The Story of Hagar and Ishmael.—Abraham's

Sacrifice of Esaac.

JAGAR, the bondwoman, was sent
By Sarah into banishment,

Lest Ishmael, Hagar's son, should share

The rights of Isaac, Abraham's heir.

Then God bade Abraham take his son

The son he loved, his only one

And on a mountain far away,
That Isaac, as an offering, slay.

Did Abraham hesitate or doubt?
No, he "
rose early," and set out;
Did Isaac shrink, or disobey?

No, he went calmly on his way.

And when his father took the knife,

To offer up his Isaac's life,

Meek on the altar see him lie,
Ready to bear, to bleed, to die.

Father and son were set in will,
Their Lord's commandment to fulfil ;
And God, who oft his purpose hides,
Another sacrifice provides.

So Abraham and his son were spared,
Though both for sacrifice prepared ;
And long, and blessed, their days were made,
Since both believed and both obeyed.

Hagar and Ishmael. The Faith of Abraham, and the Obedience of Isaac. The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah.

A

ND Sarah bore Abraham a son, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

And

Abraham called the name of his son Isaac. And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, Isaac.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away; and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down a good way off, for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she lift up her voice, and wept.

And God heard the voice of the lad, and the angel of the Lord called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not, for