LECTURE XXII.

ABRAHAM'S FAITHFUL SERVANT.

GEN. 24. 34.-And he said, I am Abraham's Servant.

THIS is the account which he gives of him

self. He does not tell us what his name is, or in what country he was born. His father was probably a Syrian of Damascus, but Eliezer himself was born in Abraham's house. Only that he is Abraham's Servant. Abraham is called the Father of the Faithful. He was a good man, and blessed with a good Servants His name is not mentioned, but it is supposed to be the same man, that is spoken of in the 15th Chapter, where it is said, that the steward of Abraham's house was Eliezer of Damascus, that he was likely to inherit all his riches. If he had not been a good Servant, he would not have been Steward of Abraham's house. He would not have made

*

him overseer of all that he had.

If he had

* Gen. 15. 2.

not

not been a faithful Servant, Abraham would not have committed to him the care of his family and estate. Nay more: Abraham look. ed upon him as an adopted son, to whom he must leave all his estate, all his fortune, as we should say. But in due time, the pro mised Isaac is born, of whom it was said, that in him all nations should be blessed. Eliezer's conduct had gained the esteem and confidence of Abraham, so that all the goods of his master were in his hand, that is under his charge, they were committed to his care. Abraham found him to be a good and faithful Servant, or else he would not have sent him on this journey. He appears to have been a pious, prudent, active man, well worthy of the trust reposed in him. What happy thing it is when good Masters have good Servants. What a happy thing it was for Abraham, that he had such a Servant, to whom he could trust such an important con. cern as that of choosing a wife for his son.. It is a sad thing that in this country there are few, if any that can be called faithful Servants. Their minds seem to be wholly fixed on fraud and deceit. Their only study seem

to be, how much they can cheat their Master. A servant when he comes to be hired seldom tells you, what he but what he will not do.

will do for you, As to written cha

racters, they are not to be depended on, unless they are signed by a person, who is known to you, and to whom you can refer.

I. Let us notice the CHARGE which ABRA HAM gave to his SERVANT.

"And Abraham said unto the eldest Servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand, under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shall not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my Son Isaac." See what a solemn charge is here given. The ceremony used in swearing, is by putting his hand under his Master's thigh, and the person by whom he swears, is the Lord, who saw all that passed between the Master and the Servant. The Hindoos swear by touching the water of the river Ganges, which is esteemed as sacred among them,

The

The Arabs swear by placing one hand in the Koran and the other underneath. In Ben gal the Natives marry very young, but they do not choose wives for themselves. Their parents employ a person, on purpose to seek wives for them. Before Eliezer would swear, he mentioned to Abraham a difficulty, that might occur. Peradventure, the woman will not be willing to follow me into this land." How am I to act, if this be the case! Must I needs bring thy son again, into the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, beware that thou bring not my Son thither again! This must not be done on any ac. count. Abraham allowed what Eliezer had said, might be the case, but at the same time, such was the confidence, which he had in the wisdom and goodness of God, that he felt persuaded, that God would bless him and crown his endeavors with success. "The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and swear unto me, saying: Unto thy seed will I give this land. He shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my Son

from

from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my Son thither again." This faithful, conscien tious Servant being satisfied, he put his hand, under his Master's thigh, and swear to him, concerning that matter. See how careful he was in taking this oath. How many there are that swear without that reverential reHow many make promises which they cannot perform. Eliezer made his Master a solemn promise before God, to perform all that was required of him.

gard to God.

II. We shall notice the JOURNEY.

"And the Servant took ten camels of his Master and departed." It is evident that these Camels carried all those things which are afterwards mentioned. The jewels, the garments and other things which were necessary for the journey, and that other servants went with him. "For all the goods of his master were in his hand;" that is to say, a list or inventory of all that his Master possessed. So that he was well qualified to answer any questions as to the amount of property which his Master had. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, the