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27 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty four, Marriages and funerals are the changes of
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Speaker 1: families and the common news among the inhabitants of the villages.
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Speaker 1: In the foregoing chapter, we had Abraham burying his wife.
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Speaker 1: Here we have him marrying his son. These stories concerning
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Speaker 1: his family, with their minute circumstances, are largely related, while
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Speaker 1: the histories of the kingdoms of the world then in being,
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Speaker 1: with their revolutions, are buried in silence, for the Lord
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Speaker 1: knows those that are his. The subjoining of Isaac's marriage
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Speaker 1: to Sarah's funeral, with a particular reference to it verse
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Speaker 1: sixty seven, shows us that as one generation passes away,
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Speaker 1: another generation comes, and thus the entail both of the
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Speaker 1: human nature and of the covenant is preserved. Here is
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Speaker 1: numeral one Abraham's care about the marrying of his son,
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Speaker 1: and the charge he gave to his servant about it
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Speaker 1: Verses one to nine. Numeral two. His servant's journey into
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Speaker 1: Abraham's country to seek a wife for his young master
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Speaker 1: among his own relations Verses ten to fourteen, Numeral three.
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Speaker 1: The kind providence which brought him acquainted with Rebecca, whose
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Speaker 1: father was Isaac's cousin German, Verses fifteen to twenty eight
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Speaker 1: Numeral four, The Treaty of marriage with her relations, Verses
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Speaker 1: twenty nine to forty nine Numeral five, Their consent obtained
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Speaker 1: Verses fifty to sixty Numeral six. The Happy Meeting and
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Speaker 1: marriage between Isaac and Rebecca Verse sixty one, et cetera.
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Speaker 1: Abraham's charges to his servant BC. One thousand, eight hundred
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Speaker 1: fifty seven one to nine. And Abraham was old and
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Speaker 1: well stricken in age. And the Lord had blessed Abraham
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Speaker 1: in all things. And Abraham said, unto his eldest servant
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Speaker 1: of his house that ruled over all that he had put,
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Speaker 1: I pray thee thy hand under my thigh, and I
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Speaker 1: will make THEE swear by the Lord, the God of
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Speaker 1: Heaven and the God of the Earth, that thou shalt
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Speaker 1: not take a wife, and too, my son of the
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Speaker 1: daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, But thou
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Speaker 1: shalt go unto my country and to my kindred and
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Speaker 1: take a wife unto my son Isaac. And the servant
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Speaker 1: said unto him, peradventure, the woman will not be willing
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Speaker 1: to follow me unto this land. Must I needs bring
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Speaker 1: thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest,
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Speaker 1: and Abraham said unto him, beware thou, that thou bring
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Speaker 1: not my son thither again. The Lord God of Heaven,
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Speaker 1: which took me from my father's house and from the
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Speaker 1: land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and
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Speaker 1: that swear unto me, say, being unto thy seat, will
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Speaker 1: I give this land? He shall send his angel before thee,
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Speaker 1: and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
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Speaker 1: And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee,
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Speaker 1: then thou shalt be clear from this my oath. Only
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Speaker 1: bring not my son thither again. And the servant put
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Speaker 1: his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and
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Speaker 1: swear to him concerning that matter. Three things we may
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Speaker 1: observe here concerning Abraham Numeral one. The care he took
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Speaker 1: of a good son to get him married well married.
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Speaker 1: It was high time to think of it now, for
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Speaker 1: Isaac was about forty years old, and it had been
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Speaker 1: customary with his ancestors to marry at thirty or sooner.
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Speaker 1: Chapter eleven, Verses fourteen, eighteen, twenty two, and twenty four.
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Speaker 1: Abraham believed the promise of the building up of his
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Speaker 1: family and therefore did not make haste, not more haste
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Speaker 1: than good speed. Two considerations moved him to think of
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Speaker 1: it now. Verse one. Number one that he himself was
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Speaker 1: likely to leave the world quickly, for he was old
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Speaker 1: and well stricken in age, and it would be a
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Speaker 1: satisfaction to him to see his son settled before he died.
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Speaker 1: And number two, that he had a good estate to
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Speaker 1: leave behind him, for the Lord had blessed him in
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Speaker 1: all things. And the blessing of the Lord makes rich
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Speaker 1: See how much religion and piety befriended outward prosperity. Now,
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Speaker 1: Abraham's pious care concerning his son was subscript one, that
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Speaker 1: he should not marry a daughter of Canaan, but one
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Speaker 1: of his kindred. He saw that the Canaanites were degenerating
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Speaker 1: into great wickedness, and knew by revelation that they were
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Speaker 1: designed for ruin, And therefore he would not marry his
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Speaker 1: head son among them, lest they should be either a
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Speaker 1: snare to his soul, or at least a blot to
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Speaker 1: his name. Subscript two, that yet he should not leave
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Speaker 1: the land of Canaan to go himself among his kindred,
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Speaker 1: not even for the purpose of choosing a wife, lest
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Speaker 1: he should be tempted to settle there. This caution is
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Speaker 1: given verse six, and repeated verse eight. Bring not my
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Speaker 1: son thither again, whatever comes of it. Let him rather
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Speaker 1: want a wife than expose himself to that temptation. Note. Parents,
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Speaker 1: and disposing of their children, should carefully consult the welfare
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Speaker 1: of their souls and their furtherance in the way to Heaven.
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Speaker 1: Those who, through grace have escaped the corruption that is
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Speaker 1: in the world through lust, and have brought up their
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Speaker 1: children accordingly, should take heed of doing anything by which
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Speaker 1: they might be again entangled therein and overcome. Second in
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Speaker 1: Peter two, verse twenty, beware that you bring them not
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Speaker 1: thither again. Hebrews eleven, verse fifteen, numeral two. The charge
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Speaker 1: he gave to a good servant, probably a liezer of Damascus,
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Speaker 1: one of whose conduct, fidelity and affection to him and
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Speaker 1: his family he had long experience. He trusted him with
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Speaker 1: this great affair, and not Isaac himself, because he would
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Speaker 1: not have Isaac go at all into that country, but
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Speaker 1: marry there by proxy, and no proxy so fit as
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Speaker 1: this steward of his house. This matter is settled between
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Speaker 1: the master and the servant with a great deal of
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Speaker 1: care and solemnity. Number one, The servant must be bound
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Speaker 1: by an oath to do his utmost to get a
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Speaker 1: wife for Isaac from among his relations. Verses two to four.
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Speaker 1: Abraham swears him to it, both for his own satisfaction
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Speaker 1: and for the engagement of his servant to all possible
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Speaker 1: care and diligence in this matter. Thus God swears his
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Speaker 1: servants to their work, that having sworn, they may perform it.
