PERIOD II.

FROM THE DELUGE TO JOSEPH'S DEATH.

B.C. 2347-B.C. 1635. 712 YEARS.

Lesson 4. History of Noah after the Flood.

God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters abated. Noah and his family left the ark, and offered thanksgivings to God. God promised never again to destroy the earth by a flood. The rainbow is the sign of that promise. Noah planted a vineyard, made wine, drank of the wine and was drunken. His son Hammocked him, and Noah foretold that his descendants should be servants to their brethren.

The mercy of God to Noah-The thankfulness of Noah-The gracious promise of God, and its token— The sin of Noah-and the undutifulness of Ham, are the examples and warnings taught by this lesson.

Lesson 5. The Building of Babel, &c.

Some years after the flood the people began to build a city and a tower, that they might be thought great, and not be scattered. God punished them, and made them speak different languages. They left off building the city and the tower, and were dispersed in various countries. The city and tower were called Babel.

"The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever." Psalm xxxiii. 10, 11.

Lesson 6. The Call of Abram.

Abram was a son of Terah.

He lived in Chaldea. God called him thence to possess Canaan. Sarai was the wife of Abram, and Lot was his brother's son. They all came to

live in Canaan, and God promised Abram that he should have a son. God said, that the Saviour should be born of Abram's descendants.

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Heb. xi. 8.

Lesson 7. Abram and Lot. Ishmael born.

The herdsmen of Abram and those of Lot quarrelled because there was not grass enough for their cattle. Abram told Lot to choose himself a part of the land, and Lot chose the plain of Jordan, near Sodom. The men of Sodom were very wicked. Hagar was Sarai's handmaid; she had a son who was called Ishmael.

It was wrong of the servants of Abram and Lot to quarrel. It was wrong of Lot to go and live among

the wicked.

Lesson 8. The Destruction of Sodom.

God changed Abram's name to Abraham, and said he should be a father of many nations. He changed Sarai's name to Sarah. God told Abraham that he would destroy Sodom because the people were wicked. Two angels were sent to hasten Lot out of Sodom, which was then destroyed with fire from heaven.

Abraham interceded for Sodom, but there were not ten righteous men in it. It is the duty of believers to pray for all men, even for those who are wicked.

Lesson 9. The Birth of Isaac. Abraham's Faith.

Isaac, the son which God had promised to Abraham, was born. Ishmael mocked Isaac, and both he and his mother were cast out of Abraham's house.

God commanded Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham was about to slay his son, but God prevented him. God had provided a ram for the sacrifice instead of Isaac.

"By faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac.... accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead.” Heb. xi. 17, 19.

Lesson 10. The Marriage of Isaac.

Abraham had a faithful servant named Eliezer. He sent him into Mesopotamia to bring Isaac a wife from among Abraham's own kindred. He brought thence Rebekah, a daughter of Bethuel, who was a son of of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. The brother of Rebekah was named Laban. Isaac married Rebekah.