Abram

ABRAM, afterwards called Abraham, the Son of Terah, was born at Ur, a City of Chaldæa, in the Year of the World 2008, before Jesus Christ 1992, before the vulgar Æra 1996. He spent the first Years of his Life in his Father’s House, where they Vid. Interpp. ad Jos. xxiv. 2. & Neh. ix. 7. & Isa. xliii. 27. & Gen. xi. 31.adored Idols. Many are of Opinion that he himself at first was engaged in this wrong way of Worship, but that God giving him a better understanding, he renounced it; and for this reason suffer’d a severe Persecution from the Chaldæans, who threw him into a fiery Furnace: But God miraculously rescued him¹. The Text of the Vulgate, 2 Esd. ix. 7. shews clearly that he was deliver’d from the Fire of the Chaldæans, and the Jews generally teach the same. But this Opinion, in all probability, is founded only on the Ambiguity of the Word Ur, which signifies Fire, and the City of Ur, from which Place God took Abraham, and sent him into the Land of Promise. It is very likely therefore that he demonstrated to his Father the Vanity of Idolatry, since he engaged him to forsake the City of Ur where he was settled, and remove to that Place whither the Lord had called Abraham. The first City they came to was Haram in Mesopotamia, where Terah, Gen. xi. 31, 32.Abraham’s Father, died. From thence Abraham went into Palestine, which was in the Possession of the Canaanites. God promised to give him the property of this Ch. xii. 1, 2, &c.Country, and to heap Blessings on him. The Patriarch however did not acquire one inch of Ground there, and lived there always as a Stranger. Some time after his Arrival in this Country there was a great Famine, which obliged him to go into Egypt, there Ch. xii. 10, 11, & seq. in the Year of the World 2084, before J.C. 1916, before the vulgar Æra 1920.to procure some Provisions. He foresaw that the Egyptians would be touched extremely with the Beauty of Sarah, and might not only force her from him, but take away his Life too if they knew she was his Wife; he desired her therefore to give him leave that he might call her Sister. To this Sarah consented; and when she was in Egypt her uncommon Beauty was talk’d of to Pharaoh, who took her forcibly away, and would have made a Wife of her; but God afflicted him with such great Plagues, that he was obliged to restore her. After the Famine was over Abraham left Egypt, and returned to Canaan; there he pitch’d his Tents between Bethel and Hai, where some time before Gen. xiii. 1, 2, & seq.he had built an Altar. Now as Abraham and his Nephew Lot had large Flocks, and for this Reason could not dwell together, they separated. Lot retired to Sodom, and Abraham to the Plain of Mamre, near Hebron, in 2084, before Jesus Christ 1916, before the vulgar Æra 1920.

In the Year of the World 2092, before J. C. 1808, before the vulgar Æra 1912.Some Years after Lot having been taken in the War which Chedorlaomer and his Allies were carrying on against the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar, Abraham with his People pursued the Conquerors, and having overtaken them at Dan, near the Springs of Jordan, he defeated them, retook all the Spoil, together with his Nephew Lot, and brought them back to Sodom. At his Return, as he marched near Salem or Jerusalem, Melchisedech, King of this City, and Priest of the most High, met him, bestowed many Blessings on him, and presented him with Bread and Wine for himself, and for the Gen. xiv. 12, &c.Service of his Army, or else offered Bread and Wine to God as a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving. After this the Lord renewed all the Promises which he had made to Abraham, Ch. xv. 1, 2, & seq.gave him fresh Assurances that he should possess the Land of Canaan, and that his Posterity should be as numerous as the Stars of Heaven. As he had no Children, and could no longer reckon upon having any, by reason of his advanced Age, and the Barrenness of Sarah, he complied with the Sollicitation of his Wife, who entreated him to marry her Servant Hagar, imagining that if he should have Children by her, God might perform the Promises which he had made to him of a numerous Posterity.

