the aid of the Spirit of God, the doctrines and pre-
cepts of Scripture, as illustrated in the life of a
faithful servant of God.

Coveting earnestly the largest portion of the
blessing of the GOD OF ABRAHAM upon this most
feeble instrument of good, and desiring to be con-
tent with the smallest portion of human approba-
tion which may be awarded to it, the Author com-
mits his little volume to the press, with many pray-
ers for the spiritual benefit of those into whose
hands it may fall, and for the advancement of the
glory of that Saviour whom he would desire to

serve.

Chelsea, May 1831.

CONTENTS.

HISTORY OF ABRAHAM.

LECTURE I.

GENESIS Xii. 1.

"Now the Lord said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy

country, and from thy kindred, and from thy fathers house,

unto a land that I will show thee."

Abram called by God from Ur of the Chaldees-Abram's

faith and obedience .

Page 13

LECTURE II.

GENESIS Xii. 7, 8.

"The Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed

will I give this land; and there builded he an altar unto the

Lord, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence

unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent,

having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there

he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name

of the Lord."

The Lord appears to Abram at Sichem-Abram builds an

altar to the Lord, and calls upon the name of the Lord 31

LECTURE III.

GENESIS Xiii. 2.

"And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in

gold."

A famine in Canaan-Abram's journey into Egypt-Abram

equivocates with Pharaoh-Abram becomes very rich in

cattle, in silver and in gold, but still calls on the name of

the Lord

49

LECTURE IV.

GENESIS xiii. 8.

"And Abraham said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray

thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy

herdmen, for we be brethren."

A strife between the herdmen of Abram and the herdmen of

Lot-Abram's disinterested conduct-separation of Abram

and Lot-The Lord appears to Abram after Lot had left

him

65

LECTURE V.

GENESIS xiv. 18.

"And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and

wine: and he was the priest of the Most High God: and he

blessed him."

Abram arms his servants and conquers five of the kings of

Canaan-Abrams interview with Melchizedek

LECTURE VI

GENESIS XV. 6.

81

"He believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for

righteousness."

Abram's interview with the king of Sodom-Abram reminds

the Almighty of his promise of a son—'
-The Almighty con-

firms the promise

95

LECTURE VII.

GENESIS XV. 17.

"And it came to pass, that when the sun went down and it

was dark, behold a smoking furnace and a burning lamp that

passed between those pieces."

The Almighty reveals Himself to Abram as the God who

brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees-Abram asks for a

sign in confirmation of the Almighty's promise-Abram's

vision-A Patriarch's day with God-the postponement of

the promised inheritance
108

LECTURE VIII.

GENESIS XVii. 1.

"And the Lord appeared unto him on the plains of Mamre.”

Abram's marriage with Hagar-The rite of circumcision

instituted-The Almighty changes Abram's and Sarai's

name-Abraham's laughter-The visit of the three Angels

to Abraham-Sarah's laughter

LECTURE IX.

GENESIS Xviii. 19.

124

"For I know him, that he will command his children and

his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the

Lord."

Abraham's care for the religious instruction of his family and

household-Abraham's intercession for the cities of the

plain

138

LECTURE X.

GENESIS XXi. 10.

"She said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her

son for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my

son, even with Isaac."

Abraham equivocates with Abimelech-The birth of Isaac-

Abraham makes a great feast the day that Isaac was

weaned―Ishmael mocks, and is sent away from his

father's house

.

153

LECTURE XI.

GENESIS xxii. 8.

"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a

Lamb for a burnt offering."

The Almighty tempts Abraham-The offering of Isaac-

God will provide

167

LECTURE XII.

GENESIS XXV. 8.

"Then Abraham gave up the ghost and died in a good old

age, an old man and full of years; and was gathered to his

people."

The death of Sarah-Sarah's burial-Abraham's directions

respecting his son's marriage-The death of Abraham 183

HISTORY OF JACOB.

LECTURE I.

GENESIS XXV. 27.

“Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.”

The birth of Jacob-The contrast even in childhood between

Esau and Jacob-Jacob purchases his brother's birthright

-Obtains by subtlety the blessing.

201