cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” Mr. Campbell's verses to the Rainbow. Triumphal arch, that fill'st the sky When storms prepare to part, I ask not proud philosophy To teach me what thou art— Seem ever as to childhood's sight, For happy spirits to alight Betwixt the earth and Heaven. Can all that optics teach, unfold To me, fair bow no fabling dreams, Have told why first thy robe of beams When o'er the green undelug'd earth And when its yellow lustre smiled The earth to thee her incense yields, As fresh in yon horizon dark, Heaven still rebuilds thy span, Illustrations. Can all that optics teach, &c. The science of optics teaches the real nature of the rainbow.-I. informs us that the rainbow is caused by a reflection of the sun's light. After a shower, vapours from the earth rise into the sky, and the sun, from the opposite side of the heavens, shines upon them —these congregated or collected vapours, reflect all the rays of light which are composed of the colours of the rainbow. Before a child knows this, he may imagine the rainbow to be formed of solid gold, topaz, garnet, and emerald, or any of the brilliant stones called gems; and while he is very young, and is delighted with every new object, he may be better pleased with the rainbow than after he has learned its real substance. God does not let the type grow pale with age. The hues of the rainbow are as bright and beautiful now as when Noah first saw it. The words type, token, and symbol, signify one thing or sign which represents or suggests the idea of another thing or circumstance. When we see the rainbow, we immediately think of the promise of God, and thus it becomes the type, token, or symbol of his goodness and truth, and of our safety under his protection and government. LESSON V. 1. THE Old Testament consists of thirty nine different books, the list of these is called the Canon of Scripture. These books were selected from different writings of the Hebrews. The Bible is a moral book which teaches men what God requires of them, what he has done for them, and what he intends for them in another life; and it is also a history of the Hebrews, and in part of some other nations of antiquity. 2. The books of the Old Testament are the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible supposed to have been written by Moses; the historical books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther; sixteen books of prophecy; Ruth and Job-two histories of remarkable individuals; the Psalms of David, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, and the Lamentations. This book 3. Genesis signifies the creation. describes the creation of the world, the history of our first parents and the Antediluvians, the Deluge, the origin of languages, the call or appointment of Abraham, the lives of his descendants, of Isaac, of Jacob, and of his twelve sons, and it concludes with the death of Joseph, B. C. 1635, embracing a period of 2369 years. 4. Exodus signifies the going out the departure from Egypt. Seventy of the family of Jacob went to dwell in Egypt with their brother Joseph B. C. 1706, their posterity remained there till 1491 -215 years, and they were increased to six hundred thousand persons; they then returned to Canaan, the country of their ancestors. 5. Exodus relates the bondage of the Hebrews in Egypt, the birth and education of Moses, the Hebrew legislator; the oppression which the Israelites suffered from the Egyptians; the conduct of the Israelites during their sojourning, or abode in the country between Egypt and Canaan; and the appointment of Aaron and his sons to the office of priest-of these Aaron was the chief priest. This book also contains the ten commandments, and a description of the ceremonies to be observed in the public worship. Moses born B. C. 1561. Exodus includes the period from the slavery of the Israelites B. C. 1635, to the rearing of the tabernacle in the wilderness 1490-145 years. 6. Leviticus contains laws respecting meats, worship, civil usages and social duties. This book was called Leviticus, because the care of it, and the ministration of the law were entrusted to the descendants of Levi, Jacob's son; and these ministers were afterwards called the Levites. 7. Numbers describes the numbering of the people by Moses; their discontents in the wilderness; their rebellions against God; their wars with people through whose countries they passed; some additional laws; the appointment of the Levites, of cities for their residence, and property for their support; the division of land and other property among the tribes, and a second enumeration of them. By the last enumeration it was shown that all the original emigrants from Egypt except Caleb and Joshua had died in the wilderness, so that no person besides Moses, Caleb and Joshua survived who was more than forty years old. Numbers includes thirty eight years, and brings the Israelitish history to B. C. 1451. 9. Deuteronomy continues and recapitulates the history; repeats some of the laws and adds others; describes the blessings of obedience, and the punishments of disobedience to God; and concludes with Moses' song and death, B. C. 1451. The conclusion of this book could not have been written by Moses because it describes his death. 10. Joshua. This book bears the name of the successor of Moses. God appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites into Canaan: it relates the wars |