10. What was this that they were to keep? Whose covenant was this? Who were to keep this covenant? Between whom was this covenant which they were to keep? What was this covenant? Who were to be circumcised? What was to be done to every manchild?

11. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a (1) token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

1. Sign.

11. What was to be the token of the covenant? Of what was this to be the token? Of what covenant was this to be the token?

12. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you every man-child in (1) your generations; he that is born (2) in the house, or (3) bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

1. Every succeeding race of your descendants.-2. Belonging to one of your family-3. One that is a foreigner, and purchased.

12. How old was the child to be? What was to be done to the child when he was eight days old? Who were to be circumcised? What was to be done to those that were born in the house? Who else besides those that were born in the house? Bought with what? Bought of whom? That is not what?

13. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must (1) needs be circumcised; and my (2) covenant shall be in your flesh for (3) an everlasting covenant.

1. Of necessity.-2. Agreement.-3. An agreement which shall have no end.

13. Who must needs be circumcised? Born where? Bought with what? What must they be? What was to be in their flesh? For what? For what kind of covenant?

14. And the uncircumcised man-child, whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that (1) soul shall be (2) cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

1. Person.-2. Deprived of all the privileges of.

14. Who was to be cut off? From whom was he to be cut off? From whose people? What had he done? What had he broken? Whose covenant had he broken?

LESSONS.

396. Abram was to walk before God, ver. 1.-We should always think and act as in the presence of God.

397. Abram was to be perfect, ver. 1.-We should earnestly desire, and vigorously endeavour, to be perfect and unblameable in all Christian virtues and duties.

393. God was to make his covenant with Abram, ver. 2.-We should earnestly desire and endeavour to have God in covenant with us through Jesus Christ.

399. Abram fell on his face before God, ver. 3.—We should deeply humble ourselves in our approaches to God.

400. God talked with Abram, ver. 3.-We should seek frequent and intimate fellowship with God.

401. God, when Abram fell on his face, renewed his covenant and his promise, ver. 4.-Times of humility and self-abasement are times of favour with God.

402. God changed Abram's name, ver. 5.-They who piously humble themselves, shall be honoured and exalted by God.

408. Nations and kings were to come of Abraham, ver. 6.-God frequently blesses, honours, and rewards the children for the sake of the parents.

404. God was to be a God to Abraham and to his seed after him, ver. 7.-The richest legacy which can be left to children, are the fervent prayers, the holy example, and the covenant promises made by God to the children of pious parents.

405. God was to give Abraham and his seed the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, ver. S.-We should live above the world, and always act as heirs of heaven and eternal glory.

406. Abraham's children, as well as himself, were to keep God's covenant, ver. 9.-We should use every means in our power for securing, strengthening, and

advancing the spiritual welfare of our children and dependants.

407. They were to observe circumcision as the sign of God's covenant, ver. 10, 11.—We should strictly and regularly observe all the outward ordinances and sacraments appointed by God.

408. Children, at eight days old, were to be admilted into covenant with God, ver. 12.-We should endeavour to secure for our children, even in infancy, the benefits and blessings promised and offered to them in the covenant of grace.

409. All that were born in Abraham's house, though not his children, were to be circumcised, ver. 12.Every head of a family is, in some measure, responsible for the regular observance of outward religious ordinances by all who are under his roof.

410. All Abraham's servants must needs be circumcised, ver. 13.-Christian masters should not prefer or keep, ungodly servants.

411. Abraham's servants were to be included in, and were to have a right to the blessings of, this covenant, ver. 13.-Servants should prefer to serve in pious families, and should consider their spiritual privileges there as the most valuable part of their wages.

412. Every person, not circumcised, was to be cut off from God's people, ver. 14.-It is dangerous unnecessarily to delay, thoughtlessly to neglect, or unscripturally to refuse, obedience to the religious rites and observances enjoined upon us by God.

413. The neglect of the parent made the child be cut off, ver. 14.-Parents, for the sake of their children as well as of themselves, should immediately come into covenant with God.

SECTION XXV.

Isaac is Promised to Abraham.

Gen. xvii. 15-27.

15. And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

15. Who spoke to Abraham? Of whom did God speak to Abraham? Who was Sarai? Whose wife was Sarai? What was she not to be called? To what was Sarai's name to be changed? What was her name? What was now to be her name?

16. And I will (1) bless her, and give thee a son also (2) of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of (3) nations: kings of people shall be of her.

1. Make her prosperous and happy.-2. Of which she shall be the mother.-3. Different kingdoms.

son?

16. What was God to do to Sarah? What was God to give Abraham? Of whom was Abraham to have a What was Abraham to have of Sarah? What was God to do to Sarah? What was Sarah to be? A mother of what? What was to be of her?

17. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and (1) laughed, and said (2) in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old! and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, (3) bear!

1. Gave expression to his joy.-2. To himself.-3. Be a mother.

17. What did Abraham do? Upon what did Abraham fall? What did Abraham do when he fell upon his face? Who laughed? When did Abraham laugh? What did Abraham say? Shall what be born? Born to whom? Shall who bear? How old was Abraham? How old was Sarah? In what did Abraham say this? 18. And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might (1) ling before thee! 1. Be taken notice of, and blessed by.

13. What did Abraham say about Ishmael? To whom did Abraham say this? What was his desire for Ishmael? Live before whom? Whom did he wish to live before God?

19. And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son (1) indeed, and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will (2) establish my covenant with him for an (3) everlasting covenant, and with his (4) seed after him. 1. Of a truth.-2. Settle.-3. Unceasing.-4. Children.

son's name?

19. What did God say of Sarah? What was Sarah? What was Sarah to do? What was she to bear? To whom was she to bear a son? What was to be their Who was to be called Isaac? Who was to call him Isaac? What was God to do with Isaac ? What was to be established? With whom was God to establish his covenant? What kind of a covenant was this to be? With whose seed was God to establish his covenant?

20. And as for Ishmael, I have (1) heard thee: Behold, I have (2) blessed him, and will make him (3) fruitful, and will (4) multiply him (5) exceedingly: twelve princes shall he (6) beget; and I will make him a great nation.

1. Taken notice of your prayer and answered it.-2. Fronounced him prosperous and happy.-3. Have many children.-4. Make his children increase.-5. To a very great degree.-6. Have for his sons.

20. What did God say about Ishmael? Whom had God heard? For whom had God heard Abraham? What had God done to Ishmael? What was God to do to Ishmael? Who was to be made fruitful? What was God to do, besides making him fruitful? In what manner was Ishmael to be multiplied? What was Ishmael to beget? What was God to make Ishmael? What kind of a nation was God to make Ishmael?

21. But my (1) covenant will I (2) establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this (3) set time in the next year.

1. Agreement.-2. Settle.-3. Particular.

21. With whom was God to establish his covenant? What was to be established with Isaac? Who was to establish his covenant with Isaac? Who was to bear Isaac? When was Sarah to bear Isaac? What was to happen the next year? At what time the next year? 22. And he left off (1) talking with (2) him, and God (3) went up from Abraham.

1. Speaking.-2. Abraham.-3. Ascendéd up to heaven.

22. Who left off talking? With whom did God leave off talking? What did God do when he left off