204 KING

ter?” No, the poor little boy was
just dead.

God, in kindness to the child,
made him die. His wicked parents
had not taught him to know the
Lord; but the Holy Spirit had
taught him, and, therefore, he was
ready to die.

Are you, like this little boy, ready
to die? Perhaps you may die very
soon; for God often calls the young
away ;.they do not always live to
grow up to be men and women.

 

ASA.

Children, therefore, ought to be
ready for death; they should pray
for new hearts, and choose God for
their father and their friend now.
And then, when called to die, they
will be glad, as Jeroboam’s little
son was; and when their parents
and friends mourn over their graves,
it will comfort those parents and
friends to think that their dear
children are gone to a world of
glory, to be happy there for ever.

 

CXLIV.

[inc ipsa.

after his son’s death; he
was wicked all his life
long. Rehoboam was
dead now, and Abijah
was king of Judah. He and Jero-
boam fought against one another.
Abijah was not a good man; but
when he saw the army of Jeroboam
coming, he behaved very bravely
and very rightly. He stood upon a
mountain, and called to Jeroboam,
and to all Israel, and told them of
their great sins and idolatries, in
making and serving the golden
calves. Abijah said, “The Lord is
our captain, He will fight for us,
and help us to conquer you.” And
who conquered? Judah conquered
that day, because they trusted in
God for safety. It was not Judah’s
own power that gave them the vic-
tory; but God fought for them, and
smote wicked Jeroboam and _ his
army. Jeroboam did not live long
- after; the Lord struck him and he
died. Abijah died before him. The

 

quarrels of these two kings were
ended then; their bodies crumbled
into dust in the grave; and their
souls went to appear before God ;
but we cannot hope that, like good
King David and King Solomon,
they were taken to that happy
world where only holy people go.
We now come again to the history
of a very good king. His name was
Asa; he was king of Judah, and
son of Abijah. When Asa began to
reign, he found his people very ig-
norant of God. They had learnt to
be idolators; to worship images and
new gods, and not their own God,
the true God, who made all things.
But when Asa was king, he knew it
was his duty to teach his people the ©
right way. So he threw down all
the idol-altars, and the images, and
commanded Judah to seek the Lord.
Did God bless Asa? Yes, and
He gave rest and quietness to Judah.
All went on well; and Asa built many
new cities, and walls, and towers;
and he and his people became rich,