Ch. xvi. 1, 2, &c.He therefore married Hagar in the Year of the World 2093, before Jesus Christ 1907, before the vulgar Æra 1911. But she finding that she had conceived, began to treat her Mistress with Contempt; whereof Sarah complain’d to Abraham, who told her that she might do as she pleased with her Servant. Hagar therefore having been very ill used by Sarah fled; but the Angel of the Lord appearing to her in the Wilderness, commanded her to return to her Master, and be more submissive to her Mistress: She returned therefore to his House, and some time after was deliver’d of Ishmael, in the Year of the World 2094, before Jesus Christ 1906, before the vulgar Æra 1910.

Ch. xvii.Thirteen Years after, in the Year of the World 2107, before Jesus Christ 1893, before the vulgar Æra 1897, the Lord renewed his Covenant with Abraham, and the Promises which he had made to him. He changed the Name of Abram, or an elevated Father, which he had hitherto borne, into that of Abraham, or the Father of a great signifies Princess, into Sarai, that is, my Princess². As a Mark and Earnest of the Covenant which he had enter’d into with him, he enjoined him to be himself circumcised, and to circumcise all the Males of his Family, and promised him expressly that he should have a Son of Sarah his Wife, and that too within a Year.

In the Year of the World 2107. before J. C. 1893. before the Vulg. Æra 1897. Gen.xviii.In a little time after this, the Sins of Sodom, Gomorrah and the neighbouring Cities being compleated, God sent three Angels to destroy them: They came first of all into the Valley of Mamre, where Abraham had pitched his Tents; and as soon as he saw them, he ran to them, invited them to eat, washed their Feet, and made haste to prepare Meat for them: Sarah made Cakes upon the Hearth for them, and when they had eaten, they asked Abraham where Sarah his Wife was? Abraham answered, In the Tent. Then one of them said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of Life, and lo, Sarah thy Wife shall have a Son. Sarah, who was behind the door, hearing this, laughed. Whereupon the Angel said to Abraham, wherefore did Sarah laugh? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? In a year I will return, as I have promised, and Sarah shall have a Son.

When they were resolved to go, Abraham with respect waited on them, and they went towards Sodom, whither two of these Angels advancing with more haste, the third remained with Abraham, and said, The Cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their Sin is very grievous; I will therefore go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the Cry of it which is come unto me. Abraham fearing left his Nephew Lot should be involved in the misfortune of this City, said, Lord, wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked? If there be found fifty righteous in the City, wilt thou destroy them with the others, and not spare this City for the fifty righteous that are therein? The Lord answered, I will spare it for their sakes. Abraham added, If there shall lack five of this number, wilt thou destroy all the City for lack of five? No, said the Lord. Abraham continuing to speak, reduced the number by degrees to ten righteous persons, and God promised him not to destroy the City for ten’s sake; but there was one only to be found, Lot, Abraham’s Nephew, and him God preserved from the calamity of Sodom; as we shall relate in another Ch. xix.place.

In the mean while, Sarah conceived, according to God’s promise; and Abraham having left the valley of Mamre, went farther towards the South, and dwelt as a Ch. xx.stranger at Gerar, where Abimelech reign- Abraham, who feared left Sarah should be forced from him, and he himself be put to death, gave out here, as he had done in Egypt, that she was his Sister. Abimelech immediately fell in love with her, and took her to his own House, with a design of marrying her: but God having appeared to him in a dream, and informed him that she was Abraham’s Wife, he returned her to him with great presents. In the same year Sarah was delivered of Isaac, and Abraham circumcised Gen. xxi. In the Year of the World 2108. before J. C. 1892. before the vulg. Æra 1896.him according to God’s order. The Child grew, and Abraham made a great entertainment when he was weaned. Sarah having one day observed Ishmael the Son of Hagar playing with her Son Isaac, said to Abraham, Cast out this Bond-woman and her Son, for Ishmael shall not be Heir with Isaac. Whatever Reluctancy Abraham might have to do this, as soon as God had declared to him that it was his Will, he complied.

