God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." He believed that Isaac would not be lost to him. He believed that none of the promises of God would fail.

3. Then follows the gracious Reward.

An Angel from heaven arrests the hand of Abraham; and Isaac, as good as sacrificed, and yet spared, is restored to the arms of his father.

At the same moment the promises of the covenant are renewed to Abraham.

And-(which would be no small consolation)his character is expressly approved of God, saying, "Because thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me:" "because thou hast obeyed my voice." These are lofty terms of approbation, ratifying and confirming the commendations given at former times to Abraham. They are like that sentence, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

On this part of the patriarch's history, two remarks may be grounded.

First, we should be led to inquire-What degree of faith do we manifest, when God tries us?-The trial most nearly resembling this of Abraham's, is, when the Lord removes by death any of our most tenderly beloved relatives; a husband or a wife, a son or a daughter. How do we bear the stroke? Are we resigned and patient, silent and submissive? Do we say from the heart-"It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good!" "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be

the name of the Lord!" Too often, alas! we murmur and rebel: and thus we show the weakness of our faith. Oh then, let us pray for more of this holy principle. Let us study the example of Abraham, that we may copy it. Let us freely say, "Lord, take, if it please thee, this treasure, which is more thine than mine. Only fill my heart with Thy Blessed Spirit, assuring me of thy wisdom, faithfulness, and love! What thou removest is a thing of Time: what thou givest, is for Eternity!"

Next, and above all, this narrative should bring to our recollection, how dear and precious a pledge God hath given us, of his willingness to bless us far beyond what we are able to ask or think. Was Abraham a father? So is God: He is our heavenly Father: and he is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Did Abraham prepare himself to offer a most precious sacrifice, the sacrifice of his son Isaac? God hath done more: He hath actually given his only-begotten and well-beloved Son, to die for the redemption of our souls. How sure then are all the promises of the everlasting covenant! How fully and unreservedly may their accomplishment be looked for by every believer! "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

SECTION XII.

DEATH OF SARAH, AND OF ABRAHAM.

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.

And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,

Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

(Genesis xxiii. 1—7.)

THUS far our attention has been engaged by the character of Abraham: that of his wife, however, is well worthy of particular study, especially as she is mentioned with high commendation in several parts of the New Testament.

1. The Faulty parts of the character of Sarah shall first be noticed.-She twice concurred with her husband, in the deceit of passing herself off as his sister. She acted also very unwisely in counselling Abraham to take Hagar to wife; and on this occasion exhibited very harsh and unreasonable tempers toward Hagar herself. On another occasion, by denying that she had laughed, she drew

down upon herself the severe rebuke of the Lord;

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Nay, but thou didst laugh." From these various instances we perceive that natural corruption is busily at work, even in the most excellent of characters. Unbelief, impatience, and guile are among the most common evils of human nature. Who can say that he is entirely free from them!

It is but equitable, however, to take into account the trying circumstances in which Sarah was frequently placed: not that these form any excuse for her conduct; but they partly account for it. And this view of her trials may serve to put us the more earnestly upon our guard; that we, when tempted, may not fall into similar transgressions.

2. But inquiring, on the other hand, what were the Virtues that adorned Sarah's character, we shall discover three points, in respect of which she is peculiarly worthy of praise.

First, we view in her the submissive and dutiful wife of the venerable patriarch Abraham. For this characteristic she is particularly commended by the apostle Peter, who was himself a married man; a good judge and an inspired counsellor on the subject of female excellence. St. Peter was laying down instructions for wives, teaching them to be deferential toward their own husbands; to be modest, meek, and gentle; thus adorning and recommending their Christian profession, by the virtues peculiarly suited to their relation in life. These precepts he enforces by the particular example of Sarah; "For after this manner in the old time the

holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." (1 Peter iii. 5, 6.)-It is very instructive to observe how the Holy Spirit directed this Apostle to select a single word, which dropped incidentally from Sarah's lips, "My lord being old also;" illustrating from that term, "lord," the habitual submissiveness and respectfulness of this holy woman.-The real habit of the mind often discovers itself by little things. A word too many, or a word out of place, may sometimes indicate want of regularity in the government of our thoughts; while a good and amiable disposition frequently beams forth in a single, passing remark. Let females learn from Sarah to regulate the heart on holy principles: they will then have no need of studied phrases or glittering ornaments.

Another excellence in Sarah's character, was her watchful maternal care over her son Isaac. In his tender youth, she protected him from the profane association of his brother Ishmael. The fuller notice of this will more properly occur, when Isaac's character shall come under consideration.

But the chief grace to be noticed in Sarah, is, her Faith. This was the root of all her other excellences. For this she is emphatically and highly commended in the New Testament. St. Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews extols Abraham and Sarah, together, as being both eminent for their faith.