hence it winds its crooked way, until finally it loses itself in the stagnant waters of the Dead Sea, which occupy the spot where once the well-watered "plain of Jordan" yielded its luxuriant pasturage, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah stood. During the harvest-time of Palestine, the river occasionally overflows its banks to a considerable distance; and its ancient celebrity, as a Scripture river, is derived from the miraculous passage of the Israelites at the time of this overflow, as related in the third and fourth chapters in the Book of Joshua. When Moses died, Joshua (who had been his servant, and the leader of the army in battle) was appointed his successor by the Lord. He was a good man; and his faithful and upright character had won for him the esteem of the people. It was left for him to conduct the Israelites into Canaan, and establish them in that promised land. They had reached Shittim, their last encampment before entering Palestine; and were not far from the river Jordan, which separated them from the land toward which they were directing their march. Here it was that God intimated to Joshua the manner in which the river was to be crossed. He was commanded to prepare the people for the passage; to bid them strike their tents, and march toward the river's bank. The camp was accordingly broken up, and the vast congregation moved toward the Jordan, and encamped opposite to the city of Jericho, until the morrow. The next morning, Joshua, at the bidding of the Lord, caused proper directions to be given as to the manner of marching. The Priests

removed the ark of God from the midst of the can and carried it before the people, whose first ra followed it at the distance of three-quarters o mile. As soon as the feet of the Priests touched water, the stream which was flowing down sudde turned back, without any visible agency, as affrighted, to its source; and the waters below t point ran off to the Dead Sea, leaving the bed the Jordan dry for several miles. When the ri had thus so miraculously parted, the Priests w down with the ark into its deepest bed, and th remained, with the heaped-up flood like a wall their right hand. The whole congregation forward, with haste to cross over, with their ca and substance; nor did the waters move, until people had all passed safely over. Joshua then s

a man from each tribe again into the river, to place where the Priests yet stood; who gathe twelve stones from the bed of Jordan, and carr them to Gilgal, the place where they encamped t night. At the same time, twelve large stones w set up in the river, on the spot where the ark h remained, so that there might be a memorial, int river itself, of the wonderful passage of the Isra ites.

When all this was accomplished, the Priests we directed to come up from their position; and sooner had they reached the upper bank with t ark, than the waters which had stood up rush down in a mighty overwhelming torrent, towar the Dead Sea, and overflowed the banks of th river as before. On reaching Gilgal, Joshua reare

the twelve stones which had been carried ther, so that the children of Israel might pertuate the miraculous passage of their fathers, and it the nations surrounding them might thereby ve a constant testimony to the omnipotence of d. This event struck the utmost terror into the arts of the Canaanitish tribes; who lost their nted bravery, and easily fell beneath the victorious ord of Joshua and the Israelites, who were eedily established in the possession of the greater art of the promised land.

Dear children, we may see from this narrative how eat is the power of God. He can act and work ther with or without instruments, as may seem est to Himself. If such is omnipotence, how can nners hope to resist it successfully? O, submit to lis love; that you may never feel His wrath! How asily can God effect the deliverance of His people! t is a little thing with Him to "make a way for Ir escape," whilst we love and serve Him. Nor ill He ever permit His children to be brought into ich circumstances as to preclude deliverance. He indeed "a very present help in time of need."

In the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan, we te the fulfilment of the Divine promises. Long fore, God had declared to Abraham that his ildren should possess that land; and now, after early five hundred years, every word is exactly alfilled. Nor can His word fail to you. Believe lis promise of salvation to every contrite believing jul, and you will find the blessed testimony to be in Christ, yea, and in Him, Amen." And, forget

cross.

not that there is the narrow stream of death betwe you and eternal glory, which you must one ¿ Seek the guidance of Jesus, the great Hi Priest of Christianity. He will go before you, a will be with you, until you have fairly reached shores of the better land; where, exulting in y deliverance, and exalting your Deliverer, you enjoy its glories, and possess it as your own inhe ance, for ever. Lerwick, Shetland.

W. P

"BUT DID JESUS KNOW?"

SOME time since, two very thoughtful little gi (whose names have already appeared in Early Da and perhaps may do so again)—Ada and Amy-w studying the life of Christ, and reading and talki about His sufferings and death. They were grea delighted and astonished at the love of God giving up His only and well-beloved Son to suf and die for sinners, and equally amazed at the lo of the Son in being willing to leave His throne glory, His Father, and the holy angels, and to endu the punishment due to our sins. These children hi not been to Sunday-schools, as many readers of th page have; nor had they been told before of th great love of Jesus. They loved to think about i and one day Miss Amy-after a little silence-aske the writer, "But did Jesus know before He le heaven what would happen to Him here?" "Yes dear," it was replied; "but why do you ask?' "Because I can hardly think He would have bee

ling to come, if He had known." Her sister terved, "It shows us more plainly how very much. loved us." Miss Amy: " But did He know that n would hate Him-the very men He came to e? and did He know that they would beat Him, I even spit in His face, and then run the nails ough His hands and feet, and hammer them into ! wood?"

Yes! reader. The Saviour knew all about it fore He came! Reflect on this, and think what turn you can make for such love.

E. A. G.

A SLOTHFUL SPIRIT.

"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the rd."-Rom. xii. 11.

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the ul of the diligent shall be made fat."

"I

AN idle school-girl was once seriously expostulated th about some duties which she had neglected, id others which she had badly performed. innot help it, I am sure I cannot; I can't do any Jore than I do; I never have a minute to spare;' I En always at work." This girl thought she spoke e truth; but she did not know the true meaning f the term idle. For instance: If she sat at work or an hour, but only did what she was well able to ccomplish in half an hour, she would have thought Every unjust and unkind had she been accused of leness. If she sat with her head resting on her ands, her elbows on the table, or, what was as often,