The Law,

mands A. M. 2515, or in that year. then, is three hundred and fifty-nine years after the flood, and four hundred and thirty after the covenant concerning Christ, confirmed by God to and with Abraham.

Olympas. I will often call you to this most prominent subject; but in the meantime we shall proceed to some other points. Tell me, James, who accompanied Abraham on his tour?

James. Lot his brother's son, Sarah his wife, and all their substance, and the souls they had gotten in Haran.

Olympas. What substance, and what souls were there, William ?

William. In the thirteenth chapter we learn that Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold; and we also learn that he had many ser vants; and these were the souls that he had gotten in Haran.

Olympas. True, William. Abraham's servants and Abraham's cattle were different sorts of property; for his servants had souls, and his cattle had not. After they had returned from Egypt, where he had so much trouble in saving his wife, which way did he direct his journey, Sarah?

Sarah. He returned to Bethel, the place of the altar, and there again he called upon the name of the Lord. And Lot was with him still.

Olympas. Was Lot rich, James?

James. Yes; he had flocks, and herds, and tents, and the land was too small for their flocks and herds; for their substance was so great that they could not dwell neighbours. And a strife arose between their servants.

Olympas. James, explain the words substance, flocks, and herds.

James. Substance means wealth; flocks mean sheep, and herds cattle.

Olympas. Very just. And how was the controversy among their servants adjusted?

William. Abraham gave Lot his choice of the country, and they separated from each other.

Olympas. Observe that there is not so much sociability and neighbourhood among the rich as among the poor. The rich have large possessions, and that separates them. The more wealth and honour in all countries and in all ages, the less neighbourhood, the less social intercourse. The grandees of the world have neither friendship, nor society. They have wealth and honour; but the poor have society, friendship, and love. I mean not the abject poor, but those comparatively poor. Abraham and Lot, though strangers in a foreign land, though standing in the position of uncle and nephew, were separated by their wealth, and a strife arose among their servants about pasturage.

But you must farther observe that if Kings and Queens have no society, and if the very great and opulent have little or no friendship, still a good and a great man is a generous man. Hence the

noble and generous magnanimity of Abraham in anticipating Lot by making him a tender of the first choice of the whole country, and in taking to himself that which his nephew refused. The sequel will show that Abraham's course was not only the most noble and the most approved by Heaven; but it turned out, as it generally does in such cases, the wiser and the better policy.

CONVERSATION XV.

GENESIS XIV.

Olympas. This is the oldest battle on record; and were it not that it embraced some part of the history of Abraham and Lot, it never would have been preserved till now. Who were the belligerents, William ?

William. They were Amraphel, Arioch, Chedorlaomer, and Tidal, on the one part; and the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar, on the other-five kings against four.

Olympas. What was the cause of this ancient battle?

William. Tyranny on the one part, and rebellion on the other. These five kings had served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and had rebelled in the thirteenth; and in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and his allies attempted to reduce the rebel kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar, to submission.

Olympas. How did they succeed, Reuben ?

Reuben. In the first place Chedorlaomer and his allies smote the Rephaims, the Zuzims, the Emims, the Horites, the Amalekites, and the Amorites,men, as you have taught us, of gigantic stature. After these conquests the five kings went out to meet the conqueror. they fared no better at his hand.

Olympas. Where was this battle fought?

But

Reuben. In the vale of Siddim, now a part of the Salt Sea.

Olympas. With what success?

Reuben. The vale of Siddim was full of slimepits, and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. Then Chedorlaomer and his allied sovereigns pillaged the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and carried off all their goods and provisions; and amongst the sufferers was Lot the nephew of Abraham, whom they despoiled of his property and carried captive.

Olympas. It seems, then, that plunder and booty were quite as ancient as war; and that killing, captivating, and plundering were amongst the principal items of vengeance as understood and practised by rival kings in their conflicts with one another ever since war began. We also learn from the fortunes of Lot, that it is dangerous to pursue wealth in immoral and licentious locations. Abraham dwells safely in the plain of Mamre, and his servants, flocks, and herds are round about in health, peace, and prosperity; while Lot, for the sake of richer pastures and more profitable grazing in the vale of Siddım, is not only vexed with their licentiousness, but is despoiled of the labours of years and carried captive into the bargain. Did Abraham, Eliza, hear any thing of the disaster to his kinsman?

Eliza. Yes, he heard by one of the friends of Lot, who had escaped the general destruction, and fled to the tents of Mamre the Amorite.

Now

this Mamre was the brother of Eshcol and Aner, and these three were confederate with Abraham. Olympas. How confederate ?

Eliza. As shepherds, I suppose; for they lived together in the same plain, and pursued the same business; for as yet they had been engaged in no

wars.

Olympas. A confederacy, then, for mutual protection; and such were all the ancient confederacies among the shepherd-kings of the first ages. But in this instance it seems to have been as much a league of friendship and good neighbour hood as any thing else. Even Abraham required some society besides his wife and family; and, therefore, consorted with these three-Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner. But what, William, did Abraham do when he heard of the capture of Lot? William. He armed his servants and went to the rescue.

Olympas. Armed his servants! He had a magazine, then; and brought out his arms and munitions of war. But what servants were these, James?

James. They were born in his house, and con sequently his own servants.

Olympas. How many were there of this class? James. Three hundred and eighteen.

Olympas. These servants must have been very well used, James, else Abraham dared not to have armed them. We, in Virginia, do not like to arm our servants when an enemy approaches. Did you ever read of the Americans arming their servants when the British, or Indians, or any one else, made war upon us, Thomas?

Thomas. No, Sir; we have not quite so much confidence in our servants as Abraham had in his. Olympas. Perhaps there is some. difference between the system of servitude then and now.