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Speaker 1: Honor is here done to the eternal God, for he
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Speaker 1: it is that is sworn by to whom alone these
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Speaker 1: appeals ought to be made. And some think honor is
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Speaker 1: done to the convenant of circumcision by the ceremony here
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Speaker 1: used of putting his hand under his thigh. Note swearing,
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Speaker 1: being an ordinance not peculiar to the Church, but common
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Speaker 1: to mankind, is to be performed by such signs as
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Speaker 1: are the appointments and common usages of our country for
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Speaker 1: binding the person sworn. Number two. He must be clear
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Speaker 1: of this oath. If when he had done his utmost,
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Speaker 1: he could not prevail this proviso. The servant prudently inserted
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Speaker 1: verse five, putting the case that the woman would not
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Speaker 1: follow him and Abraham allowed the exception. Verse eight. Note
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Speaker 1: Oaths are to be taken with great caution, and the
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Speaker 1: matter sworn to should be rightly understood and limited, because
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Speaker 1: it is a snare to devour that which is wholly.
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Speaker 1: And after vows to make the inquiry which should have
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Speaker 1: been made before Numeral three. The confidence he put in
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Speaker 1: a good God, who he doubts not, will give his
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Speaker 1: servants success in this undertaking. Verse seven. He remembers that
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Speaker 1: God had wonderfully brought him out of the land of
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Speaker 1: his nativity by the effectual call of his grace, and
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Speaker 1: therefore doubts not, but he will succeed him in his
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Speaker 1: care not to bring his son thither again. He remembers
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Speaker 1: also the promise God had made and confirmed to him
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Speaker 1: that he would give case Cainan to his seed, And
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Speaker 1: thence in first that God would own him in his
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Speaker 1: endeavors to match his son, not among those devoted nations,
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Speaker 1: but to one that was fit to be the mother
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Speaker 1: of such a seed. Fear not, therefore he shall send
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Speaker 1: his angel before thee to make thy way prosperous. Note
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Speaker 1: number one. Those that carefully keep in the way of
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Speaker 1: duty and govern themselves by the principles of their religion,
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Speaker 1: in their designs and undertakings, have good reason to expect
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Speaker 1: prosperity and success in them. God will cause that to
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Speaker 1: issue in our comfort, in which we sincerely aim at
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Speaker 1: His glory. Number two, God's promises and our own experiences
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Speaker 1: are sufficient to encourage our dependence upon God and our
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Speaker 1: expectations from Him in all the affairs of this life.
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Speaker 1: Number three, God's angels are ministering spirits, sent forth not
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Speaker 1: only for the protection but for the guidance of the
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Speaker 1: heirs of promise. He was one verse fourteen, he shall
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Speaker 1: send his angel before thee, and then thou wilt speed well.
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Speaker 1: Journey of Abraham's servant b. C. One thousand, eight hundred
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Speaker 1: fifty seven, Verse ten to twenty eight. And the servant
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Speaker 1: took ten camels of the camels of his master and departed,
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Speaker 1: for all the goods of his master were in his hand.
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Speaker 1: And he arose and went to Mesopotamia under the city
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Speaker 1: of Neeor. And he made his camels to kneel down
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Speaker 1: without the city by a well of water at the
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Speaker 1: time of the evening, even the time that women go
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Speaker 1: out to draw water. And he said, O, Lord, God
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Speaker 1: of my Master, Abraham, opray THEE send me good speed
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Speaker 1: this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold,
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Speaker 1: I stand here by the well of water, and the
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Speaker 1: daughters of the men of the city come out to
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Speaker 1: draw water. And let it come to pass that the
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Speaker 1: damsel to whom I shall say, let down that picture.
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Speaker 1: I pray THEE that I may drink, and she shall
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Speaker 1: say drink, and I will give thy camels drink. Also,
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Speaker 1: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for
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Speaker 1: thy servant, Isaac. And thereby shall I know that thou
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Speaker 1: hast showed kindness unto my master. And it came to
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Speaker 1: pass before he had done speaking that Behold, Rebecca came out,
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Speaker 1: who was born to Bethuel, son of Milka, the wife
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Speaker 1: of Neer, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
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Speaker 1: And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin.
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Speaker 1: Neither had any man known her. And she went down
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Speaker 1: to the well and filled her pitcher and came up,
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Speaker 1: and the servant ran to meet her and said, let me,
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Speaker 1: I pray THEE drink a little water of thy pitcher.
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Speaker 1: And she said, drink, my lord. And she hasted and
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Speaker 1: let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink.
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Speaker 1: And when she had done giving him drink, she said,
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Speaker 1: I will draw water for thy camels also until they
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Speaker 1: have done drinking. And she hasted and emptied her pitcher
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Speaker 1: into the trough, and ran again under the well to
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Speaker 1: draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man,
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Speaker 1: wondering at her, held his peace to wit whether the
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Speaker 1: Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. And it
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Speaker 1: came to pass as the camels had done drinking, that
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Speaker 1: the man took a golden ear ring of half a
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Speaker 1: shakel wade, and two bracelets for her hands of ten
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Speaker 1: shakles weight of gold, and said, whose daughter art thou?
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Speaker 1: Tell me? I pray thee is there room in their
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Speaker 1: father's house for us to lodge in? And she said
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Speaker 1: unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son
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Speaker 1: of Milcah, which she bare unto neyor she said, moreover,
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Speaker 1: unto him, we have both straw and provender enough and
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Speaker 1: room to lodge in. And the man bowed down his
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Speaker 1: head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, blessed with
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Speaker 1: the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not
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Speaker 1: left destitute my master, of his mercy and his truth.
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Speaker 1: I being in the way, the Lord led me to
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Speaker 1: the house of my master's brethren, and the damsel ran
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Speaker 1: and told them of her mother's house. These things. Abraham's
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Speaker 1: servant now begins to make a figure in this story.
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Speaker 1: And though he is not named yet, much is here
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Speaker 1: recorded to his honor and for an example to all servants,
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Speaker 1: who shall be honored if by faithfully serving God and
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Speaker 1: their masters, they adorn the doctrine of Christ. Compare Proverbs
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Speaker 1: twenty seven, verse eighteen with Titus two, verse ten. For
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Speaker 1: there is no respect of persons with God Colossians three,
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Speaker 1: verse twenty four and twenty five. A good servant that
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Speaker 1: makes conscience of the duty of his place and does
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Speaker 1: it in the fear of God, though he make not
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Speaker 1: a figure in the world, nor have praise of men,
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Speaker 1: yet shall be owned and accepted of God and have
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Speaker 1: praise of Him. Observe here numeral one. How faithful Abraham's
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Speaker 1: servant approved himself to his master. Having received his charge,
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Speaker 1: he with all expedition, set out on his journey, with
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Speaker 1: an equipage suitable to the object of his negotiation verse ten.
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Speaker 1: And he had all the goods of his master, that is,
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Speaker 1: a schedule or particular account of them in his hand,
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Speaker 1: to show to those with whom he was to treat.
