Mamma.-I shall begin with giving you the poet's account of a rebellion in heaven, before the creation of the world; and I particularly wish you all to bear in mind that it is a fiction; and that something is said in it concerning Jesus Christ, which implies that he was not the great and eternal God, as St. Paul says he was.

Emily. Whatever Milton may say of our Saviour, I believe that verse is true which you taught me before I could read: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Eliza. And I remember a few words that have the same meaning: "By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible;" and my uncle told me Him meant Jesus Christ, who is called, in a verse or two before, the Son of God.

Amily.-I suppose it is true that the wicked spirits were once good and happy: What do you think, Mamma, was the sin which caused them to be banished from heaven?

Mamma.-That some of the angels fell from their original state of purity and blessedness we have the express testimony of

Scripture: St. Jude informs us they "kept not their first estate;" but under what circumstances they fell, it is impossible to determine. Milton supposes there was a period when God appointed his Son to be the Head of the angels, and when they were therefore required to render homage to Him; and that their refusing to obey this command was the sin into which they fell. This is a mere conjecture; for St. Paul says, in his Epistle to the Colossians, "Whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers," in which are included angels of every order, all were created by the Son of God, and for Him; and that by Him all things consist. Now as all the angels were created by Jesus Christ,―and created for his glory, and as all were sustained by his great power, they must have been subject to Him from the first moment of their being, and devoted to his worship. Milton's account, therefore, must be wrong, and can only be tolerated as a poetical embellishment.

William. However entertaining books may be, I am determined never to believe any thing in them which is contrary to the Bible.

Eliza.-But while you are a little boy,

William, you might read and believe things without knowing they are false; so it is well you have some one to set you right. I think, Mamma, it is better for you to tell us all Milton says, and explain in what respects he is wrong, than to miss those parts; for when we are old enough to read Paradise Lost, by ourselves, we might be puzzled at some things, without having an opportunity of asking you questions.

Emily. And we might be with people who would try to persuade us Milton is right in every thing he says: But if we know your opinion before-hand, we shall always believe as you do.

Mamma.-I am aware that persons who study to promote the happiness of their children, have generally great influence over them. It is on this account I accustom myself, when giving you religious instruction, to refer you to the word of God, that you may believe nothing regarding the salvation of your souls, merely because I believe it, but because God has revealed it in the Holy Scriptures.

Eliza.-I never before thought what a mercy it is to have such a book as the Bible to which we can refer. It does not, certainly,

always satisfy our curiosity about things which are not necessary for us to know, but it does not leave us in doubt how we are to be saved.

William.-Now, dear Mamma, will you begin the story? We shall not believe a word that you tell us is contrary to the Bible.

Mamma.-Our poet informs us there was a time when the Almighty summoned before his throne the innumerable hosts of angels. Immediately they hastened from all the ends of heaven, and with joyful obedience presented themselves before the throne of the Most High. He presented to them his beloved Son, appointing Him their Head, and commanding that all in heaven should bow before Him, and confess Him Lord. He declared at the same time, that if any of the angels disobeyed the Son, they should be cast out from God, and fall into outer darkness, which should be their place for ever. All seemed well pleased with these words; but in the night, (for the poet says the angels have evening and morning, for pleasant change,) one of the highest rank of heavenly spirits, if not the first archangel, formed sinful thoughts of pride, which produced malice and disdain. He could not bear to worship

the Son of God, and resolved to persuade as many as possible to take part in rebelling against Him. This angel is now called Satan; his former name is heard no more: Great indeed

His name, and high was his degree in heaven;
His count'nance, as the morning star that guides
The starry flock.

He so successfully used his amazing powers of eloquence, that he infused bad influence into the minds of his associates and their inferior spirits, and with lies drew after him the third part of heaven's host.

God the Father is then represented as making a speech to his blessed Son, in which are these lines :

Such a foe

Is rising, who intends to erect his throne
Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north;
Nor so content, hath in his thought to try
In battle, what our power is, or our right.
Let us advise, and to this hazard draw

With speed what force is left, and all employ
In our defence, lest unawares we lose
This our high place.

Eliza. I do not like that, Mamma. God never could have such a thought: He is, and

must always have been Almighty, and there