Gen. xxiii. 17, 18. And the field of Ephron, tohich was in Machpelah, which teas before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, ivere made sure unto Abraham for a possession, in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
THERE is something in a holy life which wonder- fully conciliates the minds of men. At first indeed, like a strong influx of light, it offends their eyes ; and the beholders, unable to bear the effulgence of its beams, turn away from it, or perhaps desire its utter extinction. But when it has shone for a long time before them, and they have had sufficient opportunity to contemplate its worth, they are constrained to acknowledge, that " the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour :" and they begin to venerate the character, whose virtues at first were occasions of offence. We have a striking instance of this in the chapter before us. The children of Heth were not acquainted with Abraham's principles : but they had seen his exemplary deportment for many years : and when the death of his wife necessitated him to ask a favour at their hands, they were as glad to confer it, as he could possibly be to receive it. The purchase of a burying-place does not indeed appear at first sight to be an incident worthy of notice : but in the present instance there is much that deserves atten- tion. We would make some remarks upon, I. The manner in which the agreement was made —
No records, human or divine, afford us a more
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