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Speaker 1: For from the first to last he consulted his master's honor.
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Speaker 1: Isaac being a type of Christ. Some make this fetching
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Speaker 1: of a wife for him to signify the espousing of
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Speaker 1: the church by the agency of his servant, the ministers.
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Speaker 1: The church is the bride the lamb's wife, Revelation twenty one,
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Speaker 1: verse nine. Christ is the bridegroom, and ministers are the
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Speaker 1: friends of the bridegroom, John three, verse twenty nine, whose
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Speaker 1: work it is to persuade souls to consent to him.
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Speaker 1: Second Corinthians eleven, verse two. The spells of Christ must
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Speaker 1: not be of the Canaanites, but of his own kindred,
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Speaker 1: born again from above. Ministers, like Abraham's servant, must lay
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Speaker 1: out themselves with the utmost wisdom and care to serve
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Speaker 1: their master's interest. Herein numeral two, how devoutly he acknowledged
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Speaker 1: God in this affair, like one of that happy household
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Speaker 1: which Abram had commanded to keep the way of the
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Speaker 1: Lord et cetera. Chapter eighteen, verse nineteen. He arrived early
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Speaker 1: in the evening after many days journeying at the place
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Speaker 1: of his destined nation, and repose himself by a well
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Speaker 1: of water to consider how he might manage his business
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Speaker 1: for the best. And Number one, he acknowledges God by
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Speaker 1: a particular prayer verse twelve to fourteen, wherein subscript one
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Speaker 1: he petitions for prosperity and good success in this affair,
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Speaker 1: Send me good speed this day. Note we have leave
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Speaker 1: to be particular in recommending our affairs to the conduct
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Speaker 1: and care of the divine providence. Those that would have
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Speaker 1: good speed must pray for it this day. In this affair,
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Speaker 1: thus we must in all our ways acknowledge God Proverbs three,
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Speaker 1: verse six. And if we thus look up to God
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Speaker 1: in every undertaking which we are in care about, we
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Speaker 1: shall have the comfort of having done our duty, whatever
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Speaker 1: the issue be. Subscript two he pleads God's covenant with
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Speaker 1: his master Abraham. O, God, my master Abraham, show kindness
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Speaker 1: to him. Note as the children of good parents, so
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Speaker 1: the servants of good masters have peculiar encouragement in the
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Speaker 1: prayers they offered to God for prosperity and success. Subscript
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Speaker 1: three he proposes a sign verse fourteen, not by it
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Speaker 1: to limit God, nor with a design to proceed no
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Speaker 1: further if he were not gratified in it. But it
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Speaker 1: is a prayer some point one, that God would provide
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Speaker 1: a good wife for his young master, And this was
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Speaker 1: a good prayer. He knew that a prudent wife is
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Speaker 1: from the Lord Proverbs nineteen verse fourteen, and therefore that
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Speaker 1: for this he will be inquired of. He desires that
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Speaker 1: his master's wife might be humble and industrious woman, bred
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Speaker 1: up to care and labor, and willing to put her
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Speaker 1: hand to any work that was to be done, and
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Speaker 1: that she might be of a courteous disposition and charitable
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Speaker 1: to strangers. When he came to seek a wife for
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Speaker 1: his master, he did not go to the playhouse or
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Speaker 1: the park and pray that he might meet one there,
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Speaker 1: but to the well of water, expecting to find one there.
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Speaker 1: Well employed some point two that he would please to
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Speaker 1: make his way in this matter plain and clear before
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Speaker 1: him by the concurrence of minute circumstances in his favor.
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Speaker 1: Note First, it is the comfort as well as the
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Speaker 1: belief of a good man, that God's providence extends itself
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Speaker 1: to the smallest occurrences, and admirably serves its own purposes.
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Speaker 1: By them, our times are in God's hand, not only
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Speaker 1: evinced themselves, but the times of them. Secondly, it is
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Speaker 1: our wisdom in all our affairs to follow providence, and
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Speaker 1: folly to force it. Thirdly, it is very desirable and
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Speaker 1: that which we may lawfully pray for. While in the
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Speaker 1: general we set God's will before us as our rule,
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Speaker 1: that he will, by hints of providence, direct us in
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Speaker 1: the way of our duty, and give us indications what
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Speaker 1: his mind is. Thus he guides his people with his
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Speaker 1: eye Psalm thirty two, verse eight, and leads them in
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Speaker 1: a plain path Psalm twenty seven, verse eleven. Number two.
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Speaker 1: God owns him by a particular providence. He decreed the thing,
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Speaker 1: and it was established to him Job twenty two, verse
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Speaker 1: twenty eight, according to his faith, So was it unto him.
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Speaker 1: The answer to this prayer was subscript one speedy before
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Speaker 1: he had made an end of speaking verse fifteen. As
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Speaker 1: it is written Isaiah sixty five, verse twenty four, while
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Speaker 1: they are yet speaking, I will hear. Though we are
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Speaker 1: backward to pray, God is forward to hear prayer Subscript two, satisfactor.
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Speaker 1: The first that came to draw water was and did
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Speaker 1: in everything according to his own heart. Some point one,
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Speaker 1: she was so well qualified that in all respects she
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Speaker 1: answered the characters he wished for in the woman that
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Speaker 1: was to be his master's wife, handsome and healthful, humble
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Speaker 1: and industrious, very courteous, and obliging to a stranger, and
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Speaker 1: having all the marks of a good disposition. When she
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Speaker 1: came to the well verse sixteen, she went down and
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Speaker 1: filled her pitcher, and came up to go home with it.
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Speaker 1: She did not stand to gaze upon the strange man
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Speaker 1: and his camels, but minded her business, and would not
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Speaker 1: have been diverted from it but by an opportunity of
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Speaker 1: doing good. She did not curiously nor confidently enter into
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Speaker 1: discourse with him, but modestly answered him with all the
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Speaker 1: decorum that became her sex. What a degenerate age do
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Speaker 1: we live in, in which appear all the instances of pride, luxury,
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Speaker 1: and laziness, the reverse of Rebecca's character, Whose daughters few
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Speaker 1: are Those instances of goodness which were then in honor,
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Speaker 1: are now in contempt. Some point two, Providence so ordered
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Speaker 1: it that she did that which exactly answered to his sign,
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Speaker 1: and was wonderfully the counterpart of his proposal. She not
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Speaker 1: only gave him drink, but which was more than could
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Speaker 1: have been expected. She offered her services to give his
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Speaker 1: camels drink, which was the very sign he proposed. Note First, God,
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Speaker 1: in his providence, does sometimes wonderfully own the prayer of
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Speaker 1: faith and gratify the innocent desires of his praying people,
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Speaker 1: even in little things, that he may show the extent
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Speaker 1: of his care, and may encourage them at all times
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Speaker 1: times to seek Him and trust in Him. Yet we
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Speaker 1: must take heed of being overbold in prescribing to God,
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Speaker 1: lest the event should weaken our faith rather than strengthen it. Secondly,
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Speaker 1: it is good to take all opportunities of showing a humble, courteous,
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Speaker 1: charitable disposition, because sometime or other it may turn more
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Speaker 1: to our honor and benefit than we think of. Some
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Speaker 1: hereby have entertained angels, and Rebecca, hereby, quite beyond our
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Speaker 1: expectation at this time, was brought into the line of
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Speaker 1: Christ and the Covenant. Thirdly, there may be a great
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Speaker 1: deal of obliging kindness, and that which costs but little.
