ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE STRANGERS.

In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael hisson. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and boughtwith money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and hesat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lift up hiseyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he sawthem, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himselftoward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have found favourin thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: let alittle water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, andrest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel ofbread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on:for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do,as thou hast said.

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Makeready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and makecakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcheda calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and hehasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calfwhich he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood bythem under the tree, and they did eat.—Genesis xvii, 26, 27;xviii 1-8.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some haveentertained angels unawares.—Hebrews xiii, 2.