The departure of the servant, his arrival at the city of Nahor, and meeting with the lovely daughter of Bethuel-that beautiful history so rich in romantic interest and instructive lessoningbelongs not strictly to this chapter. The bride in her modest beauty was received into Abraham's family, and on her first arrival at the encampment, conducted to the tent of Sarah, the place assigned to the chief female in the tribe.

The line of the Messiah being thus cared for, and Isaac constituted the sole heir to all the wealth of Abraham, the patriarch married again. But his other children, having received gifts from him, were sent away into the east country; nor were their descendants, though noticed in the Hebrew annals, considered as belonging to the same stock with the Jews. Ishmael, indeed, joined with Isaac in the last duties to their father, interring his remains in the cave of Machpelah, where the dust of Sarah reposed.

In all the relations of Abraham, his sincerity and fidelity appear prominent. He is thus as a husband, a parent, and as the head of a tribe; but most of all his fealty to God is inviolate. This is the foundation of his exemplary character in respect of inferior claims. His building and sustaining of a family, and his provision for its continuance, have reference to the fulfilment of the great purpose revealed to him, dimly and darkly it may be, but with light enough to guide his own course. He "rejoiced to see the day" of the promised Redeemer, though its full splendour did not burst on his sight, but was veiled in symbols and intimations. He "trusted in God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." In his tent and circle the family life assumes a high and holy character-a significance beyond the ties of earth. May it not also in the life of his spiritual posterity? May not each, in the maintenance of relations established by Divine authority, preserve a trust Divinely committed-to be transferred with care to the children whose remote destiny it must influence?

E

IV.

THE FAMILY OF LOT.

WHEN Lot separated his family from that of Abraham, with the design of establishing his pastoral settlement elsewhere, his eyes were attracted by a rich and beautiful district of country, exceeding in fertility that he was leaving. The valley through which the Jordan flowed, abounding in luxuriant pasturage, in fair groves and blooming fields, was watered by many streams and studded with flourishing cities. Pleasant to the view-" even as the garden of the Lord"-it offered every advantage for a permanent abode; for the resources of the land seemed inexhaustible, and the extending population would form a defence against the incursions of foreign invaders. Well content was the patriarch to have his home in so desirable a locality, and his encampment was formed near one of the prin cipai towns. When the hostile army of the kings from the Euphrates and Tigris swept over this broad plain, and joined battle in the vale of Siddim with the confederate princes of Jordan, Lot was probably among those who strove to throw off the conqueror's yoke, since he was taken prisoner, and rescued by the valour of Abram. This danger over and the country delivered from invaders, there seemed the fairest prospect of peace. In the patriarch's abundant prosperity, perhaps he felt himself consoled for living in a city of the wicked. It does not appear that by his residence in Sodom any of the inhabitants had been won over to the worship of the true God; yet it is intimated that he had made efforts, though without effect, to stem the torrent of iniquity, and teach their duty to the reckless profligates who surrounded him. One of them bears testimony to this, and also to the fact that none in the city were like Lot-in