And now,

if

judge whether the hand of the Lord be not in it. ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me, and if not, tell me ; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.'

Ver. 50-52. With this simple, but interesting account, the whole family is overcome: one sentiment bows every mind. Rebekah says nothing; but her heart is full. It is an affair in which little or nothing seems left for creatures to decide. The thing, say they, proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee good or bad. Behold, Rebekah is before thee; take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken ! Such was the happy result of this truly religious courtship; and the good man, who saw God in all things, still keeps up his character. Hearing their words, he bowed himself to the earth, and worshipped God! How sweet would all our temporal concerns be rendered, if they were thus intermingled with godliness!

Ver. 53. The main things being settled, he, according to the customs of those times, presents the bride elect with jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and raiment, suited to the occasion; and farther to conciliate the esteem of the family, he gave also to her brother, and to her mother precious things. Presents, when given from sincere affection, are very proper, and productive of good effects. It is by a mutual interchange of kind offices that love is often kindled, and always kept alive. Our Saviour accepted the presents which were offered him, not only of food, but raiment, and even the anointing of his feet. Where love exists, it is natural and grateful to express it in acts of kindness.

Ver. 54-58. The good man would not eat till he had told his errand: but now that his work is done, he and the men who were with him both eat and drink and doubtless it would add to the enjoyment of their meal, to know that the Lord had made their way prosperous. The next morning, having accomplished his object, the diligent and faithful servant wants to be going. To this proposal, however, though honourable to him as a servant, the mother and the brother object; pleading for a few days, ten at least, ere they parted; nor does their objection seem to be unreasonable. Though willing upon the whole that she should

go; yet parting is trying work, especially when they considered that they might never see her more in this world, as in truth they never did. The man, however, knows not how to consent to it; but entreats that he might not be hindered, seeing the Lord had prospered his way. Whether we consider him as too pressing, in this case, or not, we may lay it down as a general rule, never to hinder those who are engaged in a right way, and who have received manifest tokens that God hath blessed them in it. The case being somewhat difficult, and neither of the parties disposed to disoblige the other, they consent to leave it to the decision of the damsel herself. A few days to take leave of her friends could not, we may suppose, have been disagreeable to her; but seeing, as she did, so much of God in the affair, and the man's heart so deeply set upon it; feeling also her own heart entirely in it, she would not so much as seem to make light of it, or hinder it even for an hour; but far from all affectation, answered, I will go.

Ver. 59, 60. And now, preparation is made for her departure. Before she goes she must be provided with a nurse. Rebekah's having been employed in drawing water, we see, was no proof of the poverty of her parents, but rather of the simplicity of the times. Daughters were not yet taught to be so delicate as scarcely to adventure to set the sole of their foot upon the ground. But now that she is going to leave her family, it is desirable that she should have one of its domestics, who had probably been brought up with her from her childbood, who in times of affliction would kindly wait on her, and at all times be a friend and companion. The name of this nurse was Deborah. We hear no more of her till we are told of her death. She appears to have survived her mistress, and to have died in the family of Jacob, much lamented. Chap. xxxv. 8. To an affectionate nurse, they added a parting blessing. The language used in it shows that Abraham's servant had told them of the promises which God had made to his master, and which were to be fulfilled in Isaac and his posterity. They speak as believing the truth of them, and as having their hearts full of hope and joy, amidst the natural sorrow which must have attended the parting scene. They blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister; be thou the

mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them!

Ver. 61-63. Taking leave of Haran, they go on their way towards Canaan. A little before their arrival at Hebron, they are unexpectedly met by a person who was taking an evening walk. This was no other than Isaac. It may be thought that he was looking out, in hope of meeting them; but we are expressly told that his walk was for another purpose, namely, to meditate. It is a word which is sometimes used for prayer, and hence it is so rendered in the margin of our Bibles. He was a man of reflection and prayer; and in the cool of the evening it might be common for him to retire an hour to converse, as we should say, with himself, and with his God. Admitting that the thought might occur, 'I may possibly see my father's servant on his return,' still his object would be, on such an important turn in his life, to commit the matter to God. Those blessings are likely to prove substantial and durable, which are given us in answer to prayer.

Ver. 64, 65. Rebekah, having espied a stranger approaching towards them, inquires of her guide whether he knew him; and being told that it was no other than his young master, she modestly alighted from the camel, and took a veil and covered herself. This eastern head-dress might, in the present instance, answer a double purpose: First, it would express her subjection to her husband, as being already his espoused wife. Secondly, it would prevent that confusion which the exposure of her person, especially in so sudden and unexpected a manner, must have occasioned.

Ver. 66, 67. Isaac, observing her to have put on her veil, very properly avoids addressing himself to her; but walking awhile with the servant by himself, heard the whole narrative of his journey, which appears to have wrought on his mind as the former had wrought on that of Rebekah. And now the marriage is consummated. Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. In this tender manner is the admirable story closed. Who can forbear wishing them all happiness? The union of filial and conjugal affection is not the least honourable trait in the character of this amiable man. He brought VOL. V.

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her into his mother Sarah's tent; and was then, and not till then, comforted for the loss of her. Dutiful sons promise fair to be affectionate husbands: he that fills up the first station in life with honour, is thereby prepared for those that follow. God in mercy sets a day of prosperity over against a day of adversity. Now he woundeth our spirits by dissolving one tender union, and now bindeth up our wounds by cementing another.

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DISCOURSE XXXIV.

ABRAHAM'S MARRIAGE WITH KETURAH, AND DEATH.-ISHMAEL'S PROSPERITY AND DEATH.THE BIRTH AND CHARACTERS OF ESAU AND JACOB.

Gen. xxv.

THIS chapter gives an account of several changes in the families of Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac. In each the sacred writer keeps his eye on the fulfilment of the great promise to the father of the faithful.

Ver. 1-6. The marriage of Abraham to Keturah is an event which we should not have expected. From the last account we had of him, charging his servant respecting the marriage of his son Isaac, we were prepared to look for his being buried, rather than married. I do not know that it was a sin; but it is easy to see in it more of man than of God. No reason is given for it; no marks of divine approbation attend it; five-and-thirty years pass over with little more than recording the names of his children, and that, not from any respect to the connexion, but to show the fulfilment of the divine promise of multiplying his seed. During this last period of his life, we see nothing of that extraordinary strength of faith by which he was formerly distinguished; but, like Samson when he had lost his hair, he is become weak like another man. While the promise of Isaac was pending, and while Abraham was employed in promoting the great object, the cloud of glory accompanies all his movements: but this being accomplished, and his mind diverted to something else, the cloud now rests upon Isaac; and he must walk the remainder of his journey in a manner without it.