ting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and an angel of

God called to Agar from heaven, saying: "What art thou doing, Agar? fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the boy from the place wherein he is. Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand; for I will

AGAR IN THE WILDERNESS.

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make him a great nation." And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and went and filled the

bottle and gave the boy to drink. And G him; and he grew and dwelt in the v Pharan, and became an archer.

89. The Faith of Abraham tried. Isaac offered in sacrifice.

When Isaac was growing up, it pleased God to put the faith of his father Abraham to a great trial. He called him, and said: "Abraham, Abraham !" And he answered: "Here I am." He said to him: "Take thy only-begotten son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and go into the land of vision (Moriah), and there thou shalt offer him for an holocaust upon one of the mountains which I will show thee." So Abraham rising up in the night, saddled his ass and took with him two young men and Isaac his son; and when he had cut wood for the holocaust, he went his way to the place which God had commanded him. And on the third day, lifting up his eyes, he saw the place afar off, and said to his young men: "Stay you here with the ass, I and the boy will go up yonder with speed; and after we have worshipped we will return to you." And he took the wood for the holocaust and laid it upon Isaac his son, and he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as they went on together, Isaac said to his father: "My father!" And he answered: "What wilt thou, my son?" Behold," said Isaac, "fire and wood; but where is the victim for the holocaust?" And Abraham said: "God will provide Himself a victim for an holocaust, my son." So they went on together. And they came to the place which God had shown him, where he built an altar, and laid the wood in order upon it; and when he had bound Isaac his son, he laid him upon the altar upon the pile of wood. And he put forth his hand, and took the

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ABRAHAM. AT THE COMMAND OF GOD, OFFERS TO SLAY HIS SON ISAAC, IN WHOM HE

EXPECTED THE PROMISES OF GOD TO BE FULFILLED.