HOMILIES DY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Ch. xxiv.-T/Ul unfolding of the Divine pm-pose. I. TnE EXPANDED DLEssrna. The first line of the web of sacred history stretcfics itself out to l\Iesopotnmia. The aged patriarch, blessed of Jehovah in all things, is fading from our sight. \Ve must look on a new generation and see the blessing expanded. II. THE DIVINE GUIDANCE. The angel shall be sent before Isaac, and lie will over- rule the events and wills which seem to stand in the way. The man;age of Isaac was a matter of most solemn moment. The earthly bonds are blessed only when they are held up by the Divine covenant. III. MAN'S FAITH REWARDED DY SPECIAL DIRECTION. The servant prayed for g·ood speed, because it was in the spirit of dependence upon Jehovah that the whole errnnd was undertaken. We have no ground for expecting supernatural indications of the future, but when we commit our way unto the Lord we may ask him to show it. If it be ,veil for us to see it beforehand, which it sometimes is not, he will send us "kindness" both in the occurrences and persons we meet. IV. EARTHLY IlELATIONSilIPS ARE UNDER HEAVEN'S SUPERINTENDENCE. The fair Mesopotamian is a suitable companion for the heir of the patriarch. She is full of graciousness and activity, freo from pride, gentle, unsuspieious, generous, patient, self-sacrificing, benevolent. Such cl1aracteristics are what tho children of Goel desire to transmit to their descendants. In tho sight of so much that was lo,·ely both in person nnd character, tho servant hold his pence with wondering thoughtful- ness, waiting for and already anticipating tho blessing of the Lord. V. TnE 'l'RUE PIETY WATCIIF.S FOR GOD AND WORSlllrS. On receiving tho simple nnswcr to liis inquiry, and pcrcch·ing how the hand of the Lord had been guiding l1im 1 he bo!l'ecl ltis heacl and wo1·sltip]Jecl (vcrs. 26, 27). Those who wait for "tho mercy and the truth" will not bo left destitute of it. Oh to be able at every step and singe of lifo to say, "Blessed be the Lo1'Cl I" to hear tho salutation rendered us, "Come in, tlt01t blessed of tlte Lord I" VI. Gou IN msTonY. The kingdom of Goel hacl its points of connection from thi~ moment with the thread of lunnau affection, sanctified by tho grace of God, uniting them together. Tho houso of Abraham, tho honse of Bethel, arc widely scparntcd from ono another in the measurement of spnco, but closely bound together hence- forth by the spiritual ties of a common faith and obedience in tho name of Jchornh. '!'ho samo Dh·ino purpose which directed tho scn·nnt's wny moved the heart of tho damsel .. "Site said, I wilt go." She wont out of the midst of pure family affections; sho was welcomed by one who saw her coming when he was "meditating in the field at 01·entidc," doubtless in tho spirit of prayerful expectation; and who took her to his mother Sarah's tent, where she might be suro one who so tenderly mourned the JoHs of n mother would know how to cherish a wife sent of God to comfort him. "IIo loved her." Religion is tho only true guardian of domestic happiness, tho only r'l!cp soil in which tho affections flourish.-R. Ver. 6.-No tm'1ling back. "And Abraliam said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again." Abraham's care to prevent tho lenvcn of idolatry entering his family (cf. Exod. :x:xxiv. 16; 1 Cor. xv. 33; James i. 27). Worldly wisdom would have led him to seek a wife for his son among the families of Cannan, ~o us to givo him a firmer footing in the land; but he 11olcmnly charged his steward, in sending him on e. mnrringe embassy, not to clo this ( cf. 1 Kings xi. 3; 2 Cor. vi. 14 ). A wifo was to be sought from his brother's THE DOOR OF GENESIS. [ct-1. XXIV. 10-28
family. Out of the earnestness of this godly desire came the trial of his fuith. An obvious difficulty; what if the damsel should not be willing to follow a etrnnger? There had been little intercourse between the families. The ne,1 s in eh. :xxii. 20 was plainly the first for many years. Must Isaac go in person to tnke a wife from her father's !1ouse? Muc~ might be urged in fav9ur of this. If the presence of Isaac were of importance, might he not return for a little, though Cannan was his appointed home? Was it not hindering the very thing Abraham desired to refuse to do so? Was it not unreasonable to look for a blessing and yet to negledt obvious means £or obtuining it? Not for a moment would Abraham listen to the suggestion. At God's call h~ h~d left M_esopotam!a for ever. To send his son b~ck would be contrary to the pnnc1ple of his whole hfe. It would be to put expediency above faith, to dis- trust God's promise, ta think his will chnngeable (cf. 1 Kings xiii. 19). Contrast the faithlessness of the Israelites in their wilderness journeys. Abraham would not allow e,·en ~ temporary return. They " in their hearts turned back ngain into Egypt" ( cf. Luke 1x. 62). I. IN A GODLY LIFE TITERE IS OFTEN A TEMPTATION TO TURN BACK FOR A LITTLE. With a laudable aim, some step which seems likely to lead to it is not quite what in itself we know to be right. To gain the means of doing good, some little departure from truth may seem almost necessary. In the eagerness of some plan of usefulness the time for prayer can hardly be found, or the ordinary daily duties of life seem to in- terrupt the greater and higher work; or, to gain an influence over the gay and worldly, it may seem the course of wisdom to go, a little way at lenst, with them. And is not a Christian, under the law of liberty, freed from strict observance of the letter? Does not that savour of the spirit of bondage? Nay," to obey is better than sacrifice." Ahrnys danger when men seek to be wiser than God (Prov. xiv. 12). "\Ve cannot foresee the difficulties of returning. II. TnuE FAITH POINTS TO IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE. Can we not trust God to order all-not only the ends towards which be would have us strive, but the means to be used? We are to live by el"'ery word of God, not by some special saying only. Promise and precept, instrnction and direction, are alike his words, by which every Rtep should be guided. It is want of faith which leads to departure from obedience ; want of full truBt in God which leads to ways of fancied wisdom. We have to do with efforts, not with results; these are in God's hnnd. Where obedience is not in question we rightly use our juclgment; reason was given us to be our guide, but not tu take the guidance out of God's hands.-M.