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Speaker 1: Our Savior has promised a reward for a cup of
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Speaker 1: cold water. Matthew ten, verse forty two. Fourthly, the concurrence
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Speaker 1: of providences and their minute circumstances for the furtherance of
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Speaker 1: our success in any business, ought to be particularly observed
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Speaker 1: with wonder and thankfulness. To the glory of God. The
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Speaker 1: man wondered verse twenty one, we have been wanting to ourselves,
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Speaker 1: both in duty and in comfort, by neglecting to observe
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Speaker 1: providence se point three. Upon inquiry, he found to his
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Speaker 1: great satisfaction that she was a near relation to his master,
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Speaker 1: and that the family she was of was considerable and
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Speaker 1: able to give him entertainment Verse twenty three to twenty five.
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Speaker 1: Note Providence sometimes wonderfully directs those that, by faith and
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Speaker 1: prayer seek direction from Heaven, and the choice of suitable yokefellows,
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Speaker 1: happy marriages, those are likely to be that are made
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Speaker 1: in the fear of God, and these we are sure
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Speaker 1: are made in Heaven. Number three. He acknowledges God in
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Speaker 1: a particular thanksgiving. He first paid his respects to Rebecca
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Speaker 1: in gratitude for her civilian verse twenty two, obliging her
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Speaker 1: with such ornaments an attire as a maid, especially a bride,
24:08
Speaker 1: cannot forget Jeremiah two, verse thirty two, which yet we
24:12
Speaker 1: should think ill suited the picture of water. But the
24:17
Speaker 1: ear rings and bracelets she sometimes wore did not make
24:21
Speaker 1: her think herself above the labors of a virtuous woman
24:25
Speaker 1: Proverbs thirty one, verse thirteen, who works willingly with her hands,
24:31
Speaker 1: nor the services of a child, who while under age,
24:35
Speaker 1: differs nothing from a servant Galatians four, verse one. Having
24:40
Speaker 1: done this, he turns his wonder verse twenty one, into worshiping,
24:45
Speaker 1: blessed be the Lord, God of my master Abraham verse
24:48
Speaker 1: twenty six and twenty seven. Observe here. Subscript one. He
24:53
Speaker 1: had prayed for good speed verse twelve, and now that
24:58
Speaker 1: he had spit well, he gives thanks. Note what we
25:02
Speaker 1: win by prayer, we must wear with praise for mercies
25:07
Speaker 1: in answer to prayer, lay us under particular obligations. Subscript two.
25:13
Speaker 1: He had as yet but a comfortable prospect of mercy,
25:17
Speaker 1: and was not certain what the issue might prove. Yet
25:20
Speaker 1: he gives thanks. Note when God's favors are coming toward us,
25:25
Speaker 1: we must meet them with our praises. Subscript three. He
25:31
Speaker 1: blesses God for success when he was negotiating for his master. Note,
25:36
Speaker 1: we should be thankful for our friend's mercies as for
25:40
Speaker 1: our own. Subscript four, he gives thanks that, being in
25:45
Speaker 1: the way at a loss what course to steer, the
25:48
Speaker 1: Lord had led him. Note in doubtful cases, it is
25:53
Speaker 1: very comfortable to see God leading us as he led
25:57
Speaker 1: Israel in the wilderness by the pillar of cloud and fire.
26:02
Speaker 1: Subscript five. He thinks himself very happy and owns God
26:07
Speaker 1: in it that he was led to the house of
26:09
Speaker 1: his master's brethren, those of them that had come out
26:13
Speaker 1: of err of the Chaldes, though they had not come
26:16
Speaker 1: to Canaan, but remained in Haran. They were not idolaters,
26:20
Speaker 1: but worshipers of the True God, and inclinable to the
26:25
Speaker 1: religion of Abraham's family. Note God is to be acknowledged
26:29
Speaker 1: in providing suitable yoke fellows, especially such as are agreeable
26:34
Speaker 1: in religion. Subscript six. He acknowledges that God herein had
26:40
Speaker 1: not left his master destitute of his mercy and truth.
26:44
Speaker 1: God had promised to build up Abraham's family, Yet it
26:48
Speaker 1: seemed destitute of the benefit of that promise. But now
26:52
Speaker 1: Providence is working toward the accomplishing of it. Note some
26:57
Speaker 1: point one, God's faithful ones, now destitute, soever they may
27:01
Speaker 1: be of worldly comforts, shall never be left destitute of
27:05
Speaker 1: God's mercy and truth. For God's mercy is an inexhaustible fountain,
27:11
Speaker 1: and his truth an inviolable foundation. Some point two. It
27:16
Speaker 1: adds much to the comfort of any blessing to see
27:19
Speaker 1: in it the continuance of God's mercy and truth. Abraham's
27:25
Speaker 1: Servant entertained by Laban Errand of Abraham's Servant b. C.
27:31
Speaker 1: One thousand, eight hundred and fifty seven, Verses twenty nine
27:35
Speaker 1: to fifty three. And Rebecca had a brother, and his
27:39
Speaker 1: name was Laban. And Laban ran out unto the man,
27:44
Speaker 1: unto the well. And it came to pass when he
27:46
Speaker 1: saw the ear ring and bracelets upon his sister's hands,
27:50
Speaker 1: and when he heard the words of Rebecca, his sister saying,
27:54
Speaker 1: thus spake the man unto me, that he came unto
27:57
Speaker 1: the man, and behold he stood by the case camels
28:00
Speaker 1: at the well, and he said, come in, thou, blessed
28:04
Speaker 1: of the Lord. Wherefore standest thou without, for I have
28:07
Speaker 1: prepared the house and room for the camels. And the
28:10
Speaker 1: man came into the house, and he ungirded his camels,
28:14
Speaker 1: and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water
28:17
Speaker 1: to wash his feet and the men's feet that were
28:20
Speaker 1: with him. And there was set meat before him to eat.
