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the employment of their natural dispositions tó that effect, in the accomplishment of his purposes, whether of judgment or of mercy. Let politicians repair to their cabinets in a time of national adversity, but let Christians resort to their closets and the sanctuary. Let them arrest, by prayer, the outstretched arm of God, and, by their tears and humiliation, quench his anger and turn away his wrath. Who knoweth if he will return, and leave a blessing behind him?" For everything, both with regard to the meanest individuals, and the greatest collective bodies of men, depends upon the aspect of his mind towards them. "When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? but if he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only."

Con

What importance attaches to our having a place among the people of God! If not reconciled unto him by the death of his Son, and at peace with him through the blood of the covenant, what shall we do in the evil day when it cometh upon us? For aught we know it may be at hand. science may awake and utter accusations; temptation may assail us; disorder may break out in our family; and from quarters where we deemed ourselves most secure we may be grievously wounded. There may be a complication of troubles-darts from all sides; waters rushing in from all circumjacent parts; and without a God to go to whom we have known, and in whom we can confide as our God, what will become of us? In one sense, it is well to anticipate troubles, that we may be found prepared for them; and if not in such a state

at present, that we may lose not an instant in providing ourselves with armour for the conflict, with tackling for the storm. And let the Christian be led to anticipate, as possible, the event of troubles, and to face them boldly in imagination, by anticipating with confidence Divine support or deliverance, for this cannot fail him. Such confidence is warranted by the promises of God, by the recorded experience of others, and by our own. Not to put it to this use, is to lose one great advantage derivable from it. So did not Paul. He escaped from the very jaws of that monster of cruelty, Nero, within reach of which he had been placed by the accusations of his bigoted countrymen; and especially by one "Alexander the coppersmith," whom having mentioned, and his narrow escape, which he ascribes to a gracious Providence, saying, "God hath delivered me out of the mouth of the lion;" he adds, "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Let, then, our past deliverances and expectations of future ones excite our gratitude, and lead us to be learning even now the notes of a song which we shall never become weary of singing, when our knowledge shall be complete, our memory perfect, and all our powers invigorated with immortality. "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Thou hast done all things well.

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THE HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF ABRAHAM.

"And he (Abraham) was called the Friend of God."-James ii. 23.

THE title "Friend of God" was given to no other man of whom we read in Scripture but the patriarch Abraham. What title so honourable ? It all but takes a man out of the sphere of mortals, and raises him to a dignity above the angels. The history of Abraham is given us at great length in Scripture, and the features of his character are sketched out for us by a Divine hand. The Jews look up to him as their great progenitor, and regard him with all but an idolatrous veneration; but as a man of exalted piety, and a believer in Divine revelation, he is, in a spiritual sense, the father, or pattern and head, of all the godly; so that we who are originally of the stock of the Gentiles, if believers in Christ, have a connexion with him far superior to that of a mere earthly race and lineage. Deeply, then, are we interested in the accounts that are given us of his life and character, the particulars of which we proceed to review.

He was born of idolatrous parents, and brought up in their worship of heathen deities, especially that of fire, the god of the Chaldeans, from whom he sprang, and in whose land he dwelt. There the God of glory appeared to him in this his idolatrous state and country, and called him to go out from thence to a land which he would more particularly point out to him afterwards, and which he would give to him, and to his seed after him, for an

inheritance. Such was the origin of the Jewish race, of which they are reminded, when bidden to "look back unto the rock whence they were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence they were digged; an allusion to the unsightly quarry out of which the rude materials are taken, which are afterwards formed into magnificent and durable fabrics. It is well for nations that have risen to opulence and grandeur to look back to their origin, often obscure, and from mean and polluted individuals, that they may not be unduly elated in their own conceit. There is a sin of national boasting of which we may be in great danger, without being aware of it, and against which it behoves us to be on our guard.

The sovereignty of Divine grace is eminently displayed in the calling of Abraham. He who does all things after the counsel of his own will has reasons for the selection of individuals to honour and usefulness in the church, which he reveals to no other. We may sometimes see in such cases a design to display the riches of Divine mercy, and the efficacy of Divine power in producing a fitness for some destined work or office, which did not before exist; but we are yet compelled to resolve the original purpose into the sovereign will of the Almighty, who giveth no account of his matters to any; and are led to say with the adoring Saviour, "Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight."

Abraham obeys the call, and persuades his father, wife, nephew, and some others, to accompany him in the expedition to which he had been so marvellously directed.

Their departure would doubtless awaken many inquiries amongst those around them, and lead to a variety of observations and conjectures, not free from suspicions of their prudence, and censure on their conduct. This is still more likely if they were informed that they never meant to return to that place, or to be again contaminated with the worship of its inhabitants. But, in spite of all such interruptions, they depart, and journey towards the land which God had showed them. So those who are called by Divine grace to a new and heavenly conversation must come out in spirit, and in the great objects of their pursuit, from their carnal friends and relatives in the world, whatever misconstructions such may put upon their conduct, or whatever attempts they make to frustrate the accomplishment of their purpose. "If any man," says Christ, "will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me; and "he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me."

The little party proceed not far before they are detained by the illness of Terah, Abraham's father. His will was greater than his strength, and they were obliged to halt; for nearly a twelvemonth were they detained by his wasting away, when at length he gives up the ghost, and his burial place is bedewed with the tears of those who survived him. This detention, however, effects no alteration in Abraham's purpose; and at a new command of God, received in vision, he sets out again on his heaven-directed journey. Many obstructions and difficulties they must have encountered on their tedious march, and nu