no greater affliction can arise, than to witness either profligacy or irreligion in the heart and habits of the Child of its affection, so cannot there be presented to the religious feelings of a fond Father or Mother a more enduring gratification than the conviction that Children, reared under their nurture and admonition, are treading the same Scripture-Guiding Paths, that Lead to Heavenly Communion and Holiness and Endless Joy. It is, therefore, obviously not less the dictate of Self-interest than a most sacred duty, by every reasonable means in our power, and by prayer for DIVINE Co-operation, to bring about those Alliances in All over whom we may use influence, which will produce an union of Souls in the love and service of The FATHER of Spirits. Abraham's proceeding in this respect is thus Recorded, "And Abraham was old and well stricken in age; and The LORD had Blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest Servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and I will make thee swear by The LORD, The GOD of Heaven, and The GOD of the Earth, that thou shalt not take a Wife unto my Son of the Daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my Country and to my Kindred, and take a Wife unto my Son Isaac!' And the Servant said unto him Peradventure the Woman will not be willing to follow me unto this Land! Must I needs bring thy Son again unto the Land from whence thou camest?' And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my Son thither again! THE LORD GOD of Heaven, Which Took me from my Father's house, and from the Land of my Kindred, and Which Spake unto me, and That Sware unto me, Saying,--Unto thy Seed will I Give this Land!-He shall Send His Angel before thee; and thou shalt take a Wife unto my Son from thence. And if the Woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my Son thither again!"-Gen. xxiv, 1 to 8.

Though Distinguished in a pre-eminent degree by The DIVINE Favours with all the beneficial possessions that property could give, and doubly enriched by the enjoyment which a temperate and wise use and application of them were calculated to produce, "for the Blessing of The LORD It Maketh Rich; and He Addeth no sorrow with It,"-Prov. x, 22,-Abraham had yet one Blessing more to wish, and for the attainment of It he set himself to work in the manner he thought best adapted to gain The DIVINE Assistance, trusting in the general Guidance of his heart by The HOLY SPIRIT; and did not wait for a Specific Revelation of The ALMIGHTY'S Will, as Imparted in the Direction for the Offering up of Isaac as a Sacrifice. It is thus that our own judgments are to be called into action under the supplicated (though it may be silently supplicated) Governance of DIVINE Grace in all the ordinary and extraordinary occurrences and circumstances of our life and condition. Abraham thus adopted the means apparently best suited to the end, so far as the choice of them did not present any opposition to The DIVINE Appointment or Commands; and having so done, he piously left the result to PROVIDENCE. It is true he might have gone himself, and in Person have introduced his Son: and such, to a worldly mind, might have seemed the wiser course. But dear as was the fulfilment successfully of this Embassy to his heart, Abraham knew and felt that obedience to The DIVINE Revelation Made to him, by continuing in the Land of Promise, though then only treated as a Sojourner in it, was of far more vital importance to the Best Interests both of himself and his Son. Abraham's fear for the marriage of his Son with a Female of Canaan, arose from the possibility of his being led away by her to idolatry; and having an Offspring Aliens from the faith and Service of The True GOD-a fear than which there can none greater assail a pious Parent's breast, and against which, therefore, it most especially behoves that Parent to be fortified in the best manner, not only by example, but by precept, and not only

