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et, 'ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment." "

"This must have been a very large sum, father."

"It was; of some thousand pounds value. We are assured by a writer whose statements are generally admitted to be correct, that the commander of an Eastern province purchased peace of his adversary by sending him a present of seven hundred thousand drachms of silver, in ready money; four hundred loads of saffron, which that country produced in abundance; and four hundred slaves, each of whom carried a rich turban of silk in a silver basin."

"What a present, father!"

"It is said, that when the house of Charles XII. was burnt at Bender, there were presents in it of the value of two hundred thousand crowns. The Eastern magi brought, most likely, a present of great value to the infant Saviour. Do you recollect what it was ?"

"Gold, and frankincence, and myrrh. But yet, father, He appeared only as a poor child, lying in a manger."

"But, no doubt, they had been divinely taught that

What present did Naaman bring to the prophet? How did the commander of a province purchase peace of his adversary? What were found in Charles XII's house? What presents did the wise men bring to the infant Saviour?

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He was a King, and they presented to him royal gifts. And on His head shall be many crowns.' 'He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him, all nations shall serve Him. His name shall endure for ever; and men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed. And blessed be His glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and amen.'"

CATTLE, AGRICULTURE, AND VINEYARDS.

It appears that the Israelites devoted their principal attention to cattle and the cultivation of the land. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all shepherds, and had large flocks and herds. The wealth of persons in the early periods of the world consisted chiefly in these, though they did not neglect the raising of corn.

Why did they present him with royal gifts? Repeat the verses respecting our Saviour. To what did the Israelites devote their principal attention? Who were shepherds? What did the wealth of people in ancient times consist of?

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It is said that Isaac sowed, and the Lord blessed him, so that he received a hundred fold, Gen. xxvi. 12. Indeed, we are informed, that Cain was a tiller of the ground, and Abel was a keeper of sheep. Moses, when he left the court of Pharaoh, kept the flocks of his father-in-law on Mount Horeb. Exod. iii. 1. Most

Gen. xxvi. 12. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundred fold, and the Lord blessed him. Exodus iii. 1. Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the

What is said of Isaac? Repeat a verse from Genesis. formed? Repeat a verse from Exodus.

Of what are we in

of the judges and kings of Israel were employed in agriculture. Shamgar was a herdsman, Judges iii. 31. When the angel appeared to Gideon, he found him threshing, Judges vi. 11. After Saul was appointed king, he looked after his father's cattle, 1 Sam. xi. 5. David, in his early youth, was a shepherd.

"You have often remarked, father, that David most likely wrote the twenty-third Psalm when he was watching over the sheep."

"I think it very probable that his contemplative mind, when observing the happiness of the flocks in 'the green pastures,' and 'by the still waters,' was raised to meditate on that blessed relation which the

back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Judges iii. 31. And after him was Shamgar, the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.

Judges vi. 11. And his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.

1 Samuel, xi. 5. And behold, Saul come after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep?

How were the judges and kings of Israel employed? Repeat two verses from Judges. Repeat a verse from Samuel. What was David in his youth? When did David probably write the 23d Psalm? Why is it probable ?

good God sustained towards himself. The Lord,' said he, is my shepherd, I shall not want.'”

"And Our Lord, you know, father, said he was a shepherd."

"Yes; but this language was figurative, as used by Him; for He did not personally look after flocks. He meant that as a shepherd provided for, and took care of the sheep committed to him, so he would take care of his servants, and be to them every thing they should need, both here and hereafter. He calls himself 'the GOOD shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep.' And we know that He did die for them, and thus 'bare their sins, and carried their sorrows.' And, in a better world, He has told us, that He will lead them to living fountains of water, and wipe away all tears from their eyes.' But, to return to the employment of the Israelites. When they settled in the land of Canaan, every family had a portion of land given to it. They could not part with these inheritances; at least not altogether. Every fiftieth year, which was called the year of Jubilee, the land, if sold, came back to the persons who had parted with it, or to their heirs."

"Did they always plough the land, father?"

In what sense was our Lord a shepherd? What did he call himself? What do we know? What was the employment of the Israelites ?

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