seated around the cheerful fire4 ,we have another lesson on the decrees1 or plan1 of ,god2 and ,i wished to study it with you4 ,are we sure that ,god's plan will not fail8 ,yes1 sir1 cried ,helen4 ,why so8 ,i made a plan of this house1 but ,i might have died long before it was finished2 or ,i might have changed my mind1 and concluded not to build at all2 or ,i might have lost all my property1 and not been able to finish it4 ,but ,god can't die1 nor lose his property1 exclaimed ,walter2 and in one of our lessons we learned that he is unchangeable4 ,so we know that he will act according to his plan1 or will do as he planned to do4 ,very true1 my son1 said his father1 affectionately patting his shoulder4 ,he will certainly execute his plan or purpose4 ,is there any way in which we can learn what his plan1 or any part of his plan1 is8 ,i should think not1 sir1 replied the boy4 ,but does not the ,bible reveal to us his plan for saving sinners8 ,walter blushed as he replied1 ,yes1 sir2 ,i didn't think of that4 ,yes1 the ,bible reveals to us the gift of a ,saviour4 ,to refer once more to my plan4 ,while the building was in progress1 ,i used to hear men talking with the carpenter1 curious to know whether the house was to have an ,l1 or a piazza1 or an observatory4 ,he smiled pleasantly as he told them to wait and see4 ,we know that ,god made the world in six days1 and that he executed the work of creation according to his plan1 previously conceived and adopted4 ,he is still carrying on this work by the creation of human beings4 ,god reveals his decree1 or purpose1 also in his providence1 in which the great plan of redemption may be considered as included4 ,the choosing of the ,israelites to be his peculiar people--their exodus from ,egypt1 their rejection of and wicked crucifixion of the ,saviour1 are parts of his government1 or providence1 the leaves of which are unfolding every hour4 ',what his soul desireth1 even that he doeth4' ,nearly a hundred years ago1 there was an eminent clergyman by the name of ,thoroughgood4 ,he was an exceedingly pious1 amiable man2 but during a persecution1 he was imprisoned and cruelly treated4 ,after his release1 he suffered from poverty4 ,one day he and his family were reduced to their last scanty mouthful of food4 ,the children were hanging about their mother crying for bread1 which she was unable to give them4 ,with streaming eyes she turned to her husband and asked1 ',what shall ,i do for my poor children8' ,the good man had been greatly moved by the scene4 ,his chin quivered2 but gazing at his beloved one1 he inquired1 in a touching voice1 ',can you not trust in ,god8' ,soon after he persuaded his wife to take a walk4 ,a robin was perched upon a bough singing a merry song4 ,he stopped and gazed at it1 saying1 ',let us learn a lesson from this bird1 who sings his praises to ,god and trusts him1 though he knows not where he shall get his next meal4 ,let us1 my dear wife1 trust to the providence of ,god1 who counts us of more value than many sparrows4' ,as they drew near the house on their return1 they heard sounds of joy1 where so lately there had been only cries of distress2 and upon entering1 a happy sight awaited them4 ,in the centre of the room1 a table was loaded with provisions sufficient to last for many days1 while ,martha1 the faithful serving woman1 tearfully pointed to the corner of the room1 where stood sack of corn and a bag of flour4 ,the children could scarcely restrain their joy1 as their father gratefully raised his hands and eyes to heaven1 saying1 in a trembling voice1 ',they who trust in the ,lord shall not want any good thing4' ,thus you see1 dear children1 it is safe to trust in the providence of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,the ,,world2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,patent ,,office4 ,,question ,,ix4 ,what is the work of creation8 ,,answer4 ,the work of creation is ,god's making all things out of nothing1 by the word of his power1 in the space of six days1 and all very good4 ------------ ,,early in the week following the return of ,mr4 ,dermott1 ,mrs4 ,lang1 a sister of ,mrs4 ,dermott1 arrived at their residence to make a short visit4 ,she was accompanied by her twin daughters1 who were near ,walter's age4 ,thursday was the evening appointed for the catechisings1 and during ,mrs4 ,lang's visit1 she so often heard the children refer to these occasions1 as possessing great interest1 that she was induced to accept her sister's urgent invitation1 and remain to witness1 what now seemed to her so incomprehensible1 how children could be made to understand the doctrines of the ,catechism4 ,helen joyfully clapped her hands as ,louise and ,lucia made known their mother's decision1 and exclaimed1 ,o1 ,i'm so glad6 ,you'll hear such a nice story2 and then you'll always understand the answer when you've heard father and mother explain it6 ,the little girls thought otherwise1 but they wisely said nothing1 and looked forward to the evening1 with feelings of curiosity1 rather than with anticipations of pleasure4 ,mr4 ,dermott was still at home1 and1 at his wife's earnest request1 had consented to act once more in the capacity of teacher4 ,anna having passed him the ,catechism1 and promptly repeated the answer to the question1 he asked1 ,who made the world1 ,isabelle8 ,god4 ,yes1 my dear1 ,god made the world and all things that are therein4 ,the gentleman arose from his seat1 and paced the room two or three times without speaking4 ,at length he stopped opposite the chair of his sister-in-law1 and said1 ,that was a delightful winter we passed in ,washington together4 ,yes1 she replied1 in a low voice1 as if she were speaking in meeting4 ,that was a sensible arrangement4 ,to what do you refer8 asked his wife4 ,why1 to your plan of being married on the same evening as your sister1 instead of a month in advance1 so that we could be together at ,washington during the honeymoon4 ,the sisters smiled2 but ,helen asked1 rather abruptly1 ,papa1 have you forgotten the catechising8 ,mr4 ,dermott smiled archly1 but did not reply to the child4 ,i recalled our visit to the capital of our ,union1 as ,i have been thinking to-day of the ,patent ,office4 ,what a remarkable institution that is6 ,yes1 ,i was more interested in it than in any other place we visited4 ,one might spend weeks there with profit4 ,will you please1 uncle1 to tell us about it some time8 timidly urged ,anna4 ,i will tell you now1 my dear1 he said1 patting her head affectionately4 ,in the first place1 we went to examine the models of machinery1 telegraphs1 lightning rods1 and agricultural implements4 ,there were miniature steam engines1 cotton gins1 spinning gins1 weaving looms1 and carding machines4 ,then there were ploughs1 and harrows1 and cultivators1 and seed sowers1 and hay cutters1 and corn shellers1 and churns1 and household utensils1 together with every conceivable variety of implement in agriculture1 beside a great many things which seemed to be of no possible use4 ,the room was thronged with visitors1 and there was some difficulty in getting near enough to examine the various articles4 ,then we went on to the patented articles for catching fish1 of which there was a great variety2 then for trapping game1 and from that to the ordnance department4 ,here were pistols of every size and capacity1 guns1 firelocks1 field pieces1 and batteries2 models of weapons offensive and defensive4 ,as ,i stood gazing at one article after another1 ,i thought1 ',what a wonderful power there is in the human brain6 ,how it has contrived and fashioned things1 new and old1 great and small1 curious1 ingenious1 and useful1 for every conceivable purpose of art or industry4' ,upon some of these inventions men have labored their whole lives1 and have expended vast fortunes to bring them to that state of perfection which we here witness4 ,but1 after all1 what are these models of human skill1 to the wisdom and power of ,god in the work of creation6 ,these are made from material already existing4 ,god created the world from nothing4 ,the inventors of these articles passed1 in many cases1 their whole lives in toiling to attain their prize4 ,god spoke the world into being by the word of his power4 ',he spake and it was done4 ,he commanded1 and it stood fast4' ,can you tell me1 ,walter1 how many days ,god was in making the world8 ,six days4 ,for whom did ,god create all things8 ,i suppose he made them at first for ,adam and ,eve4 ,solomon says in the ,proverbs1-- ',the ,lord hath made all things for himself4' ,can you tell me for what purpose8 ,walter shook his head1 and his father1 taking a small ,bible from the table1 turned to the first verse of the nineteenth psalm1 and gave it to him to read4 ',the heavens declare the glory of ,god1 and the firmament showeth his handiwork4' ,how important1 then1 that when we view the hills and vales1 the moon and stars shining in their splendor1 the trees and flowers1 the birds and beasts1 and every other work of creation1 we should remember ,god1 the ,maker and ,giver of all these blessings1 and that our hearts should flow out toward him in gratitude and praise6 ,we sing of ,god1 the mighty source ,of all things1 the stupendous force ,on which all things depend2 ,from whose right arm1 beneath whose eyes1 ,all period1 power1 and enterprise1 ,commence1 and reign1 and end4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,man2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,wax ,,doll4 ,,question ,x4 ,how did ,god create man8 ,,answer4 ,god created man1 male and female1 after his own image1 in knowledge1 righteousness1 and holiness1 with dominion over his creatures4 ------------ ,,it so happened that ,helen's birthday1 which was on the twelfth of ,february1 occurred on ,thursday following her aunt's visit4 ,when she came down to breakfast in the morning1 a high chair1 which had in turn been used by all the children1 was drawn up to the table1 and in it was seated a beautiful wax doll4 ,it had long1 flaxen ringlets1 and blue eyes1 which could be made to open and shut1 beautiful red cheeks1 a white neck and arms1 and taper fingers4 ,it was dressed in a sky-blue merino1 with a dainty silk apron1 with tiny pockets1 while its feet were covered with pink silk stockings and gaiter boots4 ,this was papa's birthday present to his little daughter2 and what a shout of joy rung through the house1 as he took it from the high chair1 and placed it in her arms6 ,there was little breakfast eaten that morning by either of the children1 for ,helen's excitement communicated itself to the others1 and the time was consumed in asking and answering questions4 ,helen understood now why it was her mother had so often1 within a few days1 requested her to play in another room4 ,she was making the dresses for ,dolly1 and wished to give her little girl a pleasant surprise4 ,o1 what a good time we will have6 cried the happy miss1 as they rose from the table4 ,you shall play with it half the time1 ,anna1 and ,i'll take yours4 ,perhaps mamma will let us take your birthday present of cups and saucers1 and play 'come and see4' ,her little cousin's cheeks were as rosy1 and her smile as bright1 as if the doll had been presented to her4 ,after ,helen had given her father and mother another kiss1 and thanked them for making her so happy1 ,anna followed her to their chamber1 where1 with the little ,isabelle1 they passed an hour in the happy sports of childhood4 ,in the evening1 when they were drawn up in a circle around the fire1 ,dolly had her seat between the cousins1 ,isabelle having pulled an ottoman to her mother's side1 where she could see if the beautiful stranger conducted herself with steadiness and decorum4 ,isabelle1 said her father1 what was the name of the first man8 ,adam4 ,what was the name of his wife1 ,anna8 ,eve4 ,who was created first8 ,adam1 replied ,helen4 ,out of what did ,god create him8 ,out of dust1 answered ,walter4 ,in whose image was ,adam created1 my son8 ,god created man in his own image4 ,over what was he to have dominion8 ,over all other creatures4 ,on what day were they created8 ,the sixth4 ,can you tell me the meaning of the word ,adam8 ,no1 sir4 ,it signifies red earth4 ,all along on the banks of the river1 where the garden of ,eden is supposed to have been1 the earth is red2 and being created from that1 he was called ,adam1 or the red man4 ,it is said1-- ',the ,lord ,god planted a garden eastward in ,eden4' ,i suppose it is hardly possible for us to conceive the luxuriant beauty of the place4 ,it was the sixth day of ,god's work of creation4 ,the beasts of the field1 the birds of the air1 and the fish of the sea1 fresh from his forming hand1 had appeared before their ,maker1 who pronounced them 'very good4' ,and ,god said1-- ',let us make man in our image1'-- ,and behold 'earth into flesh transformed1 and clay to man4' ',adam1 arise1 since ,i to thee impart ,a spirit warm from my benignant breath ,arise1 arise1 first man1 ,and joyous let the world ,embrace its living miniature in thee6' 99 99 99 99 99 99 ',man1 be thou lord of all that now the sun ,warms1 or the ocean laves2 impose a name ,on every thing that flies1 or runs1 or swims4' 99 99 ,gio4 ,battista ,andreini1 ,italian poet1 from whom ,milton drew for his ,paradise ,lost4 ',god brought every beast of the field1 and every fowl of the air1 unto ,adam1 to see what he would call them2 and whatsoever ,adam called every living creature1 that was the name thereof4' ',but for ,adam1 there was not found a helpmeet for him4' ,and the ,lord ,god caused a deep sleep to fall upon ,adam1 and from one of his ribs made fair woman's lovely form4 ,and ,adam awoke from his sleep1 and beheld that 'marvel most sublime4' ,we can imagine with what rapture of delight he pressed this new and cherished being to his breast1 exclaiming1-- ',o ,eve1 ,sole partner and sole part of all these joys1 ,dearer thyself than all4 ,under a tuft of shade1 that on a green ,stood whispering soft1 by a fresh fountain's side1 ,they sat them down2 and to their supper fruits they fell4 ,nectarine fruits1 which the compliant boughs ,yielded them1 sidelong as they sat recline4 ,on the soft1 downy bank damasked with flowers1 ,the savory pulp they chew1 and in the rind1 ,still as they thirsted1 scoop the brimming stream4' 99 99 99 ',about them frisking played4 ,sporting the lion ramped1 and in his paw ,dandled the kid3 bears1 tigers1 ounces1 pards1 ,gambolled before them2 the unwieldy elephant1 ,to make them mirth1 used all his might1 and wreathed ,his lithe proboscis4' 99 99 ,milton's ,paradise ,lost4 ,thus1 dear children1 were formed the parents of our race1 made in the image of their ,creator1 and endowed with knowledge1 righteousness1 and holiness4 ,how different would have been our condition had they never fallen from that high estate6 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,providence2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,ill-,,fated ,,boat4 ,,question ,,xi4 ,what are ,god's works of providence8 ,,answer4 ,god's works of providence are his most holy1 wise1 and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions4 ------------ ,,the morning of ,thursday dawned clear and bright1 and at the breakfast table the children eagerly reminded their father of his promise to improve the first fine day by teaching them to skate4 ,at the distance of one quarter of a mile from their house1 there was a large pond1 which was now covered with firm1 smooth ice4 ,mr4 ,dermott told them that he would endeavor to return from the city to take an early dinner with them1 after which1 provided their lessons had been well learned1 he would accompany them to the pond4 ,every thing was propitious2 the children studied diligently1 and1 of course1 recited correctly4 ,the weather continued fine1 and their father arrived in ample season for dinner4 ,a merry party that was1 consisting of father1 mother1 and four happy children2 and a delightful afternoon they passed1 filling their lungs with the clear1 bracing air1 as they lightly skimmed over the pond1 making the woods1 which lined the banks1 ring with their cheerful tones and merry laughter4 ,i don't believe any body in the world is as happy as ,i am1 exclaimed the enthusiastic ,helen1 as she sat by the fire after tea1 waiting for her parents to be ready for the catechising4 ,come1 my daughter1 ,i should like to have you tell me why you are so happy1 remarked ,mr4 ,dermott1 after ,walter had repeated the answer for the evening4 ,is it in the lesson1 papa8 asked the child1 glancing merrily into his face4 ,yes1 if you choose to have it so4 ,well1 it is because ,i have such dear1 kind parents1 who do every thing to make me happy2 and such a darling brother1 and cousin1 and little sister2 and ,o1 there are ever so many reasons6 ,go on1 my dear1 let us hear them all4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,dermott gazed into her glowing countenance1 radiant with life and hope1 and thought1 ,we1 too1 are happy in having such a child4 ,well1 then1 continued ,helen1 ,i have such a pleasant home1 and plenty to eat and drink1 and pretty clothes1 all ready for me to wear1 and nice playthings to amuse myself with4 ,o1 ,i can't help being very happy4 ,then you are thankful to your parents for providing for your wants8 ,yes1 indeed1 papa4 ,it is right you should be so1 my daughter4 ,children seldom realize how much their parents do for them4 ,your mother knows1 for instance1 that in an hour or two from this time1 your eyes will begin to grow heavy with sleep2 and she has provided each of you with a comfortable bed4 ,she is sure that when you awake in the morning1 you will be hungry2 and she has provided breakfast4 ,she knows that if you are not warmly clad on such a day as this1 you can take no comfort in your walks or plays2 and see how carefully she has arranged for you6 ,each little one with a warm hood1 tippet1 and mittens1 made by her own hands6 ,this is only a small part of what she does1 even for your physical wants4 ,and then we endeavor to provide for your moral and intellectual improvement4 ,we teach you1 provide you healthful amusements1 give you books to read1 and do all in our power to fulfil aright our duty as parents4 ,but what is all we do compared with the loving care of ,him who giveth us life1 and breath1 and all things8 ,this constant1 tender1 overruling care of our heavenly ,father1 is called his providence1 and extends to the very meanest of his creatures4 ,he watches over us1 guards us from dangers often unseen by us1 gives us food to eat and clothes to wear1 preserves and governs us4 ,what does the ,catechism say of ,god's providence8 ,that it is holy1 wise1 and powerful1 replied ,walter4 ,over whom is it extended8 ,to all his creatures and all their actions4 ,yes1 there is not a thought in our hearts1 nor a word upon our lips1 nor all action of our lives1 but he notices it4 ,david has most beautifully and comprehensively expressed his sense of the government and providence of ,god in these words3 ',o ,lord1 thou hast searched me1 and known me4 ,thou knowest my down-sitting1 and mine up-rising2 thou understandest my thought afar off4 ,thou compassest my path and my lying down1 and art acquainted with all my ways4 ,for there is not a word in my tongue1 but lo1 ,o ,lord1 thou knowest it altogether4' ,god's providence extends1 also1 to the angels1 to the birds of the air1 the fishes of the sea1 the beasts of the field1 and oven the little insects2 over the clouds1 winds1 and storms2 over the waves of the sea2 and over the sun1 moon1 and stars4 ,to each he extends his powerful protection1 and has only to speak to have them perform his holy will4 ,our dear ,helen acknowledged1 to-night1 her indebtedness to her parents for their watchful care of her4 ,how thankful1 then1 ought she1 and all of us1 to be to that ,merciful ,being whose tender love watches us with more than any earthly father's solicitude1 who numbers even the hairs of our heads1 and whose power is able to protect us from all harm6 ,more than a dozen years ago1 a gentleman by the name of ,norcross was visiting ,now ,york city upon important business4 ,he had nearly completed it1 when he received a letter from his daughter1 living near ,boston1 saying that her little sister was ill1 and her mother hoped he would return at once4 ,he looked at his card stating the hour when the steamboat left the wharf1 and found that by using despatch1 he should have just time to conclude his business1 and return by the first boat4 ,he hurried to the store where he had made large purchases1 and by great exertion1 both on his own part and that of the clerks1 had his goods packed1 marked1 and delivered to the truckman1 promising to meet him at the wharf4 ,he delayed only long enough to pass a check to the merchant in payment for the goods1 and1 congratulating himself that his business was so satisfactorily performed1 hastened on foot to the boat4 ,in consequence of his watch being too slow1 he reached the wharf just fire minutes after she had started4 ,disappointed more than he could express1 he congratulated himself that his goods were safely on board2 when1 hearing a sound behind him1 he recognized the truckman who had them in charge4 ,with an impatient expression1 he rebuked the man for his delay4 ,but it had been a necessary one4 ,in passing through one of the narrow streets1 it became so crowded with trucks1 that for some minutes he was obliged to stand entirely still4 ,now mark the overruling providence of ,god4 ,he had determined that this child of his should be spared to his family1 and all these circumstances1 as the not keeping his watch up to the time1 and the crowd of carriages in the street1 were the means by which ,god saved both the life and property of ,mr4 ,norcross4 ,that boat was the ill-fated ,lexington1 which was burned on her passage from ,new ,york to ,providence4 ,had he arrived in season1 no doubt he would have perished4 ,just as a mother1 with sweet1 pious face1 ,yearns toward her children from her seat1 ,given one a kiss1 another an embrace1 ,takes this upon her knee1 that on her feet2 ,and while from actions1 looks1 complaints1 pretences1 ,she learns their feelings and their various will1 ,to this a look1 to that a word dispenses1 ,and whether stern or smiling1 loves them still2-- ,so ,providence for us1 high1 infinite1 ,makes our necessities its watchful task1 ,hearkens to all our prayers1 helps all our wants2 ,and even if it denies what seems our right1 ,either denies because 'twould have us ask1 ,or seems but to deny1 or in denying grants4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,the ,,covenant ,,of ,,works2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,first ,,wedding4 ,,question ,,xii4 ,what special act of providence did ,god exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created8 ,,answer4 ,when ,god had created man1 he entered into a covenant of life with him1 upon condition of perfect obedience1 forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil1 upon pain of death4 ------------ ,,walter ,,dermott was1 as ,i have said1 a boy of remarkable intelligence for one of his years4 ,he had naturally a quick and somewhat passionate temper2 but this had been so controlled by his parents1 that at the present time he was a conscientious1 amiable youth4 ,he was exceedingly fond of his sisters and cousin1 especially of ,isabelle1 who was1 indeed1 a pet of the whole family4 ,helen was more nearly like himself--active1 enthusiastic1 and energetic4 ,belle was quiet1 and though affectionate1 yet not demonstrative4 ,she rarely lost her temper1 and gained many friends by her readiness to oblige all who were in need of her services4 ,she was very fond of hearing stories1 especially those contained in the ,bible2 and ,walter could at any time attach her to himself by the promise of story4 ,since the lessons in the ,catechism had commenced1 he had often been called upon to repeat the stories which had illustrated them4 ,she had been particularly interested in the narrative of the creation1 and was delighted to learn that there would be a continuation of this account4 ,isabelle1 called her father1 when her mother had read the answer for her1 have you ever been to a wedding8 ,no1 sir4 ,o1 yes1 you have6 cried ,helen4 ,only you didn't know what it was4 ,you remember when cousin ,james stood up with ,sarah ,churchill8 ,and she cried so when they were bidding her good by8 ,yes1 that was a wedding4 ,once ,i was a boy like ,walter1 added ,mr4 ,dermott1 and lived at home with my father and mother4 ,your mother was younger than you are1 and lived nearly a mile distant4 ,by and by1 as ,i grew up1 ,i wanted some young lady1 who knew about housekeeping1 to come and take care of me4 ,there were