with prayer, but with provision and exertion. To Abraham the Still Small Voice of Inspiration had Declared the importance of The Doctrine. In subsequent Ages it was avowed to be Expressly The DIVINE Command Delivered to GOD'S Chosen People, the Seed of Abraham. To us the example of Abraham contains the admonition that we should not choose for our Sons Women who are Canaanites in spirit, but Such as are of The Spiritual Adoption of CHRIST (as in Spirit Children of Abraham,) being Regenerated by the Purifying and Sanctifying Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT, for then alone can it be justly hoped that the Blessing of Abraham may flow back in after Generations. The doubt, raised by Eliezar, of his having influence to bring the Woman he might select, from her home, her Connections, and her native Land, to resign herself to a Stranger in a Land that was strange, and to pledge herself to so sacred and continuous an engagement as wedlock; and his inquiry whether, if he could not prevail with her, he should fetch Isaac thither to intercede with her in Person, and not improbably to continue there for the sake of such an alliance, was perfectly natural and judicious. But Abraham's faith was not to be so committed; for we find him not only not postponing his determination on the subject, till the event should show if any such decision were called for, but in the most prompt and mandatory terms forbidding the act and course altogether, saying "Beware thou, that thou bring not my Son thither again ;" and then he devoutly declares his confidence in GOD, as Favouring the enterprize, and Disposed to Crown it with success. Thus would it be well if all temptations to a departure from the Avowed or Implied Will and Direction of The ALMIGHTY, whether originating with our Fellow Mortal, or prompted by the Spirit of evil in our own hearts, were boldly and piously met, and resisted-no season for parley or deliberation allowed-then would the seductive influence shrink from us as darkness from light, and being thus strong in The LORD and in the Power of His Might, we should be more than Conquerors through CHRIST, Who Helpeth with The SPIRIT All, who so have faith to be Saved: for unto us, and every Individual Believer in CHRIST JESUS, as unto the Israelites of old, doth JEHOVAH in Mercy Declare, "Behold, I Send An ANGEL before thee to Keep thee in the Way, and to Bring thee into the Place Which I have Prepared! Beware of Him, and obey His Voice: provoke Him not! For He will not Pardon your transgressions: for My Name is in Him. But if thou shalt indeed obey His Voice, and do All That I Speak, then I will be An ENEMY unto thine Enemies, and An ADVERSARY unto thine Adversaries."-Ex. xxiii, 20 to 22. In the application of Which Promise to ourselves we have only to read "the Heavenly," instead of "the Earthly," Canaan; the Inheritance of Spiritual for temporal Blessing; and the evil affections within us and the Powers of Darkness from without, for the Adversaries and Enemies which The LORD of Hosts will combat for us in The PERSON of The Great CAPTAIN of Salvation unto All who enrol themselves under His Banner.

The Continuance of the Narrative of Abraham's Embassy is as follows: "And the Servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his Master, and sware to him concerning that matter. And the Servant took ten camels, of the camels of his Master, and departed (for all the goods of his Master were in his hand); and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, unto the City of Nahor: and he made his camels to kneel down without the City, by a well of water, at the time of the evening, even the time that Women go out to draw water: and he said, O LORD GOD of my Master Abraham, I pray Thee, Send me Good Speed this day; and Shew Kindness unto my Master, Abraham! Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the Daughters of the Men of the City come out to draw water! And Let it come to pass that the Damsel, to whom I shall say, 'Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may

