probability, were from beasts which were offered in sacrifice."

"But why were sacrifices instituted ?"

"It was to remind men continually that they had sinned against God, and so deserved to die, like the victim which they were directed to offer; and that, as the sacrifice was accepted, so the sinner should be approved and pardoned through faith in that one great sacrifice, which, in the fulness of time, was to be made for the sins of men. You know who it was that was thus sacrificed, Harry. It is said of Him by the prophet Isaiah, that He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; that the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and that by His stripes we are healed.' And the Apostle declares, that, 'He bare our sins in His own body on the tree." " "You refer, my dear father, to the Lord Jesus Christ ?"

"I do so. There does not seem any thing in the ap pointment of sacrifices worthy of the wisdom of God, unless this was the case."

"But sacrifices were not confined to the Jews."

"True, they were not,—they were common among the Gentiles, who, as well as the Jews, received them

Why were sacrifices instituted? What great sacrifices was made for the sins of men? What does the prophet Isaiah say of our Lord? Were sacrifices confined to the Jews?

from Noah, the second father of the human race, who offered a burnt sacrifice to God on leaving the ark, which was accepted. They were always offered in the way of atonement, to appease the anger of God, and in the stead of the person or persons who offered; hence it is evident that they had their origin in the appointment of the Most High; for had not the institution been divine, the sacrifice could not have been efficacious."

"Do you recollect any instance in profane history, in which offerings were made of victims, similar to the sacrifice of Abel?"

"Homer and Virgil often speak of victims, being offered to propitiate or appease the gods."

"They do; and the ancient Goths believed that the effusion of the blood of animals appeased the anger of their deities, and that their justice turned aside upon the victims those strokes which were destined for men. And as they imagined that the influence of the sacrifice would be in proportion to the value of the victim, they devoted human beings to bleed upon their altars."*

"And, father, do you not recollect that Rollin tells

Why did they sacrifice human beings? When did Noah offer sacrifices to God? How were sacrifices offered?

* Mallet's North. Antiq. vol. i. p. 7.

us, in his history of the Carthaginians, that when the state was in great danger, they offered two hundred children of the best families to their god Saturn ?"

"Yes, I well recollect it. How thankful ought we to be that we need no other offering than that which God himself has provided! By this one offering,' says the Apostle Paul, referring to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, 'He hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified.'

INNS.

66

I think, father, you said, the other day, that there were no inns in the East?"

"No, Harry; you must have mistaken me. I said, if I recollect rightly, that there were no inns such as there are in our country."

"But it is said, in Gen. xliii. 21. that Joseph's brethren, when they came to the Inn, found their money in

What sacrifice did the Carthaginians offer to Saturn? What does the Apostle say? Are there any inns in the East? Are they like those in our country? Where is mention made of inns in the Scriptures?

* Vide Magee on the Atonement, passim.

their sacks; and in the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, we are told, that there was no room for the infant Saviour and his parents in the Inn."

"You are right, Harry; but still, it is true, that the

inns in the East were and are very different from ours. They are called caravanseras; and are of different kinds. Some are simply resting-places by the side of a fountain; others consist of bare walls, which afford temporary shelter from wind or rain. Many, especially those in large towns, are square buildings, with a court

What are the inns in the East called? Describe the different kinds of car

avanseras.

in the middle, encompassed with galleries and chambers all round, in which travellers may lodge; but even these contain no furniture. It was most likely at such an inn, which was all pre-occupied, that the Lord of life and glory came into our world."

"And are the Eastern caravanseras still the same sort of inns ?"

"I believe they are, Harry. Campbell tells us, that 'such are built at proper distances through the roads of the Turkish dominions. In general, they are formed of solid and durable materials; they have commonly one story above the ground-floor, the lower of which is arched, and serves for warehouses to store goods, for lodgings, and for stables, whilst the upper is used merely for lodgings; besides which, they are always provided with a fountain, and have cooks' shops, and other conveniences, to supply the want of lodgers. In Aleppo, the caravanseras are almost exclusively occupied by merchants, to whom they are let, like houses."

"Well, are not they like our inns, somewhat at least ?"

"The far greater part are by no means so good as those described by Mr. Campbell. Volney says, speaking

What is likely concerning our Lord? How are the Eastern inns built at the present day? What of those of Aleppo ?