a great many young ladies in the town1 and a great many more in the city where ,i was doing business2 but somehow ,i liked your mother the best1 and thought1 if she would consent to leave her parents1 brothers1 and sisters1 ,i would purchase a house1 and we would have a home of our own4 ,and did she8 eagerly asked the child1 fixing upon her father a pair of bright blue eyes4 ,mr4 ,dermott gave his wife a glance of affection2 and ,helen exclaimed1 ,why1 yes1 we know she did1 or else she would not have been here now4 ,i hope no one will ask me to go away1 said ,isabelle with a deep sigh4 ,i should not like to go away from home4 ,of course they won't while you are a little girl1 remarked ,walter in a comforting tone4 ,i was very glad that she said yes1 continued the gentleman2 indeed1 ,i don't know what would have become of me if she had refused1 for ,i could think of no one else1 among all my friends1 who would do as well4 ,helen caught her mother's hand1 and pressed it enthusiastically to her lips4 ,then ,i went to her father's house1 added the gentleman1 and we stood up together and were married1 and that was called a wedding4 ,we promised to love and cherish each other as long as we lived4 ,the ,bible has rules for persons who live together as we intended to1 and we promised to try to live according to them4 ,now1 ,walter1 can you tell me what relation ,adam was to ,eve8 ,he was her husband4 ,where was their wedding8 ,in ,eden4 ,who married them8 ,god4 ,there was a great and glorious company present2 can you tell me who they were8 ,i suppose1 replied ,mrs4 ,dermott1 you refer to the angels1 as the ,bible says1-- ',the morning stars sang together1 and all the sons of ,god shouted for joy4' ,then ,god entered into a covenant1 here called a covenant of life1--perhaps you would call it an agreement1--with the newly married pair1 that if they would render perfect obedience to his one command1 and not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil1 they might enjoy all the pleasures of the beautiful garden1 and a whole eternity of joy and bliss4 ,but if they disobeyed his command1 and ate the forbidden fruit1 they would be cast out of the garden1 and becoming sinful1 would be made miserable forever4 ,i think it was real mean in them to eat the forbidden fruit1 cried ,walter1 indignantly1 when ,god had done so much to make them happy4 ,yes1 my dear1 those who commit sin are always guilty of meanness4 ,but is it any less mean and foolish in us to sin than it was in them8 ,it seems to me it would have been very easy for them to obey in just one thing1 added the boy4 ,yes1 to us it does seem so1 especially as they had not the temptation of wicked hearts prompting them to sin4 ,their only temptation was from ,satan1 who1 from the moment they were placed in paradise1 watched for an opportunity to destroy their happiness4 ,remember1 children1 he is just as busy now as he was then4 ,he is constantly whispering in the ear of some little boy or girl1 that it would be no harm for them to disobey their father or their mother--no harm to break the laws of ,god4 ,to impress this answer upon your minds1 ,i shall illustrate it by a story which is not true2 but which ,i shall invent for this occasion4 ,it is called a parable1 and is like what the ,saviour used1 to illustrate and enforce the truths which he taught4 ,there was once a boy by the name of ,edward4 ,he had a father1 mother1 and one sister4 ,he had also a rich uncle1 named ,mr4 ,tudor1 who had lived for many years in ,india1 and brought home a great many curious things4 ,some of these were placed for safe keeping with his sister1 who was the mother of ,edward4 ,the boy had amused himself for hours in examining them4 ,but there was in the attic a small1 curiously-shaped box1 which very much excited his attention4 ,there must be something very wonderful in it4 ,edward longed to see it opened4 ,when his uncle visited them1 ,mrs4 ,rowe told him of the boy's desire1 and he immediately sent for his nephew to come into the room4 ',edward1' said he1 'your mother says you are curious to know what is in that foreign box up stairs4' ,the boy looked rather confused1 but answered1 ',yes1 sir4' ',well1 ,i sent for you to tell you that on no account must you touch it4 ,remember if you are ever so curious1 don't go near it1 for you might be seriously hurt1 and perhaps killed4 ,but ,i will make a covenant1 or agreement with you1 that if you will not go near it until my return1 which will be in one month1 ,i will give you all that it contains1 which will be a very valuable present4' ',i will be sure to remember1' exclaimed ,edward1 in an animated tone4 ,the next day1 when his uncle left1 he said1 ',remember our agreement1 my boy1 and be sure not to go near the box4' ,this was said in an impressive voice1 and deepened ,edward's determination to fulfil his part of the agreement4 ,in order to do this1 he promised himself that he would not go into the attic1 for fear it would be a temptation to open the forbidden box1 as the key1 he found1 was attached to the trunk by a string4 ,but in two or three days he found himself sitting again by its side1 and wondering at its contents4 ,he began to reason1 as ,eve did1 that his uncle really meant nothing by the threat4 ,he thought about the box1 and dreamed about it1 until he lost his appetite1 and grew thin and pale4 ,in ,milton's ',paradise ,lost1' he says that ,eve dreamed of eating the fruit2 then she persuaded ,adam that they should accomplish more in tending their garden1 if they were separated for a season1 as it took up too much time to talk1 and bestow glances of affection4 ,so she went to a distance from him1 where the tempter found her2 and we know too well the sad consequences4 ,we must defer the conclusion of our story until the next lesson4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,man2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,mysterious ,,box4 ,,question ,,xiii4 ,did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created8 ,,answer4 ,our first parents1 being left to the freedom of their own will1 fell from the state wherein they were created1 by sinning against ,god4 ------------ ,,very many times1 during the week following the story of ,edward1 did the children discuss the probabilities of his obtaining the prize4 ,i do wonder what was in the box1 exclaimed ,helen4 ,i can't think1 or even guess1 responded ,walter2 but ,i could hold on for one month1 ,i know4 ,just think how silly 'twould be to go and look when he was certain of knowing so soon1 and of having such a reward besides4 ,i hope he kept the agreement1 said ,anna1 because his uncle said if he opened the box1 he would be very much hurt4 ,perhaps it was a spring lock1 suggested ,walter1 that would catch his fingers and tear them right off4 ,on ,thursday evening the little ones were punctually in their places1 which1 as ,mrs4 ,dermott remarked1 was a proof of ,walter's great interest in the lesson1 as it was bright moonlight night1 and he had been enjoying a fine skate in front of the house4 ,anna repeated the answer in course1 and then ,mrs4 ,dermott asked1 ,who were our first parents1 my dear8 ,adam and ,eve4 ,mr4 ,dermott having taken his seat1 said1 ,walter1 what is it to be left to the freedom of one's will8 ,i always thought1 replied the boy1 that it meant you might do a thing or not1 just as you chose4 ,a very good definition1 my boy6 ,when ,god had placed ,adam and ,eve in their beautiful home1 he said1-- ',of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat4 ,but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil1 thou shalt not eat of it2 for in the day that thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die4' ,would ,god have told ,adam not to eat of it1 and threatened him with death provided he did1 if he was not left free to act in any way he chose8 ,no1 sir4 ,if ,god knew he would be obliged to eat it1 ,i don't believe he would have told him not to4 ,do you suppose ,edward1 about whom ,i told you1 had the freedom of his will8 ,yes1 sir4 ,it would have been foolish for his uncle to tell him to be sure not to touch the box1 and to offer him a reward for not touching it1 if he knew that he could not act according to his own choice4 ,satan evidently thought that our first parents could eat of the forbidden fruit1 or abstain from eating1 as they chose2 for he presented many arguments to induce them to partake of it4 ,these would have been breath spent in vain1 if he was sure they would eat of it4 ,poor ,eve yielded to his wicked solicitations2 and when-- ',she saw that the tree was good for food1 and that it was pleasant to the eyes1 and a tree to be desired to make one wise1 she took of the fruit thereof1 and did eat1 and gave unto her husband with her1 and he did eat4' ,by what arguments she prevailed upon him to disobey the only command of their ,maker1 the ,bible does not inform us4 ,having eaten the forbidden fruit1 the covenant of life was forfeited2 they fell from the state of purity and holiness1 wherein they were created1 by sinning against ,god4 ,we will now return to the history of ,edward4 ,one1 two1 three weeks of the month had passed away1 and ,mrs4 ,rowe had entirely forgotten the conversation about the box2 but she had noticed that for a day or two her son had not appeared well4 ,she determined to question him upon the subject4 ,she was sitting after dinner with her husband1 who had not yet left the house1 when they were startled by a loud scream of distress4 ,starting to their feet1 they knew not which way to run1 when there came another prolonged1 agonizing cry4 ,rushing up stairs in the direction in which the sound seemed to proceed1 they distinctly heard dreadful groans from the attic4 ,there lay poor ,edward upon the floor1 his hands pressed convulsively to his side1 from which the blood was oozing through the clothes4 ,the fatal box was opened1 and a pistol1 which had been so arranged as to protect the contents1 had gone off when the boy lifted the lid4 ,illustration3 ,edward opening the fatal box4 ,mr4 ,rowe tore open his clothes and tried to stanch the blood1 while the almost distracted mother flew down stairs to send for a physician4 ,for weeks ,edward lay in bed after the ball had been extracted1 suffering the most acute pain1 and tortured by bitter remorse for his conduct4 ,the physician at length told his mother that he feared her poor boy would never again be perfectly well4 ,after two months1 he was able to sit bolstered up in a large chair1 when his uncle came to visit him4 ,upon talking with him for an hour1 the gentleman went to the attic and brought from thence the box which had occasioned his young nephew so much trouble4 ,he told him that while he was in ,india1 a young man assisted him in packing his goods for his return home4 ,he had a quantity of gold which he wished to bring1 and this young man begged his acceptance of this box with the pistol1 which he thought would betray any robbers who might approach it4 ,he1 then1 without loading the fire-arms1 explained to the boy how it had been arranged2 after which1 he took out a false bottom to the box1 and displayed to the gaze of the astonished youth a greater number of gold pieces than he had ever seen together4 ',perhaps1' added the gentleman1 addressing his sister1 'it would have been better for me to have told ,edward what consequences would certainly follow if he disobeyed my orders1 and persisted in gratifying his curiosity4 ,i intended to make him a present1 and thought it would be a pleasant and profitable lesson to him4 ,but ,i calculated too much upon the strength of his moral principle4' ,but1 father1 cried ,walter eagerly1 didn't his uncle give him any of the gold8 ,mr4 ,dermott smiled as he replied1 ,you know1 my boy1 ,i told you that this was not a true story1 but a parable4 ,o1 ,i'm glad1 said ,anna1 with a sigh of relief4 ,i thought ,edward would have to be sick all his life4 ',tis fearful building upon any sin2 ,one mischief entered1 brings another in2 ,the second pulls a third1 the third draws more1 ,and they for all the rest set ope the door3 ,till custom take away the judging sense1 ,that to offend we think it no offence4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,sin2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,convict4 ,,question ,,xiv4 ,what is sin8 ,,answer4 ,sin is any want of conformity