ven, and which are on earth, even | in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Eph. ii, 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph. ill, 10, 11. To the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, ACcording to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Phil. iv, 3. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life. against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. 2 Sam. xxiv, 1. And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. Job xvii, 4. For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. Isa. vi, 9, 10. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Isa. xxix, 10. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 2 Cor. iv, 3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. and Jambres withstood Moses, so 2 Tim. iii, 8, 9. Now as Jannes do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. Ps. lxxxi, 11, 12. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust; and they walked in their own counsels. Prov. v, 22, 23. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. Isa. Ixiii, 17. O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy 2 Tim. 1, 9. Who hath saved us, eyes: the prophets and your ways, and hardened our heart and called us with an holy calling: not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world be gan. 2 Tim. ii, 10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Titus i, 1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after god liness. 1 Pet. 1.2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Rev. xiii, 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. xx, 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. xxi, 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. THE DIVINE REJECTION. Deut. xxix, 4. Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. 1 Sam. ii, 25. If one man sin rulers, the seers hath he covered, Isa. xliv, 18. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. Jer. vi, 21, 22, 30. Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay the stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them. John vi, 65, 66. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John xvii, 12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. Rom. ix, 22. What if God, will ing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. Rom. xi, 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and choose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Isa. lxvi, 4, 5. I also will choose Ezek. xx, 24-26. Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live: And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. 2 Cor. xiii, 5-7. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: know ye. not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. 2 Thess. ii, 11, 12. And for this | the number of the children of cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. disobedient; 1 Peter ii, 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at being the word, whereunto also they were appointed. Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ILLUSTRATIONS. Gen. xxv, 22, 23. And the children struggled together within her: and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 1 Kings xix, 18. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. Isa. 1, 9. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Isa. x, 22, 23. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. Jer. xviii, 2-6. Arise, and go down to the potter's house; and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house; and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Rom. ix, 27-29. Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though Rom. xi, 4--6. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work. 2 Tim. ii, 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. Exod. iv, 21. And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the Lea hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. Exod. xiv, 4, 8, 17. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that be shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyp tians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so. And the LORD hardened the beart d Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israe went out with an high band And I, behold, I will harder the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, an upon all his host, upon chariots, and upon his horsemen Ps. cv, 25. He turned ther heart to hate his people, to deal subtilely with his servants. Rom. ix, 17, 18. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for the same purpose have I raised the up, that I might shew my powe in thee, and that my name mit be declared throughout all L earth. Therefore hath he ment on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth MEANS AND END. Isa. x, 21. The remuant su return, even the remnant a Jacob, unto the mighty God Exod. vii, 3, 4. 13. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Jer. xxxi, 3. The LORD hIt Egypt, and bring forth mine appeared of old unto me, supay armies, and my people the chil-Yea, have I loved thee with dren of Israel, out of the land of everlasting love, therefore w Egypt by great judgments. And loving-kindness have I drawnthe he hardened Pharaoh's heart, Acts ii, 39. For the promise that he hearkened not unto them; unto you, and to your childre as the LORD had said. and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our t shall call. Exod. ix, 12, 16. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; Acts xiii, 38, 39. Be it knows as the LORD had spoken unto unto you therefore, men a Moses. And in very deed for brethren, that through this ma this cause have I raised thee up, is preached unto you the forgi for to show in thee my power; ness of sins: And by him all the and that my name may be de-believe are justified from a clared throughout all the earth. Exod. x, 1, 20. 27. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he would not let the children of Israel go. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 80 Exod. xi, 9, 10. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my things, from which ye could b be justified by the law of Moses Acts xviii, 9, 10. Then spar the Lord to Paul in the night a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace: For 1 with thee, and no man shall s on thee to hurt thee; for I ha much people in this city. after long abstinence, Paul st Acts xxvii, 21-26, 30, 31. forth in the midst of them s said, Sirs, ye should have hear kened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to ha gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. LESSONS. LUTY. Deut. xxix, 29. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Phil. ii, 12. Wherefore, my be- foundation of God standeth sure, find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to thou made me thus? Hath not him that formed it, Why bast the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? thee to differ from another? and 1 Cor. iv, 7. For who maketh what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now, if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 3rd.-MAN'S RESPONSIBI LITY. SUFFICIENT INSTRUMENTALITY 2 Pet. i, 10, 11. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to Isaiah lv, 1. Ho every one that Rom. viii, 28-30. And we know make your calling and election thirsteth, come ye to the waters, that all things work together for sure: for if you do these things ye and he that hath no money; come good to them that love God, to shall never fall: For so an entrance ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy them who are the called accord- shall be ministered unto you abun- wine and milk without money, and ing to his purpose. For whom he dantly into the everlasting king-without price. did foreknow, he also did predes-dom of our Lord and Saviour tinate to be conformed to the Jesus Christ. image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Gal. 1, 14-16. And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I con ferred not with flesh and blood. Phil. ii, 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. PRAISE. Matt. xi, 25-27. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Luke x, 20, 21. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Jer. xxvi, 3. If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. But Ezek. xviii, 23, 24, 31, 32. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD; and not that he should return from his ways, and live? when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be men tioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new 1 Thess. i, 3-5. Remembering heaven and earth, that thou hast heart and a new spirit: for why without ceasing your work of hid these things from the wise 2 Thess. ii, 13, 14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth; Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. viii, 31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? If a 1 John Iv, 19-21. We love him, HUMILITY. Rom. ix, 19-21. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet For I have no pleasure in the will you die, O house of Israel? death of him who dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn your selves, and live ye. Ezek. xxxiii, 10-16. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, Thus ye speak, saying, if our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day CHOICE. of his transgression: as for the HIS DESTINY DETERMINED BY HIS wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked retore the pledge, give again that had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Joel ii, 32. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Matth. xviii, 11, 14. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. John vi, 87, 38. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Acts ii, 21. And it shall come to pass, that whosover shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, Rom. x, 11, 13, 21. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. 2 Tim. ii, 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Rev. xxii, 17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Deut. xii, 26-28. Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy Vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose. And thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh. Ob serve and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God. Deut. xxx, 15, 16, 19, 20. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him; (for he is thy life, and the length of thy days) that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD Sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them, Ps. lxxxi, 18-15. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. Isa. xlviii, 18. Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Matth. xxiii, 37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Luke xiii, 34, 35. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye Exod. vill, 32. And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go. Erod. ix, 34, 35. And when Fa raoh saw that the rain and the had and the thunders were ceased, be sinned yet more and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the chil dren of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses. 1 Sam. vi, 6. Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they d parted? 4th. THE DIVINE SOTEREIGNTY IN PROVIDENCE. mighty men are broken, and they 1 Sam. il, 4-10. The bows of the that stumbled are girded with hired out themselves for break strength. They that were full bave and they that were hungry ceased so that the barren hath born seve and she that hath many childret is waxed feeble. The LORD ki eth, and maketh alive: he bring eth down to the grave, and bri and maketh rich: he bringeth low eth up. The LORD maketh pour and lifteth up. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for strength shall no man prevail The adversaries of the Logo sull be broken to pieces, out of heave shall he thunder upon them the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his King, and exalt the bes of his anointed. Job v, 18. For he maketh sore. and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole. Job xxix, 2-4. Oh that I were a in months past, as in the days when God preserved me, Whet his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; As I was in the days of my youth, when the secre of God was upon my tabernaci Job xxxiv, 24. He shall break pieces mighty men without n ber, and set others in their stead Ps. XXX, 6, 7. And in my p sperity I said, I shall never be moved. LORD, by thy favour the hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, I be wicked men, to whom it hap-I and I was troubled. Ps. lxxi, 20, 21. Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Ps. ci, 1. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. Ps. cii, 10. Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. Jer. xxii, 21, 22. I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear: this hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thon obeyedst not my voice. The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness. Ezek. xxxv. 14, 15. Thus saith the Lord Gon, When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate. As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee; thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, eren all of it; and they shall know that I am the LORD. Luke 1, 52, 53. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.' He bath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent away empty. John xvi, 20. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. OFTEN APPARENTLY INDIS- Job ix, 22, 23. This is one thing, therefore I said it. He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the inno cent. Eccles. vii, 15. All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Eccles. viii, 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked: again, there peneth according to the work of Eccles. ix, 1-3, 11. For all this I considered in my heart, even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. ABRAHAM OFFERING UP ISAAC. Gen. xxii, 1-17, 20-22. And it came to pass after these things, come alike to all: there is one that God did tempt Abraham, and event to the righteous and to the said unto him, Abraham. And he wicked; to the good, and to the said, Behold, here I am. And he clean, and to the unclean; to him said, Take now thy son, thine that sacrificeth, and to him that only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, sacrificeth not: as is the good, so and get thee into the land of Mois the sinner, and he that swear- riah; and offer him there for a eth, as he that feareth an oath. burnt-offering upon one of the This is an evil among all things mountains which I will tell thee that are done under the sun, that of. And Abraham rose up early there is one event unto all: yea, in the morning, and saddled his also, the heart of the sons of men ass, and took two of his young is full of evil, and madness is in men with him, and Isaac his son, their heart while they live, and and clave the wood for the burntafter that they go to the dead. offering, and rose up, and went I returned, and saw under the unto the place of which God had sun, that the race is not to the told him. Then on the third day swift, nor the battle to the strong, Abraham lifted up his eyes, and neither yet bread to the wise, nor saw the place afar off. And Abyet riches to men of understand-raham said unto his young men, ing, nor yet favour to men of Abide ye here with the ass; and I skill; but time and chance hap- and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. peneth to them all. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it the fire in his hand, and a knife; upon Isaac his son; and he took and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, Ezek. xxi, 2-5. Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel, And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north; That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more. AND MYSTERIOUS. Job ix, 24. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he? Job xii, 6. The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. Job xxii, 18. Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. Ps. 1xxiii, 5-8, 12. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife And the angel to slay his son. of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know And thou hast not withheld thy son, that thou fearest God, seeing that thine only son, from me. Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: aud Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. Aud Abraham called the name of the place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. And the angel of the LORD |