A tender and sad interest attaches to the Scripture-history of Abraham's first son. The typical import of what is recorded, the Holy Spirit has unfolded for our edification in the fourth of Galatians. Hagar answers to Jerusalem under the Sinaitic covenant, which gendereth to bondage. Ishmael is the man born after the flesh, who cannot be heir with the child of pure grace, born after the Spirit, the son of the free woman. Therefore the word came, "Cast out the bondwoman and her son." Christians are children born after the Spirit. With such the children of the flesh have no portion.

But it is not in his typical, but his moral character that I desire to draw attention to Ishmael. Undoubtedly there is much about him that appeals to the natural mind-much to admire and praise, if looked at from a merely human standpoint. In fact, Isaac was in no sense the brave, heroic character that his half-brother became. The same is true of Jacob in contrast with Esau. There is, however, one great lack evident in the case of both these elder brothers. They were men in whom nature was strong-men who seem never to have taken God into account.

Isaac, whatever his weakness and supineness at times, was one who, in the main, walked with God. Jacob, despite his crookedness, ever confessed that the hand of the Lord was upon him. As one has well remarked, he was under Divine discipline practically all his life, but he knew it. This is an immense thing. In neither Ishmael nor Esau do we see anything like it. Brave and determined men they were; generous-hearted, too, was the latter, and able magnanimously to overlook injuries done to him. But they did not take God into account.

In Ishmael's case two sentences practically give his entire biography. To Hagar the angel of the Lord said, "Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael" (1:e., God will hear); "because the Lord hath heard thine affliction. And he shall be a wild (untameable) man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren" (Gen. 16:11, 12).

These words were spoken prophetically ere the child was born. In the twenty-fifth chapter of the same book we get "the generations of Ishmael," commencing at verse 12. In verse 18 we are told that his children "dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria:" and then of himself we read, "and he died in the presence of all his brethren."

The two passages give his whole history. He lived and died in the presence of all his brethren. Nowhere is he said to have been in the presence of God. This was something he never knew, so far as we have any record in Scripture.

He was a man to be admired; and admiration he courted. Seeking the honor that cometh from man,
he cared not for the honor that cometh from God only." Men will praise thee when thou doest well
to thyself."This Ishmael proved. He made a name for himself in the earth. His life was passed in mighty exploits, and in deeds of prowess; but he knew not what it was to humble himself under the mighty hand of God, who, in a later book, says, '' Them that honor Me, I will honor; and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."

Forgetting God that made him, he lived in the presence of all his brethren. Without the peace of communion with God at last, he died as he had lived-in the presence of his brethren still.

Surely there are solemn and searching lessons for us all in this brief sketch of one of the great men of the ancient world. Ishmael's snare is a danger to which not only worldlings, but Christians likewise, are exposed. Paul saw it, and by grace sought to shun it in preaching the gospel. It would have been easy for him to set forth the message of grace in wisdom of words. To have so done would have won the admiration of the carnal Corinthians. Therefore he refuses so to do, and is determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. To the Galatians he writes:"For do I now conciliate men, or God ? or do I seek to please men ? for if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (chap. 1:10). He is thus the very opposite of Ishmael. He lived and died in the presence of God. His life was a sweet savor of Christ unto God. His death was as a fragrant burnt sacrifice.

Oh, to be in all this an imitator, or follower, of him as he followed Christ! So shall we be kept from living in the presence of our brethren, and find our joy in living in the presence of God. H. A. I.