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CHAPTER XVIII.

ON THE BOOK OF GENESIS.

We have seen Isaac to have been an eminent type of Christ, the counsel of the Holy Trinity related in xviii. 16, 17, seems to govern this history as we proceed. "The Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." Had Abraham been a learned St. Paul, without doubt God would have given us a revelation, learned disquisitions, and profound reasoning by him, as He did by St. Paul; but as it is probable he was no scholar at all, God gave us this sublime part of Revelation by symbols, and by historic type. The metaphor of the Church, "the bride, the Lamb's wife," is found throughout the whole of Scripture; and so I think this sublime history of sending to take a wife for Isaac, was a type of the Jewish Church, the spouse of Christ. (Cant. iv.) Let us look at it as thus intended.

"Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." He was then a

type of the true Church, called out of the world by God to do His will; he entered into a covenant by oath with the oldest servant that he had, to go and take a wife for his son. "I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt 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." The Jewish Church was essentially Jewish, of her own country and kindred. The first thought that rose in the servant's mind was, that the wife would not come; is there not always this fear? He inquired, if she would not, should he take Isaac into the land of Nahor? No, "Beware that thou bring not my son thither again. The Lord God of heaven sware 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 thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath." What a bold, noble type was this faithful servant of the true messengers of God. "And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter." Perhaps this was the national custom of taking an oath; however executed it matters not, it is the spirit of the oath that is binding, and when a minister of God has taken upon himself the ordination oath, he has sworn to bring souls to God by His grace assisting him, and if he swears falsely, he is a traitor; not so Abraham's servant, he was

all alacrity, obedience, faith, and of faithfulness to his

master.

"And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand; and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor." Here was a perfect type of the Church sent to the world, just that which we have seen in Abraham; first, he was called to go into the land of Canaan, then into Egypt, the land of Ham, to Beth-el, to Hebron, to Beer-sheba, and then to be seen a mighty prince among the sons of Heth: and this was the Divine meaning of his servant's embassy to "the city of Nahor." Camels were the principal commodity of the country, by them traffic and merchandise were carried on. And has not our Divine master committed all his goods to our hand? Are we like this typical servant, zealous to make them all subservient to His service? "And he made his camels kneel down without the city by a well of water, at the time of the evening, the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham." Camels were taught, or trained to rest themselves with their fore feet bent under them, and perhaps to be watered in the same position; the picture before us is a suggestive one, the attitude a worthy one; the soul of the servant lifted up to the Lord God of Abraham for good speed that day, and all his worldly goods made subservient to His cause. Reader, examine the picture still further,

“Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac ; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master." Where is now this fidelity and childlike faith of the patriarchal Church? This servant seemed to live in perfect communion and friendship with the unseen world; no carefulness about anything, but a simple dependance upon God. "Commit thy way unto the Lord: and trust also in him: and he shall bring it to pass." And thus it is, that this sublime history forms one of the most lucid illustrations upon the doctrine of providence that there is in the Bible; together with the history of Esther, and Ruth, and Joseph, how grandly do they stand before us; but might I not add, a David, and a Daniel; who of the sons of God might I not add? there is a leading providence over all who wait in humble reliance and obedience upon God.

"And it came to pass, before he had done speaking ". his speaking had been prayer, "O Lord God of my master Abraham;" and in him was fulfilled the promise, "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder." Thus do we

see Abraham, the true Church, the called one of God thrown again into another part of His vineyard, to be a light there; perhaps he had not seen his brother Nahor, and his large household, since they parted in Ur of the Chaldees. (xi. 31.) Her changeful vicissitude is the same in all ages, God disposes of her as He will, as shall be most to His glory: when she is at ease in Zion, He disperses her abroad for more extensive usefulness.

"And Rebekah went down to the well and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for the camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels." It is possible this household were idolaters (xxxii. 32), without the knowledge of the true God, and yet in how noble, fine a mien is natural religion often presented to us? Does it not often shame the quarrelsome, cantancorous followers of Jesus, or rather those who are professors of His name? And do we not see in Rebekah a proof of how easily the world might be won to Christ if His servants were faithful and in earnest, as was this servant of old. And how immense would be the reciprocation of advantage, how surely would be fulfilled in us

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