rectly into the nature, and forms all the character, of lying. The compassion of God to human infirmity, was manifest, in casting a mantle of forgiveness over this sinful pusillanimity. The hand of Deity was still stretched out in his defence; and his unchangeable Friend was better to him than his fears. But as he used unlawful means to secure his safety, his sin was made his punishment. Pharaoh, justly exasperated at the deception practised upon him; and fearing the anger of God, who had afflicted his house with great plagues; restored his wife, but banished him from his dominions. Thus, simply, in the use of the means, to rely upon God, in the hour of peril, will always defend us from danger, and deliver us from evil : but to distrust the Deity, and to shelter ourselves under our own unlawful, or sinful, devices, exposes us to incalculable difficulties, and will involve us in trouble, in the very midst of deliverance.

As Abram journeyed in the road by which he had descended into Egypt, he came again to an altar, which he had before set up, in his way thither. Sweet are the recollections of kindnesses received; and pleasant the memorials of mercies departed! If we were to accustom ourselves to rear tokens of remembrance for every assistance which we derive from God; and to

erect an altar where we receive a mercy; how many evidences for good would be presented in the retrospection of our lives; and the review of the past, would create confidence for the fu ture. The moss might grow over the pillar, and the fire of the altar would go out: but the inscription would be fresh on the tablet of memory, and gratitude would kindle the purer. flame of affection in the heart. Thus Abram reared an altar in his way to Egypt; and found it again on his return. Thus Jacob elevated a pillar, at Bethel, after his vision of God; and with what feelings did he revisit it, when hè was delivered from his fears, and increased in his blessings! Thus "Samuel" took a stone, " and "set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called "the name of it Ebenezer, saying 'Hither"to hath the Lord helped us!" It is not ne cessary that we should erect these outward memorials: but let the pillar be raised in our bosoms, and the inscription read in our lives!

Multiplied in goods, at length it became necessary that Abram and Lot should separate. There are few blessings of life unalloyed-few trials unmixed. The good that we pant after, has some unseen evil annexed to it, which will arise to cloud it in the very moment of posKESsion; and the evil that we deprecate produces some happy effect, which does not always cease

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when it's immediate cause is withdrawn. versity often unites the various branches of a family-prosperity as frequently separates them. The one teaches them that they ought to have à common concern-the other has an unhappy tendency to persuade them that they have a separate interest-and in many instances the latter is but too successful! Prosperity divided Abram and Lot. The place was too strait for their flocks; and the herdmen, on either side, had augmented the difficulty by contention. Oh! who will not admire the spirit of Abram? "And Abram said unto Lot, 'Let there be no "strife, I pray thee, between thee and me→→

'between thy herdmen and my herdmen-for ""we are brethren! Is not the whole land be

fore thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, "from me. If thou wilt take the left hand, "" then I will go to the right or if thou de

part to the right hand, then I will go to the "left!" Although the elder, he thought it no disgrace to yield; and, by his submission, proved his greatness of mind. As the younger, it was the duty of Lot to have stooped: as the superior, Abram might have commanded. But no his language is, "We are brethren!" Lovely spirit of pure and undefiled religion! how it fosters the charities of human life! how it soothes the turbulence of passion! how it pro

motes the peace of society! It quenches the spark that was just bursting into a conflagration. It unites more closely the knot that was almost unfolded. It knits together the link that was nearly broken. It extinguishes the torch of war; and banishes contention from the domestic circle. Lot chose the plain of Jordan, near Sodom and Gomorrah, into which he afterwards entered, and where he resided; and it was "well watered every where, as the garden of "the Lord."

The chain of history is broken, to relate in it's order, a battle which was fought in the vale of Siddim. This event is recorded in a style exactly suited to the contest. The abrupt manner in which it breaks in upon the peaceful history, appears adapted to the relation of a tumult, which suddenly destroyed the harmony of the country, and depopulated cities, previously slumbering in tranquillity. Where now is the fruitful plain? the vallies watered by a thousand rills? and the smiling pastures, which charmed the eye of Lot? Ah! war has shaken his destructive scourge over them-has blasted their verdure-and transformed, by his withering frown, this terrestrial paradise into a desolate wilderness! Lot himself was taken prisoner. No sooner were the tidings brought to Abram,

than he roused to exertion; and arming his household, to the amount of three hundred and eighteen men, he rescued his brother, and delivered the vanquished captives. The only difficulty arising here is this: how was it possible for Abram, with three hundred and eighteen men, to oppose successfully four kings; and to prevail over their armies already flushed with conquest? To remove this apparent objection to the sacred history, it is necessary to remark, that these kings were nothing more than rulers of four little cities, close by each other, whose combined forces, in that battle, probably, did not so considerably exceed Abram's armed servants as a superficial reader might imagine. It should also be remembered, that Abram closely pursued, and overtook them, when they were wearied with the toils of battle, sunk in revellings, and unsuspicious of danger. The nerve of war was relaxed; and the softness of sensuality had already overpowered them. The servants of Abram possessed their full vigours; and the banner of divine protection waved over their heads.

On his return from this conquest, we are introduced to a very extraordinary personage. Melchisedec met him, blessed him, and received tythes at his hand. Little is known, and much has been conjectured, respecting this august