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drink!' and She shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also!'Let the Same be She, that Thou hast Appointed for Thy Servant, Isaac! And thereby shall I know that Thou hast Shewed Kindness unto my Master.' And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, Son of Milcah, the Wife of Nahor, Abraham's Brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder: and the Damsel was very fair to look upon; a Virgin; and She went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up and the Servant ran to meet her, and said, 'Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher !' And She said, Drink, my Lord! and She hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink: and when She had done giving him drink, She said, ‘I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking:' and She hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the Man, wondering at her, held his peace, to wit, whether The LORD had Made his journey prosperous, or not? And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the Man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, and said, Whose Daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee? Is there room in thy Father's house for us to lodge in? And She said unto him, I am the Daughter of Bethuel, the Son of Milcah, which She bare unto Nahor.' She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.' And the Man bowed down his head, and worshipped The LORD; and he said, Blessed be The LORD GOD of my Master Abraham, Who hath not Left destitute my Master of His Mercy and His Truth! I being in the way, The LORD Led me to the house of my Master's Brethren.' And the Damsel ran and told them of her Mother's house these things. And Rebekah had a Brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the Man, unto the well: and it came to pass, when he saw the earring, and bracelets upon his Sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah, his Sister, saying, Thus spake the Man unto me,' that he came unto the Man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well: and he said, Come in, thou Blessed of The LORD! wherefore standest thou without? for 1 have prepared the house, and room for the camels.' And the Man came into the house, and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the Men's feet that were with him; and there was set meat before him to eat. But he said, 'I will not eat, until I have told my errand.' And he said, 'Speak on!' And he said, ‘I am Abraham's Servant; and The LORD hath Blessed my Master greatly; and he is become great; and He hath Given him flocks, and herds, and silver and gold, and Men Servants, and Maid Servants, and camels and asses. And Sarah, my Master's Wife, bare a Son to my Master, when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. And my Master made me swear, saying,-Thou shalt not take a Wife to my Son of the Daughters of the Canaanites, in whose Land I dwell; but thou shalt go unto my Father's House and to my Kindred, and take a Wife unto my Son.--And I said,--Peradventure the Woman will not follow me!--And he said unto me,--THE LORD, before Whom I walk, will Send His Angel with thee, and Prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a Wife for my Son of my Kindred and of my Father's House: then shalt thou be clear from this my oath.2 And I came this day unto the well, and said,O LORD GOD of my Master Abraham, if now Thou do Prosper my way which I go; behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the Virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her,Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink!-And she say to me,--Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels!--Let the Same be the Woman, whom The LORD hath Appointed out for my Master's Son! And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well and drew water; and I

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said unto her,--Let me drink, I pray thee !--And She made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said,--Drink! and I will give thy camels drink also.?So I drank, and She made the camels drink also: and I asked her, and said,--Whose Daughter art thou?And She said,--The Daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's Son, whom Milcah bare unto him.--And I put the earring upon her face and the bracelets upon her hands: and I bowed down my head and worshipped The LORD, and blessed The LORD GOD of my Master Abraham, Which had Led me in the right way, to take my Master's Brother's Daughter unto his Son. And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my Master, tell me! and if not, tell me! that I may turn to the right hand or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The Thing Proceedeth from The LORD! we cannot speak unto thee bad or good: behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go; and let her be thy Master's Son's Wife! as The LORD hath Spoken.' And it came to pass that when Abraham's Servant heard their words, he worshipped The LORD; bowing himself to the earth. And the Servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her Brother and to her Mother precious things: and they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him; and tarried all night: and they rose up in the morning, and he said, 'Send me away unto my Master!' And her Brother and her Mother said, 'Let the Damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten! after that She shall go.' And he said unto them, 'Hinder me not! seeing The LORD hath Prospered my way: send me away! that I may go to my Master.' And they said, 'We will call the Damsel, and inquire at her mouth.' And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this Man?' and She said, 'I will go.' And they sent away Rebekah, their Sister, and her Nurse, and Abraham's Servant and his Men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our Sister; be thou the Mother of Thousands of Millions; and let thy Seed possess the gate of Those, that hate them! And Rebekah arose, and her Damsels; and they rode upon the camels, and followed the Man; and the Servant took Rebekah and went his way. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the South Country; and Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide; and he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when She saw Isaac, She lighted off the camel; for She had said unto the Servant, What Man is this, that walketh in the field to meet us?" And the Servant had said, 'It is my Master: therefore She took a veil and covered herself. And the Servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his Mother Sarah's tent; and took Rebekah, and She became his Wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his Mother's death.”—Gen. xxiv, 9 to 67. How full of interest and instruction is this Family Incident? Abraham's faith evidently descended to his Steward, the first Officer of his Household; every arrangement for the journey was made in consistency with a truthful effort towards attaining the object, though that object, if attained, might additionally tend to interrupt even the remote probability of his eventually succeeding to Abraham's property, extensive as it was, in case of Isaac's dying Childless in Abraham's lifetime, or if Isaac had married among the Daughters of Canaan to the discomfiture of his Father, and the possible disinheritance of himself as a consequence of his thereby opposing the Gracious Purpose of JEHOVAH. The supplication for DIVINĚ Assistance and Guidance to be thrown in the way of the very Maiden, to whom it would be in the Will of The ALMIGHTY that Isaac should be allied, for the furtherance of his own happiness and the fulfilment of his Father's pious purpose, instead of at once resting on his own judgment and discrimination, by at once introducing himself amongst all the People of the City, is another commendable feature in this wise-hearted Servant, a course so simple in its suggestion, and so calculated to develope character in