Ch. xxi. 22, & seq.About the same time, Abimelech King of Gerar came with Phicol the General of his Army to visit Abraham, and make an Alliance with him. Abraham made him a Present of seven Ew-Lambs out of his Flock, as a monument that the Well which he had made was his own. They swore each of them to the Covenant they had made, and called the place Beer-Sheba, or The Well of Swearing; because of the Covenant there ratified by them with an Oath. Here Abraham planted a Grove, built an Altar, and continued for some time.

After this God directed Abraham to sacrifice Ch. xxii. In the Year of the World 2133. before J. C. 1867. before the vulg. Æra 1871.his Son Isaac to him upon a Mountain which he shewed him. Abraham therefore took his Son, with some Servants, and conducted him towards the Mountain Moriah, or Vision. As they were together on their Journey, Behold the Fire and the Wood, says Isaac to his Father, but where is the Victim for a Burnt-offering? Abraham answered, My Son, God will provide one. When they were come within sight of the Mountain, Abraham left his Servants behind him, and ascended it with his Son only; and there having bound him, he prepared to sacrifice him; but as he was ready to give the blow, an Angel from Heaven cried out to him, Lay not thine hand upon the Lad, neither do thou any thing to him; now I know that thou fearest God, since to obey him thou hast not spared thine only Son. At the same time Abraham seeing a Ram intangled in a Bush by his Horns, took him and offered him up as a Burnt-offering instead of his Son Isaac. The place he called Jehovah-jireh, or The Lord will see. This happened in the Year of the World 2133. Isaac being then about the Age of five and twenty.

Twelve Years after this, that is, in the Year of the World 2145. before J. C. 1855. before the vulgar Æra 1859. Sarah the Wife of Abraham died, in the City of Gen. xxiii.Hebron, otherwise called Arba. Abraham was then probably at Beer-sheba, but being informed of her death, he came to Hebron, there to mourn, and perform the last Offices for her. He appeared before the People assembled in a body at the City Gate, entreating them to allow him the liberty of burying his Wife among them; for as he was a Stranger in the Country, and had no Land then of his own, he could pretend to no right of giving honourable Interment to his dead in the Sepulchres of that Country, without the consent of the Proprietors. He therefore desired Ephron, one of the Inhabitants, to sell him the Field called Machpelah, with the Cave and Sepulchre belonging to it. The Purchase was made before all the People of Hebron, at the price of four hundred Shekels of Silver; which are equivalent to forty five Pounds twelve Shillings and six Pence³. And Abraham buried Sarah, after he had mourned for her according to the custom of the Country.

Abraham perceiving himself to be Ch. xxiv.grown old, sent Eliezer, the Steward of his House, into Mesopotamia, with directions to bring a Woman of his own Nation, with whom he might marry his Son Isaac. Eliezer executed this Commission with all the Prudence that could be desired; and brought Rebekah the Daughter of Bethuel, Grand-daughter to Nahor, and consequently Abraham’s Niece. Isaac married her, and lodged in his Mother Sarah’s In the Year of the World 2148. before J. C. 1852. before the vulg. Æra 1856. In the Year of the World 2183. before J. C. 1817. before the vulg. Æra 1821.Tent. Abraham, after the Death of Sarah, married Keturah, by whom he had six Sons, Zimram, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbock, and Shuah; who were all Heads of different People, whose Habitation was in Arabia, and in the Neighbourhood of Palestine. At last, after he had lived an hundred and seventy five Years, he died, worn out with Age, and was buried with Sarah his Wife, in the Field and Cave of Machpelah, which he had purchased of Ephron.