unto1 or transgression of1 the law of ,god4 ------------ ,,the account of ,edward made a deep impression upon the minds of the children1 although well aware it was only an imaginary sketch4 ,they prayed more earnestly to be assisted to do what was right1 and were more conscientious in the performance of their duties4 ,mr4 ,dermott one day overheard ,walter and ,anna talking about ,edward4 ,walter said1 ,i bet ,i wouldn't have opened that box2 and ,i think he was real silly for doing it4 ,don't you ever do wrong8 asked ,anna1 simply4 ,yes1 of course ,i do1 replied the boy1 in an embarrassed tone2 but if ,i was tried in that way1 ,i wouldn't4 ,i'm afraid ,i should1 replied ,anna1 humbly4 ,i did want to know so much what was in the box4 ,what is conformity to any thing1 ,helen8 asked her father1 after the answer had been correctly repeated4 ,i don't know1 sir4 ,walter1 do you remember1 when ,i took you to the academy1 ,i requested the teacher to give you a list of the rules or laws of the school8 ,and when he did so1 ,i told him that ,i hoped you would always conform to them4 ,what did ,i mean by that8 ,i suppose you meant that you hoped ,i should comply with the rules1 or do every thing the laws required4 ,just so4 ,well1 whose laws must we conform to8 ,the laws of ,god4 ,in what book are these laws written8 ,in the ,bible1 replied ,helen4 ,what is breaking ,god's law called8 ,transgression of it1 said ,walter4 ,and what other word denotes nearly the same idea as transgression of ,god's holy law8 ,sin4 ,yes1 and it is equally sin if we do not conform to the law4 ,suppose ,god had commanded ,adam and ,eve to eat of the fruit of a particular tree1 and they had not done it1 would they not have sinned just as much as by eating the forbidden fruit8 ,yes1 sir4 ,but for a long time after the creation of the world1 ,god's law was not written down in the ,bible2 your mother will tell you where it was written4 ,paul says it was written in the hearts of men1-- 'their conscience also bearing witness4' ,before the ,bible was completed1 ,god wrote his commands upon two tables of stone4 ,do you know what became of them8 ,moses broke them in pieces1 because he was so angry that the ,israelites worshipped the golden calf2 but ,god wrote them again1 and afterward they were put into the ark4 ,in what part of the ,bible do we find them8 ,in the twentieth chapter of ,exodus1 and also in ,deuteronomy4 ,has any one ever lived in perfect conformity to the law of ,god8 ,jesus ,christ did4 ,now for a story1 father1 said ,helen4 ,mr4 ,dermott smiled1 and commenced4 ,very late one evening1 a good clergyman was called upon to go to a house in the outskirts of his parish to visit a poor woman1 who1 the messenger said1 was nigh unto death4 ,the night was extremely cold1 and the minister was by no means young2 but he hesitated not one minute in the performance of this duty4 ,he set out1 in company with his guide1 who was a lad apparently just entering his teens2 and1 by walking at a rapid pace1 reached the spot in about twenty minutes4 ,the boy seemed averse to conversation1 and only said he was the son of a neighbor of the poor woman who was sick4 ,the house1 or rather hovel1 seemed to be filled with people1 as they approached4 ,but the clergyman made his way inside the door1 where his footsteps were arrested by the most distressing sounds he had ever heard4 ,they seemed to be the wailings of a broken heart2 and so1 indeed1 they were4 ,lying on a cot bed1 in the centre of the apartment1 was a poor woman1 her hair pushed back from her head1 and lying loosely upon the pillow4 ,her face was thin1 while a paleness1 like that of death1 was spread over it4 ,her eyes were closed2 but the rigid features and the pinched nostrils disclosed the fact that she was conscious of her sufferings4 ,close by her1 and grasping her tightly by the hand1 sat a young girl1 with her face buried in the pillow2 but her convulsed form and long-drawn sighs showed that she was in the deepest affliction4 ,it was a long time before the minister could ascertain the circumstances connected with these poor suffering persons4 ,the woman lying before him was a widow4 ,her only son had that day been convicted of forgery1 and condemned to the state prison for a long course of years4 ,he had transgressed the laws of his country1 and now he must pay the penalty4 ,the young woman1 clinging so tightly to the pale sufferer1 was betrothed to the son4 ,but now her light was turned into darkness1 her joy into the deepest sorrow4 ,one of the neighbors1 returning from the city1 had brought the fatal news2 and1 ever since she heard it1 the poor broken-hearted mother had seemed more dead than alive4 ',if she would only cry1 now1 as ,malissy does1' said one of the women1 ',i should have more hopes of her2 but she does nothing but moan1 moan1 as if her heart was breaking4' ,mr4 ,lawson1 having requested the women to retire to the farther part of the room1 drew near the couch1 and placed his hand on the cold1 damp forehead4 ,there was no answering sign4 ,he then kneeled by the side of the bed1 and1 in words the most compassionate and tender1 he besought the mercy of ,god for the poor guilty son4 ,he was a father2 and he well knew how a parent's heart was wounded by the ill-doing of a child4 ,the moanings ceased1 and presently the features relaxed4 ,the mother whispered a feeble response4 ,the young girl raised her head to listen4 ,but her grief was net wholly unselfish4 ,the guilty man was lost to her forever4 ,the clergyman increased in fervor4 ,he besieged the mercy-seat1 and would not be denied a blessing4 ,a bright1 red spot1 on either cheek of the mother1 proved that hope for her son was once more springing up in her breast4 ',o my ,god1 be merciful to my sinful boy6' burst from her lips1 as the prayer ceased4 ',let me die1 if1 by that means1 his soul may be saved4' ',god in heaven grant him forgiveness1' said ,mr4 ,lawson1 his voice trembling with emotion4 ,but ,i must cut short my story4 ,the good clergyman became so much interested in these poor afflicted ones1 that he visited the prison1 and1 through the kindness of the chaplain1 was allowed free access to the culprit4 ,at first the young man was stubborn1 and declined talking with a stranger4 ,but at length1 moved by the account of his mother's heart-rending grief1 his proud heart was softened1 and he wept like a grieved child4 ,when ,mr4 ,lawson gave him ,malissy's last farewell1 he said1 ',i supposed it would come to that1' but presently added1 ',tell me more about my mother4' ,from time to time1 ,mr4 ,lawson visited the youth2 and at length1 he had the happiness to soothe the dying moments of the mother with the tidings that her poor1 guilty boy had cast himself at the feet of the ,saviour1 with the prayer of the publican upon his lips1-- ',god be merciful to me a sinner4' ,but what a dreadful thing that for his transgression he must remain shut up from the light of day1 or from any intercourse with his race1 until his heart was chilled1 and his hair white with premature old age6 ,dear children1 though ,i hope you have never been guilty of any outward transgression1 such as this poor youth committed1 yet have you not often1 yea1 every hour of your lives1 been guilty of sins of omission1 such as the neglect of prayer1 and of choosing ,christ to be your ,saviour2 cherishing a carnal mind1 which is enmity against ,god1 not subject to his law1 neither indeed can be2 and1 also1 want of conformity to his laws1 such as a disinclination to obey him and all his requirements8 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,the ,,forbidden ,,fruit2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,broken ,,rule4 ,,question ,,xv4 ,what was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created8 ,,answer4 ,the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created1 was their eating the forbidden fruit4 ------------ ,,on ,thursday1 the very day of the next exercise1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,dermott were suddenly called away to attend the funeral of an aged relative4 ,they were absent until ,saturday2 and much to the children's disappointment1 they concluded to postpone the lesson until ,thursday of the next week4 ,when the answer had been repeated1 ,mr4 ,dermott asked his wife to give an account of the trees in the garden of ,eden4 ,we read in ,genesis1 she said1 that ,god created every tree that is pleasant to the sight1 which ,i suppose means beautiful plants or flowering shrubs1 such as roses1 magnolias1 and jessamines2 or those that emit fragrance1 or in any other way delight the senses4 ,he created also every tree that was good for food1 whether of the pulpy fruits1 such as oranges1 lemons1 and apples2 or of the kernel and nut kind1 such as dates and nuts of different sorts4 ,i suppose these also include all running vines1 bearing melons1 c41 and all esculent vegetables4 ,walter1 can you tell me the names of two trees which stood in the midst of the garden8 ,yes1 sir4 ,the tree of life1 and the tree of knowledge of good and evil4 ,which tree was forbidden to our first parents8 ,the latter one4 ,among all the fruits which they had eaten1 had they ever tasted of the tree of life8 ,i don't know1 sir4 ,probably not2 for after they had eaten of the tree of knowledge1 ,god said1 ',behold1 the man has become as one of us1 to know good and evil2 and now1 lest he put forth his hand1 and take also of the tree of life1 and eat1 and live forever2 therefore the ,lord ,god sent him forth from the garden of ,eden to till the ground from whence he was taken1' and he placed 'a flaming sword1 which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life4' ,many writers consider this tree an emblem of that life which man should ever live1 provided he continued in obedience to his ,maker4 ,and probably the use of this tree was intended as the means of preserving the body of man in a state of continual vital energy1 and an antidote against death4 ,what other command did ,god give respecting the tree of knowledge1 beside forbidding them to eat of it8 ,he forbade them to touch it1 answered ,helen4 ,why did ,god forbid them to eat of it1 or even to touch it8 ,to try them1 and see whether they would obey him4 ,do you not think there was some other reason8 asked ,mrs4 ,dermott1 of her husband4 ,it would seem ,god thought man really had acquired undue knowledge4 ,it is exceedingly difficult to understand exactly how much is here meant4 ,some writers think the sight of the tree was always to remind man that there was a bound set to his knowledge2 that there was one thing ,god had seen proper to deprive him of4 ,others think that the tree possessed a particular property of increasing knowledge1 a physical influence1 having a tendency to strengthen the understanding1 and invigorate the faculties4 ,who tempted ,eve to eat the forbidden fruit8 ,the serpent4 ,by what other names is he called in the ,bible8 ,satan4 ,yes1 and ,apollyon or ,abaddon4 ,he is also called the father of lies1 and the roaring lion who goeth about seeking whom he may devour4 ,by what arguments did he prevail with her to eat8 ,in the first place1 answered ,mrs4 ,dermott1 he charged ,god with a lie4 ,she had said1 ',god has given us every tree but this4 ,if we eat of this tree1 he says1 we shall die4' ,but ,satan said1 ',that is not true1 and ,god knows it is not4 ,he wishes to keep you ignorant4 ,i am sincerely your friend1 and ,i tell you that if you eat of this tree1 you will become as gods1 knowing good and evil4' ,o1 what a wicked serpent6 cried ,walter4 ,i should have thought ,eve would have known better than to believe him4 ,what three reasons induced her to disobey ,god1 and to eat of the tree8 ,you may read1 ,anna1 from the ,bible4 ',and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food1 and that it was pleasant to the eyes1 and a tree to be desired to make one wise1 she took of the fruit thereof1 and did eat1 and gave also unto her husband with her1 and he did eat4' ,alas6 ,how many children are tempted to their ruin by the appeal to their senses6 ,some become intemperate and gluttons from their inordinate love of eating2 others1 from their overweening fondness for dress and display1 are carried into the vanities of the world1 and thus lose their souls4 ,i once heard1 continued the gentleman1 of a poor peasant in ,england1 who1 