ANCIENT SCRIPTURAL HISTORY.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 18, 16 December 1861, Page 11

ANCIENT SCRIPTURAL HISTORY.

CHAPTER V. ABRAHAM. Abraham's native place was to the East side of Canaan. According to good authorities it was near to the kainga of Noah. When Abraham was sixty years old, Noah died: and it was at that period Abraham Was separated by God as a man for himself. He migrated twice: once to Ha ran, where he resided until the death of Terah, his father. Then it was that he was told to remove out of Canaan, Be went way \m $

.strange land, lie apd bis wire and all belonging to him, not having two thoughts ot the feast misgiving about it. And from that it is that his faith is so much commended, from }he steadfastness of bis heart iu God's word, in.God's"love, and in God's power. ..This was >he light to shine in the midst of darkness. Tt was like the runners of the hue which creep about amongst the grass. And now ii could be said that God has jfoiind a resting place in the earth. Abraliiim jand his offspring were made depositaries of His discpurse and His plans. They were called to be His own people, and He was to lay down laws for them. ; .And so Abraham dwelt in Canaan: he ,dvVelt as a stranger, and did hot come into -possession of the land. Although it,bad all .Ibeeh pointed out by God, as for him, yet : tte|tber he nor. his grandchildren possessed 'ft; nor uqlil 450 years had passed, that is, ai.lhe time when they returned Jrom Egypt, commenced in a. body to lake possession pt Canaan. But Abraham waited quietly, ■and when his wife Sarah died, be peaceably purchased a sepulchre in that country, as a resting place for his dead. ;;'; This was the design, of God, as a trial of ;ihe constancy of the affection of His people. ;The same was done to Job, and our Lord ; also was tried by Him. Abraham's faith was steadfast. Not having child born to himself, he prayed to God. ; God consented and declared that "by that ;.§on should all the nations of the earth be "blessed." Now the heart of Abraham was joyful on account of his son Isaac. Before he had fully grown up, God demanded that i fte should be slain by his father, as a sacri-' "«ce. Enough, Abraham assented forthwith, | t ;ajd led him np to the mountain, that he ~™!g» l »e slain and burnt as an offspring. And thus was his faith fully seen. God saved Isaac from being sacrificed by him; Abraham was honored as his friend, and his descendants were increased into a great people. And hence it was that he was called, the " father of the faithful," the same as the Apostles were called the foundation of the Church. Worship was commenced by them, aud they made known the system. The fruits of his faith are to be found in the Scripture. The living branch which cleaves tp, the root, will bring forth fruit: and in the living heart which adheres to God aud Jis Son, will also be manifest the fruits of faith. was a man of peace; but in :Jvr me f pes !»e if?s tp rescue

his friends: he had no heart lo seize anything for himself. He was a man steadfast at worship, nor did bis heart forget his insignificance in Hie sight of God. ..Abraham also commenced the circumcision, which was the same as the baptism established by Christ. But that was a plan which caused blood to be shed, because Christ was not yet dead, and that blood referred to his blood. That system of circumcision is still in practice" with the offspring of the Jews, and with the Arabs who are descendants of his son Tsbmael.