The Eastern People, not only Christians and Mahometans, but the very Indians and Infidels, have some knowledge of the Patriarch Abraham, and speak with great commendation of him. I shall produce here what the Arabians, who are descended from the Patriarchs, inform us of him. Abraham⁴, they tell us, was the Son of Azar, and Grandson of Terah; in this Account all the Arabian Historians agree. Terah therefore, whom the Scripture mentions as the Father of Abraham, went likewise by the name of Azar, which is not any thing extraordinary in the East, where several Persons have two names; whereof we have divers instances in the Scripture. If our Chronologers, according to the Remark of M. D’Herbelot, had been acquainted with this Arabian Genealogy, they would never have had recourse to the Expedient of Abraham’s transplanting himself a second time, in order to reconcile thereby the Epoch of his Departure from Ur with the years of his Age; they would have easily disengaged themselves out of all those Difficulties, by admitting two Terahs, one sirnamed Azar, and the Father of Abraham; the other the Grandfather of this Patriarch; which does not any way contradict the sacred Text.

There might be a coherent History of the Life of Abraham extracted from the Traditions of the Eastern People; I shall here present you with a short Specimen of one.⁵ Nimrod, the celebrated Nimrod, Son of Canaan, and the mighty Hunter, who is thought to have been the first King after the Deluge, kept his residence at Babylon, which was built by him. This Prince in a dream saw a Star rising above the Horizon, the light whereof eclipsed that of the Sun. The Soothsayers being hereupon consulted, foretold, that a Child should be born in Babylon, who in a short time should become a great Prince, and that he had reason to fear every thing from him, tho’ he was not yet conceived. Nimrod, terrified with this answer, immediately gave orders that the Men should be separated from their Wives; and appointed an Officer over every ten Houses, whose business it was to prevent their seeing one another. Azar, Nimrod’s Guide, deceived his Guards, and lay one night with his Wife Adna. The next day the Magi, who made their Observations every moment during this time, came and inform’d Nimrod, that the Child with whom he was threatned had been conceived that very night; which obliged this Prince to issue out his Orders, that all the Women who were with Child should be guarded with great care, and that all the Children who should be born of them should be put to death.

Adna, who did not appear by any outward signs to be with Child, was not put under guard; but was at liberty to go into the Country, where she was delivered in a Cave, the mouth whereof she closed very diligently; and at her return told her Husband that she had been brought to bed of a Son, who died immediately after his birth.

Adna Adna however went frequently to the Cave to visit her Son, and give him Milk; but she continually found him sucking the End of his Fingers, one whereof furnish’d him with Milk, the other with Honey. This Miracle surprized her, but reliev’d her of the Concern which she might otherwise have had for the Nourishment of her Child; and as she saw that Providence had taken this Care upon itself, she was satisfied with going thither from time to time to visit him. She soon perceiv’d that he grew as much in three Days as other Children in a Month; so that fifteen Moons were scarce passed before he appear’d to be as large as a Boy of fifteen Years of Age. Hereupon Adna declar’d to Azar, that the Son of whom she had been deliver’d, and who was reported by her to be dead, was living, and that God had provided in a miraculous manner for his Subsistence.

Azar, upon this Discovery, run immediately to the Cave, where he found his Son, and desir’d his Mother to convey him to the City, because he was resolved to present him to Nimrod, and place him about the Court. In the Evening Adna brought him forth out of his Den, and conducted him through a Meadow, where Herds of tame Cattle of all sorts were feeding. This was a Sight intirely new to young Abraham, who was inquisitive to learn their several Names of his Mother, and by her was informed of their respective Names, Qualities, and Uses. Abraham continued his Enquiries, and desired to know who it was that produced all these things. Adna told him that all Things in the World had their Lord and Creator. Who then, says he, was it that brought me into the World? It was I, says Adna. And who is your Lord, replied Abraham? She answer’d Azar. As he continued to ask her who was Azar’s Lord, she told him Nimrod. He shewed an Inclination to carry on his Enquiries in this Method, but she check’d him, telling him withal, that it was not convenient to search farther into Matters for fear of Danger.