28:25
Speaker 1: But he said, I will not eat until I have
28:27
Speaker 1: told mine errand and he said, speak on. And he said,
28:31
Speaker 1: I am Abraham's servant. And the Lord hath blessed my
28:35
Speaker 1: master greatly, and he has become great. And he hath
28:39
Speaker 1: given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and
28:43
Speaker 1: men's servants and maid servants, and camels and asses. And Sarah,
28:48
Speaker 1: my master's wife, bear a son to my master when
28:51
Speaker 1: she was old, and unto him had he given all
28:55
Speaker 1: that he hath. And my master made me swear, saying,
28:59
Speaker 1: thou shalt not take a wife to my son, of
29:01
Speaker 1: the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell,
29:05
Speaker 1: But thou shalt go unto my father's house and to
29:08
Speaker 1: my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. And
29:11
Speaker 1: I said, unto my master, peradventure, the woman will not
29:14
Speaker 1: follow me. And he said, unto me, the Lord before
29:18
Speaker 1: whom I walk will send his angel with thee and
29:21
Speaker 1: prosper thy way. And thou shalt take a wife from
29:24
Speaker 1: my son of my kindred and of my father's house.
29:28
Speaker 1: Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath when
29:31
Speaker 1: thou comest to my kindred, And if they give not
29:34
Speaker 1: thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. And
29:38
Speaker 1: I came this day unto the well, and said, O,
29:42
Speaker 1: Lord God of my master Abraham, if now thou do
29:45
Speaker 1: prosper my way which I go. Behold, I stand by
29:49
Speaker 1: the well of water. And it shall come to pass
29:51
Speaker 1: that when the Virgin cometh forth to draw water, and
29:55
Speaker 1: I say to her, give me I pray thee a
29:58
Speaker 1: little water of thy picture to drink. And she say
30:01
Speaker 1: to me, both drink thou, and I will also draw
30:04
Speaker 1: for that camel's. Let the same be the woman whom
30:07
Speaker 1: the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son. And
30:11
Speaker 1: before I had done speaking in myne heart, behold, Rebecca
30:14
Speaker 1: came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and she
30:17
Speaker 1: went down unto the well and drew water. And I said,
30:21
Speaker 1: unto her, let me drink, I pray thee. And she
30:24
Speaker 1: made haste and let down her pitcher from her shoulder,
30:27
Speaker 1: and said, drink, and I will give that camel's drink also.
30:31
Speaker 1: So I drank, and she made the camels drink also,
30:35
Speaker 1: and I asked her, and said, whose daughter art thou.
30:38
Speaker 1: And she said, the daughter of Bethule, nay, your son,
30:42
Speaker 1: whom milker brennto him. And I put the ear ring
30:45
Speaker 1: upon her face and the bracelets upon her hands. And
30:49
Speaker 1: I bout down my head and worshiped the Lord and
30:52
Speaker 1: blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had
30:55
Speaker 1: led me in the right way to take my master's
30:58
Speaker 1: brother's daughter to his son. And now, if ye will
31:02
Speaker 1: deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me, and
31:06
Speaker 1: if not, tell me that I may turn to the
31:09
Speaker 1: right hand or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel
31:13
Speaker 1: answered and said, the thing proceedeth from the Lord. We
31:17
Speaker 1: cannot speak unto THEE bad or good. Behold, Rebeccah is
31:21
Speaker 1: before THEE. Take her and go and let her be
31:25
Speaker 1: thy master son's wife. As the Lord hath spoken. And
31:29
Speaker 1: it came to pass that when Abraham's servant heard their words,
31:33
Speaker 1: he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. And
31:37
Speaker 1: the servant brought forth jewels of silver and jewels of
31:41
Speaker 1: gold and Raymond and gave them to Rebeccah. He gave
31:46
Speaker 1: also to her brother and to her mother precious things
31:50
Speaker 1: we have heard the making up of the marriage between
31:53
Speaker 1: Isaac and Rebecca. It is related very largely, and particularly
31:58
Speaker 1: even to the minute circle cumstances, which we should think
32:02
Speaker 1: might have been spared, while other things of great moment
32:05
Speaker 1: and mystery, as the story of Melchizedic, are related in
32:10
Speaker 1: few words. Thus, God conceals that which is curious from
32:14
Speaker 1: the wise and prudent, reveals to babes that which is
32:18
Speaker 1: common and leveled to their capacity Matthew eleven, verse twenty five,
32:23
Speaker 1: and rules and saves the world by the foolishness of
32:27
Speaker 1: preaching First Corinthians one twenty one. Thus also we are
32:32
Speaker 1: directed to take notice of God's providence in the little
32:35
Speaker 1: common occurrences of human life, and in them also to
32:39
Speaker 1: exercise our own prudence and other graces. For the scripture
32:45
Speaker 1: was not intended for the use of philosophers and statesmen only,
32:49
Speaker 1: but to make us all wise and virtuous, and the
32:52
Speaker 1: conduct of ourselves and families. Here is Numeral one the
32:58
Speaker 1: very kind reception given to Abraham's servant by Rebecca's relations.
33:03
Speaker 1: Her brother Laban went to invite and conduct him in,
33:07
Speaker 1: but not till he saw the ear rings and the
33:09
Speaker 1: bracelets upon his sister's hands verse thirty Oh thinks Laban
33:15
Speaker 1: here is a man, that there is something to be
33:17
Speaker 1: got by a man that is rich and generous. We
33:21
Speaker 1: will be sure to bid him welcome. We know so
33:24
Speaker 1: much of Laban's character by the following story as to
33:28
Speaker 1: think that he would not have been so free of
33:31
Speaker 1: his entertainment if he had not hoped to be well
33:34
Speaker 1: paid for it as he was verse fifty three. Note
33:39
Speaker 1: a man's gift maketh room for him Proverbs eighteen, verse sixteen.
33:45
Speaker 1: Which waysoever it turneth it prospereth Proverbs seventeen, verse eight.
33:52
Speaker 1: Number one. The invitation was kind, Come in thou blessed
33:57
Speaker 1: of the Lord verse thirty one. They saw all he
34:00
Speaker 1: was rich, and therefore pronounced him blessed of the Lord.
34:04
Speaker 1: Or perhaps because they heard from Rebeccah verse twenty eight,
34:08
Speaker 1: of the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth,
34:12
Speaker 1: they concluded him a good man and therefore blessed of
34:15
Speaker 1: the Lord. Note those that are blessed of God should
34:20
Speaker 1: be welcomed to us. It is good owning those whom
34:24
Speaker 1: God owns. Number two. The entertainment was kind verse thirty
34:30
Speaker 1: two and thirty three. Both the house and stable were
34:34
Speaker 1: well furnished, and Abraham's servant was invited to the free
34:38
Speaker 1: use of both. Particular care was taken of the camels.
34:42
Speaker 1: For a good man regardeth the life of his beast
34:46
Speaker 1: Probabs twelve, verse ten. If the ox knows his owner
34:50
Speaker 1: to serve him, the owner should know his ox to
34:53
Speaker 1: provide for him that which is fitting for him. Numeral two.
