12. Who laughed? How did Sarah laugh? What did Sarah say when she laughed? After what? After who had waxed old? Who was old also? Whose Lord? Who was Sarah's Lord?

13. And the Lord said unto Abraham, (1) Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

1. For what reason.

13. Who spoke to Abraham? What did the Lord say to Abraham? Who had laughed? What had Sarah said? Bear what? Who would bear a child? Who was old?

14. Is any thing too (1) hard for the Lord? At the time (2) appointed. I will return unto thee, (3) according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

1. Difficult to be performed by.-2. I have fixed.-3. Nine months hence.

14. For whom is nothing too hard? Who was to return? When was the Lord to return? Unto whom was he to return? According to what? What was to happen when he returned? What was Sarah to have? Who was to have a son?

15. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not: for she was afraid. And he said, Nay, but thou didst laugh.

15. What Did Sarah do? Who denied? Sarah say? Why did Sarah tell a lie? afraid? What did the Lord say to Sarah? laugh?

What did Who was

Who did

16. And the men rose up from (1) thence, and (2) looked toward Sodom and Abraham went with them to (3) bring them on the way. 1. That place.-2. Set their faces, and walked away.-3. Convoy, or direct.

16. What did the angels do? From whence did the angels rise up? Whither did the angels look? Toward what? What did Abraham do? With whom did Abraham go? For what did Abraham go with the angels?

LESSONS.

427. Abraham sat at his tent door, ver 1.-We

should be constantly watching for opportunities of doing good.

423. Abraham, when he saw the men, ran to meet them, ver. 2.—We should be more zealous to do good, than others are to receive it.

429. Abraham bowed himself to the strangers, ver. 2. We should be courteous and mannerly to others, according to the customs of the place where we are.

430. Abraham requested, as a favour, that the strangers would accept of his hospitality, ver. 3.-It is a great blessing and privilege to have the desire and the means of being kind and hospitable to strangers.

481. Abraham wished that their feet should be washed, and their bodies rested under the tree, ver. 4.-There is, at times, as much charity in affording comforts to some, as in supplying necessaries to others.

432. Abraham was to provide them with bread, ver. 5.-We should be consistent in our services and hospitality, not giving that which is less requisite, and withholding that which is indispensable.

433. The angels frankly accepted of Abraham's offer, ver. 5.-We should not unkindly refuse, but frankly accept of, the offered good offices of others, when we really require them.

434. Abraham engaged Sarah to assist him, ver. 6.— We should induce and encourage others to acts of hospitality and kindness.

435. Abraham ran to the herd for a calf, ver. 7.— We should be hearty and liberal in doing good to

others.

436. Abraham himself served and waited upon the strangers, ver. 8.-We should be respectful, obliging, and condescending to strangers.

437. The stranger promised to return, and Sarah was to have a son, ver. 10.-We should be grateful for kindnesses received from others.

438. Sarah heard from behind them, ver. 10.-We

should never inquisitively and secretly listen to the conversation of others.

439. Sarah doubtingly laughed at the idea of having a son, ver. 12.-We should never doubt the power of God, nor treat his intimations with lightness or ridicule.

440. The Lord inquired as to Sarah's laughing and doubts, ver. 12.—We should affectionately notice, and mildly reprove, the failings or faults of others.

441. Nothing is too hard for the Lord, ver. 14.-We should place unbounded confidence in the promises of God, both for time and eternity.

442. The Lord renewed the promise, though Sarah had laughed at it, ver. 12.-We should be charitable to the weakness of others; and not withhold good, because of unkind or ungrateful returns.

443. Sarah was afraid, ver. 15.-We should be afraid of nothing but sin.

444. Sarah's fear made her deny her fault, ver 15.We should beware of the beginnings of sin; and should never allow the fear of punishment to make us double a fault by denying it.

445. The Lord affirmed the truth, ver. 15.-We should steadfastly and unhesitatingly maintain the truth.

446. Abraham went with them to bring them on the way, ver. 16.-We should endeavour to be serviceable, as well as hospitable to strangers.

SECTION XXVII.

Abraham's Intercession for Sodom.—

Gen. xviii. 17-33.

17. And the Lord said, Shall I (1) hide from Abraham that thing which I (2) do;

1. Conceal.-2. Am about to accomplish.

17. Who spoke to Abraham? What did the Lord

say to Abraham? Hide from whom? What was the Lord not to hide from Abraham? What who did?

18. (1) Seeing that Abraham shall (2) surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the (3) nations of the earth shall be (4) blessed in him?

1. Knowing and considering.-2. Most certainly.-3. People in every country.-4. Made happy.

18. Seeing what? What was Abraham to become? Who said that Abraham was to become a great and mighty nation? What kind of a nation was Abraham to become? What were all nations of the earth to be? In whom were the nations to be blessed? What nations were to be blessed in Abraham?

19. For I know him, that he will (1) command his children, and (2) his household (3) after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do (4) justice and (5) judgment; that the Lord may (6) bring upon Abraham that which he hath (7) spoken of him.

1. Direct and order.-2, All the people in his house.-3. When he is gone.-4. What is right.-5. Make others do right also.-6. Fulfil to.-7. Promised to.

19. Who knew him? What did God know that Abraham would do? Whom was Abraham to command? Whose children and household? When was he to command them? What were his household to do? What would they keep? Whose ways would they keep? To do what? What was the Lord to bring upon Abraham? What was Abraham's children and household to do that the Lord might bring his promise upon him?

20. And the Lord said, Because the (1) cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is (2) very grievous,

1. Open and avowed wickedness.-2. No longer to be endured.

20. What was great? What cry was great? Who said the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great? What did the Lord say of Sodom and Gomorrah? What was very grievous? Whose sin was grievous?

21. I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether ac, cording to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. 21. What was the Lord to do? What was the Lord to see? If they have done what? According to what cry? What had come up to God? Who would know?

What would he know?

this?

When would he know

22. And the men turned their faces from (1) thence, and went (2) toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

1. That place.-2. In the direction of.

22. What did the men do? Who turned their faces? From what did they turn their faces? Who went? Towards what did they go? What did Abraham yet do? Who stood? Before whom did he stand?

23. And Abraham (1) drew near, and said, Wilt thou also (2) destroy the (3) righteous with the wicked?

1. Came up closer to the spot were the Lord stood.-2. Punish and kill.-3. Good people.

23. What did Abraham do? Who drew near? Το whom did he draw near? What did Abraham say when he drew near? Destroy what? Destroy the righteous with whom?

24. (1) Peradventure there be fifty (2) righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are (3) therein?

1. It may happen that.-2. Good people.-3. In it.

24. What did Abraham say there might be in the city? How many righteous? Where might the fifty righteous be? Within what? What did Abraham ask God if he would do? Destroy what? Why was he requested to spare the place? If the fifty were where?

25. That be far from thee to do after this manner, to (1) slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be (2) as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not (3) the Judge of all the earth do (4) right?

1. Kill.-2 No better than.-3. He who sees, and knows, and decides upon the intentions of the hearts.-4. What is just and equitable.

25. What was to be far from God? To slay whom? With whom? As what should the righteous not be? Who should not be as the wicked? Who would do right? What would the judge of all the earth do?

26. And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty (1) righteous within the city, then I will (2) spare all the place for their sakes.

1. Good people.-2. Not destroy, but preserve.

26. What did the Lord say? If he found what? Where? Within what? What was God to do if he