Obrazy na stronie
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CHAP. XIV. When eight generations after the deluge had succeeded each other, a very remarkable person descended from Shem, to whom we have before incidentally alluded-is introduced to our special notice. This is Abram, the son of Terah; born (355 years after the flood, and 147 years before the death of Shem) in Ur of the Chaldees. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai. And when Terah had nearly finished his earthly course, he" took Abram his son, and Lot, the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai, his daughterin-law, Abram's wife; and they went forth from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan." This migration was evidently undertaken by the special direction of the Most High: for, says the martyr Stephen, "The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, into the land which I shall show thee." The patriarch Terah, did not reach the land of Canaan; but, at the age of two hundred and five years, he died at Haran (or Charran). After this event, "Abram

departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him;" and, at the age of seventy and five years, "he took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother's son, and all the substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran, and they set forth to go into the land of Canaan." Thus, "by faith Abram, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." And Abram "passed through the land," unto the plain of Moreh. "And the Lord appeared unto" him, "and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land." And there Abram "builded an altar unto the Lord." He afterwards continued his journey southward; and again "builded an altar, and called upon the name of the Lord."

CHAP. XV. With the command, which, as we have seen, the Lord gave unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee," a promise was annexed, which clearly foreshowed the coming

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of the Messiah, the only source and channel through which all the children of men may be restored to the favour of God, and to the blessing of everlasting life. To the Divine declaration, that Abram should become " great nation," and be blessed, and be a blessing, the Almighty added this most gracious assurance: "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." And when, after the personal advent of the Redeemer, the apostle Paul addressed the Galatian converts on the spiritual nature of the Christian covenant, as distinguished from that of an outward or ceremonial dispensation, he referred to the declaration thus made by the Lord to his servant Abraham; and testified that not the Jews only, but the Gentiles also, become the children of Abraham by a living faith in Christ; and that the Holy Spirit, the Inspirer of the Scripture, "foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham."

During his sojourning in Canaan, many re

markable events occurred to Abram: the Almighty Jehovah repeatedly appeared unto him, and conversed with him-sometimes as the Angel of the Lord, sometimes even in human form.

After awhile Lot, Abraham's brother's son, separated from him, because, in consequence of their great substance, in "flocks, and herds, and tents," "the land was not able to bear them that they might dwell together." And "Lot journeyed eastward, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." Much evil was the result of this settlement near that city; for "the men of Sodom were sinners before the Lord exceedingly." And it came to pass that four kings, who governed adjoining territories, fought against the five kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar, and prevailed against them, and carried away their people captive, with all their goods; and they took Lot also, and his goods. Abram, with some confederates, rescued Lot, with the people, and the spoil of these cities of the plain.

On his return from this exploit, he was met by a most remarkable person—“ Melchi

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zedek, king of Salem," who "was the priest of the Most High God; and he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed be the Most High God, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." And Abram " gave Him tithes of all." the brief narrative of the sacred historian, the character of this mysterious person is but faintly unveiled; but we are permitted to receive additional light respecting Him, from the Epistle to the Hebrews, which informs us that His Name indicates His divine character; "first, being by interpretation, King of righteousness, and after that also King of peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God." His priesthood is "not after the law of a carnal (or outward) commandment, but after the power of an endless life." For the Apostle declares that He "abideth a priest continually:" and, explaining the spiritual nature of the priesthood under the gospel, as opposed to that of the law, which, with all its rites, ceremonies,

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