THE PIGEON. 86 



was such as not to allow the use of a more costly ani- 

 mal, Doves or pigeons were enjoined. The words 

 are, "And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she 

 shall bring two Turtle Doves, or two young pigeons ; 

 the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin of- 

 fering." Leviticus, chapter 12, verse 8. 



We may learn from this, that it is not the value or 

 largeness of the offering that makes it acceptable to the 

 Lord, but the motive with which it is made. 



If presented with a humble and willing mind, the 

 Turtle Doves, or pigeons, were just as acceptable in 

 the eye of Heaven, as the lamb. The two mites of 

 the poor widow were estimated above all the splendid 

 offerings which the rich, in their pride, were induced 

 to give. 



Let us, therefore, when we do acts of charity, take 

 care that our hearts are in the work, and then we may 

 be sure that the smallest gifts will be acceptable offer- 

 ings before the Lord ; but if we give ever so much 

 merely to be seen of men, our offerings, like that of 

 Cain, will be refused, and we shall be guilty of hypoc- 

 risy in this sight. 



In the Book of Genesis, the Dove is mentioned as 

 the bird, by means of which Noah ascertained that the 

 waters of the flood had abated, and that the dry land 

 had appeared. The raven which was first sent forth 

 for this purpose, did not return, probably because that 

 bird, which feeds on flesh, found abundance of food in 

 the dead animals which the waters had destroyed. 

 But the clean and delicate Dove, whose food is only 

 the seeds of plants, could find nothing to eat, nor any 

 place on which to rest herself, and was therefore obli- 