At last he came to the City, which he saw deeply engaged in Superstitions and Idolatries of all kinds. After this he return’d to his Grotto, but was continually possess’d with a Desire of knowing his Creator. One day, as he was upon the way to Babylon, he saw towards the Evening the Stars shining in the Heavens, and among the rest Venus, which was ador’d by many: Hereupon he said within himself, Perhaps this is the God and Creator of the World: But observing some time after that this Star was set, he said, This certainly cannot be the Master of the Universe, for it is not possible he should be subject to such a Change. Soon after he took notice of the Moon in the Full, and it came into his Thoughts that this probably might be the Author of all Things, after whom he was enquiring; but when he perceived it to have passed over the Horizon like the other Stars, his Judgment of it was the same as he had before made of Venus. At length, as he came nearer to the City, he saw Multitudes of People adoring the rising Sun, and was tempted to follow their Example; but having viewed this Star declining, and pursuing its Course westward like the rest, he from thence concluded that it was neither his Creator, his Lord, nor his God.

Azar presented him to Nimrod, who was sitting on a lofty Throne, with a great Number of the most beautiful Slaves of both Sexes about him. Abraham asked his Father who that Person was so far exalted above the rest; Azar answer’d, That this was the King Nimrod, whom all these People acknowledged for their God. It is impossible, replied Abraham, that he should be their God, since he is not so beautiful, and consequently not so perfect as the Generality of those who are about him. Abraham from hence took an opportunity of speaking to his Father concerning the Unity of God, which afterwards drew him into great Contests with the principal Men of Nimrod’s Court, who would by no means acquiesce in the Truth, which he declared to them. Nimrod having been informed of these Disputes, commanded him to be thrown into a burning Furnace, out of which he came without receiving the least hurt.

Having distributed all the Provision in his Granaries to the Poor during a great Plague, he sent to one of his Friends in Egypt, desiring him to supply him with some Corn: But he, as soon as he understood from Abraham’s People the occasion of their Journey, told them they apprehended a Famine likewise in that Country: Besides, says he, I know that Abraham wants no Provisions necessary for his own Family; and the Corn which he desires of me is not for himself, but for the Poor only; for which Reason I do not think it just to send him that which we may want ourselves for the Subsistence of our own People.

This Refusal, tho’ season’d with fair Speeches, extremely afflicted Abraham’s Messengers; and when they drew near to their Master’s Dwelling, fearing lest the People of the Country, when they saw in what condition they returned, might ridicule them, and from hence take occasion possibly to despise Abraham, they determined to disguise their Confusion by filling their Sacks with a very fine white Sand which they found in their Way. Upon their Arrival at the House, he who was the Principal of the Company, related to their Master all that had happen’d to them, and what they had done. Abraham, without shewing any concern at it, went into his Oratory, there to comfort himself with God upon this Disappointment.

In the mean time, Sarah his Wife, who was ignorant of all this, seeing the Camels return’d, took immediately a Sack, which she found full of excellent Meal, and with it made Bread for the Poor. As soon as Abraham had finish’d his Devotions, he came out of his Closet, and perceiving the Smell of new-bak’d Bread, he ask’d Sarah of what Meal she had made it: With that she replied, of your Egyptian Friend’s which your Camels lately conveyed hither. Say rather, answer’d Abraham, of our faithful Friend God, who never forsakes us in our Necessities. From this time Abraham was styl’d the Friend of God, a Name which is If. xli. 8. Dan. iii. 35.given him by the Prophets, and by which he is generally called by the Mahometans. Hence it is that Hebron, where he was buried, is termed by them the City of the Friend of God: Nevertheless, they place him much below their false Prophet Mahomet. Abraham, says one of them, was only an Officer in his Army, and the Messiah is no more than the Master of the Ceremonies at his Court.

