52 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

Grandfather. It is more likely that it had been made
in imitation of the Babylonian fabrics, or perhaps it may
only mean some particularly fine dress belonging to the
king or some of the great men of Jericho ; at all events,
the sight of it was too much for Achan; when he saw
it, he coveted it; and as the passion of covetousness
increases by the gratifying of it, the garment was not
enough for him, he must needs add to it silver and gold,
that his store might be more valuable.

George. How much ashamed Achan must have felt
when he had to confess the theft before so many people.

Grandfather. This teaches us that though sin may be
sweet in the commission of it, it is always bitter in the
detection of it; and, when tempted to commit sin, we
ought to remember that it most surely will come to
light ; and ask ourselves if the pleasure we expect from
the sin will be as great as the pain we shall feel when it
ig detected ;—if the pleasure and pain were to be
weighed in scales, we would see that the pain would far
outweigh the pleasure.

Marianne. But, grandfather, it is not right to take
_ pleasure in doing what is wrong.

Grandfather. It is not ; no one who truly loves the
Lord can love what is displeasing to him ; those who
are really the people of God would feel their sin being
known by men but a slight evil compared with His dis-
pleasure. Satan is ever on the watch to tempt us, and
our carnal hearts are too prone to yield. Let us pray
that we may be cleansed from secret faults.