on one occasion1 met with a company of persons that disbelieved the ,bible and the sacred truths it contained4 ',they argued and reasoned1' said the poor man1 'until they shook my belief4 ,but all the time ,i knew ,i was in error1 only ,i was so ignorant ,i could not answer their objections4 ',at length one of them asked me1 ,how can you be so foolish as to suppose that ,god would destroy ,adam and all his descendants just for eating an apple8 ',i had often reflected upon this weak objection raised by unbelievers2 and ,i instantly answered1 ,it was not that our first parents ate a particular kind of fruit2 it was1 that they had disobeyed ,god4 ,it was1 sir1 that they broke the rule4' ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,broken ,,covenant2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,family ,,of ,,thieves4 ,,question ,,xvi4 ,did all mankind fall in ,adam's first transgression8 ,,answer4 ,the covenant being made with ,adam1 not only for himself1 but for his posterity1 all mankind1 descending from him by ordinary generation1 sinned in him1 and fell with him in his first transgression4 ------------ ,i ,,hope we shall have a long story this time1 exclaimed ,isabelle1 as they were seated around the fire1 waiting for their father and mother1 who were engaged with company4 ,that was a good story last time1 rejoined ,walter4 ,don't you remember father told us about the trees in the garden1 and how the serpent talked with ,eve8 ,i wonder if the serpent looked like the great snakes we have now4 ,at this moment ,mrs4 ,dermott returned to the room1 and1 having heard her son's remark1 took from the library a volume of ,milton's ,paradise ,lost1 and read1-- ,his head ,crested aloft1 and carbuncle his eyes2 ,with burnished neck of verdant gold1 erect ,amidst his circling spires1 that on the grass ,floated redundant2 pleasing was his shape and lovely4 ,i shouldn't want to see him1 cried ,helen1 with an air of disgust2 ,i hate snakes4 ,mr4 ,dermott having come into the room1 ,helen repeated the answer1 when he continued1 ,you will remember that ,god made a bargain or agreement with ,adam and ,eve1 that if they would yield obedience to his command about the forbidden fruit1 they should live forever4 ,this ,i told you was called a covenant of life1 or of works4 ,they forfeited the reward by their disobedience2 and now they must pay the penalty4 ,they were driven out of that pleasant home1 and were condemned to eternal death4 ,was this covenant1 ,walter1 made for themselves alone8 ,it was made for all mankind4 ,where do we learn this8 ,mrs4 ,dermott turned to ,paul's ,epistle to the ,romans1 and read1-- ',for as by the offence of one1 judgment came upon all men to condemnation1 even so by the righteousness of one1 the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life4 ,for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners1 so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous4' ,is it common for ,god to join children with their parents in his covenants8 ,he does in the second commandment4 ,yes1 and he did with ,noah1 and also with ,abraham4 ',and ,i1 behold1 ,i establish my covenant with you1 and with your seed after you4' ,what is the meaning1 father1 of 'ordinary generation'8 ,it means1 ,helen1 that children follow their parents2 then they grow up and have families2 and thus one generation follows another4 ,do you remember that very old gentleman we saw at your grandfather's8 ,he said he had lived to see married members of four generations--himself and wife1 his son with his wife1 his grandson with his wife1 and now he has a great-granddaughter1 who is just married4 ,adam lived to be nine hundred and thirty years old1 so that he must have seen many generations of his posterity4 ,how sad must his life have been to think that by his disobedience he had not only forfeited the favor of ,god1 the delightful pleasures of paradise1 and the joys of eternal life1 but that all who would descend from him must participate in the consequences of his first transgression6 ,they fell with him from his high estate1 just as when a man who is immensely wealthy fails4 ,he does not suffer alone4 ,his children and his children's children must become sharers in his poverty4 ,or as a man who is executed upon the gallows does not suffer alone2 his children1 to the latest generation1 suffer with him4 ,they can never get rid of the disgrace4 ,or suppose a man1 like our neighbor1 ,mr4 ,morse1 is dreadfully deformed by scrofula1 and has suffered from it all his life1 as his father did before him4 ,now1 look at his children4 ,every one of them is tainted with the same disease4 ,lydia has it in the form of consumption1 ,esther in sore eyes1 while the little boys1 ,james and ,joseph1 are always breaking out in great sores upon their bodies4 ,so it is in the case of ,adam4 ,he sinned1 and all his race are infected with the plague of sin4 ,in one it shows itself by unbounded ambition2 in another by pride2 in another by selfishness4 ,in one little girl we see vanity2 in another disobedience to her parents4 ,one boy tells lies2 another steals2 another swears4 ,some do all these2 but every one of the race has inherited the fatal taint1 and is neither morally nor physically sound4 ,in a town situated near the centre of the ,state of ,connecticut there lived a man who1 in early life1 was often detected in stealing small articles from his playmates4 ,as he grew older1 he became more hardened in crime4 ,he married1 and had four sons and three daughters4 ,but during this time he had been sentenced twice to the state prison once to serve out a term of three years1 the other of two4 ,as soon as his sons were old enough1 each one of them became addicted to pilfering1 so that they were considered a nuisance to the whole neighborhood4 ,one by one they left home to seek their fortune in a wider sphere2 and the first news of them that came back was1 that they had been convicted of this crime1 and were sentenced to prison for a longer or shorter period4 ,the daughters were all younger4 ,one of them was taken into the service of a lady at the age of thirteen3 ,in a few months her mistress detected her in purloining articles of clothing from her wardrobe4 ,she was dismissed from service after a trial of several months1 during which she often repeated her offence4 ,the second daughter was a very handsome girl4 ,she went to the city to learn the trade of a milliner1 and was soon after sent to jail for what was called shoplifting4 ,she was shopping for her employer1 saw an elegant lace cape which she coveted1 and while the clerk was waiting upon another customer1 endeavored to hide it beneath her shawl4 ,the article was missed1 she was pursued1 the cape discovered1 and she was punished for her theft4 ,the youngest daughter was taken from her mother's arms by a benevolent lady who believed the sad fate of the children to be the consequence of their early training4 ,she began very early to teach the little one the difference between mine and thine1 and through all the years when the young mind is so susceptible to outward influence1 endeavored to impress upon her1 both by precept and example1 that it was sin to appropriate to one's self the property of another2 but it was in vain4 ,the seeds of sin were planted at her birth2 and though she knew not even of the existence of her relatives1 yet she followed in the same footsteps1 and brought sorrow and disgrace into the family of her kind benefactress4 ,a few years since1 the father1 now a white-haired old man1 and his four sons1 were confined together in the state prison4 ,in the father's case1 as in the second son's1 it was an aggravated one2 and they were condemned to pass the rest of their lives within the prison walls4 ,the others would be released in a few years1 but would probably return to spend their days in confinement4 ,o ,sin1 what hast thou done to this fair earth6 ,sin hath broken the world's sweet peace--unstrung ,the harmonious chords to which the angels sung4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,man',s ,,fallen ,,state2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,deposed ,,minister4 ,,question ,,xvii4 ,into what estate did the fall bring mankind8 ,,answer4 ,the fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery4 ------------ ,,it was a rare event in the family of ,mr4 ,dermott for the children to disagree to such an extent as to use unkind words4 ,they had early been taught the beauty of yielding to each other's wishes1 and thus gaining a conquest over themselves4 ,with ,isabelle's quiet temperament1 this was comparatively easy2 but with ,walter and ,helen it was far more difficult1 as they were naturally hasty and impulsive1 often reminding their father of his own youth by their striking similarity to himself4 ,on the very afternoon of the catechising1 however1 ,walter came in from his play somewhat out of temper1 and1 taking a book from ,anna's hands1 sat down to read4 ,the tears quickly filled the eyes of the little girl2 but ,helen loudly remonstrated1 ,how unkind you are1 ,walter1 when ,anna is just in the midst of a story6 ,so am ,i1 replied the boy1 petulantly1 and it's my book4 ,i lent you my new one before ,i had read it myself1 sobbed ,anna4 ,here1 take it1 then6 exclaimed ,walter1 angrily4 ,such a fuss when a boy sits down to read his own book6 ,and he threw the volume into the lap of the weeping girl4 ,you're an ugly boy1 cried his sister4 ,anna and ,i were having a real nice time1 when you came in--and spoiled it all4 ,mother says she wishes you would govern your temper4 ,walter got up1 and was walking angrily out of the room1 when he met his mother4 ,she saw at once that there had been trouble1 and1 taking him gently by the hand1 requested him to return4 ,with a few judicious words1 she soon succeeded in quieting the ruffled waves1 and in fifteen minutes the children were sitting lovingly together--the boy with his arm thrown around his cousin's neck1 and reading from the same page4 ,in the evening1 when they had seated themselves for their favorite exercise1 ,mrs4 ,dermott asked1 ,helen1 can you tell me1 my dear1 where was the first quarrel8 ,the little girl arched her eyebrows and shook her head4 ,it was in the garden of ,eden1 my child1 immediately after the first pair had partaken of the forbidden fruit4 ,helen's face was crimson1 and she quickly replied1 ,i didn't begin the quarrel1 mother4 ,well1 you called me names1 replied ,walter1 looking very much ashamed4 ,stop at once6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,dermott4 ,or we will discontinue the lesson4 ,do you understand1 ,anna1 inquired ,mrs4 ,dermott1 what is meant by the fall8 ,no1 aunt1 not exactly4 ,you know ,adam and ,eve were created in the image of their ,maker1 in knowledge1 righteousness and holiness4 ,by their disobedience they were cast down from their high estate2 and this is called the fall4 ,milton and ,beaumont thus graphically describe it3-- ',her rash hand in evil hour ,forth reaching to the fruit1 she plucked1 she ate2 ,earth felt the wound1 and ,nature1 from her seat ,sighing through all her works1 gave signs of woe ,that all was lost4' ',up went her desperate hand1 and reached away ,all the world's bliss1 when she the apple took2 ,when1 lo1 the earth did move1 the heavens did stay1 ,beasts and birds shivered1 absent ,adam shook4' ,i remember well1 remarked ,mr4 ,dermott1 that there was a great excitement about a minister who had for many years been settled in the town adjoining the one where your mother and ,i lived4 ,for a year he had been absent from his people1 soliciting funds from the churches for some charitable object4 ,at length it was ascertained that he had appropriated almost all the money he had raised to his own use1 and thus been guilty of breaking the eighth commandment4 ,a council of ministers was called1 who took away his license1 and deposed him from the pastoral office4 ,this was called his fall2 and ,i remember afterwards hearing my father ask1-- ',where is ,mr4 ,monson8' ,the gentleman replied1 ',after his fall1 he removed his family from town1 and for months we have heard nothing from him4' ,by what was the fall of ,adam followed8 ,by additional sin and misery4 ,do these always go together8 ,yes1 sir1 replied ,helen4 ,how did sin and misery first exhibit themselves8 ,i don't know1 sir1 answered ,walter2 but ,i should think when ,cain killed ,abel4 ,it was long before that4 ,soon after ,eve had persuaded her husband to partake with her of the fruit of the forbidden tree1 she heard ,god calling1-- ',adam1 hast thou eaten of the tree whereof ,i commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat8' ,and he said1 ',the woman whom thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 end ,i did eat4' ,in this reply1 he not only endeavored to shield himself from responsibility by throwing the blame upon his wife1 but he virtually reproached ,god--'the woman whom thou gavest me4' ',if ,i had been alone1 ,i never should have done it2 but she tempted me1 and ,i could not resist4' ,and the ,lord ,god said unto the woman1 ',what is this that thou hast done8' ,and the woman said1 ',the serpent beguiled me1 and ,i did eat4' ,neither would she bear the blame1 but cast it upon another4 ,how much better would it have been for them to cast themselves down at the feet of their ,maker1 and confess their guilt6 ,how unkind for ,adam not to try to shield his wife6 ,but such were the early fruits of sin4 ,no doubt after this1 there were many unkind words and feelings between the once happy pair4 ,the next occasion of quarrelling which is recorded in ,scripture is the melancholy story of ,cain and ,abel4 ,the dreadful plague of sin1 which they had inherited from their parents1 had sprung up in their own hearts1 and in ,cain it yielded bitter fruit1 bringing misery and death into their household4 ,who can doubt1 remarked ,mrs4 ,dermott1 that the fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery when he looks around and realizes that but for sin there would be no wars1 no armies1 no hospitals8 ,no prisons1 jails nor houses of correction1 added her husband4 ,there would be no physicians1 because there would be no sickness nor suffering2 no orphan asylums nor houses for the blind2 no unhappy marriages2 no deeds1 nor bonds1 nor suits at law2 and no divorces1 no murders1 thefts1 nor backbitings2 no quarrels between children1 nor throwing the blame upon each other4 ,there would have been no need of the spilling of a ,saviour's blood1 for man would have been at peace with his ,maker4 ,no2 the world would present one glorious scene of holiness1 and happiness1 a heaven upon earth1 the delight of angels and of ,god himself4 ,the joy of one would make more complete the bliss of all4 ,the beasts of the field1 instead of preying upon each other1 would find their appropriate food growing spontaneously upon the earth4 ,the lion would lie down with the lamb1 and a little child would lead them4 ,our sins1 like to our shadows ,when our day is in its glory1 scarce appear2 ,toward our evening1 how great and monstrous ,they are6 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,man',s ,,sinfulness2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,diseased ,,family4 ,,question ,,xviii4 ,wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell8 ,,answer4 ,the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consists in the guilt of ,adam's first sin1 the want of original righteousness1 and the corruption of his whole nature1 which is commonly called original sin1 together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it4 ------------ ,i ,,wish father wouldn't bring me into the lesson1 cried ,walter1 as he was sitting in a large stuffed chair before the fire1 waiting for his parents and sisters to be through with their tea4 ,i'll ask him not to1 replied ,helen1 just then entering to room4 ,here1 ,i've brought you a cup of milk and water1 and mother says if you relish it1 you may eat this toasted cracker4 ,i hope you'll like it1 added the sympathizing child1 for ,i fixed it myself with nice cream and salt4 ,you're a dear little girl1 replied ,walter1 and ,i'll try to eat it just because you have taken so much pains4 ,for several days the boy had been ill in his chamber1 but at his earnest request1 his mother had allowed him to come down to the parlor1 where1 wrapped in a loose dressing gown1 he was awaiting the exercise4 ,how do you find yourself to-night1 my boy8 asked his father1 placing his fingers upon his son's pulse4 ,helen says you don't wish to be brought into the catechising4 ,do you mean that you feel too ill to recite with the others8 ,o1 no1 sir6 responded the boy1 a slight flush overspreading his pale countenance4 ,i meant that ,i don't like to have you speak about my temper and such things2 ,i'd rather hear about that some other time4 ,mr4 ,dermott smiled1 and told ,isabelle it was her turn to repeat the answer1 and then asked her1 ,what was ,adam's first sin8 ,eating the apple1 papa4 ,do you remember what ,i told you about ,edward8 ,o1 yes1 papa1 cried ,helen4 ,i think perhaps you will understand this question better1 if ,i illustrate it by a continuation of the story of ,edward4 ,when we left him1 he had somewhat recovered from the occasioned by his wound1 but was still far from well4 ,he gradually recovered1 so as to be able to attend school1 and then went into his father's store as clerk4 ,but the wound in his side had caused a pulmonary complaint which often confined him to the house for weeks together4 ,at the age of twenty-four he was married1 and resided with his wife in his father's family4 ,in a course of years1 five children were born to them1 each of whom1 after a few months1 began to show certain signs of the disease which they had inherited from their father4 ,the symptoms of these were indeed slight at first1 but just sufficient to show that the seeds of consumption were implanted1 and would at some time cause their death4 ,they were1 however1 an interesting family2 and ,edward loved them with all a father's fondness4 ,on a certain occasion1 he perceived in one of his boys some symptoms of that unbounded curiosity which had caused him the loss of health and of independence2 and he determined to relate his own story as a warning to his children4 ,with a bleeding heart and tear-dimmed eyes1 he did so4 ,when1 with a burst of grief1 his oldest daughter cried out1 ',o1 father6 ,how sorry ,i am you touched the box4 ,if you had not1 you would never have been sick2 and mother would not have looked so pale and frightened as she does now1 when you raise blood from your lungs4' ',no1 and we should have been rich too1' added the youngest boy2 'and now we are so poor1 ,i hardly ever have any new clothes1 and ,i can't have a sled1 like all the other little boys4' ,edward sighed heavily1 as the children openly expressed what had for many years been the burden of his thoughts by day and of his dreams by night4 ',yes1' he cried bitterly1 as he rushed from the room to conceal his emotion2 'but for that one act of disobedience1 ,i should now have been blessed with health and an independent fortune4 ,o1 why did ,i not die of the dreadful wound1 instead of living to convey the seeds of death to those so dear to me6 ,this is my bitterest thought1 that they must suffer in consequence of my sin2 and if they should live to become parents1 they must transmit the infection to future generations4' ,overcome by these thoughts1 he wept aloud4 ,and when his daughter rushed into the room1 she saw that the handkerchief with which her father was wiping his mouth was saturated with blood4 ',o father1' exclaimed ,helen1 ',i don't like ,edward's uncle at all4 ,he might have given him some money1 when he had so much4' ,now1 resumed the gentleman1 we will leave the story of ,edward1 and go back to the lesson1 which says 'the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consists in the guilt of ,adam's first sin1' just as the children of ,edward1 by his disobedience1 forfeited the favor of his uncle1 lost all the healthfulness and the property which they might have inherited1 and were visited with poverty1 disease1 and wretchedness4 ,adam1 you know1 was created holy1 or righteous--a quality here called 'original righteousness4' ,when he fell1 he lost all this2 and all those who descended from him lost it with him4 ,their natures1 which would have been holy1 causing them to think holy thoughts1 to speak holy words1 and to perform holy actions1 became wholly corrupt4 ,and henceforth they went 'astray from the womb speaking lies2' 'they have all gone out of the way2' 'they have altogether become sinful2' 'there is none that doeth good1 no1 not one4' ,the chief prophet of ,israel gives this account of the human heart3 ',the whole head is sick1 and the whole heart faint2 from the sole of the foot even unto the head1 there is no soundness in it4' ,can you tell me1 ,walter1 what are actual transgressions8 ,i suppose they are such as are acted out1 as when we steal1 or lie1 or swear1 we commit actual transgressions4 ,yes1 and we also commit them when we indulge wicked or unkind thoughts1 which proceed from a corrupt heart4 ,if we neglect the duty of prayer1 or of keeping holy the ,sabbath1 all these flow from a carnal mind1 and are actual transgressions of the law of ,god4 ,david prays1-- ',let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight1 ,o ,lord1 my strength and my ,redeemer6' ,last ,sabbath there were three infants baptized1 added ,mrs4 ,dermott4 ,can you tell me1 ,walter1 why water was used8 ,no1 ma'am4 ,water is an element used for cleansing4 ,parents who carry their children to this ordinance realize that they have inherited corruption1 and are unholy and unclean2 therefore they desire them to be washed1 or purified4 ,but ,i shall explain this more fully to you under another question4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,man',s ,,misery2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,battle ,,field4 ,,question ,,xix4 ,what is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell8 ,,answer4 ,all mankind by the fall lost communion with ,god1 are under his wrath and curse1 and so made liable to all the miseries of this life1 to death itself1 and to the pains of hell forever4 ------------ ,,it was now the last week in ,march2 and the children were looking forward with great delight to the making of their gardens4 ,the last year1 ,mr4 ,dermott selected from his grounds a pleasant1 sunny spot1 had it ploughed and enriched1 and then divided it into four small lots for his children4 ,they were allowed to plant just what they chose1 and to take the entire care of their own enclosure4 ,this plan succeeded so well1 and afforded so much innocent and healthful amusement to the little ones1 that their father was induced to repeat the experiment4 ,these pleasant anticipations1 however1 did not detract from their interest in the catechisings2 and on the evening of ,thursday they were in their places1 eager as ever for the exercise to begin4 ,we learn1 commenced ,mr4 ,dermott1 in the third chapter of ,genesis1 that when ,god first created man1 he allowed him to have free communion with himself4 ,adam and ,eve expressed no surprise when they heard the voice of the ,lord in the garden4 ,it seems to have been an event of frequent occurrence2 but after they had sinned1 they were afraid to come into his presence1 and hid themselves2 just as a child who has disobeyed the commands of his father is afraid to meet his eye4 ,all communion between them was lost1 and they fell under his wrath4 ,he told ,eve that1 in consequence of her disobedience1 she should have sickness and sorrow2 and that1 instead of the confiding love with which her husband had heretofore regarded her1 as she had so wickedly misused her influence1 she should henceforth become subject to his rule4 ,to ,adam he said1-- ',cursed is the ground for thy sake2 in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life4 ,thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee1 and thou shalt eat the herb of the field4 ,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground4' ,just see what misery the first married pair brought upon themselves by their rash defiance of ,god's commands4 ,into how many parts does the answer divide this misery8 ,walter glanced at the answer in the book1 and replied1 ,into six4 ,and do all ,adam's descendants come under the same8 ,yes1 sir1 just as the children of ,edward inherited their father's sickness and poverty4 ,to the first of these we have already alluded2--loss of communion with ,god4 ,paul1 in his ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 says1-- ',for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness8 