34:58
Speaker 1: The full account which he he gave them of his errand,
35:02
Speaker 1: and the court he made to them for their constant
35:05
Speaker 1: respecting Rebecca observe number one. How intent he was upon
35:11
Speaker 1: his business. Though he had come off a journey and
35:14
Speaker 1: come to a good house, he would not eat till
35:17
Speaker 1: he had told his errand verse thirty three. Note the
35:21
Speaker 1: doing of our work and the fulfilling of our trusts,
35:25
Speaker 1: either for God or man, should be preferred by us
35:29
Speaker 1: before our necessary food. It was our saviour's meat and drink.
35:34
Speaker 1: John four, verse thirty four, Number two. How ingenious he
35:39
Speaker 1: was in the management of it. He approved himself in
35:43
Speaker 1: this matter, both a prudent man and a man of integrity,
35:47
Speaker 1: faithful to his master by whom he was trusted, and
35:51
Speaker 1: just to those with whom he now treated. Subscript one,
35:55
Speaker 1: he gives a short account of the state of his
35:58
Speaker 1: master's family twenty four to thirty six. He was welcome
36:03
Speaker 1: before that we may suppose him doubly welcome when he
36:06
Speaker 1: said I am Abraham's servant. Abraham's name, no doubt, was
36:11
Speaker 1: well known among them and respected, and we might suppose
36:15
Speaker 1: them not altogether ignorant of his state, for Abraham knew theirs.
36:20
Speaker 1: Chapter twenty two, Verses twenty to twenty four. Two things
36:25
Speaker 1: he suggests to recommend his proposal, some point one that
36:29
Speaker 1: his master, Abraham, through the blessing of God, had a
36:32
Speaker 1: very good estate, and some point two that he had
36:36
Speaker 1: settled it all upon Isaac, for whom he was now
36:40
Speaker 1: a suitor. Subscript two. He tells them the charge his
36:45
Speaker 1: master had given him to fetch a wife for his
36:48
Speaker 1: son from among his kindred, with the reason of it
36:51
Speaker 1: Verse thirty seven and thirty eight. Thus he insinuates a
36:55
Speaker 1: pleasing hint that though Abraham had removed to a country
36:59
Speaker 1: at so great distance, yet he still retained the remembrance
37:02
Speaker 1: of his relations that he had left behind, and a
37:06
Speaker 1: respect for them. The highest degrees of divine affection must
37:09
Speaker 1: not divest us of natural affection. He likewise obviates an
37:15
Speaker 1: objection that, if Isaac were deserving, he needed not send
37:20
Speaker 1: so far off for a wife. Why did he not
37:23
Speaker 1: marry nearer home? For a good reason, says he, My
37:27
Speaker 1: master's son must not match with a Canaanite. He further
37:31
Speaker 1: recommends his proposal some point one from the faith his
37:35
Speaker 1: master had that it would succeed. Verse forty. Abraham took
37:39
Speaker 1: encouragement from the testimony of his conscience that he walked
37:43
Speaker 1: before God in a regular course of holy living, and
37:47
Speaker 1: thence inferred that God would prosper him. Probably he refers
37:51
Speaker 1: to that covenant which God had made with him. Chapter seventeen,
37:56
Speaker 1: Verse one, I am God all sufficient walk before me. Therefore,
38:02
Speaker 1: says he, the God before whom I walk will send
38:05
Speaker 1: his angel. Note while we make conscience of our part
38:10
Speaker 1: of the convenant, we may take the comfort of God's
38:14
Speaker 1: part of it, and we should learn to apply general
38:17
Speaker 1: promises of particular cases as there is occasion. Some point
38:21
Speaker 1: two from the care he himself had taken to preserve
38:25
Speaker 1: their liberty of giving or refusing their consent as they
38:29
Speaker 1: should see cause without incurring the guilt of perjury. Rose
38:33
Speaker 1: thirty nine to forty one, which showed him in general
38:37
Speaker 1: to be a cautious man, and particularly careful that their
38:41
Speaker 1: consent might not be forced, but be either free or
38:46
Speaker 1: not at all. Subscript three, he relates to them the
38:51
Speaker 1: wonderful concurrence of providences to countenance on further the proposal,
38:56
Speaker 1: plainly showing the finger of God in it. Point point
39:00
Speaker 1: one he tells them how he had prayed for direction
39:03
Speaker 1: by a sign verse forty two to forty four. Note
39:07
Speaker 1: it is a good dealing with those who by prayer
39:10
Speaker 1: take God along with them in their dealings. S point two.
39:15
Speaker 1: How God had answered his prayer in the very letter
39:18
Speaker 1: of it, though he did but speak in his heart
39:21
Speaker 1: verse forty five, which perhaps he mentions, lest it should
39:25
Speaker 1: be suspected that Rebecca had overheard his prayer and designedly
39:28
Speaker 1: humored it. No, says he, I spoke it in my heart,
39:33
Speaker 1: so that none heard it but God, to whom thought
39:36
Speaker 1: or word, and from him the answer came verse forty
39:41
Speaker 1: six and forty seven. Sub point three. How he had
39:45
Speaker 1: immediately acknowledged God's goodness to him therein leading him, as
39:51
Speaker 1: he here expresses it, in the right way. Note God's
39:55
Speaker 1: way is always the right way. Psalm one hundred seven
40:00
Speaker 1: verse seven, and those are well led whom he leads.
40:05
Speaker 1: Subscript four. He fairly refers the matter to their consideration
40:10
Speaker 1: and waits their decision verse forty nine. If you will
40:14
Speaker 1: deal kindly and truly with my master, well and good,
40:19
Speaker 1: if you will be sincerely kind, you will accept the proposal,
40:23
Speaker 1: and I have what I came for. If not, do
40:27
Speaker 1: not hold me in suspense. Note those who deal fairly
40:31
Speaker 1: have reason to expect fair dealing. Subscript five. They freely
40:37
Speaker 1: and cheerfully close with a proposal upon a very good
40:41
Speaker 1: principle Verse fifty. The thing proceedeth from the Lord. Providence
40:47
Speaker 1: smiles upon it, and we have nothing to say against it.
40:52
Speaker 1: They do not object distance of place, Abraham's forsaking them,
40:56
Speaker 1: or his having no land in procession, but personal estate owned.
41:00
Speaker 1: They do not question the truth of what this man said,
41:04
Speaker 1: But some point one they trust much to his integrity.
