Abraham was old and well-stricken in years," that he felt the time was come for his promised son Isaac to marry. So, summoning "his steward, the eldest servant of his house, and ruler over all that he had, Eliezer of Damascus," he informed him of the important mission with which he was about to be charged, saying, "Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and I will make thee sware by 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, amongst whom I dwell. But thou shalt go into my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac." Nothing could be more suitable in commencing a business of such immense consequence to his posterity, than insisting upon the solemn oath which Abraham demanded of his servant in the opening words of this conference. It implied no doubt of Eliezer's readiness to undertake the work, nor of his fidelity in performing the wishes and commands of his master; but as a religious seal to a solemn compact, made under peculiar circumstances, it served as an appeal to God to bind the messenger to his purpose, and bless him in an enterprize, which, if conducted without divine assistance and direction, would be fraught with the most serious results to the Hebrew nation. "And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me into this land: must I needs bring thy son again into the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my son thither again," &c. &c. Prepared with this determination, Eliezer set out on his journey to Mesopotamia, and at length reached the city of Nahor. There he halted, and "led his camels to a well without the city." It was evening, the time when, according to the customs of these people, the women came forth to draw water. Eliezer having proceeded thus far in his task, began to feel the need of Supreme guidance as to the next step he should take. With commendable faith in the power and mercy of the most high God, he laid before Him his request, calling upon the "God of his master Abraham," to order the events of His providence in such a manner, as to make it perfectly clear which was the maiden appointed to be the future partner of the cherished Isaac. His mode of address to the Lord, was singularly simple and pathetic. His heart was in the work. He was pleading for his earthly master-for Abraham's dearest interests in this life. 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." How well would it be if all servants, like Eliezer, when conducting affairs in the service of a master, made the interests of that master their own for the time being. There A praying servant is a treasure. It matters not what station he holds, nor to what grade he belongs, in that large portion of society; from the prime minister in his place of state, down to the groom in the stable, he who really prays for his master, serves him in a praying spirit, and brings untold blessings both upon him and his progeny. was much tenderness in the expression Eliezer used; "shew kindness unto my master Abraham." As if he would remind the Most High, that it was a time of great anxiety for the patriarch, when the gentlest feelings of his nature were being exercised, and he waiting in uncertainty as to the success of the somewhat difficult expedition upon which he had dispatched his servant. It was an earnest, simple prayer, and made in behalf of another. We see how God regards such prayers-for, "it came to pass before he had done speaking that, behold, Rebekah came out"-"with her pitcher |