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send me away that I may go unto my master."

He had risen in the morning knowing that Abraham was awaiting the issue of their plan in a state of suspense-and he was intent upon relieving that suspense by delivering up the charge which God in His providence had so graciously committed to his care-consequently he urged the request to be gone, and was soon on his way, joyfully bearing along in triumph the well-earned fruit of his prayerful and self-denying labours. The three leading features of Eliezer's character and conduct touching his connexion with Abraham appear to be these-Affection, Fidelity, and Diligence. Probably in his case the strength of the first increased the activity of the other two. He loved his master, or he would not have shewn so much thought as he did throughout for the feelings of the Patriarch. We observe that he intreated for "kindness" to

his master, both when approaching God and addressing Bethuel. It has been said, "love makes labour light," and truly it is so, for though principle will make a servant faithful and industrious in obeying the orders of his master, yet love in addition will give a warmth and interest in the performance of those duties, which, without it, however correctly done, would be comparatively cold and spiritless in their execution. In drawing after him a servant's heart, much must of course depend upon the carriage of the master to his servant; the absence of reciprocal friendship too often confines their acquaintance to a mere matter of convenience. But he is wise who can appreciate what is kindly meant by him who rules; and is not too proud to love the man to whose authority nevertheless he bows, and whose superiority he admits and respects. Such was Eliezer-and such may all Christian servants be!

CHAPTER IV.

No

ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMITE.

"He that receiveth you, receiveth me."

person of a reflective cast could pass over the various Druidical remains existing in parts of our beautiful island, without receiving a significant lesson. The Christian poet says,

66

'How fleet is a glance of the mind;
Compared with the speed of its flight,

The tempest itself lags behind,

And the swift winged arrows of light."

some

Huge and curiously arranged stones bare and exposed to view in a bold and barren landscape, others in more luxuriant situa

tions overgrown with oak saplings, plants, or mosses on richly wooded hills-bring before the eye of imagination a time and scene when barbarous priests of an uncivilised age performed their superstitions upon those very stones. Yes, man is naturally an idolator; he must worship something; and he who denies worshipping anything, is unconscious of having constituted himself the object of his adoration. The Brahmin of the Hindoo, the Prophet of the Mormon, the Apostle of the Irvingite, and the Romish Priest, all yield ample demonstration of the tendency of human nature to submit to the thraldom of

priestly power. But notwithstanding the

evils of priestcraft, no Bible student can be ignorant of its being God's will that the preachers and teachers of His truth should be specially honoured by the followers of Christ, on account of their divine mission, They are to be esteemed "very highly in love for their work's sake,"-as spiritual

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