the Female; and the Direct Answer to the prayer is an obvious Proof of A Particular PROVIDENCE, Which it would be well if we all individually so sought, and so confided in. The right-minded Rebekah, full of one of the leading and endearing qualities of her Sex, a readiness to oblige, and an active spirit of attention to the wants and reasonable wishes of Others, not only met the direct solicitation of the Steward in giving him of the water she had drawn, but instantly of her free will extended her service, and doubtless, not without much Personal exertion, drew successively till she had filled and, perhaps, refilled the trough with a supply that satisfied the thirst of no less than eight camels after a wearying journey; an animal peculiarly copious in its draughts, from the enlarged formation of its stomach, to enable it to sustain its progress through the thirsty deserts. The renewed piety of the Steward at finding his hope thus PROVIDENTIALLY Seconded, shows the vital Hold that Abraham's GOD had upon his heart. We find, also, that though Abraham had left, and long left, the Land of his Kindred, the knowledge and worship of The True GOD had not forsaken it with him, for both Laban and Bethuel manifested the Patriarchal faith, in saying to the Steward, "The Thing Proceedeth from The LORD! We cannot speak unto thee bad or good:" they probably meant that they would not, by any other decision of their own than entire resignation to The Divine Will, interrupt the Course so Graciously Pointed out to the Steward; and, therefore, they put such guard over their tongues, though of words seemingly and intentionally good, lest the views of the Steward might be changed, and his search for a Wife for his young Master be elsewhere directed. Their after proposal that Rebekah might have some ten days allowed her to prepare for her departure, and that her Kindred's minds might by degrees become reconciled to such a separation from her, appears quite consistent and reasonable after the consent given to the betrothment-and their ultimately yielding to Rebekah's decision, proved their determination to render their natural feelings subordinate to their religious impressions. The parting Blessing they invoked from The FOUNTAIN of All Good on Rebekah, was in accordance with the Prophetic Destiny of the Husband of her choice.

The short description of the courtship and marriage, under the peculiar circumstances and habits of the Age and Place, and the expression of Isaac's warmth of feeling under his new Relationship, leave to the imagination the easy task to supply the picture of mutual endearment interchanged between the Objects of an Union so evidently Superinduced and Countenanced by GOD, Whose faith they mutually cherished, and Whose willing Servants they gratefully proved. In such a consummation of the fondest wish of a pious Parent's heart, what joy must that Union, in its prospects, as well as present appearance, have imparted to Abraham; and in the piety as well as the fidelity of his Steward, and probably in the influential acknowledgment and worship of The True GOD by the Members of his Household generally, what reflective delight must the Soul of the Patriarch have received under the consciousness that his own piety had tended to Bring down Such Accumulated Blessings upon him. May we so live and so act, Each in our peculiar circumstance and Connections, as that we may taste of such reflective and prospective happiness under a sense of The DIVINE Favour, by a sacred regard to The DIVINE Will, that both we and our Household may serve The LORD.

In continuance of Abraham's History it is Declared, that "Then again Abraham took a Wife, and her name was Keturah:"-Gen. xxv, 1. (by whom he had six Children). "And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac: but unto the Sons of the Concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts; and sent them away from Isaac, his Son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the East Country."