to consider the state of their soul before they sacrificed the Paschal Lamb. Pray, have you already your Paschal Lamb? for you know our fathers had it always four days before the feast in their house, in order, I suppose, to have time to consider its typical, significant meaning.

Teacher-You know we are now in captivity, and that we cannot have any sacrifices; and in place of the Paschal Lamb, we have a piece roasted by the fire. But I see you are Israelites Have you a Paschal Lamb?

I. To be sure! and we thank God, not such a poor substitute as you; but the very Paschal Lamb-the Lamb that opened not its mouth —the Lamb that bore our griefs, and carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. O that you would look to this Lamb, that was pierced for our sins, and believe in Him!

Teacher. Of whom do you speak?

I. Of whom should I speak to you, but of Him of whom Moses, and the prophets, and David spoke, and said, "they pierced my hands and my feet," Jesus of Nazareth.

The teacher's face looked beclouded when he heard the name of Jesus; and he said, (suppressing a rising gust of passion,) "I do not agree with you-I am busy-come again another time."

I. At another time? Can you tell me whether you will be at that other time still in the land of the living? To-day, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart. At another time! Repent a day before your death! said our wise men. If you would believe Moses, you would also believe with me in Christ.

Teacher.-I beg you will leave me now, for I am a busy shepherd. Come at another time, and I'll convert you back to Judaism. We promised to come again, and left.

SCRIPTURE CHARACTERS.

DEBORAH.

DEBORAH is worthy of being considered among our Scripture characters. She was a great woman. The Lord raised her up for a great work. She is among those holy women whose conduct and life are an encouragement to all those of her

own sex.

The name of Deborah comes before us, at a time when the people of Israel were in a state of great trouble and sorrow. They had sinned against the Lord. They had forgotten Him who had done such great things for them. God had therefore caused Jabin, king of Canaan, to come against them. He had a great general called Sisera, and they had overcome the people of Israel, and made them their servants.

The army of the king of Canaan was very great, for "twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.” In their distress they cried unto the Lord, and the Lord came to their help.

At that time there were no kings in Israel. The land was ruled by judges. These judges were people of wisdom, to whom the others came for counsel and advice. The judges had been men, but it happened that " Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time." Her dwelling was under a palm tree "between Ramah and Beth-el in Mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment."

The Spirit of God came upon her. The Lord was about to deliver His people. She therefore sent to a man of the name of "Barak, the son of Abinoam," and told him that God had commanded him to take with him ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and to draw nigh to Mount Tabor to fight against their enemies, and that he would deliver them into their bands.

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But Barak knew the strength of their enemies, and he was afraid. If thou wilt go with me," said he, “ then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go." Deborah consented to go with him, but said that this journey should not

be for his honour, for that God would Sisera into the hand of a woman.”

"sell

The people of Israel met together. They went up to Mount Tabor, with Deborah and Barak at their head. Sisera gathered together all the mighty army which he had under his hand. Great was the battle that day. But God fought not on the side of Sisera, and his hosts were cast down before the little band of Israel.

Sisera was in great alarm. He thought that he would be taken captive. He therefore got out of his chariot, and ran away on foot. He came to a dwelling where lived Heber the Kenite. His wife Jael was there, and as there was peace between them, Sisera asked her to receive and hide him.

It was in this way that the prophecy of Deborah came to pass. Jael bade Sisera enter. In an evil hour for him he did so,-and after having some milk to drink, he was so tired with all the fighting and his flight, that he fell asleep. It is not easy for us to say, whether it was an impulse from on high,-a sudden thought,-or real treachery, that led Jael to do what she did; but we read that she "took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground, for he was fast asleep

and

weary. So he died." The Lord had truly sold Sisera into the hand of a woman.

Barak returned with Deborah after this great battle. God had made them to overcome their foes. They were now free. Israel was now delivered from the yoke under which they had so long groaned.

The famous song of Deborah and Barak was then sung. In it they praised the Lord for what He had done. They spoke well of those of the tribes who had gone with them to the battle, and they condemned those who had not fought on their side. Above all the city of Meroz was cursed, because “they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty."

We hear no more of Deborah. With this song ended the account of her short but interesting history.

But we are taught here what the female sex may do for God. Who could have though that He would have placed a woman in such a station as that which Deborah filled? Who could have thought that she would be made a judge in Israel, and a leader of the people of the Lord?

It is thus that the Lord often uses the weakest to do the hardest work. He often takes that which is thought but little of, in order to carry out His greatest purposes. How this should cheer on the female sex in all their works of