himself, and which involved him in serious difficulty. It is an unspeakable mercy that God protects his people, notwithstanding their infirmities, and extricates them even from circumstances of distress, into which their own sin and folly have plunged them. He did so in this instance by Abram, and inclined the Egyptians to send him and his family away peaceably. After this, they returned and dwelt first in the south of Canaan, and afterwards at Bethel, "the place of the altar." It is a lovely feature in the character of this good man, that wherever he reared a tent for his family, there he builded an altar to Jehovah his God. Worldly men, when they find a fruitful plain, are for building storehouses to deposit their wealth, or towers to perpetuate their name: but the concern of the man of God is, to rear an altar; to take possession of all worldly good, in the name of Jehovah who bestows it; to engage his blessing on all, by consecrating all to his service. Family religion is an unspeakable blessing: let young people who enjoy this privilege be concerned to improve it. To dwell in the tents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where God dwells, is better than to dwell in the tents of wickedness, even though they should be royal tents. True piety not only brings down a blessing upon its possessors, but renders them a blessing to all around. Abram and his seed

were blessed in being made a blessing.

We find that Abram and Lot increased in wealth. The cattle upon a thousand hills is the Lord's; he

is engaged to provide for those who rely upon and obey him; and he will do so in an evident manner. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich. It is pleasing to see (observes Mr. Fuller) how the blessing of the Lord attends these two sojourners, but it is painful to find that their prosperity should become the occasion of their separation. It is a pity that those whom grace unites, and who are fellow-heirs of eternal life, should be parted by the lumber of this world; yet so it is, a clash of worldly interests has often separated chief friends, and been the occasion of a much greater loss than the greatest earthly fulness has been able to compensate. It is not thus with the riches of grace or of glory; the more we have of them, the closer we are united.

A strife arose among the herdsmen of Abram and Lot, which was likely to produce contention, or at least coolness, between their masters. Abram, prudently foreseeing the evil, in the most wise, liberal, and generous manner proposes an accommodation. He perceives that it were better to part, than to live together at variance, and therefore proposes, in the most disinterested and condescending manner, that Lot, although on account of his years and dependent circumstances least entitled to it, should take his choice of the surrounding country; even offering, it required, to give up the spot he occupied himself, and go either to the left hand or to the right. How amiable is a pacific and yielding disposition, and how much hatred, misery, and bloodshed might have been avoided, had it but universally prevailed!

Lot, like too many other young persons, directed his choice, not to "the place of the altar," but to the well-watered plain of Sodom; nor was he deterred from taking up his abode, although "the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly."

When religious privileges are abandoned for the sake of worldly interests, and persons expose themselves to the snares of vicious society and evil examples, we may well tremble for the consequences.

From the Call of Abram to the command to offer up his son, a period of about 50 years intervened, during which he was often tried, and the promises of God were often renewed to him. On the occasion of Lot's departure from him, and, it should seem, as expressive of the divine approbation of his conduct, the grant of Canaan to him and to his heirs was renewed and confirmed. In keeping God's commandments there is great reward; and it is often seen, that while those who eagerly seek this world, lose it, as well as endanger their higher interests, those who are willing to give up any thing for the honour of God and religion, not only secure their great aim, but have the good things of this life, which they know duly to value and improve, given over and above.

Abram's next remove was to the plain of Mamre, where he continued many years-as usual, consecrating his household and his substance, by an altar to the Lord.

§ 2. The War of the Kings-Melchizedek.
Gen. xiv.

Elam and Shinar, or Persia and Babylon, and the country about them, being that part of the world where the sons of Noah began to settle, would earliest arrive at sufficient maturity to attempt the subjugation of their neighbours; and as the lands were peopled by colonies emigrating from these parent countries, they would easily be looked upon as subjects and tributaries. Such, it seems, were the sentiments which led to war-the first war related in authentic history.

Chedorlaomer king of Elam, or Persia, invaded the land of Canaan, which was then divided into small kingdoms, almost every city having its own king. These kingdoms having made but little progress in the art of war, in comparison with the parent nations, fell an easy prey to his rapacity, and continued in subjection and under tribute for twelve years; at length they combined together to cast off the yoke, and refused to pay the tribute, or to be subject to the authority under which Chedorlaomer had placed them. On this he called out his allies, and four kings and three armies went forth to reduce these petty states to subjection. A severe battle was fought in the vale of Siddim, between these kings and those of Sodom, Admah, Zeboim, and Bela, who being far inferior to their antagonists

in warlike skill and discipline, were easily routed. Many were slain; many who escaped were forced to hide themselves in the neighbouring mountain, and many were taken prisoners; among whom were Lot and his family, with all their goods. On hearing this, Abram, though a peaceful man, felt himself called upon to attempt the rescue of his kinsman, So mightily had Abram prospered, that he was able to raise 318 men in his own family; he was moreover highly respected by his neighbours, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, who all confederated themselves with Abram, and, with all the forces they could muster, engaged in the pursuit. By prudence and courage, under the divine blessing, the enterprise was successful: and let it be observed, that moderate and peaceable persons, when brought into circumstances that called them forth, have discovered a wonderful degree of promptness and bravery. Let it not be supposed that true courage is confined to the violent blusterer, the quickly resentful, and the presumptuously fool-hardy; and that the gentle, the forbearing, the fearer of God, is destitute of that quality; the very reverse will in general be found to hold good: a good cause and a good conscience are the parents of true courage; and he who fears God, need know no other fear.

The enemy, flushed with victory, and little anticipating any fresh attack, were surprised and panicstruck, and fled in confusion.

Abraham and his partisans pursued them from Dan to Hobah in