LESSON FOR A CHILD. No. XXI. (FROM A BRIEF VIEW OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY FOR CHILDREN.) (Continued from p. 165.) WHEN Joshua saw that there were very few enemies left, he settled the people of Israel in the land, and portioned out all the land between them. Then he called all the people together, and bade them remember all the good things that God had done for them, and how he had taken them to be his own people, and brought them in safety out of the land of Egypt; and how he had driven out the nations before them, and planted them in, so that they were at rest from their enemies. And Joshua bid them" to remember all these things, and to feel assured that if they would serve the Lord their God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, that then God would bless them, and keep them, and that they should live in peace in the good land which he had given them. But if they turned from the Lord to do wickedness, that then God would punish them, and bring evil upon them, and that they should be driven out of the land, and it should be given to another people; and that they should be scattered in all countries, and not have a home of their own, if they would not serve the Lord, who had given them the land, and all that was in it." Then all the people said, "The Lord is our God, and him will we serve." Questions to be asked, after the child has read the Lesson. Q. What did Joshua do before he died? A. He divided the land of Canaan amongst the people. Q. And what did he charge them to remember? A. The great things that God had done for them. Q. What had God done for them? land of Canaan, and driven out their enemies before them. Q. What did Joshua say would happen to them if they did not keep God's commandments?. A. He said: that God would drive them out of the land which he had given them, and scatter them into all countries. Q. Did Joshua earnestly charge them to remember this? A. Yes, again and again. Q. What did the people say? A. That they would serve the Lord for ever. (To be continued.) SCRIPTURE. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. Prov. xiii. 18. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed, Prov. xiii. 19. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat, Prov. xiii. 4. 'Tis the voice of a sluggard, I heard him complain, "You have wak'd me too soon, I must slumber again;" As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed, Turns his sides, and his shoulders, and his heavy head. II. "A little more sleep, and a little more slumber," Thus he wastes half his days, and his hous without number; And when he gets up, he sits folding his hands, Or walks about sauntering, or trifling he stands. III. I pass'd by his garden, and saw the wild brier, The thorn and the thistle, grew broader and higher; The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags, And his money still wastes, till he starves or he begs. IV. I made him a visit, still hoping to find He had took better care for improving his mind, He told me his dreams, talk'd of cating and drinking, But he scarce reads his Bible, and never loves thinking. V. Said I then to my heart, Here's a lesson for me, That man's but a picture of what I might be; But thanks to my friends for their care in my breeding, Who have taught me betimes to love working and reading. |