As to the number of Angels who were received in Abraham’s Tent, they are not agreed. Demiathi acknowledges three, viz. Gabriel, Arraphel, and Michael; the first had a Commission to destroy Sodom, the second to declare the Birth of Isaac to Abraham, and the third to preserve Lot from the Ruin of Sodom. Abraham, having received them in his Tent, entertained them with a roasted Calf, says Mahomet in his Alcoran; but observing that they did not eat, was in great Consternation, apprehending them to be Enemies; for, according to the Custom of the Eastern People, there is not a greater Sign of Enmity than to refuse eating and drinking with one who invites them to his Table. The Angels therefore encourag’d him, saying, Fear not, for we are sent to Lot’s People: Sarah, who was present, fell a laughing, continues Mahomet, who was unacquainted with the true History of Abraham, and relates it after his own manner. His Interpreters tell us, that the Cause of Sarah’s laughing was either her Joy to find Abraham deliver’d from his Fears, or the Desire of seeing the Sodomites punished, or her Admiration to behold Angels appearing in a human Form.

The Angels therefore having observed her to laugh, communicated the good news to her that she should have a Son called Isaac, and that Isaac should become the Father of Jacob. To this Sarah answer’d, How can this be, that I who am old, my Husband also being far advanced in years, should be deliver’d of a Son? This would indeed be something very wonderful! But the Angels replied, Why should you be surpriz’d at what is God’s doing? This is a Blessing to you and Abraham, for you are chosen to be the Heads of a great Family. After this, the Angels proceeded on their way to Sodom, and Abraham debated with God a long time, endeavouring to divert him from the Destruction of Lot’s People, saying to them, You are going to lay several Cities in Ruin, in each of which perhaps there may be an hundred righteous Persons. This is the Account we have of this History in the Alcoran.

The Story of Hagar and Ishmael is likewise something alter’d in it; for here we read this Prayer made by Abraham, Lord I have placed one of my Sons in a barren Valley near thy sacred House. The Interpreters hereupon relate that Sarah being unable to endure Hagar or her Son Ishmael in Palestine, entreated Abraham to send them into the Wilderness, where there was no Water. This Request gave Abraham some Uneasiness; but the Angel Gabriel convincing him that he ought to acquiesce in Sarah’s Will, he instantly obey’d; and taking the Mother and her Child, he transplanted them into the Territory of Mecca, which at that time was barren and destitute of Water: But the Angel caused a Spring to rise under Ishmael’s Feet; and this is the Well of Zemzem, so famous among the Turks, and the only one in these Cantons. At the same time God pour’d forth his Blessings on the Country, and it became so fertil that we see the Fruits of the four Seasons of the Year growing together, and in great abundance.

As yet there was no Temple built at Mecca, but only a large Edifice called Sorah, erected, as they say, in the form of a Temple by Seth, ever since the time of Adam. It was respected for its Antiquity, and all the Inhabitants of the Country visited it out of Devotion. Afterwards Abraham and Ishmael rebuilt this Temple, which had been destroy’d by the Deluge. The Mahometans call it Cabah, or the Square House, and visit it at least once in their Lives out of Devotion; and in whatsoever Part of the World they may be, they turn themselves towards it at their Prayers.

There is a great deal of Probability that the ancient Arabians and Ishmaelites paid an idolatrous Worship in this Temple to Bacchus and Urania, or the Celestial Venus. Herodotus⁶ assures us, that they ador’d only these two Deities, whom they called Bacchus Urotalt, and Urania Alilat. Strabo says⁷, that they had no other Deities besides Jupiter and Bacchus. Ammianus makes Cœlus and Bacchus, to be their Gods. Philostorgius in Photius tells us, that they sacrificed to the Sun and Moon, and to Demons. Nilus in his History of the Massacre of the Monks at Mount Sina, affirms, that they sacrificed to the Sun and Morning-Star. Maximus Tyrius speaks of a great square Stone, to which they paid divine Honours; and when the Saracens were converted to Christianity, they were obliged to anathematize this Stone, which before was the Object of their Worship.

It is related⁸, that the Tribe of the Arabians called Gioram, having been obliged to surrender Mecca and its Temple to the Ishmaelites, who were become too powerful for them, the Prince of the Gioramides threw the black Stone, and two Antelopes of Gold into the Well Zemzem abovementioned, and closed the mouth of it so carefully, that for a long time no one could discover it.