what communion hath light with darkness8' ,we have seen1 too1 how ,adam and all mankind are under ,god's wrath and curse1 and so are made liable to all the miseries of this life--to profaneness1 idolatry1 and other sins4 ,even the tilling of the ground1 which before the fall was a recreation and delight1 now became laborious and painful4 ,mankind are liable also to death itself1 and to the pains of hell forever4 ,it is written1-- ',cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them4' ,and who can lay his hand upon his heart and say that he has done this8 ,no one born of woman except the ,son of ,god4 ,how terrible to be under the wrath and curse of the ,almighty6 ,thanks1 everlasting thanks to ,him who hath given up his own life to redeem us from this dreadful curse1 and to provide a way for us to be again received into favor4 ,perhaps there is not a more impressive illustration of the miseries of sin than that afforded by the battle field4 ,an inspired apostle inquires1-- ',whence come wars and fightings among you8 ,come they not hence1 even of your lusts1 that war in your members8' ,as a specimen of those1 ,i will relate an incident1 from the pen of a clergyman1 concerning the battle of ,soldin4 ',at one o'clock the cannonading ceased4 ,toward evening1 seven hundred ,russian fugitives came to ,soldin1 a most pitiful sight6 ,some holding up their hands1 cursing and swearing2 others praying and praising the ,king of ,prussia2 without hats1 without clothes2 some on foot1 others two on a horse1 with their heads and arms tied up2 some dragging along by the stirrups1 and others by the tails of the horses4 ',when the battle was decided in favor of the ,prussians1 ,i ventured to the place where the cannonading had been4 ,after walking some way1 a ,cossack's horse came running at full speed toward me4 ,i mounted him1 and on my way1 for seven miles and a half on this side the field of battle1 ,i found the dead and wounded lying on the ground sadly cut in pieces4 ,the farther ,i advanced1 the more these poor creatures lay heaped upon one another4 ,that scene ,i shall never forget4 ,the ,cossacks1 as soon as they saw me1 cried out1 ,dear sir1 water1 water1 ,,water6 ',righteous ,god6 ,what a sight6 ,men1 women1 and children1 ,russians and ,prussians1 carriages and horses1 oxen1 chests1 and baggage1 all lying upon one another to the height of a man6 ,seven villages around me in flames1 and the inhabitants either massacred or thrown into the fire4 ',a noble ,prussian officer1 who had lost both his legs1 cried out to me1 ,sir1 you are a priest1 and preach mercy3 pray show me some compassion1 and despatch me at once4' ,in the next lesson ,i shall give you an account of a new covenant of grace4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,election ,,and ,,redemption2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,new ,,home4 ,,question ,,xx4 ,did ,god leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery8 ,,answer4 ,god having1 out of his mere good pleasure1 from all eternity1 elected some to everlasting life1 did enter into a covenant of grace1 to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery1 and to bring them into a state of salvation by a ,redeemer4 ------------ ,,this year the old adage was verified4 ,march had come in like a lion1 and it went out like a lamb4 ,the air was warm and soft1 and the children could hardly believe that there would still be cold weather1 which would injure their seeds if they put them into the earth4 ,in the middle of the day1 the ground for their little gardens was so soft that ,walter1 who went out to make a survey1 as he called it1 was glad to hobble into the house1 leaving one shoe sticking fast in the mud4 ,this satisfied him that he had better follow his father's advice1 and wait until the frost was out of the ground1 and the water had had time to drain off or dry up4 ,he changed his stockings1 therefore1 and began to think what he should do until tea time1 when1 seeing the ,catechism lying upon the table1 he looked at the answer1 and committed it to memory for the evening4 ,you all seem to like to hear about ,edward1 remarked ,mr4 ,dermott1 when they were ready for the lesson2 and perhaps it would be well for me to illustrate the meaning of this answer by a continuation of my parable4 ,helen clapped her hands1 while the countenances of the others expressed their pleasure4 ,we will suppose1 then1 added the gentleman1 that ,edward's rich uncle returned to ,india soon after his nephew's accident1 and that he had only occasionally heard rumors of the sad consequences of his disobedience4 ,there he married1 and had one son1 ,joshua1 to whom he often related the sad story of ,edward1 and whose love1 sympathy1 and pity were greatly moved toward his relative4 ,when he attained his majority1 his father settled upon him a large portion of his vast estate4 ,about this time1 however1 both father and son returned to the land of their ancestors1 and1 bringing with them their vast treasures1 they built a splendid palace1--which they adorned with all that art or money could obtain1--and then1 when ,edward was reduced to the last extremity of poverty and wretchedness1 his cousin went to visit him4 ',my dear friend1' he said1 gazing with tender compassion upon the sunken eyes and hollow cheeks of the once bright and rosy youth1 'my heart aches to find you reduced to such a state of misery4 ,for a long time ,i have had a purpose of mercy toward you2 indeed1 ,i have satisfied for your offence1 propitiated my father's favor1 prepared a home where every comfort and happiness shall be yours4 ,leave this wretched abode2 come and share with me2 ,i will provide for you forever4' ,the tender-hearted ,anna wiped the tears from her eyes as she exclaimed1 ,o1 ,i am so glad he was provided for at last6 ,and could all his family go with him8 inquired ,walter4 ,all who pleased could go2 the invitation was made freely to all of them4 ,of course they did1 then1 cried ,helen4 ,i wouldn't have staid a minute in that old ugly place1 when ,i could live in a palace1 and have such nice things4 ,when ,edward heard this noble1 generous offer1 resumed ,mr4 ,dermott1 he could hardly believe it4 ,with a choking voice1 he replied1 ',dear cousin1 your kindness overcomes me2 but ,i am not ungrateful1 and whatever conditions or agreement you may see fit to make1 ,i will do my part toward their fulfilment4' ',no1 my poor ,edward1' responded the gentleman2 'formerly my father1 as you well remember1 made an agreement with you1 whereby you could secure your own happiness4 ,that was forfeited2 now ,i make another covenant with you1 whereby ,i promise all the blessings which1 by means of my immense estates1 ,i have it in my power to grant4 ,you have nothing to do but to accept of them as freely as they are offered4' ,o1 what a kind man6 exclaimed ,helen4 ,i was afraid he was going to try them with another box4 ,if he had1 cried ,walter1 they wouldn't have been such fools as to touch it1 after all they had suffered4 ,if ,i had been there1 ',i should have said1 ,i thank you exceedingly1 sir1 for your kind offer1 but ,i had rather earn the privilege of living in such a fine mansion4 ,won't you please to try me in some way1 and see if ,i don't exactly obey your orders4' ,then he'd have seen one boy that could walk right up to the mark4 ,walter drew up his form1 and stood resolute and determined4 ,his father gazed at him with a sad smile2 and ,anna wondered to see her aunt wipe a tear from her eye4 ,what did ,edward say8 asked ,helen4 ,he said nothing4 ,he had no voice in which to utter his thanks2 the proposition was beyond what he could realize1 from his utter1 forlorn1 and hopeless wretchedness1 to free1 full1 and entire bliss4 ,indeed he was lost in wonder1 love1 and praise4 ,he lifted his eyes1 streaming with tears1 to his cousin's face1 and1 catching him by the hand1 whispered1 ',i accept your offer1 and henceforth shall delight to know that all my dependence is upon one ,i so much esteem and love4' ,and what did his wife and children say8 urged ,walter1 more moved than he cared to have seen4 ,his wife acknowledged that she was very grateful2 but she thought it would be too great an obligation4 ,she told her husband1 when their benefactor had gone to make arrangements for the sick man's removal1 that she should feel awkward1 living in so splendid a place1 dependent upon a man with whom she was so little acquainted4 ,and when1 with kindling eye1 he urged her to give a full and hearty acceptance of so generous an offer1 saying that1 since he had done so1 he already began to feel the comfort and blessedness of his new home1 she replied that she would think of it4 ,on the whole she thought she would do so1 but not quite yet4 ,when she had decided1 she could easily follow him4 ,mary and ,lucy1 the two daughters of ,edward1 had sat1 through the whole interview with their relative1 tightly clasping each other's hands4 ,when the glorious offer of a happy home was extended to them1 they rose at once1 and going to him1 said1 ',we gladly1 joyfully accept the invitation4 ,we are both of us sadly weary of this wretched life1 and are ready to leave it immediately4' ,the oldest boy expressed himself very much as ,walter did just now4 ,notwithstanding the wretchedness of the life he now lived1 he had a proud1 independent spirit1 and he said that if the gentleman would make some kind of a bargain with him1 he would gladly exchange his poor hovel for a palace1 and all the luxuries it contained2 but he wanted to earn it4 ,he would do any thing that was required1 however painful2 but something he must do1 or he could not go4 ,his brother1 next in age1 said that those were exactly his feelings4 ,he should not wish to live in so elegant a home until he had done something to earn the privilege4 ,the gentleman sadly shook his head1 and told them the offer was gratuitous1 and must be accepted as such1 adding1 ',if you were to work for me a hundred years1 you could never earn such blessings as ,i am willing freely to bestow4' ,and so1 with pride and rebellion in their young hearts1 they turned away from him1 and determined to live on in their old place4 ,little ,freddy1 the youngest child1 sat by the couch of his father1 his little hand striving to wipe the moisture which constantly gathered on the brow of the poor sufferer4 ,as one and another made known their decision1 his wan cheek flushed1 and a calm resolve passed through his mind4 ,when his brothers turned their backs upon their kind benefactor1 he went toward him1 and1 throwing himself into his embrace1 exclaimed1 ',o1 take me6 ,i love you more than all the world beside4 ,i will go and live with you forever4' ,mr4 ,dermott arose1 and walked back and forth through the apartment1 while the children sat silent and thoughtful4 ,at length he resumed his seat1 and1 addressing ,anna1 asked1 ,can you tell me who has prepared for us a glorious home above the skies8 ,christ1 the child seriously answered2 ,jesus ,christ4 ,yes1 he has ransomed us and become the way whereby we may return to our heavenly ,father1 whom we have offended4 ,there can be no real comparison between the case ,i have given you and the abounding love and goodness of our ,saviour1 because1 in the first case1 ,i only referred to the well-being of ,edward and his family1 and the benefits to them in this world1 while the blessings we may receive through the redemption of ,christ1 which will be hereafter explained1 will last through all eternity4 ,but ,i hope by this illustration you may be led to view the wonderful love of our heavenly ,father toward our guilty race4 ,paul1 in his ,epistle to the ,ephesians1 says he did this 'according to the good pleasure of his will4' ,in some lessons which we have gone over1 we have explained to you that when ,god created the world1 he made his whole plan or decree concerning it2 and1 of course1 the system of redemption1 as a whole and in its minute details and application1 was a part of it4 ,those savingly interested in this plan he calls elect4 ,edward's uncle could not know1 beforehand1 whether any of his relatives would accept his kind offer4 ,but if he had possessed the power of foreknowledge1 they would have been equally free to accept his offer4 ,but1 ,walter1 can you tell me what this new covenant is called8 ,the covenant of grace4 ,what was the