Eve. When God calls them to account, instead of confessing their sin, they commit two faults-they endeavour to justify themselves, and to cast the blame on others. In applying this, appeal to the children's consciences and make them feel how constantly they act in a similar manner-how quick they are in finding excuses for themselves, how ready to accuse others.

LESSON XVI.

THE FIRST PROMISE OF THE MESSIAH.-GEN.

III. 14, 15.

Text-Gen. iii. 15.

Lead the children to observe the different manner in which the Almighty treats the tempter and the tempted. He asks him no questions, but immediately passes sentence upon him. This sentence consists of two parts. First, there was an external mark of God's abhorrence of the act set on the animal whose form the Devil assumed. Secondly, there was the prophecy that the seed of the woman (that is, the blessed Saviour) should bruise the serpent's head, that is, destroy his power; though this was to be through suffering, his heel was to be bruised. Lead the children to see the fulfilment of this prophecy, and to feel the extreme love of God

in providing a remedy for the recovery of man as soon as he fell. The first Adam brought death into the world: the second, the Lord Jesus, brought life. We inherit death through the first; we may attain life through the second.

LESSON XVII.

THE SENTENCE PASSED ON ADAM AND EVE.-
GEN. III. 16-19.

Text-Eccles. xii. 7.

The chief point to work out in this lesson is, that labour, pain, and sorrow is now the lot of man-we learn the cause from scripture. Let the children prove it by their own experience:-every thing they wear, the food they eat, the dwellings they live inall cause labour; the acquiring knowledge is a labour; no good is accomplished without labour, either of the head or hands; the earth has been cursed, and weeds spring up now of themselves—but we must cultivate the ground to make it yield useful crops. Sorrow, and pain, and sickness, were part of the punishment, and this was especially to be the woman's lot. She is also to be in subjection to man. How had sin changed the aspect of that world which had been pronounced very good. Man's life was now to be spent in toil, and to dust he was to return. What havoc has sin made-how we should then hate sin, and pray to be delivered from it!

LESSON XVIII.

ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN OUT OF PARADISE.

GEN. III. 21-24.

Text-Rom. v. 12.

Endeavour to form in the children's minds a picture of the immense change that had taken place in the condition of our first parents. No longer in a beautiful garden, surrounded by all that could contribute to their pleasure and happiness, holding constant communion with God as their best friend, without pain, sorrow, or trouble. Now they are driven forth to wander they know not whither ; their path beset with thorns and thistles. Evil passions had not only entered their own breasts, but they saw the animals under their influence. Sin brought every trouble into the world. What then should we most hate? Observe, God clothed them in the skins of animals; from whence we infer, that he then commanded animals to be offered up in sacrifice as a type of the Saviour he had promised.

LESSON XIX.

THE SACRIFICES OF CAIN AND ABEL. GEN. IV. 3-5.

Text-John xiv. 6.

Ask the children what had entered into the world? What Adam had become? Whom do children re

semble? If Adam had become a sinner, what would his children be, for the Bible tells us his children were born in his likeness; (See Gen. v. 3.) and not as at first, created in the image of God. Thus bring the children first to the point, that we are all born in sin, and corrupt in our natures; which truth fix in their minds by simultaneous repetition. Secondly, draw from them that God is holy, that he hates sin, that nothing that is unholy can stand in his sight. How then can we approach him? He has appointed a way-what is it? Their text is the answer; Jesus Christ is the way. He is the Lamb that taketh away sin. Having brought them to the apprehension of these two truths, that we are sinners, and that we can only approach a holy God by a Saviour,-read the account of the sacrifices of Cain and Abel. Question the children as to the difference of the offerings, what was implied by both, also the manner in which they were received by God. Lead them to find out why one was accepted and one rejected. Both came as worshippers of God, but Cain came in pride and selfwill. Abel came as a humble sinner in the way appointed by God, offering a lamb, the type of Christ. The application is obvious.

LESSON XX.

THE MURDER OF ABEL.-GEN. IV, 6-8, 12.

Text-1 John iii. 10.

In this lesson you should appeal much to the children's consciences, and lead them to see the steps of sin, as shown in Cain's history. Ask them how they feel when a brother or companion is preferred before them; when his conduct is approved and theirs condemned. Ask them if when envy and anger rise in their hearts, they do not feel uncomfortable, and find something within them that reproaches them. This is God speaking to them by their consciences. So He did to Cain, but his evil passions prevented him listening; then God left him, and he lifted up his hand against his brother, and became the first murderer. In application tell the children that if they do not listen to the voice of conscience, but do what they know is wrong, and give way to angry feelings, God will leave them to their own devices, and they will sin. Point out to them the dreadful consequence of indulging envy and hatred; and dwell upon the enormity of murder.