Page images
PDF
EPUB

feared and served the living God, who is the giver of every good gift, and has commanded us to pray to him always. And this new law forbade him to pray.

How often did Daniel pray? Three times a day, he went into his chamber and kneeled upon his knees and prayed, and gave thanks to God.

Did he do the same after he knew the law was made, that he should not ask a favor of any god or man besides the king? He did; for he chose to be cast into the lions' den rather than neglect to pray to God.

How was the king affected, when the princes went and told him that Daniel did not obey the new law? He was sorry and displeased with himself that he had made such a law; for he loved Daniel, and labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

What did the king say to Daniel, when he had given them leave to put him in the den of lions? He said, the God whom you serve daily, he will deliver you..

What did the king do after they had put Daniel into the den? He sealed the stone which was laid on the mouth of the den; then went to his palace and fasted all night; for he could not sleep, or be comforted, with any thing, because he had put Daniel in the lions' den. What did he do in the morning? He arose very early and went in haste to the den of lions; and when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel, and said, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God whom thou servest, able to deliver thee from the lions?

What pleasant sound did the king now hear in that dark and dismal den? He heard the voice of Daniel, saying, O king, live forever; my God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not

hurt me.

What did the king do then? He commanded, and they took Daniel up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

What did the king do with those princes, that accused Daniel? He commanded, and they brought those wicked men who caused Daniel to be put in the den, and

they cast them into the den of lions, with their wives and their children; and the lions brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.

JONAH.

Who was Jonah? A prophet of the Lord.
Why was he brought into trouble?

obeyed God.

Because he dis

What had God told him to do? He told him to go to Nineveh, a wicked city, and tell the people that God was going to destroy them for their great wickedness.

Why did he not go and obey God? He thought that when they should hear that they were soon to be destroyed for their wickedness, they would repent and pray to God; and he knew that God would forgive, and not destroy them, if they repented.

And was not Jonah willing that the people of that great city should repent and be saved? He thought more about himself, than he did about them, and was afraid they would think he was a false prophet, and had told them a lie.

Did Jonah set out to flee from the presence of God? He did, and went to Joppa by the sea, and found a ship ready to sail to Tarshish; so he paid his passage, and got into the ship, to sail over the great water.

Did he soon find that he could not flee away from God? He did; for God sent a great tempest upon that sea, and the ship was like to be broken, and all who were in it drowned in the deep.

Where was Jonah when the tempest came? lying down in the side of the ship, fast asleep.

He was

What did the sailors say to him, when they saw he was asleep? They said, what meanest thou, O sleeper; arise, and call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

What did they next enquire about? They tried to find out which of those in the ship had been so wicked as to provoke God to send such a terrible tempest upon them.

What did they do, that they might find out the one

who was guilty? They cast lots; and the lot fell upon Jonah.

What did they then say to Jonah? They asked him to tell them what he had done, and what his business was, and where he came from, and to what people he belonged.

}

What did Jonah say? He told them all the truth, and told them that he feared the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.

1

What did Jonah say, when they asked him why he had done this, and what they should do to him, that the sea might be calm? for they were in great fear. He said, take me up, and cast me into the sea, and then it shall be calm; for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

Were the sailors willing to cast Jonah into the sea? No; they were afraid to do it, and tried hard to get the ship to land; but they could not, for the sea rose, and the tempest raged against them.

What did they do, when they found they must throw Jonah into the water? They prayed that they might not be found guilty of murder, and that God would not punish them for casting Jonah into the water.

What did they then? They took up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared and praised the Lord.

Was Jonah drowned in the deep? He was not; for God sent a great fish to swallow him, and keep him alive three days and three nights.

What did Jonah do now? He cried and prayed to the Lord, and said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me;-When my soul fainted in me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came unto thee.-Salvation is of the Lord.

What did the Lord do when Jonah prayed? He spake to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

What did Jonah do, when God told him again, to go to Nineveh, that great city, and tell them, what he bid him? He went; and as he began to enter into the city,

he cried and said, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

What did the people do when they heard him? They believed it was the word of God, and were afraid; and the king of Nineveh rose from his throne, and took off his royal robes, and put on sackcloth, and said, let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything, let them not feed, nor drink water; let all cry mightily unto God, yea, let them turn every one from his evil way. Who can tell if God will turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not.

When God heard their prayers and saw their works, what did he do? He turned away the evil he had thought to do unto them, and he did it not.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S GOLDEN IMAGE.

Did the people of God worship and serve him while they were held captive in Babylon? They did; and trusted in him to defend them from that wicked people; and God was near to them and helped them in their distress.

When Nebuchadnezzar set up a vast image of gold, which was more than one hundred feet in height, whom did he send for, to come and worship the image? All the officers, and rulers of the country.

When they came together, who gave out the king's command to them? A herald.

Who is a herald? An officer who carries messages for the king.

What did the herald say? He cried aloud, and said, To you it is commanded, O people and nations, that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up. And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall the same hour be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

Did any one dare to disobey the king, and refuse to worship the image? There were three of the officers, which were the people of God; and they could not do so

wickedly as to worship the image; for it would be disobeying God's holy commandment.

What did the king do, when it was told him they would not worship the image? He was very angry, and commanded them to be brought to him.

What did he say to them? He told them if they would now worship the golden image which he had made, it should be well; but if they would not, they should be cast that same hour into a burning fiery furnace; and he blasphemously demanded, Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

What did they say? They trusted in God and said, Our God, whom we serve, is able, and will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.-Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

How was the king affected with this? He was full of fury, and looked upon them with anger, and commanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than it was usually heated.

When these three men were bound and cast into the furnace, what became of the men that put them in? The furnace was so exceedingly hot they were burned in the flame and died.

When the king came and looked into the furnace, how was he affected? He was astonished, and rose up in haste, and said, did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?

When they told him it was so, what did he say? Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt, and the fourth is like the Son of God.

Did the king then call them out of the fire? He did, and said, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, come here.

When they came forth from the midst of the fire, and the king and all the rulers and officers saw that the fire had not hurt them, and not even a hair of their head was singed, what did king Nebuchadnezzar say? He said, blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath delivered his servants who trusted in

« PreviousContinue »