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peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amonites is not yet full." Communication most strange to be compared to modern developments! The very character of its expression exalts it above the work of created beings. Its language is like that of One Almighty and Omniscient. Where is the communication of these days worthy of a comparison with this? Verily, the heart sickens at the thought. And yet even some preachers, becoming intoxicated with "spiritual magnetism,” seem to have lost sight of the Infinite and to be overwhelmed with that scarcely worthy of the name of the finite.

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"And it came to pass," continues the history, 'that when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. And the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates."

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold my Covenant is with thee;

and thou shalt be a father of many nations. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting Covenant, to be a God unto thee and thy seed after thee.". Gen. xvii.

This is the "Covenant" upon which depends the Law and the Prophets- the Gospel and the Christian Church. Let spiritualists consider it in all its bearings, and remember that before they can firmly establish their opposing manifestations as more worthy of religious regard, they must either reduce this to the plane of "spiritrappings," or exalt them and kindred phenomena to this. How shall they accomplish either? Who can give answer?

This Covenant is to man, morally, as a centre sun around which revolves a universe of lesser orbs. Being the pledge and type of the "Incarnation,” its position, nature and magnitude render it the external utterance to which are united all subsequent revelations. It was the foreshadowing of the great moral events that have since unfolded from the world of Light. And by its prophetic character it overspans the Consummation. It is infinite in its Spirit, almighty and inexorable in its Purpose, certain in its Procedure, merciful in its Nature, God-like in its Majesty, and eternal in its Ultimation. Its dis

tant reflections overwhelm the light of Nature, and submerge beneath the tide of inspiring Truth the wisdom of man. And to name in its connection, by way of comparison, the substance of clairvoyant and spirit manifestations, from the monosylabic song to the most miraculous revelations (?) and voluminous essays, is to trifle with man's better sense. These conclusions the Covenant, succeeding disclosures, and demonstrations fully suggest and amply sustain.

CHAPTER II.

DIVINITY OF THE COVENANT.

THE following leading ideas are suggested by the above history:

I. It is claimed that the Supreme Being called Abram; hence, that obedient to the purpose and dictation of the Divine Spirit, he journeyed, a stranger in a strange land. No call could, therefore, supercede its authority.

II. It is before the world as a communication from the Supreme Being. No doctrine can claim superior origin.

III. The ASSURANCE, which was a pledge in the name of the Almighty God, to bestow certain blessings, and cause certain grand results ere the ultimate of human existence, which as a divine archetype should finally assume the form of a spiritual kingdom-world without end.

The Promise was threefold:

1. "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee." That is, through thee and thy seed I have purposed to reveal my glory and redeeming grace to the world, and, therefore, shall sustain thee and thy seed to the fulfillment; hence, who or whatever opposes must fall before the power of the Redeeming

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Procedure. A proper knowledge of this divine determination would render less obscure and objectionable to the sceptic very many important passages in the Bible history of Israel. But we must pass this subject with little notice until engaged in the "Exposition of the Scriptures." 2. The Prediction. "In thee shall the families of the earth be blessed." To this the above remarks are also applicable. 3. 3. "And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land." This is the land, the possession of which has been so much contested by the tribes and nations of men. It was promised, as an external inheritance to his seed, when Abram passed through it subsequent to his call; and although at that time he was but a lone pilgrim, that location has since been the scene of most important and astounding tragedies connected with a people then unborn.— Moreover, each great act of that people has been a link in the chain of events which, united, have been in fulfillment of the above Promise. The promise, then, accepted as from the Almighty, was borne along succeeding ages clothed in majesty. Even unto the days of Christ it was encompassed and guarded by external sacerdotal rights. And since the vail of the temple was rent on the day of crucifixion, it has been enthroned in the heart of the devout believer in

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