times a source of great evil. It destroy- again, and ever since it has been near ed the unity and harmony of Abram my breast, and I thought I should have and Lot. 3. Wealth oftentimes hardens it buried with me; but I have thought the heart. It steeled Lot's mind against since I had better give it to you when I all reverence and affection for his great am gone, and it may do some one else uncle. 4. It is a strong temptation to good.""

we

An Indian Boy.

The

We can

good men even. Lot's fall resulted from his covetousness. 5. Whatever Do you ask what will educate your possess should always challenge son? Your example will educate him; God's benediction, in order to prove to your conversation with your friends; us a source of felicity. Finally, this the business he sees you transact; the lesson preaches us a strong sermon on likings and dislikings he sees you exone of our Lord's texts, Matthew vii. 24. press-these will educate him. society you live in will educate him; above all, your rank, your situation in life, your home, your table will educate him. It is not in your power to with"I found him," writes a missionary, draw from him the continual influence "dying of consumption, and in a state of these things except you were to withof the most awful poverty and destitu- draw yourself from him also. Education, in a small birch-rind-covered hut, tion goes on at every instant of time; with nothing but a few fern-leaves under you can neither stop it nor turn its him and an old blanket over him. course. What these have a tendency to After recovering from my surprise I said, make your child, that will he be.My poor boy, I am very sorry to see Barnes' Monthly. you in this state; had you let me know you should not have been lying here.' He replied, 'It is very little I want now, and these poor people get it for me; but I should like something softer to lie upon, as my bones are very sore. then asked him concerning the state of his mind, when he replied that he was very happy; that Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, had died to save him, and that he bad the most perfect confidence in Him. Observing a small Bible under the corner of his blanket, I said, Jack, ing questions without waiting for an you have a friend there; I am glad to see that; I hope you find something good there.' Weak as he was, he raised himself on his elbow, held it in his attenuated hand, while a smile played on his countenance, and slowly spoke in precisely the following words: This, sir, is my dear friend. You gave it me. For a long time I read it much, and IN Winthrop's History of New Engoften thought of what it told. Last land is the following statement concernyear I went to see my sister at Lake ing the whipping of students at HarWinnipeg (about two hundred miles off), where I remained about two months. When I was half-way back through the lake, I remembered that I had left my Bible behind me. I directly turned round, and was nine days by myself, tossing to and fro, before I could reach the house; but I found my friend, and determined I would not part with it

THE GOOD SCHOLAR.-Dean Stanley model of a good scholar. First you must says, "Two things together are the very listen. You must hear; you must be silent; you must be attentive. I never hope to gain real wisdom or knowledge unless we are willing to be taught; unless we look out for instruction, unless we fix our minds. He who what others say; he who is always askis always talking without listening to

answer;

he who allows his mind to

wander from one thing to another; he who thinks he is wiser than his teachers and cleverer than his companions; he who does not look up to what is above himself, whether old or young, is not also be good askers of questions." learning as Christ learnt. We must

vard College, under date of June 5th, 1644: "Two of our ministers' sons, being students in the college, robbed two dwelling-houses in the night of some £15. Being found out, they were ordered by the governors of the college to be there whipped, which was performed by the president himself—yet they were about twenty years of age."

LESSON XXXIX.

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Genesis xiv. 17–24.

THE SUBJECT.-ABRAM AND MELCHIZEDEK.

QUESTIONS.

7

NOTES.-Lot exposed himself to great all the features of this Person. 3. There danger by choosing his residence among are those who believe Melchizedek to the wicked Sodomites. Soon the va- have been Christ Himself. All eonrious tribes of the surrounding country cede him to bear some relation to the commenced a war with each other. A MESSIAH. Further than this we may number of Chiefs joined together and not venture to teach, namely: Melchizefought against a similar band of chief- dek was a type of Christ. This fact is tains. The petty kings of Sodom and proven:-1. By his name-King of Gomorrah were slain, the cities plun- Righteousness. 2. By his residencedered, and Lot, with his goods and Salem, the City of Peace. 3. By his family, were captured, and carried threefold office-Prophet-Priest-King. away. Abram, hearing of the disaster 4. By the mystery of his appearance. of his nephew, collected an army, pur-"Who shall declare bis generation?" (Isa. sued and routed the enemies, and liii. 8). The Redeemer of the world is brought back Lot and all his. On his the King of Righteousness, in the City of victorious return, Melchizedek met him, Peace; the Priest of the Most High blessed him, and took tithes of him. God; and the last Prophet, as well The king of Sodom, out of gratitude to as the greatest-the Mystery of Godliness. Abram for his services, offered him all Brought forth bread and wine. Why? the spoils they had taken. But Abram Certainly to refresh Abram, who was exwould give God all the glory for the hausted by the fatigues of the battle and victory, and allowed only some of the march. But Christians are here rebooty to be given to the three chiefs minded of the Lord's Supper. And who had assisted him in battle. he was the priest of the most high God. Abram at once recognized him as a

Let us now study the strange character, who crosses the path of Abram-person of supreme_rank and in direct MELCHIZEDEK.

VERSE 17. The king of Sodom. We do not know his name. The former chief had fallen in battle, (vs. 2 and 10). Another had taken his place. Chedorlaomer was the first of the great monarchs of Persia. He had overrun and subjected the rulers of Sodom, Gomorrah, Zeboiim, Zoar and Admah, who are meant by the kings that were with him. His home was in the adjacent valley of Shaveh, or King's dale.

