ing. It is more ready to be friendly with man than the sheep; yet it prefers solitude, and loves to live on the wild mountains, and among the lonely rocks. Its skin is made into leather; and the kid's skin (or young goat's) is made into ladies' gloves. Goats' skins were also used for clothing. St. Paul tells us, in that beautiful chapter, the eleventh of Hebrews,-of the persecuted Christians of old, who "wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy): they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” This means that wicked people were so cruel to those who loved God and His truth, that they could get no clothes but skins; and for fear of death, had to live in wild places where they could not be found. Let us thank God that we do not live in times when our faith has to be so tried. Should we be fit to endure such trials for the sake of Jesus? Let us ask Him to make us ready to leave all, if needful, for His sake.

Little kids were considered delicious food. Do you remember the savory meat which Rebekah made for Jacob to take to Isaac? It was made from a kid, and so good that the old blind father thought it was venison (or deer's flesh); and by this savory meat Jacob deceitfully ob

tained his father's blessing, instead of Esau. God would have made Jacob's way clear for him had he waited; and God afterwards punished him, by allowing his own sons to deceive him, and tell lies to him about their brother Joseph.

The hair of the goat was very much used in ancient times. Women spun it into curtains for the tabernacle in the wilderness. (Exodus xxxv. 26; xxxvi. 14.) Pillows for beds were made of it (see Sam. xix. 26). Jesus, when He calls His church His bride, says that her "hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from Mount Gilead." (Song of Solomon iv. 1.) The goat was the emblem of the Macedonian Empire. And in Daniel's vision, he saw a he-goat, very powerful and strong, smiting and trampling down other animals: this he-goat meant Alexander the Great, of whom you perhaps have read in ancient history. That mighty king who conquered almost all the world then known, and is said to have wept when he had done so, because he had no more worlds left to conquer. How much better would it have been, if, instead of fighting and shedding the blood of his fellowcreatures, he had fought under Christ's banner against the world, the flesh, and the devil; and by seeking to spread the knowledge of God, turned many from sin and death. But, alas! he

was a heathen king, and knew not the knowledge of God, neither had he faith in the Saviour who was afterwards to be born to save man. The wild goat is mentioned in the Bible, as well as the goat usually seen. It is generally called the ibex, and has splendid horns on its head, and lives entirely among the mountains. It is larger and stronger than the common goat, and of a fiercer nature. It is very dangerous work hunting the ibex; for sometimes, when pressed hard by the hunter on the steep cliffs, it will suddenly turn round, face its enemy, and with its horns dash him over the cliff, where he is soon killed. Perhaps this is why the wicked are sometimes compared to goats, in contrast to the gentle innocent sheep. These goats generally lived in small flocks, on the steepest and highest cliffs. There were many about the mountains of En-gedi, where David hid himself from Saul. En-gedi means "fountain of the goats;" and most likely took its name from the numbers of these animals found there. These goats were clean, and good for food. They lived on grass and herbs, and consequently their flesh was wholesome and nourishing.

Very early times goats were used as sacrifices. Abraham offered a she-goat with other animals, when God made a covenant with him. (Gen. xv. 19.) And a goat might be used instead of a lamb

for the Passover Supper. The chief sacrifice of goats, however, was on the Day of Atonement, which happened once a year,-in the seventh month; which was to be a very solemn and holy time, even as the seventh day was to be sacred. Atonement means an agreement for a sin committed. Jesus made atonement for us, by agreeing to put away the sins of the world, by dying and bearing the curse instead of man. This Sacrifice of Atonement was a solemn type of Jesus, -the Great Sacrifice, and would keep the Jews constantly in remembrance of His promised coming. Almost all heathen nations have an idea of atonement. They feel they have sinned, for God has given them a conscience which reminds them of this. Missionaries tell us, that heathens far away worshipping idols, and knowing not our God, have sacrifices of some kind to atone for sin. On this day of Jewish atonement, two goats were to be taken. (Lev. xvi. 6 -10.) One was chosen by lot, in a way which would show which God pleased it to be. It was to be killed by the priest, and its blood sprinkled on the mercy-seat, and with the priest's finger seven times on the horns of the altar. This the priest did alone. None of the people were allowed to be present. Jesus Christ alone made atonement for sin, of which this offering was a type. The other goat was then to be brought

out before the people, who waited in awe and silence, while the high priest put his hands on the head of the goat, and confessed over it the many sins and iniquities of the people of Israel. This, dear children, was like the sins of the world which were laid upon Jesus. The goat, meek, innocent, and sinless, stood there and received this burden upon it. Isaiah says of Jesus, "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah liii. 6.) The goat was then led away by a suitable person, far off into the