tithes, and offerings, is done away in Christ, he remarks, in reference to the sons of Levi, “Here men that die receive tithes; but, of Melchizedek he adds, "There He receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed, that He liveth." Well might the Apostle say, “Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." Thus we have a mystical, yet unquestionable similitude, or appearance, of Christ Himself, our High Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

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CHAP. XVI.-" After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram ; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram continued childless: yet the Lord "brought him forth and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars if thou be able to number them; and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be:" and Abram " believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness." “And when Abram was ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk

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"And

before me, and be thou perfect.' Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations, neither shall thy name any more be called Abram (i. e. a high father), but thy name shall be Abraham (i. e. the father of a great multitude), for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." This promise, an amplification of that which had before been repeatedly given to the patriarch, was exactly fulfilled: not only were the twelve tribes of Israel descended from him, but the children of Ishmael, his son by Hagar, were "twelve princes according to their nations,” inhabiting districts of Arabia.* There is, however, a yet higher purpose revealed in this language of the Most High, as it refers to the " everlasting covenant" of

* Abraham's children also by Keturah, all became heads of nations.

redemption, through Jesus Christ, the seed of the woman, who was to proceed from Abraham. And that the patriarch was permitted, by faith, to comprehend somewhat of the nature of this covenant, we may perceive, from the declaration of the Lord Jesus to the gainsaying Jews, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad."

Ishmael was Abraham's firstborn, and was tenderly beloved by his father: but Jehovah said to the patriarch, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." And the apostle Paul speaks of the two sons as being an allegorical or typical representation of the carnal or first nature of the human mind, and of the second or regenerate state; having an especial reference to the inheritance enjoyed by the believers in Christ, and the abrogation of the ritual covenant.

In the posterity of Ishmael, the Arabian tribes, we have a standing memorial of the immutable purpose of God, who declared to Hagar that her son should" be a wild man," that "his hand" should "be against every man, and every man's hand against him,"

and that he should " dwell in the presence of all his brethren." This continues, even to the present day, to be exactly verified; for, whilst all other nations have been subdued and scattered, the wild and roving inhabitants of the Arabian desert, living in perpetual antagonism with all, have been conquered by none; but still dwell in their own land, in the presence of all their brethren.

CHAP. XVII.-Again was Abraham favoured with a personal intercourse with Jehovah, who condescended to visit him in human form, and to permit his servant to enjoy the most remarkable communication with his Creator of which we have any historical record. For "Jehovah appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre," as "he sat by his tent-door in the heat of the day." And Abraham "lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo! three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and bowed himself toward the ground." Of these three heavenly, though apparently human visitors one was specially addressed by Abraham, as the superior and directing person: and

Abraham "said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant." And Abraham provided refreshment for his guests," and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat;" and when they had partaken of the repast, they said, "Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, behold, in the tent." Then the superior visitor addressed Himself to Abraham, as Jehovah-promising him a son by his wife, whose name had been changed, by the command of the Lord, to Sarah, (or the mother of nations). "And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? for I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment." Then did Jehovah communicate to Abraham the righteous purpose of His will, in the awful punishment that awaited the re

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