June 12

Genesis xxiv. — 29. And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

30. And it came to pass, when he saw the earring, and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me, that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

31. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord: wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

32. And the man came into the house; and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.

33. And there was set meat before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

34. And he said, I am Abraham's servant.

35. And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and menservants and maid-servants, and camels and asses.

36. And Sarah, my master's wife, bare a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

37. And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell;

38. But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

42. And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham! if now thou do prosper my way which I go;

43. Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink,

44. And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels, let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son.

45. And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water; and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

46. And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

47. And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? and she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him. And I put the ear-ring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

48. And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

49. And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a sweet idyl of faith and love. In those days, marriage was a contract between parents for the union of their children, over whom they retained authority, even in such matters, to a late period of life. As Abraham drew near his end, he desired that a wife should be provided for Isaac from a godly family; and there were none such in Canaan. He would not risk sending Isaac to the distant East, lest he should not return to the land of promise: so he committed this delicate affair to a trusty servant who stood in the relation of a confidential manager. The steward acted with piety and discretion. He sought the guidance of God, and, even in little things, begged a special

answer to prayer; but he also prepared himself by the generosity of his outfit and his gifts to make the best impression for his master. "Prayer and provender hinder no man's journey." At the well — the place of concourse in an Eastern village — he met Rebekah, "a damsel very fair to look upon;" and she waited upon him with a simple courtesy and modesty that won his heart. Going to her home, he told his errand, using the pleas of kindred, of prosperity, of religious opportunity, and divine guidance; and with these arguments, and hints of liberal presents, he won his master's suit. In all the arrangements of life, they prosper best who at every step seek and acknowledge the hand of God.

APPROPRIATE HIMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 56, 68, 178.

Holy Father! we bless thee for the faith and example of the godly who have gone before us. So enlighten, purify, and strengthen our whole nature, that we shall faithfully follow them. More especially we bless thee for the perfect example of thy Son Jesus Christ, and beseech thee so to endue us with his spirit, that we may evermore walk in his steps, and be found faithful to him even unto death. Thou art the strength of all them that put their trust in thee. Grant us, we beseech thee, the continual help of thy grace, that in keeping thy com-

mandments we may please thee, and that, in the midst of dangers, we may be upheld and preserved.

Father of mercies! we offer our humble thanksgiving for thy great and manifold favors bestowed upon us. Goodness and mercy have followed us all our days. May it please thee still to be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause thy face to shine upon us! Make us strong in faith, and joyful in hope; and finally let us stand before thy throne, accepted and glorified, through the merits of Jesus Christ. Amen.