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REBEKAH.

COLLECT.

O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life; Send Thy blessing upon these Thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in Thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to Thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gen. xxiv. 1-15.

And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh and I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife

unto my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; He shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath only bring not my son thither again. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast showed kindness unto my master. And it came to

:

pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

THE chapter, part of which I have just read to you, contains one of the most interesting events in the life of Abraham. He was old now, and as every true Christian ought to do, he wished to settle everything in his family matters before he was taken to his rest above. Before his death, he desired to see his loved son Isaac married to a wife who feared God, and not to a Canaanite, who would have been an idolater.

Marriages are to this day in all parts of the East arranged by the parents, and not by the young people themselves, so that they are scarcely ever founded on affection as they ought to be; though we may hope, love ofttimes follows, when the newly married learn more of one another.

It was only in the ancient home of the family, and among his own kindred and relations, that a suitable wife for Isaac could be found. Abraham, being too old and infirm to go himself, called to him his faithful servant, 'the steward of his house,' Eliezer of Damascus, and intrusted to him the difficult and important mission.

Eliezer, the model servant, was ever ready and willing to obey his good, kind master's bidding, and to go wherever he sent him; but he foresaw difficulties in his errand of a grave kind, and inquired

of Abraham, 'Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land.' Abraham assured him thus: 'The Lord God, He shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.' He then made his servant take an oath, that he would perform his important errand faithfully.

What a pattern was Eliezer to all servants! so anxious to please his master, to do his duty, and yet not wishing to undertake what he feared he might not be able to perform aright. Then, mark further, dear friends, that Eliezer was a praying servant, he offered up a few words of simple, humble prayer to his heavenly Father, calling Him, O Lord God of my master Abraham,' as if he felt his own unworthiness, and came to God as from his master.

Having the care of all Abraham's goods, he takes ten camels. He takes the large number partly because he wished to make an appearance worthy of the rank, riches, and position of his master, but partly also in order to carry with him the numerous and costly marriage presents, and also his provisions for the journey.

How well I can picture the procession starting off for Mesopotamia! Eliezer, taking a respectful farewell of his aged master Abraham, would sally forth on his camel, in richly coloured robes embroidered probably with gold (as the steward of a great man would wear), and a girdle of material,

like a shawl wound round his waist four or five times. This 'girdle' is still worn, and one end of it being folded or doubled back is sewn together, and forms a strong purse, very useful, to hold the small piastres or pieces of about twopence, which are universally kept there. There also, in later times, a man carried his ink-bottle and pen-case (if he could write), for in those early days people were proud of being able to write, and always had this ink-horn to show that they were writers.

No Eastern dare appear out of his own house without his turban.' The higher the rank of the wearer, the higher the turban, which is sometimes made of white, at others of coloured material, wound round the head many times. Though heavy to carry, this keeps out the heat of the sun effectually. Large caravans or processions like this I am describing to you generally travel, three or four camels abreast, as the beasts are very sociable, and do not go as well when made to follow one another singly. The riders also can talk to one another more pleasantly when side by side. The servants. all walk together all day long by the camels of their masters. Thus then they travelled slowly on, for the roads in the East are rough and stony; you will remember that David prayed, 'Hold up my goings in Thy paths that my footsteps slip not,' probably alluding to these dangerous paths.

After days of travel,-for Abraham's country