41:08
Speaker 1: It where well, if honesty did so universally prevail among men,
41:13
Speaker 1: that it might be as much an act of prudence
41:15
Speaker 1: as it is of good nature to take a man's
41:18
Speaker 1: word sub point two. They trust more to God's providence,
41:23
Speaker 1: and therefore by silence give consent because it appears to
41:28
Speaker 1: be directed and disposed by infinite wisdom. Note a marriage
41:34
Speaker 1: is then likely to be comfortable when it appears to
41:38
Speaker 1: proceed from the Lord. Subscript six. Abraham's servant makes a
41:43
Speaker 1: thankful acknowledgment of the good success he had met with
41:48
Speaker 1: su point one to God. He worshiped the Lord verse
41:52
Speaker 1: fifty two. Observe first as his good success went on,
41:58
Speaker 1: He went on to bless God. Those that pray without
42:02
Speaker 1: ceasing should in everything give thanks and own God in
42:06
Speaker 1: every step of mercy. Secondly, God sent his angel before
42:11
Speaker 1: him and so gave him success verse seven and verse forty.
42:16
Speaker 1: But when he has the desired success, he worships God,
42:20
Speaker 1: not the Angel. Whatever benefit we have by the ministration
42:24
Speaker 1: of angels, all the glory must be given to the
42:28
Speaker 1: Lord of the angels Revelation twenty two, Verse nine some
42:33
Speaker 1: point two. He pays his respects to the family also,
42:37
Speaker 1: and particularly to the bride Verse fifty three. He presented
42:42
Speaker 1: her and her mother and brother with many precious things,
42:47
Speaker 1: both to give a real proof of his master's riches
42:50
Speaker 1: and generosity and ingratitude for their civility to him, and
42:55
Speaker 1: further to ingratiate himself with them. Rebecca's departure b See
43:02
Speaker 1: one thousand, eight hundred fifty seven, Verses fifty four to
43:06
Speaker 1: sixty one. And they did eat and drink he and
43:11
Speaker 1: the men that were with him, and tear it all night.
43:15
Speaker 1: And they rose up in the morning, and he said,
43:18
Speaker 1: send me away unto my master. And her brother and
43:21
Speaker 1: her mother said, let the damsel abide with us a
43:24
Speaker 1: few days at the least ten after that she shall go.
43:29
Speaker 1: And he said, unto them, hinder me, not seeing the
43:32
Speaker 1: Lord hath prospered my way, send me away, that I
43:35
Speaker 1: may go to my master. And they said, we will
43:38
Speaker 1: call the damsel and inquire at her mouth. And they
43:42
Speaker 1: called Rebecca and said, unto her, wilt thou go with
43:45
Speaker 1: this man? And she said, I will go. And they
43:49
Speaker 1: sent away Rebeccah, their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's
43:53
Speaker 1: servant and his men. And they blessed Rebecca and said,
43:57
Speaker 1: unto her, thou art our sister, be thou the mother
44:01
Speaker 1: of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the
44:05
Speaker 1: gait of those which hate them. And Rebecca arose and
44:09
Speaker 1: her damsels, and they rode upon the camels and followed
44:13
Speaker 1: the man and the servant took Rebecca and went his way.
44:19
Speaker 1: Rebecca is here taking leave of her father's house, and
44:23
Speaker 1: number one Abraham's servant presses for a dismission. Though he
44:29
Speaker 1: and his company were very welcome and very cheerful there,
44:32
Speaker 1: yet he said send me away verse fifty four, and
44:36
Speaker 1: again verse fifty six. He knew his master would expect
44:41
Speaker 1: him home with some impatience. He had business to do
44:45
Speaker 1: at home which wanted him, and therefore, as one that
44:48
Speaker 1: preferred his work before his pleasure, he was for hastening home.
44:53
Speaker 1: Note lingering and loitering no way become a wise and
44:58
Speaker 1: good man. When we have disp batched our business abroad,
45:01
Speaker 1: we must not delay our return to our business at home,
45:05
Speaker 1: nor be longer from it than needs must. For as
45:08
Speaker 1: a bird that wanders from her nest, so is he
45:11
Speaker 1: that wanders from his place. Proverbs twenty seven, verse eight.
45:16
Speaker 1: Number two. Rebecca's relations from natural affection, and according to
45:22
Speaker 1: the usual expression of kindness in that case, solicit for
45:26
Speaker 1: her stays some time among them verse fifty five. They
45:30
Speaker 1: could not think of parting with her on a sudden,
45:33
Speaker 1: especially as she was about the remove so far off,
45:37
Speaker 1: and it was not likely that they would ever see
45:41
Speaker 1: one another again. Let her stay a few days at
45:45
Speaker 1: least ten, which makes it as reasonable a request as
45:49
Speaker 1: the reading in the margin seems to make it unreasonable.
45:52
Speaker 1: A year or at least ten months. They had consented
45:57
Speaker 1: to the marriage, and yet were aloth to part with her.
46:01
Speaker 1: Note it is an instance of the vanity of this
46:04
Speaker 1: world that there is nothing in it so agreeable, but
46:08
Speaker 1: it has its alloy Nolla asked sin sera voluptas there
46:14
Speaker 1: is no unmingled pleasure. They were pleased that they had
46:19
Speaker 1: matched a daughter of their family so well, and yet
46:23
Speaker 1: when it came to the last, it was with great
46:26
Speaker 1: reluctance that they sent her away. Number three, Rebecca herself
46:32
Speaker 1: determined the matter to her. They appealed, as it was
46:36
Speaker 1: fit they should verse fifty seven. Call the damsel, who
46:41
Speaker 1: had retired to her apartment, with a modest silence, and
46:44
Speaker 1: inquire at her mouth. Note as children ought not to
46:49
Speaker 1: marry without their parents consent, so parents ought not to
46:54
Speaker 1: marry them without their own Before the matter is resolved,
46:58
Speaker 1: on ask at the damsel's mouth. She is a party
47:03
Speaker 1: principally concerned, and therefore ought to be principally consulted Rebecca
47:08
Speaker 1: consented not only to go, but to go immediately. I
47:13
Speaker 1: will go verse fifty eight. We may hope that the
47:16
Speaker 1: notice she had taken of the servant's piety and devotion
47:20
Speaker 1: gave her such an idea of the prevalence of religion
47:24
Speaker 1: and godliness, and the family she was to go to,
47:27
Speaker 1: made her desirous to hasten thither, and willing to forget
47:31
Speaker 1: her own people and her father's house, where religion had
47:36
Speaker 1: not so much the ascendant number four. Hereupon she is
47:40
Speaker 1: sent away with Abraham's servant, not, we may suppose, the
47:46
Speaker 1: very next day after, but very quickly her friends see
47:50
Speaker 1: that she has a good heart on it, and so
47:52
Speaker 1: they dismiss her subscript one with suitable attendance her nurse
47:58
Speaker 1: verse fifty nine, her amsels verse sixty one. It seems, then,
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Speaker 1: that when she went to the well for water, it
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Speaker 1: was not because she had not servants at command, but
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Speaker 1: because she took a pleasure in works of humble industry.
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Speaker 1: Now that she was going among strangers, it was fit
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Speaker 1: she should take those with her with whom she was acquainted.
