LESSONS. 651. Sarah was an hundred and twenty-seven years old when she died, ver. 1, 2.-We should always be ready for death, as the longest life must come to a close. 652. Abraham mourned and wept for Sarah, ver. 2. It is both lawful and seemly to mourn for the loss of friends. 653, Abraham, during his grief, bargained with the sons of Heth, ver. 3.—We should never allow grief to unsettle our minds, or unfit us for duty. 654. Abraham professed himself a stranger and a sojourner, ver. 4.-We should always feel and act as strangers and pilgrims upon earth. 655. Abraham wished to possess a burying-place for himself and his family, ver. 4.-It is quite lawful to concern ourselves about the place and circumstances of our own interment, or of any of our family. 656. Abraham wished to bury his dead out of his sight, ver. 4.-Death, being the consequence of sin, is, in its mildest shape, loathsome and forbidding. 657. The children of Heth called Abraham lord, ver. 6. We should be respectful to strangers. 658. They acknowledged Abraham as a mighty prince among them, ver 6.-We should frankly acknowledge and admit the rank and superiority of others. 659. They gave Abraham the choice of all their sepulchres, ver. 6.—We should be kind, and accommodating, and liberal to strangers. 660. Not one of them was to withhold his sepulchre from Abraham, ver. 6.-Christians should unite and be unanimous in every good work. 661. Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of Heth, ver. 7.-It is lawful, and prudent, to accommodate ourselves to the sinless customs of the people with whom we dwell. 662. Abraham requested their good offices and friendly interference with Ephron, ver. 8.-We should not refuse, and if necessary we should ask, the assistance and good offices of strangers. 663. Abraham desired to purchase from Ephron the cave of Machpelah, ver. 9.-We should never be covetous of other people's property, or desire to get it without giving its value. 664. Abraham desired to give full value for the cave, ver. 9.-We should never be selfish, designing, er treacherous in our worldly transactions. 665. Ephron immediately attended to the request of Abraham, ver. 10.-We should always be ready to hear the requests, and to meet the wishes of others, especially of strangers. 666. Ephron offered Abraham both the field and the cave for nothing, ver. 11.-We should be honourable, and liberal, and bountiful in our transactions with strangers. 667. Abraham again bowed himself before the people of the land, ver. 12.-We should never treat the innocent customs or manners of others with ridicule or contempt. 668. Abraham requested Ephron to take a price for the field, ver. 13.-We should never take an undue advantage of the kindness, the politeness, or the liberality of others. 669. Abraham would not use the field till he had bought it, ver. 13.-We should not unnecessarily, or covetously lay ourselves under obligations, or put ourselves in the power of others. 670. Ephron mentioned the worth of the land, but did not demand it as the price, ver. 15.-We should be upright and honest, and never attempt to deceive or to overreach those with whom we deal. 671. Ephron considered the four hundred shekels as little between him and Abraham, ver. 15.-We should prize the good-will and friendship of good men, more than any pecuniary advantage which we may be able to derive from them. 672. Abraham hearkened to the delicate hint of Ephron, ver. 16.-Honourable and liberal dealing on the part of others should be met with frankness and candour on ours. 673. Abraham gave Ephron his price in current muney, ver. 16.-We should not attempt to pass base or deteriorated money, in our dealings with others. 674. Abraham took care that the property of the field and all that was in it, was made sure to him, ver. 17.-Though we should be polite, and honourable, and liberal in our dealings, we should never be careless or slovenly. 675. Abraham bought the field before witnesses, ver. 18. We should use all proper and common means to secure ourselves from any attempt at fraud, either to us, or to ours after us. 676. Abraham buried Sarah, ver. 19.-We should respectfully and suitably, according to our means, attend to the funeral solemnities of our relations and friends. 677. Abraham got no more of Canaan for himself than a burial-place, ver. 20.-We should look to heaven as our home, and be satisfied with whatever portion of this world's goods God sees to be best for us. SECTION XXXVI. Abraham's Servant sent for a Wife to Isaac.- 1. And Abraham was old, and (1) well stricken in (2) age: and the Lord had (3) blessed Abraham in all things. 1. Fur advanced.-2. Years.-3. Prospered.` 1. What is here said of Abraham? Who was old? What is here said of Abraham, besides that he was old? In what was he well stricken? What had the Lord done to Abraham? Who had blessed Abraham? Whom had the Lord blessed? In what had the Lord blessed Abraham? In how many things? What had the Lord done in all things? 2. And Abraham said unto (1) his eldest servant of his house, that (2) ruled over all that (3) he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh. 1. The highest and most confidential.-2. Took the charge and guid ance of.-3. Abraham. 2. To whom did Abraham speak? To what servant? What eldest servant? Of whose house? What did this servant do? Who ruled? Over what did he rule? What did Abraham bid his servant do? Under what was he to put his hand? Under whose thigh? What was the servant to put under Abraham's thigh? Whose hand? 3. And I will make thee (1) swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not (2) take a wife unto my son (3) of the (4) daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 1. Take a solemn oath in the name of.-2. Procure and bring.-3. From among.-4. Young women belonging to any family of. 3. What was Abraham to make him do? Who was to swear? Who was to make him do this? By whom was he to swear? The God of what? What was the servant not to do? Not take what? A wife unto whom? Of whom was he not to take a wife for his son? Of what daughters? Who dwelt among the Canaanites? 4. But thou shalt go unto (1) my country, and to my (2) kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 1. The country which I left at the command of God.-2. Own relations. 4. Whither was the servant to go? Into what country? Whose country? Who was to go unto Abraham's country? To whom was the Servant to go? What was he to do in Abraham's country? What was he to take? Unto whom was he to take a wife? Whose son? Who was Abraham's son ? 5. And the servant said unto him, (1) Peradventure the woman will not be willing to (2) follow me unto this land: must I (3) needs (4) bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? 1. Perhaps.-2. Take my word, nor agree to marry one whom she has never seen, and, therefore, she may not come with me.-3. Then, of necessity.-4. Take away. 5. What did the servant say unto Abraham? What did he say might happen? Who might not be willing to follow him? To follow whom? To follow him whither? What did the servant ask, if it happened that the woman would not follow him? Bring whom? Whose son? Bring him to what land? Who had come from that land? 6. And Abraham said unto him, (1) Beware thou, that thou (2) bring not my son (3) thither again. 1. Take thou especial care.-2. Take.-3. Back to that country. 6. Who was to beware? Who said he was to beware? Of what was the servant to beware? Bring whom? Whose son? Whither was he not to bring his son? 7. The Lord God of heaven, which (1) took me from my father's house, and from the land of my (2) kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy (3) seed will I give (4) this land: he shall send his angel (5) before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my sou from (6) thence. 1. Ordered.-2. Relations.-3. Children.-4. All this country.-5. To be with you, and to prosper you in this commission.-6. That place. 7. Who was to send his angel? What Lord God? What had the Lord God of heaven done to Abraham ? From what had God taken Abraham? From what land had God taken Abraham? Of whose kindred? Who had spoken to Abraham? Unto whom did God swear? What did God swear unto Abraham? Who was to give that land? Unto whom was God to give that land? Unto whose seed? What was God to give to Abraham's seed? Whom was God to send? Who was to send his angel? Before whom was God to send his angel? What was the servant to do? Unto whom was he to take a wife? From what place was he to take a wife? 8. (1) And if the woman will not be willing to (2) follow thee, then |