SERMON XXXVIII. ABRAHAM'S STEWARD. GEN. XXIV. 49. And now if you 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. Notwithstanding the awful destruction of the antedeluvian world, a second general apostacy, about the time of the birth of Abraham, had covered the earth with darkness and threatened to bury the last remains of true religion. On this account God separated Abraham from his father's house, in Haran of Mesopotamia, and removed him to the land of Canaan, in order to preserve a distinct and holy race. Nahor, the brother of Abraham, still remained in Haran, and retained in his family, with some impure mixtures, the worship of the true God. Among his sons was Bethuel, the father of Laban and of Rebekah. When Abraham had grown old and approached the time of his death, both his pious and parental anxieties were engaged to provide a wife for Isaac, who, instead of seducing him to idolatry, would strengthen him in religion. Such a one he could not find among the inhabitants of Canaan; and besides, it was not proper to mingle the holy seed with the proscribed descendants of Ham. His eyes were therefore turned to the family of his brother Nahor. He called the steward of his house and bound him by an oath not to take a wife for Isaac of the daughters of Canaan, but to go into Mesopotamia, and bring thence one of the posterity of Nahor. Having received this commission, the steward took ten of his master's camels, and servants to attend him, and commenced his journey. When he approached the city of Haran, he earnestly prayed God to prosper the enterprise and to point out the person designed for his master's wife. In answer to his prayer, Rebekah, the grandaughter of Nahor, a virgin of great beauty, came forth to meet him, and was made known to him as the one intended by heaven. The good man was deeply affected and "bowed down his head and worshipped," and said, "Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth." The news flew to the house of Bethuel that Abraham's servant was at the well without the city, and Laban hasted to bring him and his attendants into the house. And when meat was set before him, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." He then gave an account of Abraham's family, of the great wealth which God had given him, of the object of his jour ney, and how Rebekah had been designated by a sign from heaven as the mother of the chosen seed; and then concluded his address in the words of our text: "And now if you 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." They had received all the information they could expect, -information abundantly confirmed by the extensive fame of Abraham. They knew him to be the favorite of heaven, chosen for the father of the faithful. What need then of delay? To have put the question aside without taking it into immediate consideration, or to have sent the servant back without an answer, would have been an affront to the heir of an excellent and noble family. An explicit and immediate answer was demanded, and an explicit and immediate answer was given. Let us apply this piece of history to illustrate Gospel truth. The union between Christ and the Church is frequently represented by that between husband and wife. They are united in the tenderest affection, -in sympathies ineffable; each feeling exquisitely the joys and sorrows of the other. When she sees him in the garden or on the cross, how does she sit and weep her life away. And how does she awake to rapture at those events which give him to see of the travail of his soul. On the other hand, whatever favors are done to her he accepts as done to himself; and whoso toucheth her toucheth the apple of his eye. They are united in a marriage covenant, in which he has engaged to provide for her as long as he lives, and she has promised to forsake all others and cleave to him. Like husband and wife their desires are one, their happiness is one, their trials are one, their interest is one. Like a wife she bears her husband's name and honors, and is in affectionate subjection. And like a bridegroom he has gone to prepare a place for her, and when he has made it ready he will come again and receive her to himself. If then the marriage union and that in particular between Isaac and Rebekah, may be considered an emblem of the union between Christ and believers, the embassy of Abraham's steward may illustrate the work of Gospel ministers. These ought to imitate the frank and honest zeal of this pious servant. They should tell their errand with all possible despatch, and should insist on an immediate and unwavering answer. This is my duty. "And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me." But you ask, what is the treatment expected? I answer, the same that was expected in the case before us. Had Rebekah feigned a consent without actually forming the connexion, she would not have dealt kindly and truly with the family of Abraham : And Christ does not ask for a false profession, or a mere outward service, or a service extorted by anguish of conscience or fear of punishment, but one proceeding from cordial love. Rebekah and her family would not have treated Isaac kindly and truly had she been given to another, the decided enemy of Abraham's house. This would have been adding |