vocal beauty of a devoted consistency. Nationally and individually, we are thus placed at the tender mercies of every imminent temptation; and in our miserable short-sightedness, have no eye for the glory, the help, or the consolations of that God who has promised to honour them who honour Him, by an honest and intrepid connexion of Himself, his law, his covenant, and his praise, with all they think, and do, and say. That sad and mean expediency brought sin, shame, and danger, even upon the friend of God. It has thrust, as I fear, our country near to the awful brink of national convulsion. It defiles and impoverishes the course of our private actions. The blessing of the Most High God can never be expected to attend it. of God, pour forth the grace of a simple faith in his wise sovereignty, and fatherly care of his Church upon us; so that all of us who profess gracious membership with the Lord Jesus Christ, may turn round in any difficulty, however apparently insurmountable, upon the lying seductions of worldly expediency, which would lead us to dishonour God by resting on creature helps; as Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, said to the King of Babylon: "O Ne

May the Eternal Spirit

buchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up!" Daniel iii. 16-18.

SERMON XV.

THE SEPARATION BETWEEN ABRAM AND LOT.

GENESIS XIII. 8, 9.

ABRAM SAID UNTO LOT, LET THERE BE NO STRIFE, I PRAY THEE BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AND BETWEEN MY HERDMEN AND THY HERDMEN; FOR WE BE BRETHREN. IS NOT THE WHOLE LAND BEFORE THEE? SEPARATE THYSELF, I PRAY THEE FROM ME. IF THOU WILT TAKE THE LEFT HAND, THEN I WILL GO TO THE RIGHT: OR IF THOU DEPART TO THE RIGHT HAND, THEN I WILL GO TO THE LEFT.

CIRCUMSTANCES of pressing urgency may occur, to separate spiritual minds from those habits and associations, in which they delight: but the moment such pressure is removed, they will return with joy to their rest, and resume their beloved employments. The famine obliged Abram to go down, and sojourn in Egypt: no sooner however does he learn that the Lord had visited Canaan, in giving his people bread, than he journies thitherward again; "for where his

He

treasure was, there was his heart also."1 entered the land of promise at its southern extremity, which lay towards the north-east. of Egypt; but he halted not until he had again reached Bethel, where he had built his altar, and called on the name of the Lord; that he might resume his beloved worship, and glorify again the God of his salvation, in the scene of former mercies.

It might be imagined, that he would now remain at peace on this consecrated ground. But very little is known of the divine dealing, by those who have not learned that wheresoever the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty build their rest, their heavenly Father will put a thorn in it, to hinder them from lying too closely and securely there. Trial found Abram in Bethel; and the cause originated with his own family. The instructive history of this inroad on his comfort may shew us

I. THE CONDUCT OF ABRAM.

II. THE CONduct of Lot.

The dark foil, upon which the diamond is mounted, serves to bring out more strongly the brilliancy of the gem; and such is the power of

1 Matt vi. 21.

contrast in the present case.

by shewing,

It will be noticed

I. THE CONDUCT OF ABRAM.

The soil of Canaan, with little exception, was occupied by the people of the land, in actual tenure; although the father of the faithful had God's own warrant for its possession. When therefore Abram came thither, rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold; when Lot also, who went with him, had flocks and herds and tents, there was not sufficient pasturage to feed the whole. "The land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together; for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell tegether." Their prosperity, instead of increasing the closeness of family love, became the very element of family separation. This world's wealth, and the sordid opposition of interests which it involves, too often wither the charities of kindred or domestic life, or at least alienate the members of the same household much more from each other, than when their common store was less. Not SO "the unsearchable riches of Christ." The more fully they

are imparted by Him, and enjoyed by his disci

1 Gen. xiii. 6.

2 Eph. iii. 8.