218 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



convince the surrounding nations that Balalc's 

 cunning devices were useless in retarding the 

 progress of the Israelites, or in defeating the 

 purposes of the ' Most High who ruleth in the 

 kingdoms of men.' 



" Balaam was afterwards also very blameable 

 in offering sacrifice on heathen altars, in the 

 high places of Baal, which he must have been 

 aware was strictly prohibited." 



My uncle promised to take up this interesting 

 subject again next Sunday ; but on our way to 

 church he told me that these events happened in 

 the year 1451 B. C., and about two centuries 

 and a half before the Trojan war. 



21th. Frederick asked several questions this 

 morning about the worship of Baal, on which he 

 had been pondering since our conversation yes- 

 terday. 



" Baal," said my uncle, " was the same as 

 Bel or Belus. The name signifies Lord, and 

 was originally applied to the Supreme Deity; 

 but in after-times, when idolatry became inter- 

 mixed with the true religion, several of the 

 heathen gods, and particularly the sun, were 

 worshipped under that name. It was not only 

 the general appellation of the sun throughout the 

 east, but it extended from thence over great 

 part of the western world ; and many remnants 

 of the worship of Baal, both names and customs, 



