*

sian king roused the spirit of Hereclius, and God gave him wonderful success. He gained repeated victories over the king of Persia, and took from him most of his kingdom. After this, like Sennacharib, he was murdered by his own son. After this period, there is scarcely any thing worth relating in the history of the Eastern church. It was overrun with divisions and false doctrines. The bishops of Constantinople and most of the emperors embraced the prevailing errors. Here and there, individuals rose up in defence of the truth, but they were persecuted in the most barbarous manner. Maximus, with two other holy men, were cruelly whipped, their tongues torn out, and their right hands cut off. In this situation they were thrown into prison, where they remained till their death. Scarcely a vestige of true piety remained in all the country where the Lord poured out his Spirit in such a wonderful manner upon the first Christians. They had long abused the highest privileges. The Lord was now preparing a scourge for them, in order to accomplish his threatnings against backsliders.

* II. Kings, 19: 37.

QUESTIONS.

What took place in the East, in the year 527? What particulars can you relate of the life and character of the emperor Justinian? Did the church ever receive any benefit from being supported by government? From what motives should ministers of the Gospel engage in their work? What ought to be the object of private Christians, in all they do? What was the state of religion in Africa, during the reign of Justinian? What happened at Rome? What is bribery? How did Justinian employ himself? What notion did he embrace in his old age? What law did he make about it? Who resisted this law? What did he do to them? How did God punish him? What can you relate of the monastery of Mount Sinai? If people punish themselves, will that satisfy God's justice? What does every sin deserve? In what way only can God pardon sin! What makes impenitent sinners hate this way? What is an impenitent sinner? What is it to repent? How can we tell whether a person has repented or not? What happened in the year 610 ? What happend in the beginning of the reign of Hereclius? Can you give an account of John, bishop of Alexandria? What is related of Chrosroes and Hereclius?

CONVERSATION III.

The Arabs descended from Ishmael,-Birth and early Life of Mohammed, he marries Cadijah, begins to make converts to his new religion.

Samuel. Mother, yesterday evening you promised to tell us about Mohammed and his followers. Where did Mohammed live?

Mother. He lived in Arabia.

Elizabeth. Was it where the wandering Arabs live, mother?

Mother. Yes, he was an Arab himself.

Samuel. I have read about the Arabs of the desert. They are a savage people, who wander about from place to place, robbing and plundering every one they meet. I have often thought they must be the descendents of Ishmael; for the Lord told Abraham that Ishmael should be a wild man ; and that his hand should be against every man, and every man's hand against him. Mother. You are right, my son. After God

*

had promised Isaac to Abraham, and told him that Sarah his wife should be the mother of many nations, Abraham prayed that Ishmael might be blessed too. The Lord told him that he had heard his prayer, and blessed Ishmael. He promised to make him a great nation, and told Abraham that he should have twelve sons who should be princes. In the twenty-fifth chapter of Genesis, the names of these twelve princes are given. And here we see a striking similarity between the Ishmaelites and Jews. They were both divided into twelve tribes. The tribes of the Ishmaelites were called after the twelve sons of Ishmael; and the tribes of the Jews, after the twelve sons of Jacob. In the 18th verse of the same chapter, we are told that these tribes dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, which is before Egypt, on the way to Assyria. This was the same country which is now called Arabia. Josephus, the Jewish historian, says that the twelve tribes of Ishmael have given names to the whole race of the Arabs. The tribes of Nebajoth and Kedar were the most powerful of the twelve, and sometimes the whole country was called after their names;

*Gen. 17: 15-20.

just as the whole country of the Israelites was often called after the names of Judah and Ephraim. Jerome, who lived in the fourth Century, speaks of Kedar as a country of the Arabian desert, inhabited by the Ishmaelites, who were called Saracens. You know that "Ishmael was circumcised when he was thirteen years old."

Elizabeth. Yes, mother, I can turn to the place which gives an account of his circumcision. It is in the 25th verse of the 17th chapter of Genesis.

Mother. Well, the Arabs have always practised circumcision; and what is still more remarkable, they perform this rite at the age of thirteen years. Again, as Samuel remarked, the angel who saw Hagar in the wilderness, said of Ishmael," He shall be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him."* Such has always been the character of the Arabs. They are a nation of robbers. So completely have they maintained this character, that, many hundred years ago, they were, by other nations, called Saracens, which means plunderers, or robbers. In addition to

*Gen. 16: 12.