object of it8 ,you may use your own words4 ,to deliver men from their wretched condition1 just as ,edward's uncle intended to deliver him and his family from their poverty and distress4 ,yes1 and more than this2 ,god offered to raise them to a seat at his right hand1 and to the glorious privileges of the sons of ,god4 ,how can he do this1 ,helen8 ,through ,christ1 who died for us4 ,yes1 through the sacrifice of his dear ,son1 who offered to be our ,redeemer4 ,do all gladly accept this salvation8 ,walter held down his head as he softly answered1 ,no1 sir4 ,no1 many poor guilty sinners would do so if they could earn the right to this happy home4 ,some do1 indeed1 think they earn it by outwardly conforming to his requirements1 while their hearts are alienated from him2 others by loudly professing to be his friends1 and to be very zealous in his cause2 while still others are so deluded that they lie upon beds of thorns1 or scourge themselves with small cords1 or go on painful pilgrimages1 wearing small stones in their shoes4 ,but all these methods cannot avail them2 the salvation is free1 without money and without price4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,christ ,,the ,,redeemer2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,pardoned ,,rebels4 ,,question ,,xxi4 ,who is the ,redeemer of ,god's elect8 ,,answer4 ,the only ,redeemer of ,god's elect is the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who1 being the eternal ,son of ,god1 became man1 and so was1 and continues to be1 ,god and man1 in two distinct natures and one person1 forever4 ------------ ,,the explanations connected with the last lesson made a deep impression upon the mind of ,walter4 ,during the week following1 he was unusually serious and thoughtful1 and at length sought his mother's chamber1 when he knew her to be alone1 and1 with tearful eyes1 asked1 ,how can ,i be sure that ,god has elected me to be one of his children8 ,mrs4 ,dermott1 with deep emotion1 replied1 ,if you are willing to give your heart to him1 and accept ,christ as your ,saviour1 you may be sure of it1 my child4 ,it was1 therefore1 with prayerful interest that ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,dermott met their dear children on the evening appointed for the exercise4 ,having heard the answer repeated1 the father asked1 ,helen1 who is the ,lord ,jesus ,christ8 ,he is the ,redeemer1 the eternal ,son of ,god4 ,do you understand the meaning of that answer8 ,helen shook her head4 ,i will answer for you1 said her mother4 ,it means that from all eternity he sustained the relation of ,son to the everlasting ,father-- ',thou art the ,son of the living ,god4' ,twelve years ago1 ,walter began to sustain the relation of son to your father2 and so existence commenced with every son of the human race2 the angels also began to be4 ,there was a time when all these did not exist1 and another time when they began to be ,god's children4 ,jesus ,christ1 as the son of man1 began to exist almost two thousand years ago4 ,but ,jesus ,christ1 as the ,son of ,god1 never began to exist4 ,unto his ,son ,god said1-- ',thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is forever and ever4 ,a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom4' ',and let all the angels of ,god worship him4' ,these two natures1 that of the ,son of ,god1 and that of the son of man1 added ,mr4 ,dermott1 he unites in the office of the only ,redeemer of ,god's elect4 ,these will continue forever4 ,i will illustrate some of these sentiments by another parable4 ,we will suppose1 then1 that upon a sea-girt isle1 there once reigned a great and good king1 who had one only and dearly beloved son1 the heir to his kingdom and great revenues4 ,the son was associated with his father in every act for the good of the empire1 and the most tender1 confiding affection existed between them4 ,on one occasion1 a large number of men associated together to rebel against the government4 ,the knowledge of this coming to the throne1 the rebels were tried1 found guilty1 and expelled from the island4 ,not many months elapsed before a rumor reached the king that these men were engaged in privateering around the island1 plundering and then setting fire to vessels either approaching or receding from the shore4 ,this unlawful and wicked course was continued for years1 notwithstanding the utmost vigilance of the officers appointed to apprehend them4 ,at length there arose a great storm1 which lasted for several days4 ,multitudes of small vessels were driven upon the reefs surrounding the shore1 and were rescued by the kindness of the islanders4 ,toward the close of the third day of the terrible tempest1 a large vessel was seen driving furiously toward the rocks4 ,the king1 from his palace1 gazed upon the scene with feelings of the tenderest compassion4 ,the surf1 lashing itself into foam1 was dashing furiously toward the shore2 and there1 at the distance of a mile1 lay a noble brig dismasted and in distress4 ,summoning the prince1 the king ascended to the tower of his palace1 where a powerful glass enabled him to view the awful scene with more distinctness4 ,the distressed mariners were running to and fro on board the vessel1 some lashing themselves to spars or pieces of broken masts2 others were wringing their hands1 or raising their arms imploringly to heaven2 while still other's had cast themselves down upon the deck in an attitude of despair4 ,with a pallid cheek and a trembling voice1 the king announced to his son1 who stood at his side1 that this vessel contained the company of rebels who had conspired against the throne1 and who1 for a long period1 had been guilty of plundering the sea4 ',yes1 sire1' answered the prince1 after having looked through the glass4 ',it is indeed so4 ,i can distinctly recognize the ringleaders in the midst of the crew4' ,the king again approached the glass1 and gazed in silence upon the wreck4 ,then hastening to the shore1 accompanied by his son1 he offered large rewards to those who would go to the rescue of the wrecked and drowning mariners4 ,but no one could be found ready to take his life in his hand1 and venture upon the boiling surf1 even to obtain the prize4 ,at length the prince came forward among the crowd1 and1 approaching his father1 said1 ',here am ,i1 sire2 send me4' ,the compassionate heart of the sovereign yearned after his guilty subjects4 ,he longed to rescue them1 and restore them to favor4 ,withdrawing with the prince from the crowd1 he cried1 ',go1 my son1 and my love and blessing shall follow you4 ,go and tell the poor guilty creatures1 ,i offer them free pardon if they will return to their allegiance1 and become dutiful subjects4' ,from his previous knowledge of their character1 and of the agencies to be exerted on them1 he then told his son who would accept this pardon and be induced to return with him1 and1 having embraced and blessed him1 followed him to the life-boat4 ,he then hastened back to the tower1 where his eagle eye watched the bark as it floated over the seething1 crested waves4 ,suddenly he cried out in the anguish of his soul4 ,a great wave had struck the frail boat1 and it was ingulfed in the angry waters4 ,but no2 there presently appeared a little speck in the distance4 ,with what intense1 breathless anxiety he watched the scene6 ,wiping his dim eyes1 he at length perceived that his son had buffeted the waves1 and was clinging to the bottom of the boat4 ,but he had hardly begun to breathe more freely1 before the same thing occurred again and again4 ,so that when the prince reached the wrecked vessel1 he was scarcely able to mount the deck1 to which the boat was made fast by means of a long rope4 ,the prince made his way along the deck1 which was covered with broken pieces of timber1 and made known his errand4 ,with the earnest love which had led him to encounter so much danger for their sakes1 he now besought them to leave their wrecked and ruined brig1 and accept his father's offers of mercy4 ,those whom the king had mentioned to his son1 threw themselves1 without reserve1 into his arms1 surrendering themselves1 and all they had1 to his will4 ,but the others refused to comply1 even preferring to remain on board their craft1 which was fast going to pieces4 ,every tender persuasion was of no avail2 and at length1 with the chosen few1 the prince sadly entered the life-boat to return to the shore4 ,but before cutting the line which would destroy the last hope of the poor outlaws1 he stretched out his arms toward them1 beseeching them1 as they valued their own lives1 and the sacrifice he had made for them1 to lay down their arms in token of their submission to his authority1 that he might have the unspeakable pleasure of presenting them all to his father as the fruits of his suffering4 ,but all these tender entreaties only made the wrath of the guilty pirates more terrible4 ,with loud cries they bade him begone1 hurling their weapons in defiance at the boat1 and refusing longer even to listen to his words of love4 ,those who were accompanying the prince1 being made willing to accept his mediation with the king1 bowed their heads in shame at the insolent conduct of their late companions2 scalding tears of anguish and remorse ran down their cheeks as they remembered how recently they had joined in this wicked rebellion4 ,the language of their hearts was1 ',o1 with what a wonderful love hath he drawn our guilty hearts to himself6 ,what boundless goodness that we are not only saved alive1 but pardoned and restored to all the privileges of the kingdom6' ,as they drew near the shore1 their emotions increased1 and they cried aloud1 ',how can we appear in the presence of our justly offended sovereign8 ,our iniquity seems too great for him to forgive4 ,o1 why did we never1 till now1 view ourselves as vile and guilty before him6 ,surely our sins have rendered us blind to our own unworthiness1 as well as wanting in obedience toward him4' ',comfort yourselves1 my dear friends1' exclaimed the prince2 'my father has accepted my sufferings and labors as a sacrifice for your guilt1 and your pardon is free and entire4 ,forget1 then1 the things that are past1 and endeavor1 by your zeal in his service1 to show your gratitude for the favors you have received4' ,when the life-boat1 with its precious freight of souls1 drew toward the land1 many stood back with fear1 as they recognized the outlaws2 but this emotion was instantly changed to joy1 as the prince accompanied them to his father1 and presented them as the reward of his toil4 ',here am ,i1 sire1 and the people who have been redeemed from death by my agonizing exertions4 ,in your name ,i have promised that the sentence pronounced against them should be reversed1 and that1 accepting me as their ransom1 they should be admitted to all the privileges of children of a merciful sovereign4' ,here the pardoned rebels cast themselves down at the feet of the king1 confessing their hatred of themselves and the life they had pursued since they departed from his requirements1 resolutely declaring their determination henceforth to live lives of obedience and integrity1 that they might in some humble degree express their gratitude and love toward him who had been willing to give his life a ransom for theirs4 ,when the multitude1 who had been crowding near1 heard these words1 there arose one long-continued shout of rejoicing1 in which might be heard these words3 ',our glorious ,prince6 ,may he reign over us forever and ever6 ,for his sake we joyfully1 exultingly1 welcome home those whom he has so loved1 and who will help to swell the song of praise to his name forever and ever4' ,while ,mr4 ,dermott had been speaking1 ,walter's tears silently trickled down his cheeks4 ,he evidently was applying the parable to his own case4 ,after a moment's pause1 the gentleman continued3 ,we are the rebels against ,god1 the king4 ,jesus ,christ is our prince1 who has offered his life a sacrifice for our sins1 that we may obtain pardon and peace4 ,those of us who receive him as our ,saviour are his elect1 whom he carries in the life-boat of salvation to the kingdom of his ,father in heaven4 ,dear children1 who have all of you violated ,god's holy law1 and are living afar off1 having incurred his displeasure1 will you not confess and forsake your sins1 joyfully embracing his ,son as your ,prince1 your ,saviour1 and ,redeemer8