VERSE 18. Melchizedek. He is called King of Salem. This was another name for Jerusalem, (Ps. lxvi. 1-2). His name signities—My righteous King, or King of Righteousness. His full title then is My Righteous King of Jerusalem. Or, as Salem means peace, he may be-My King of Peace and Righteousness. Now let each one read Psalm cx. 4. Then take time to read the vii. chapter of Hebrews. 1. Some suppose him to have been a descendant of Shem, who maintained a pure and righteous government over Salem, and thereby typified Christ the King over the heavenly Jerusalem. 2. His genealogy was lost, and hence "without father or mother." Others hold him as an Angel, who appeared as forerunner and model of Christ, who was to come and realize

relation to God. He had doubtless preserved the true faith in his family, and served as teacher, intercessor and ruler over his subjects. The features of Christ shone forth in him.

VERSE 19. Blessed be Abram. The higher blesses the lower character here. This was the priest's office. And he does it in the name of the most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. Perhaps the form of blessing may be the formula recorded in Numbers vi. 24-26.

VERSE 20. And blsesed be the most high God. Here the blessing ascends to the Supreme Being. When a benediction descends upon an inferior, it is a speaking good to the subject; and when it ascends to a superior, it is a speaking good of Him. God sends us blessings, and we render thanks. And he gave him tithes of all. Though nothing had thus far been recorded of rendering the tenth part of one's possessions as a religious tribute to God, Melchizedek and Abram seem to understand the offering quite well. This became a duty for pious Jews in later days. Almost all nations of the earth, in ancient days, knew of tithing; but in modern days it seems a strange and hard task.

VERSE 21. Give me the persons, and take the goods thyself. As it was a war

undertaken for the King of Sodom, he was entitled to all the spoils. He generously offers to relieve Abram of the captives, but wishes him to retain the booty. This was a noble proposal.

VERSE 22. I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord. This means that he had made a vow to God, not to appropriate any gain to myself. It belongs to Godthe possessor of heaven and earth. This is still a mode by which we appeal to God with uplifted hand.

66

VERSE 29. I will not take from a thread, even to a shoe-latchet. This was a proverb, and means- I will take nothing at all." I have made Abram rich. He desired his name and possessions to stand wholly in God.

VERSE 24. Save only that which the young men have eaten. His servants had eaten of the victuals, (v. 11). Aner, Eschol, and Mamre-let them take their portion. These had joined with him in battle, and had a right to share in the goods of conquest.

In the following two chapters God appears to Abram again, grants him new revelations, and confirms His former promises.

frequently passed at the Grotto del Cane at Naples. He is thrown into the gas, which reaches up to the spectators' knees, not with the view of killing him, but as an exhibition. Lifted out of his vapory bath, he is thrown into a pool of water, and revives in time. Such a dog is not likely to be a very efficient watch-dog or pursuer of game; and when hearers Sunday after Sunday are plunged into a bath of skeptical thought, they may survive the experiment, but they will never become spiritually strong or practically

useful. It is never worth while to make rents in a garment for the sake of mending them, nor to create doubts in order to show how cleverly we can quiet them. Should a man set fire to his house because he has a patent extinguisher which would put it out in no time? He would stand a chance of one day creating a conflagration which all the patents under heaven could not easily extinguish. Thousands of unbelievers have been born into the family of skepticism by professed preachers of the gospel, who supposed that they were helping them to faith. Young men, in many instances, have obtained their first notions of infidelity PRACTICAL REMARKS.-The coming from their ministers-they have sucked of the Messiah is the golden thread that in the poison, but refused the antidote. runs through these ancient writings. He The devil's catechists in doubt have is pictured forth in word, and act, and been the men who were sent to preach person. Melchizedek was a famous Believe, live.' This is a sore evil, and photograph of Jesus Christ. "Abram it seems hard to stay it; and yet ordinasaw His day," all along his long jour- ry common sense ought to teach mininey, "and was glad." How much more ters wisdom in such a matter. Life should we rejoice, who have Christ and death hang upon the question of Himself. truth or falsehood. If lies be propagated, or truth be clouded, the watchmen of the Lord will have to give in their account of permitting it."

Mr. Spurgeon on Peril from the Pulpit

The following is a "warning note" sounded by the great London preacher: A Methodist clergyman on one occa"The habit of perpetually mentioning sion having sent around his hat at the the theories of unbelievers when preach- close of a meeting in the midst of a ing the gospel gives a man the appear- somewhat promiscuous congregation, reance of great learning, but it also proves ceiving it back again quite empty, looked his want of common sense. In order to down into the bottom of it and said, show the value of wholesome food it is with a sigh of relief, "Well, I thank the not needful to proffer your guest a dose Lord at any rate that I got my hat of poison, nor would he think the better back." It is somewhat with the same of your hospitality if you did so. Cer- sentiment that I express my thanks to tain sermons are more calculated to the chairman that Mr. Blaine has got weaken faith than to render men be- his wind back. It shows the advantage lievers. They resemble the process of having placed our distinguished guest through which a poor unhappy dog is next to the great American Bellows.

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