not merely the acceptance of a creed, or tbe utterance of sacred phrases, or the patronage of religious in~titutions; if it be a living; power in the soul, it will manifest itself in- I. CHEERFUL O!IEDIEN0E. (Vers. 2-4.) God bade Abraham leave his home and kindred, and he left them. He did not know whither ho was going (Heb. xi. 8), but at the call of God he set forth promptly and willingly. So Matthew at the summons of the Saviour (Matt. ix. 9). So many thousands since his day; men and women ~-ho hnve l1eMd the Master say, "Go," and they have gone, relinquishina all that is most cherished by the human heart. When God distinctly speaks to us, ~vbatcver he may bid us do, at whatever cost we may be required to obey, it behoves us to comply instant!~• and cheerfully. II. T_RUS'!' IN_THE DARKNESS. (Ver. 5.) There is little faith in trusting God when everyth1n_g 1s bnght and hopeful. When we can see our way we Gan easily believe that it is the right one. Living faith shows itself when we "do not see and yet believe " ( J obn xx. 29). Abraham was promised the land of Canaan "for a possession," yet God "gave him none inheritance in it." " By faith be sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country" (Heb. xi. 9), This might have seemed to him as a "breach of promise" (Numb. xiv. 34) on the part of him who brought him out of Cbaldrea, but he does not seem to have entertained any doubts or misgivings. Moreover, he believed that the land would be the property of bis seed, though " as yet he had no child." " By faith also be offered up Isaac," etc. (Heb. xi. 17). Even in the thick darkness, when he could not see one step before him, Abraham trusted God. We profess to " walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. v. 7), but we are often fearful and doubtful when the way is clouded. But it is in the night of adversity that the star of faith must shine. " When we in darkness walk, Nor feel the heavenly flame, Then is the time to trust our God And rest upon his Name." m CoNl"IDENCE m THE FUTURE. (Vers. 6, 7.) God told his servant that, after being in bondage four hundred years, his seed should serve him in that country. It wa.s a long time to look forward to. Bat the believing patriarch rested in God and was satisfied. We are impatient if onr schemes do not come to maturity in a very brief time; we cry "failure" when only a small fraction of four centuries is passed without the redemption of our hope. We are bound to remember that we "have to do " with the Eternal One. We must wait his time, whether it be a day or a thousand years.-C. -
Vere. 8-19.-Iff'ael and Egypt: Divine providenetJ, The connection of the people of God with the land of Egypt is profoundly interesting, and suggests valuable lessons for all time. We are reminded by the text of- L THE UNDULATOBY ClURACTEB OF OUB Hl'.JllAN LIFE, This in the eventful experiences of Joseph (vers. 9, 10). First rejoicing in hie father's peculiar favour, t).ien sold into Egyptian slavery, then rising to a position of trust in the house of hie master, then cast into prison, then raised to the premiership; up on the height of comfort, down into the depth of misfortune, up again on the crest of honour, then down again into the trough of shame, etc. So with Israel the man and Israel the people (vers, 11-19). The patriarch at first in a position of relief and advant.age, then in one of distress and disadvantage; the nation falling into the dark gulf of bitter bondage until raised up " with a strong hand and stretched out arm" into liberty. Thus is it with men and with nations. With none does the course of things prove to be a straight line, eithe1 of ascent or of descent. It is always undnlatory, Light and shadow, sweetness and bitterness, hope and fear, joy and sorrow, alternate from the cradle to the grave. . Il. THE OVEBBULING PROVIDENCE OF GoD. How clearly Joseph felt that his distresses had been overruled by the Divine hand, we know (Gen. 1. 20). We can also see how the descent into Egypt and even the long slavery in that land of bondage were a discipline which wrought ultimate good, of the most solid and enduring kine., to Israel By the sufferings which they endured together in those broilini brickfields, under those cruel taskmasters, and to which in happier times their sons looked back with 11uch intellSe emotion; by the marvellolli deliverances which they experienced OB, TIJ, 1-60,] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 225