Abdalmotleb, Mahomet’s Grandfather, drew the Stone out of the Well, and restored it to its place in the Temple from whence it had been taken.⁹ It is still at this day fastned to one of the Pillars belonging to the Porch of the Temple of Mecca; and the Turkish Pilgrims would think their Pilgrimage not duly performed, if they did not kiss this Stone several times, to which they ascribe a thousand pretended miraculous qualities. This black Stone is not the only one to which the Arabians pay a superstitious Worship. The old Ishmaelites¹⁰, who frequented the Temple built at Mecca by Abraham, pulled several Stones out, which they carried with them, and placed under a Tent, towards which they turned at their Devotions. As the Worship of the Temple of Mecca consisted in a diversity of Whirlings or Turnings round, they called these Stones Dasuar, which signifies the same thing; and observed the same Ceremonies as they went about them, which they did about the Temple. Thus an extreme respect for the memory of Abraham has engaged these miserable People in Superstition and Impiety. All that they say of the Temple of Mecca built by Abraham, is very probably no more than a Fiction, added to Moses’s account of the Altar erected by this Patriarch at Beer-sheba, and of the Grove Gen. xxi. 33.planted round about it.

They tell us farther¹¹, that Abraham one day prayed to God in these terms, Lord, shew me how thou raisest the dead. The Lord answered, Hast thou not Faith? Yes, Lord, but this is the Request which I make only for my own satisfaction. At the same time the Devil observing¹² the Carcase of a Man thrown by the Sea upon the shoar, part whereof had been devoured by the Birds, wild Beasts, and Fishes, thought this was a fair Opportunity to ensnare Men with regard to their belief of the Resurrection. At that time Abraham, by God’s appointment, appeared upon the shore, and the Devil immediately accosting him in the shape of a Man under surprize, asked him how it was possible that the Members of this Carcase, dispersed in the bellies of so many different Animals, should be re-united at the day of a general Resurrection. Abraham replied, He who had power to form all the parts of our Bodies out of nothing, may be very well able to find them again in the several places of Nature where they are scattered. The Potter breaks in pieces an earthen Vessel, and when he pleases makes it over again of the same Clay.

Gen.xv.9, 10,11.God afterwards says to Abraham¹³, Take four Birds, tear them in pieces, and lay the divided Parts of them upon four separate Mountains; then call them, and you shall see that all these four Birds will immediately come to you. This is an Imitation of what is said in Genesis, concerning the Sacrifice of an Heifer, a She-Goat, and a Ram, each of them three years old, of a Turtle Dove and a young Pigeon, which Abraham divided into two pieces, and placed upon different Altars: But the Turks have added several Circumstances to it. They tell us that the four Birds mentioned by Mahamet, were the Cock, the Pigeon, the Raven, and the Peacock; that Abraham after he had divided them, dissected them with great Accuracy, then mingled them all together. Some add that he pounded them in a mortar, and composed but one mass of them, out of which he made four portions, and these he placed upon the tops of four different Mountains; after which, as he held their Heads, which had been reserved by him, he called them separately by their names, and each of them immediately returned and joined its Head again, so flew away. Thus God convinced Abraham of a future Resurrection.

One of the greatest Prerogatives of Abraham, as the Mussulmen assert¹⁴, is his being the Stock from which the glorious Virgin Mary and her Son sprung, whose Conception and miraculous Birth of a Virgin, exempt from all original Corruption, are acknowledged by them.

The Magi, or Worshippers of Fire, who are still subsisting at this day in Persia, have as much respect for Abraham as the Followers of Mahomet¹⁵. They believe Zoroastres, their great Master, to be the same with Abraham, and that he was called Zerdoust, or Zoroastres; that is to say, the Friend of Fire, because when he was thrown by Nimrod into a fiery Furnace, he came out of it unhurt, the Fire having, if we may be allowed to say so, caress’d and treated him as a Friend, instead of doing mischief to him. We have before taken notice of the Books which are ascribed to him.

