Ques. 14.-It is said that Abraham by his purchase of the cave of Machpelah and his solicitude about burying his wife there, showed not only his faith that his descendants would inherit the land some day, but also expressed thereby his belief in the resurrection. Kindly explain this latter point which seems to be inference from his whole career rather than from this act.

Ans.-The significance of the act of burial seems clearly to point to resurrection. Abraham was not done with his body; He would have it laid carefully away until it was needed, not in a borrowed tomb, but in that purchased by silver-redemption money, and connected with a field, also purchased,-fruitfulness already assured, but only in resurrection.

No doubt this refers typically to Israel's resurrection-" life from the dead" (Rom. 11:15) in the last days. For Abraham himself we know there was a better than an earthly portion, "for he looked for the city that hath foundations"-the heavenly Jerusalem.