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Christians, like Abraham, are called by God to leave the things that are seen, for those that are not seen. Like him they trust God, looking for a heavenly country, and hoping for the glory not yet revealed. 1 JOHN, 3:2.

"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor; and they served other gods." JOSH. 24: 2.

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." HEB. 11:8.

The call of Abraham was about midway between the creation and the birth of Christ.

CHANGE OF NAME.

How does Abram differ in signification from Abraham? ABRAM, means a high father.

ABRAHAM, signifies the father of many, or of a multitude.

This change in his name was made by God himself, as a token that the divine promise

which had been given him, that he should be the father of many nations, would certainly be fulfilled.

God entered into covenant with Abraham, and gave to him circumcision, as a token of that covenant. GEN. 17:2, 9-11.

ABRAHAM IN CANAAN.

Abraham had never more any fixed habitation. He was a stranger and a pilgrim in the land of promise, often removing from one place to another. Wherever he pitched his tent, he raised an altar and worshipped God.

The Lord Jehovah often appeared to him in dreams and visions, or met him as an Angel, || or in the form of man, and conversed with him as friend to friend.

ABRAHAM'S FAITH.

Abraham stands above all other men in the greatness of his faith. It is this which makes his name illustrious. He is called the father

of the faithful.

True faith will be known by its fruits: it cannot exist without being fruitful.

Its fruit is obedience. Faith is accounted by God as righteousness.

REHEARSAL.

Nine generations after Shem,
Lived Terah, in Chaldean Ur;
The branches issuing from his stem,
Were Abram, Haran, and Nahor:
A son named Lot was Haran's heir,
And Nahor's wife was Milcah fair.
But God took Abram from the rest;

He called him, led him by the hand:
With blessings him he richly blest,

And brought him into Canaan's land;
With Sarah, that beloved name,
And Lot, his brother's son, he came.

To Abram and his seed alone,

The glorious promises were made;
On him the unborn Saviour shone;
The unwrit gospel he surveyed.
In joyful hope Christ's day to see,
May every heart an Abraham be.

WAR.

The first battle mentioned in Scripture, is that of the four kings against five, in the vale of Siddim. Many wars had undoubtedly raged upon the earth; for men were wicked, nations. were corrupt, and "the earth was filled with violence."

"All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea." GENESIS 14:3.

Low in the Dead sea lies concealed
Earth's first recorded battle-field.

There let it lie. Woe, woe the thought,
That man with man hath ever fought!
Then, Siddim's vale was broad and green,
With five fair towns to grace the scene;
But Elam's king, of pompous name,
With all his conquering allies came.
Four kings their armies onward led;
Five kings against them banners spread.
First battle! Would it had been last.
Since then, how oft the warrior's blast,
The clash of arms, the fiery flood,

Have scarred the earth with fields of blood!

Oh, happy future, when no more
Shall sound on earth the battle's roar;
When rapturous music, soft and sweet,
Shall flow, as neighboring nations meet;
When hate, fear, tumult, all shall cease,
The watchword of mankind be peace :
Peace be to those who meet or part;
Peace to the passions, and the heart;
And every friendly greeting be,

"Peace to the world; peace, peace to thee !"

At what period of the world's history were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed?

Four hundred and fifty years after the deluge: one hundred years after the death of Noah.

How was Lot saved?

LOT.

By the assistance of angels, who came to him in the guise of strangers, or travellers.

They warned him of his danger, and aided him in his flight.

In like manner, we believe that at the hour of death good men are assisted and comforted. by angels. They are borne on angels' wings from a wicked world to a land of everlasting joy and safety.

LOT'S WIFE.

What was the sin of Lot's wife?

She looked back.

Was this all? Does not this looking back imply an intention of turning back?

The crime of Lot's wife was similar to that of Eve, disobedience-the sin that brought ruin on mankind.

She looked back, and was struck dead on the

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