ned them all, and which still keeps them in harmonious ac tion. It is impossible for a true philosopher to doubt the existence of a God.

28. Here Mr. Maynard informed the class that, as they had now gone over the first great division of subjects embraced in Natural Philosophy, he would bring these conversations to a close; but he hoped to resume them after a few months, when subjects of still greater interest and more variety, in the same important field, would be presented to them.

29. He remarked that they were but just entering upon the study of Nature's laws, and hoped they would not think they had done any thing more than júst to make a beginning. "The more you learn,” said he, “the more you will find there is to be learned; and if you are at all disposed to vanity, the less vain will you be of your own attainments. Much knowledge will always cause, in a sensible person, a feeling of humility, in view of how little he can hope to know in this world, even after a long life spent in study, compared with what will still be unknown.

:6

30. "This principle is well illustrated," said Mr. Maynard, in the words spoken by that eminent philosopher and true Christian, Sir Isaac Newton, a short time before his death. I do not know,' said he, 'what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a child playing ɔn the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a prettier pebble or shell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lay all unexplored before me.' If the great Newton, with his powerful intellect, and after devoting a lifetime to the study of Nature's laws (which are none other than the laws of God), could utter such a sentiment, how much more becoming are modesty and humility in us."

1 E-qui-lib'-ri-UM, a state of rest produced] 8 E-LEC'-TRIC-AL, pertaining to electricity. by the mutual counteraction of two or 9 TRAC'-TION, the act of drawing, or state more forces. of being drawn.

2 DE-DUC-TION, allowance; abatement.
3 U-TIL-I-TY, usefulness.

4 GRO-TISQUE-LY, in a fantastic manner.
5 CLAS'-SIC-AL, relating to Greek and Ro-
man authors of the first rank or estimation. 11
6 AT-TRI"-TION means the act of wearing by
friction; and anti-attrition means not
wearing by friction.
'SO-LU-TION, explanation.

•

12

A

10 IN-VERSE-LY, in an inverted order.
term used when one quantity is greater
as another is less, or less as another is
greater.
RA'-DI-US, a line extending from the cen-
tre of a circle to its circumference The
earth's radius is half the earth's diameter.
SPHERE, a solid body in the form of a
round ball.

PART VI.

SKETCHES FROM SACRED HISTORY.
[Continued from the Third Reader.]

"Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart."-Psalm cxix., 34.

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein."-Rev., i., 3.

LESSON I.

THE CURSE OF CAIN.

1. It was after our first parents had been driven forth from the garden of Eden, and while they were still living, that the first great crime that stains the annals1 of our race was com mitted. Cain and Abel were the two sons of Adam and Eve; and Cain was a tiller of the ground, but Abel was a keeper of sheep.

2. In temper and disposition the two brothers were as different as their occupations; for while Abel was meek, humble, and pious, Cain was haughty, envious, and revengeful. When they brought their customary sacrifices before the Lord, the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering; but unto Cain and his offering the Lord had not respect.

3. Then was Cain angry; and he talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother'? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper'?

4. And the Lord said', What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

6.

5. Thus was Cain cursed, and driven away from his friends and kindred. And he "went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden." The CURSE OF CAIN has been thus described:

7.

1

O, the wrath of the Lord is a terrible thing!-
Like the tempest that withers the blossoms of spring,
Like the thunder that bursts on the summer's domain,
It fell on the head of the homicide2 Cain.

And, lo! like a deer in the fright of the chase,
With a fire in his heart, and a brand3 on his face,

8.

9.

10.

11.

He speeds him afar to the desert of Nod,
A vagabond, smote by the vengeance of God!

All nature, to him, has been blasted and banned,*
And the blood of a brother yet reeks on his hand;
And no vintage has grown, and no fountain has sprung,
For cheering his heart, or for cooling his tongue.

The groans of a father his slumber shall start,
And the tears of a mother shall pierce to his heart,
And the kiss of his children shall scorch him like flame,
When he thinks of the curse that hangs over his name.

And the wife of his bosom-the faithful and fair-
Can mix no sweet drop in his cup of despair;
For her tender caress, and her innocent breath,
But stir in his soul the hot embers of death.

And his offering may blaze unregarded by Heaven;
And his spirit may pray, yet remain unforgiven;
And his grave may be closed, yet no rest to him bring;—
O, the wrath of the Lord is a terrible thing!

1 ĂN'-NALS, records of events.

13 BRAND, a mark burnt in. 2 HŎM'-I-CIDE, a person who kills another. 14 BAN'NED, cursed.

KNOX.

LESSON II.

HAGAR IN THE WILDERNESS.

1. It was several hundred years after the time of Cain that

the wicked were destroyed by a flood, an

is given in the seventh chapter of Genesis.

history of Noah and his sons, the building of the tower of Babel, the calling of Abraham, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

account of which

Then follows the

2. Although Isaac, the younger son of Abraham, was the child of promise, in whom "the nations of the earth were to be blessed," yet Abraham had an elder son Ishmael, who was born of Hagar the Egyptian, the bond-maid of his wife Sarah. But Ishmael was jealous of Isaac, who had destroyed his hopes of inheriting his father's rank and property; and when Sarah saw Ishmael mocking her son Isaac, she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bond-woman and her son."

3. Then Abraham, being directed by the Lord, rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water,

and gave it unto Hagar and the child, and sent them away. We can well imagine the feelings of sadness with which the aged patriarch parted with these members of his household, and how he turned him to his tent in sorrow as the dejected Hagar took her departure. How beautifully do the following lines describe this parting scene:

4. And Hagar departed, and wandered in the wilderness

of Beer-sheba. And when the water was spent in the bottle,