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Speaker 1: Here is nothing said of her portion. Her personal merits
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Speaker 1: were a portion in her She needed none with her,
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Speaker 1: nor did that ever come into the treaty of marriage
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Speaker 1: Subscript two. With hearty good wishes, they blessed Rebecca verse sixty. Note,
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Speaker 1: when our relations are entering into a new condition, we
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Speaker 1: ought by prayer to recommend them to the blessing and
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Speaker 1: grace of God. Now that she was going to be
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Speaker 1: a wife, they prayed that she might be a mother
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Speaker 1: both of a numerous and of a victorious progeny. Perhaps
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Speaker 1: Abraham's service had told them of the promise God had
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Speaker 1: lately made to his master, which it is likely Abraham
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Speaker 1: acquainted his household with, that God would multiply his seed
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Speaker 1: as the stars of heaven, and that they should possess
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Speaker 1: the gait of their enemies. Chapter twenty two, verse seventeen,
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Speaker 1: to which promise they had an eye in this blessing,
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Speaker 1: be thou the mother of that seed. Isaac's marriage b. C.
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Speaker 1: One eight hundred fifty seven, Verses sixty two to sixty seven.
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Speaker 1: And Isaac came from the way of the well Lehiroi,
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Speaker 1: for he dwelt in the south country. And Isaac went
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Speaker 1: out to meditate in the field at the eventide. And
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Speaker 1: he lifted up his eyes and saw and behold the
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Speaker 1: camels were coming, and Rebecca lifted up her eyes, and
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Speaker 1: when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For
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Speaker 1: she had said, unto the ser what man is this
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Speaker 1: that walketh in the field to meet us? And the
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Speaker 1: servant had said, it is my master. Therefore she took
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Speaker 1: a veil and covered herself, and the servant told Isaac
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Speaker 1: all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her
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Speaker 1: into his mother, Sarah's tent, and took Rebecca, and she
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Speaker 1: became his wife, and he loved her, and Isaac was
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Speaker 1: comforted after his mother's death. Isaac and Rebecca are at
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Speaker 1: length happily brought together. Observe Numeral one. Isaac was well
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Speaker 1: employed when he met Rebecca. He went out to meditate
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Speaker 1: or pray in the field at the eventide verse sixty
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Speaker 1: two and sixty three something. He expected the return of
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Speaker 1: his servants about this time, and went out on purpose
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Speaker 1: to meet them. But it should seem he went out
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Speaker 1: on another errand to take the advantage of a silent
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Speaker 1: evening and a solitary field for meditation and prayer, those
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Speaker 1: divine exercises by which we converse with God and our
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Speaker 1: own hearts. Note number one Holy souls love retirement. It
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Speaker 1: will do us good to be often left alone, walking
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Speaker 1: alone and sitting alone. And if we have the art
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Speaker 1: of improving solitude, we shall find we are never less
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Speaker 1: alone than when alone. Number two. Meditation and prayer ought
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Speaker 1: to be both our business and our delight when we
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Speaker 1: are alone. While we have a God, a Christ, and
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Speaker 1: a heaven to acquaint ourselves with and to secure our
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Speaker 1: interest in. We need not want matter either for meditation
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Speaker 1: or prayer, which, if they go together, will mutually befriend
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Speaker 1: each other. Number three. Our walks in the field are
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Speaker 1: then truly pleasant when in them them we apply ourselves
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Speaker 1: to meditation and prayer. We there have a free and
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Speaker 1: open prospect of the heavens above us and the earth
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Speaker 1: around us, and the host and riches of both, by
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Speaker 1: the view of which we should be led to the
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Speaker 1: contemplation of the maker and owner of all. Number four.
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Speaker 1: The exercises of devotion should be the refreshment and entertainment
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Speaker 1: of the evening, to relieve us from the fatigue occasioned
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Speaker 1: by the care and business of the day, and to
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Speaker 1: prepare us for the repose and sleep of the night.
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Speaker 1: Number five. Merciful providences are then doubly comfortable when they
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Speaker 1: find us well employed and in the way of our duty.
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Speaker 1: Some think Isaac was now praying for good success in
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Speaker 1: this affair, that was depending and meditating upon that which
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Speaker 1: was proper to encourage his hope in God concerning it.
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Speaker 1: And now when he sets himself, as it were, a
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Speaker 1: punished watchtower, to see what God would answer him. As
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Speaker 1: the prophet a back of two verse one, he sees
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Speaker 1: the camel's coming. Sometimes God sends in the mercy prayed
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Speaker 1: for immediately Acts twelve, Verse twelve, numeral two. Rebecca behaved
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Speaker 1: herself very becomingly when she met Isaac. Understanding who he was,
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Speaker 1: she alighted off her camel verse sixty four and took
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Speaker 1: a veil and covered herself verse sixty five in token
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Speaker 1: of humility, modesty, and subjection. She did not reproach Isaac
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Speaker 1: for not coming himself to fetch her, or at least
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Speaker 1: to meet her a day's journey or two. Did not
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Speaker 1: complain of the tediousness of her journey or the difficulty
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Speaker 1: of leaving her relations to come into a strange place.
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Speaker 1: But having seen Providence going before her her in the affair,
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Speaker 1: she accommodates herself with cheerfulness to her new relation. Those
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Speaker 1: that by faith are espoused to Christ and would be
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Speaker 1: presented as chaste virgins to him, must, in conformity to
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Speaker 1: his example, humble themselves, as Rebecca, who alighted when she
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Speaker 1: saw Isaac on foot, and must put themselves into subjection
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Speaker 1: to him who is their head Ephesians five, verse twenty four,
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Speaker 1: as Rebecca signifying it by the veil she put on
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Speaker 1: first Corinthians eleven, verse ten, numeral three. They were brought together,
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Speaker 1: probably after some further acquaintance to their mutual comfort verse
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Speaker 1: sixty seven. Observe here number one, what an affectionate son
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Speaker 1: he was to his mother? It was about three years
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Speaker 1: since her death, and yet he was not till now
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Speaker 1: comforted concerning it. The wound which that of affliction gave
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Speaker 1: to his tender spirit blood so long, and was never
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Speaker 1: healed till God brought him into this new relation. Thus,
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Speaker 1: crosses and comforts are balances to each other Ecclesiastes seven,
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Speaker 1: verse fourteen, and helped to keep the scale even. Number two,
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Speaker 1: What an affectionate husband he was to his wife. Note
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Speaker 1: those that have approved themselves well in one relation, it
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Speaker 1: may be hoped, will do so in another she became
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Speaker 1: his wife, and he loved her. There was all the
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Speaker 1: reason of the world why he should for so ought
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Speaker 1: men to love their wives even as themselves. The duty
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Speaker 1: of the relation is then done, and the comfort of
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Speaker 1: the relation is then enjoyed when mutual love governs. For
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Speaker 1: there the Lord commands the blessing. End of chapter