There is¹⁶ a Book of S. Ephrem’s the Syrian, translated out of Syriac into Arabic, concerning Abraham’s Journey into Egypt. It is in the King’s Library, N° 792. and in the same Volume there is a Discourse of S. Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria, upon Abraham’s Death, pronounced upon the 28th of March, upon which day the Coptic or Egyptian Christians celebrate his Festival. We are told¹⁷, that in the Year of Jesus Christ 1119. Abraham’s Tomb was discovered near Hebron, in which Sepulchre Jacob likewise and Isaac were interr’d. The Bodies of these Patriarchs were still very intire, and many Gold and Silver Lamps were found in the places where they were deposited. The Mahometans have so great a respect for this Tomb that they make this their fourth Pilgrimage, the three others being those of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. The Christians built a Church over the Cave of Machpelah¹⁸, where this holy Patriarch was buried; and the Turks afterwards changed it into a Mosque.

The place where he received the three Angels, that is to say, the Oak of Mamre, was likewise honoured by Christians, and even by the Jews and Pagans. See hereafter the Articles TEREBINTHUS and MAMRE. Lastly, there is a Chapel built upon Moriah, which makes part of Mount Sion, or Calvary, upon a supposition that this was the place where Abraham intended to have sacrificed his Son Isaac¹⁹.

John viii. 56.Our Saviour assures us in the Gospel, that Abraham desired earnestly to see the day of his coming, that he saw it, and was glad. In Matt. viii. 11.another place he tells us, that the happiness of the Righteous consists in being seated with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, and in being received into Abraham’s Bosom, as into a place of Rest, opposite to the Misery of Hell. The Luke xvi. 22.Emperor Alexander Severus²⁰, who knew Abraham only by the Wonders which the Jews and Christians related of him, conceived so high an Idea of him, that he ranked him, with Jesus Christ, among his Gods.

The Fathers of the Church have been very large in their commendations of this great Patriarch; the Saints of the Old Testament, and the Prophets, have proposed him as the Pattern of perfect Faith and Obedience to God’s Commands. There has been mention made of his Sacrifice for a long time in the Canon of the Mass; and he is called upon in the Prayers for Persons at the point of death. He has had a place in the Martyrologies ever since the ninth Century. In those of Ado, Usuardus, and in the old Roman Calendar, he is commemorated on the ninth of October. A particular Worship is paid to him by the Order of Fontevraud and the Congregation of the Oratory in France, which perform an Office peculiarly in honour of him.

Many fabulous Tales are told of Abraham, and his History has been embellished with great variety of Fictions. Some have averr’d that he reigned at Damascus²¹, that he dwelt a long time in Egypt²², and that he taught the Egyptians Astronomy and Arithmetick²³. Some will have it that he invented Letters, and the Hebrew Language²⁴, or the Characters of the Syrians and Chaldeans²⁵. He is said to be the Author of several Works, among others, of the famous Book intitled Jezira, or the Creation²⁶. There is mention made of it in the Talmud, and some celebrated Rabbins set a great value on it. But they who have examined it without prejudice, speak of it with a great deal of contempt. In the first Ages of Christianity, the Hereticks called Sethians published Abraham’s Revelations²⁷. Athanasius in his Synopsis speaks of the Assumption of Abraham. Origen²⁸ takes notice of an apocryphal Book of Abraham’s, wherein two Angels, one good, the other bad, dispute concerning the Damnation or Salvation of Abraham. The Jews likewise attribute to him the Morning Prayers, and the 89th Psalm, Misericordias Domini in æternum cantabo w, and a Treatise of Idolatry²⁹, and some other Works. The Magi or Worshippers of Fire, who profess the Doctrine of two Principles, believe Zoroastres³⁰, who is their great Prophet, to be the same with Abraham. They affirm him to be the Author of the Books which they call Zend³¹, Pazend, and Vostha, wherein all Points of their Religion are comprehended³². But we have said enough of these spurious Books.

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