to tho old habit, and still loves the fighting. The archers, like IHhmael, h;i.vc tLcir sphere as well as the shepherds, like Isaacs. The fiery defenders of faith and the controversial champions of the truth have their sphere as well ae the pious, plodding pastors of Christ's flock. If men have skill for the one thing, let them not despise the powers of others. We have nil to learn to appreciate diversity of talents, and to remember that skill in any work is the outcome of independence, resolution, and energy. Ishmael hnd been endowed with these by God. IV. GoD FURNISHED ISHMAEL WITH A PLACE OF HABITATION. He gave to him the desert for hie domain. Here he might roam and pitch his tent at his own suggestion. God knew that the hot blood of his Egyptian mother, which coursed in nis veins, would find its most fitting sphere in the desert. Instead of mingling with gentle herdsmen, he bnd to dwell among the fierce and untrained spirits of the desert. He became an ancestor of those who despised town life, o.nd who were hardy and frugal enough to exist where others would have perished. Thus to Ishmael, the desert, with its widespread, sun-scorched sands, its scant herbage, ite infrequent wells and scat- tered oases, became a fitting home. God chose for him his dwelling-place, and defined for him the bounds of his habitation. And is it not best for us to leaYe ourselves in God's hands? He knows best where to place any of us, and what work to give us to do, what sphere to fill. We might prefer the green pasture anrl hills flowing with milk and honey of the Cano.an of prosperity, but the desert of trial o.nd loneliness may be the best for training our spirits. We may have losses to endure outwardly, but if we can acquire a spirit of content and faith, that is great gain. That spirit will lead us to so.y, " He shall choose our inheritnnc·e for us." V. GOD ALSO INSURED ISBMAEL'S HONOUR AMONG BIS DRETBREN. He was to" dwell in the presence of hie brethren" (eh. xvi. 12). Though cast out by Abral1am, he was not ea.at off by God or cut off from all interchange with others. We find (eh. xxv. 6) that Abraham gave portions to the sons of his second wife, Keturah, am\ sent them awny. Doubtless he gave a portion to Ishmael, for we find him uniting with Isaac in the funeral obsequies of bis father (eh. :x:xv. 9). The two sons were not nt enmity now. Further, he seems to have kept up his union with his brother, for bis daughter Bo.sbemath (eh. x:x:xvi. 3) married Esau, Isaac's son. Thus two families in the line of promise, but who hnd cast themselves out-Esau hy his in- difference, and Ishmael by his mocking-were united. Thus, although of fierce aml fiery nature, Ishmael "dwelt in the presence of his brethren." God was with him. He had a shorter life than Iso.o.c. Ishmael died o.t 130 years old, Isaac at 180. Evidently the nctive, restless, wandering, hazardous life was more wearing and con- suming than the calm and meditative life of the pastoral Isaac. But when he died God cared for him as well o.s for Isaac, only his purposes with respect to Isaac were different. Isaac was an ancestor after the flesh of the Messinh, but Ishmael had not thnt honour. Still we must not think that God hnd cast off Ishmael, nnd left him utterly o.nd everlastingly to perish. Our God cares for those outside the pnle of the Church, even as for those within. The former hnve not tuken up their privilege~, nor seen bow Christ loves them. They are suffering great loss, and are in clanger of further loss, but God cares for and pities them. He wills not the death of a sinner. He pitied the people of Nineveh, sent them o. warning, and gave them space for repentance. He healed o. Naamo.n; sent his prophet to dwell with a woman of Sarepta, nnd so conferred honour upon her; and he brought II Nebuchadnezzar to hi~ right mind by o. judicious infliction. All this was mercy shown outside the pale of Iernel to those who would be nccounted as Ishmo.elites. Oh, how much more widely flow.a the channel of Divine mercy and love than we imagino I How little we con- ceive the depth of the Father's love to all his creatures I In every heart he is seeking to find o. reflection cif his image. By the side of every soul, however much of nn lahmaelite, he is seeking by his Holy Spirit to walk, that he mny win back to the fold of Jove nnd mercy. Oh, ye who think yourselves too sinful to have a shnre in the Divine compassion, see God's treatment of nn Ishmael. Remember thnt Christ came "not to call the righteous, b11t sinners to repentance." God is merciful even to thoughtless sinners, aml gives streams in the desert. If this be the spirit of our God and Saviour, should it not teach t•s to take nn interest in nil? As the sun when setting in the west throws 1ia goMen nn i purple rays not only over the broad ocenn, THE F.OOK OF GENEi:;ts. trR. XXI. 22-84.
but on the dank ditches of the meadows and the puddles of the street, so should wo remcmb('r that there is no heart so depraved but tl1e love of God ir. Christ may light it up. If only we looked at our fellows thus, with deeper sympathy, we should see them ~n to Christ.-H.