wonder-working hand of God; and rich in Sarai's affection; and rich in a heart now refreshed by faith; and rich in a mind restored to God; and rich in the flocks, and herds, and in the gold and silver of Pharaoh.

Tradition affirms that Abram, during his residence among the Egyptians, introduced the knowledge of arithmetic and the science of astronomy, which he had studied in Chaldea. And subsequently from Egypt the Greeks became acquainted with this sublime science.

Then Abram deeply felt his immeasurable obligations to his God. Then was he assured how weak and feeble are man's best concerted plans, without the especial favour of the Supreme. Then was he aware that, in the very first instance, his hopes and fears should have been submitted to that Divine Father's management, in reliance of his promises, and in confidence of his protection; and then did the conviction strike his heart, that of two evils we are to choose neither, but seek the grace of God to save us from them both.

And Abram returned into Canaan.

CHAP. VII.

ABRAM. ABRAHAM.

Lot, the nephew of Abram, had hitherto journeyed with him in all his wanderings. He came with him out of Chaldea; he accompanied him from Haran; he dwelt along with him in Canaan; he proceeded with him into Egypt, and returned again, in company with his uncle, from Egypt into Canaan.

They had arrived at Bethel, where, upon Abram's formerly entering Canaan, he had built an altar and adored Jehovah. There again he worshipped him.

Lot had shared abundantly in the prosperity vouchsafed to Abram; he was wealthy in flocks and herds. The increasing numbers on both sides rendered pasturage together difficult, and disputes now arose between their mutual servants,

respecting the right to particular possession of the most desirable spots. Wealth is the true apple of discord; it makes enemies of friends; it separates the dearest connexions; and, too often, it divorces man from his God. But, superadded to the jealousies and rivalry of servants, there was now actually an exciting cause in the positive scarcity of food for the cattle; no doubt partly arising from the effects of the late famine which had prevailed there, and partly from the most fertile portions of the land being at the time wholly monopolized by numerous tribes of the Canaanites and Perizzites.

These united reasons had produced an irritable feeling between the respective herdsmen of the parties, and which repeatedly broke out into open quarrels. Abram's sagacity immediately unfolded to him the probable consequences of a continuance of such a state of things. All experience had shown him that the hostility of dependants sooner or later embroiled the principals; and therefore he at once adopted that course which prudence and policy pointed out. He resolved, by timely precaution, to prevent a breach between so near a kinsman and himself. He consequently sought the earliest opportunity of conversing

:

with Lot upon the subject, and in the mildest and most amicable terms, although with sincere grief at the imperious necessity, proposes a separation: 'Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen for we be brethren!' How beautiful is the christian charity that Abram here displays! He tells Lot, and recalls it to his memory in the most unstudied eloquence, We are the offspring of the same ancestors; relatives of the same family; members of the same grand community, of which the head, the soul, the centre, is Jehovah, the Universal Father.'

Whether we consider the proposal, so affecting in itself from the long period they had dwelt together; from the paternal tenderness of Abram to the son of his adoption; from the person whom Lot was now going to leave, his deceased father's brother; or, from the uneasiness with which Abram started the proposal, to prevent the contention of their domestics endangering the peace and harmony which ought to subsist among relatives in particular; I am surprised and disappointed not to find recorded any reply of Lot bearing upon the points I have noticed, nor even a solitary expression of regret at the separation

proposed, or at the feuds which rendered it advisable and judicious. Was it that the pride of worldly prosperity too generally blinds a young man to his true dignity; cauterizes his heart to the finer sensibilities of our nature; and renders him deaf equally to the claims of affinity and the voice of gratitude? In tranquillity and affection had Abram and Lot lived during the struggles and difficulties of former years; but the tide of wealth, as it flowed in upon them, seems to have swept away at the same time the solace of unbosomed confidence, and the gentler associations which, in happier hours, had grown upon and clung around the heart.

Yet even here Abram set a noble example of dignified submission. Although, as senior to Lot, and invested with the double authority, as his relative and guardian, and although he was, in all respects, a greater and more virtuous man, still he exhibits, in his own person, a confirmation of the fact, that a wise and good man does not stand upon idle ceremony where valuable interests are at stake, but is always the readiest to yield, to ensure the peace and comfort of his fellow men, when in doing so he violates no duty, and sacrifices no important principle.