Without such a faith, you cannot enjoy the favor and friendship of God; you cannot partake of the blessings of the covenant which he is ready to make with all who come unto him truly penitent for sin, and relying solely on what Christ did and suffered for pardon and peace. Lose not the unspeakable blessings of this covenant. Beseech God to aid you in endeavouring to be like faithful Abraham.

STORY XIX.

ABRAHAM SENDS ELIEZER TO PROCURE A WIFE FOR ISAAC.

SARAH had died, and been buried by her afflicted husband in the cave of Machpelah, in Hebron. Abraham was now about one hundred and forty years of age, and Isaac forty. He began to regard his own death as an event not very far distant, and felt it to be important that his son should be married, and settled in a family of his own.

Where could a wife be found for him ;a good woman, who loved God and desired to do his will? There were none such among their neighbours the Canaanites. They were idolaters; and wickedness prevailed among them greatly and extensively. It would be most unwise and sinful for the family of Abraham, in which the true God was worshipped, and who had made a solemn covenant with them, to be connected by marriage with a family of such a people.

Where could a suitable wife be found for Isaac? Abraham thought of his own distant country and kindred, some of whom must be still living, and preserving, in some good degree, the knowledge and worship of that God in whom he believed. There, in all probability, some one might be found who would bring with her, what would be worth more than flocks and herds, than gold and silver, a pious and benevolent heart.

He called to him his eldest servant, an upright and trusty man, who had the management of all his affairs. He told him, he intended to make him swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that he would never take a wife for Isaac

from among the daughters of the Canaanites. He directed him to go to the native country of Abraham, and there, among his own kindred, endeavour to find a wife for his son. The journey would be a long and laborious But the importance of the object

one.

made it necessary.

The person thus to be sent, we have every reason to think, was Eliezer, of whom Abraham had spoken sixty years before, and called him the steward of his house." He was well suited to the errand,-advanced in years, a man of piety and wisdom.

He inquired of Abraham, in case he should find such a wife for his son as he desired him to have, and she should be unwilling to come back with him, whether he should return and take Isaac with him, to be married in that land, and to reside there?

"And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my son thither again. The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt

take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then shalt thou be clear from this my oath only bring not my son thither again."

Abraham believed God. The land where he was dwelling had been given to him and his descendants, by the promise of the Almighty. His son must, on no account, remove from it. God, he knew, would faithfully fulfil his promises; and a wife would be provided for Isaac.

Eliezer took the oath, and swore to do as Abraham had directed.

He, soon after, set out on his journey. He had a long distance to travel,-to the land of Mesopotamia, lying between the two great rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris. Considerable preparation was necessary. He took what he thought would be needed, and with a number of men to attend him, and ten camels, on which to ride and carry their provisions, he departed.

We know nothing of what happened to him on his way. He was under the protection of the God of Abraham, and arrived safely, at length, at the place of his destina

tion, the city of Nahor, who was a brother of Abraham.

It was evening; and Eliezer, not intending as yet to enter the city, stopped near a well just without it, ordering the camels to kneel down to rest themselves. He knew it was the hour of the day when it was customary for the women to go out to the wells, to draw water, and that some would probably soon come there for that purpose. Why might not one of these, from among the kindred of Abraham, and of the family of his own brother, Nahor, prove to be the wife that he was seeking for Isaac? Why might not he hope that God would, in some way, direct him to the particular person? Why might he not pray for this, expecting that his prayer would be answered? His faith led him to make the request.

And he said, "O Lord God of my master Abraham. I pray thee send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee,