THE

FAITHFUL STEWARD.

It was evening; the sun was setting, and the shadows that had been lengthening upon the ground were blending into one mass: the air, which in Eastern climates is oppressively hot during the day, now became cooler, and the hour approached when the women of the city were accustomed to come forth, and draw from the wells that watered the surrounding plain.

Beside one of these springs was seen an elderly man, whose countenance, we may conceive, bespoke anxiety, softened by that expression of humble confidence which is to be remarked in a child of God, when making known

to his Heavenly Father, with prayer and thanksgiving, the requests of his heart. This man had travelled with ten camels, well laden, who now bent their knees, upon the soft cool grass, and rested after the fatigue of a long journey.

The camel is a beast of burden frequently mentioned in Scripture, wonderfully adapted for the service of man in the sandy plains and parched deserts of Asia, being capable of great fatigue, and of travelling for a length of time without a supply of food. Docile and sagacious, he kneels to receive upon his lofty back the allotted burden, and in the same posture takes his repose. This is a beautiful emblem of the pious soul, whose attitude, whether preparing for his Master's work, or resting in His love, is still that of prayer. The camels now reclining near the city of Nahor belonged to Abraham, and their attendant was the Steward of his house, the faithful servant to whose charge Abraham comall his worldly goods; and who would also have been the heir of great possessions, had not the Lord blessed his master, in his old age

mitted

with a

son.

Abraham had been an idolater, dwelling among an idolatrous people, until the Lord called and blessed him, and commanded him to quit his father's house and his own kindred, and go to dwell in the land of Canaan; which though Abraham had not there any right to so much ground as he could set the sole of his foot upon God promised to give to him and to his children as a possession forever.

Thus it is, that the sinner, living among others as wicked as himself, and neither desiring nor nor seeking after God, is called by the voice of His mercy in the Gospel, persuaded to forsake the evil ways in a world lying in wickedness, and promised the everlasting attainment of a heavenly country, to which he has no claim whatever, but as the free gift of the Lord Almighty.

The people of Canaan were exceedingly wicked; from one generation to another they provoked the Lord, and were filling up the measure of their iniquities. God, whose long suffering would lead sinners to repentance, did not yet visit them for their sins, but told Abraham that they would at length bring destruction on them

selves; and he, since they were the enemies of the Lord, resolved to form no alliance with them. Isaac, Abrahams' son, was now old enough to be settled in life as the master of a family; and his pious father desired to prevent his marrying Canaanitish woman, by finding a wife for him among his own kindred.

a

Abraham informed his faithful servant of his wish, and intrusted him with the task of choosing a fit partner for Isaac, and bringing her home to him; but as he could not be sure that she would agree to leave her country and friends with a stranger, the servant inquired whether, in Isaac should case, go back to marry, and

that

whom his father had left?

dwell the people among To this Abraham would not consent. He charged his servant by no means to bring Isaac again to that land: and added, that the Lord, who had I called him, and promised to give the whole of Canaan to his posterity, would go before the messenger, and grant success to his embassy. Christian, while endeavouring to persuade

The

his former companions to walk in the same safe

but

narrow path that he has been led into, may meet with many temptations to return again to

the evil world; but he must not yield: though his whole house and all his kindred should prefer continuing in the broad road to destruction, he must consider the value of his own soul; and while he mourns that they will not accompany him, carefully watch that they do not succeed in drawing his steps aside; assured that, in every temptation, God makes a way for his people to escape.

The faithful Steward set out upon his journey, and travelled far before he reached the borders of the city where Nahor, Abraham's brother, and others of his family dwelt; there he and his camels rested, waiting till the women should. come out to draw water: but the servant remembering that he was also the servant of the Lord, from whom every blessing must come, offered up a prayer, that the object of his journey might be graciously fulfilled.

Eliezer, for that was the steward's name, (Gen. xv. 2.) knew that he might very easily be deceived by the outward appearance, and perhaps take back to Isaac such a wife as would prove no blessing to him; he also knew that God looketh upon the heart; nothing can be hid