ciple of Jesus! See Matt. 10. 42. Oh how fearfully is punishment denounced against them who but so much as make one of his little ones offend! See Matt. 18. 6. " And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Is it so great a thing to be amongst the forefathers of the Messiah? Oh how happy then are they that do the will of God! For thus saith the Messiah of his family, "whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matt. 12. 50.

"So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him." Yes, we see he had this ground also for claiming relationship unto Christ. He did the will of God. "He went out," as it is written in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "not knowing whither he went." Heb. 11. 8. He took with him his wife and his brother's son, and all the increase of their wealth and family "which they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came." They went as far as they intended. They fulfilled the purpose they had formed. And though they knew not what would be the end of the journeyings to which God called them, they went on straightway, as far as they had been yet informed of his will. Would we attain unto the enjoyment of God's promises? Let us not only leave what He bids us leave, but also go whither He bids us go. Let us leave the ways of sin; and also go on in holiness, as far as we know towards perfection. And let us take with us as many as possible of our friends and household. And our substance also let us devote to God, by spending it and giving it according to his will. And especially the souls that we have gotten; if it has pleased God to make us parents, to entrust children to our care, let us make it by far our first care in their behalf to bring them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Eph. 6. 4.

When Abraham arrived in Canaan, the Canaanite, a branch of the family of Ham, "was then in the land." How edifying to this people, and to all those amongst whom Abraham journeyed, must have been the sight of his devotion to Jehovah. In the spot where he had a special revelation, and a promise of the land of Canaan, "there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him." And when he removed from thence, unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el," then again "he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord." And the like he did no doubt continually, as he went on "still toward the south." Oh that we, like him, when we have occasion to make journeys, may never forget, as we travel, to call upon God's name, and to shew forth his praise! Oh that whether we journey or stay at home, we may help, by our practice of public prayer, family prayer, and private prayer, to glorify Christ before men!

Abraham deceiveth Pharaoh.

10 And there was a famine in her before Pharaoh : and the the land and Abram went woman was taken into Pharaoh's down into Egypt to sojourn house. there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee."

14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended

16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

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20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

LECTURE 25.

The advantages of chastisement.

Strange it must have seemed to Abraham, to meet with famine in the land, to which God had removed him out of his own country. And strange to be a sojourner in the land of promise, whilst yet it was not his own. But thus it is that God often suffers us to experience want for a season, intending to give us afterwards the fulness of joy. And it is thus that He would have us use that inheritance of the earth which He promises to the godly, not as owners, but as sojourners, who must needs pitch our tents here for a time, but who look "for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. 11. 10. "And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land." Thrice was life preserved in God's church by means of Egypt; once in Abraham, once in Jacob and his family, once in Christ. God knows how to bring good out of evil. He can make the wicked minister to his own glory, and to the welfare of his saints. They who for any cause are compelled for a

time to sojourn in the tents of the ungodly, must endeavour to turn their stay to these holy uses, the good of their brethren, and the honour of their Lord.

We grieve to think that this was not the case with Abraham. We are surprised to find him suppressing the truth out of the fear of man, when he had been ready to count all things but loss out of love towards God. But this is to be continually noted in the history of God's chosen şervants, that they were liable to fall, and have fallen. And of this we need to be continually reminded, that One only is good, and that is God. Abraham did indeed speak the truth in point of form. Sarah was indeed half sister of Abraham, the daughter of his father though not of his mother. See ch. 20. 12. And at a time when it was common to have more wives than one at once, the children of the different wives formed families so totally distinct, that they were not forbidden to intermarry. But in such a case the relationship, and the name, of sister, was lost in that of wife. And he that should represent such a wife to be his sister, with a view to conceal that she was his wife, was as clearly guilty of falsehood, as if there had been no relation before marriage. For the guilt of falsehood lies in the intention to deceive, and in the slight which the deceiver puts upon the presence of God. As if He did not hear every word we say, and know every thing, whether it be true or false ! As if He ought not always to be esteemed by us as the ever present Witness of our works and words, who will bring all hereafter to judgment!

The Egyptians at this period appear to have preserved some knowledge of God, and of their duty. Abraham was apprehensive that they would most unwarrantably put him to death. And yet he was persuaded that they would not take his wife whilst he was alive, if they knew her to be his wife. And when their king discovered his mistake he seems to have shrunk from the very notion of committing such an offence as adultery. The decay of true religion amongst mankind was gradual. And the chastening hand of God was even yet readily discerned in the Egyptian court. How happy then ought we to be in receiving such chastisements from God, as prevent us from disobeying his commandments! How thankful, if we have at any time been falling away from our convictions, to be reminded by ever so sore a visitation, that there is a God which judgeth the earth!

Lord, rather let us suffer by any plague than that of sin! Rather let us encounter any evil than thy displeasure! Rather let us lose goods, or life, sister, brother, wife, or husband, than lose the sense of thy constant presence, and the joy of doing thy blessed will!

Abraham and Lot are separated.

1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai;

4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. LECTURE 26.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes,

How to choose our dwelling place.

How often does wealth lead to strife! How many times are they who possess abundance disquieted by means of those very

possessions, which are looked up to by others as the source of peace and satisfaction! Happy are they, who in the midst of plenty have respect unto the Giver of all good gifts, and who, like Abraham, when they have the choice of a whole country, prefer the place where they have built an altar at the first, and there call upon the name of the Lord. The home in which we have been used to dwell, and the church in which we have been used to worship, these have charms which are not easily surpassed by all that wealth can offer in exchange. And they who like the father of the faithful, are looking for a heavenly country, though they are free to go wherever God calls them, prefer to stay where they are used to be on earth, that they may be less distracted in their journey towards heaven.

And what a powerful argument was this of Abraham with Lot, that there should be no strife between their herdsmen; "for we be brethren!" What a lesson to brother Christians not to strive, either by themselves or by their servants! "And the Canaanite, and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land." And have we not many dwelling in our land now, who stand by, and triumph in the dissensions of professing Christians? And ought not this also to weigh with us, and constrain us to be agreed? Ought we not for very shame, if not for love, to give the right hand of fellowship to all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity? "Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan." It was kind and courteous in Abraham, to be willing to please his nephew rather than himself. It was rash in Lot to be pleased with the fine country of the plain, without sufficiently considering, that "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." And yet how many, if they had now to choose, would act on the like principles, would look to pleasantness of country, and fertility of soil, rather than try to avoid evil communication, and to profit by edifying society! Oh when shall we be sufficiently aware, that nothing is excellent, nothing pleasant, except in proportion as it alienates us from sin, and brings us nearer into company with God?

The Lord repeats his promises to Abraham, now bereft of the society of Lot. If we have chosen God for our portion, however we may lose the presence of friends and relations, He will never leave us nor forsake us. "When my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord taketh me up." Ps. 27. 12. While Abraham, who had no son, was bereaved of his nephew, God promised to make his seed "as the dust of the earth," for number, and to give them the whole land in which he dwelt for an inheritance. When most alone, as far as our brother men are concerned, we feel to be most close in communion with God. When we have little or nothing else left on earth to love, we have so much the more room to love God entirely, and all our fellow creatures for his sake. And He, so much the more, if we truly love Him, delights to give us comfort, peace, and joy.