OLD TESTAMENT WEDDING | Sunday Discourse by Dr. Chapman, the Noted Pastor-Evangelist, The Love Romance of Isaac and Rebekah Retold—Teaches a Lesson of Divine Providence. ’ [The Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D. D., is now the most distinguished and best known evangelist in the country. He was second only to Dr. Talmage, but since the death of that famous preacher Dr. Chap- man has the undisputed possession of the ulpit as the preacher to influence the plain people. His services as an evangel- 1st are in constant demand. His sermons have stirred the hearts of men and women te a degree unapproached by any latter- day divine. J. Wilbur Chapman was born in Richmond, Ind., June 17, 1859. He was educated at Oberlin College and Lake For- est University, and graduated for the min- istry from the Lane Theological Semin- ary, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1882. His ser mons are simple and direct, so that their influence is not so much due to exciting the emotions as to winning the hearts and convincing the minds of those who hear him. Dr. Chapman is now in charge of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, New York City.) NEw York Crry.—The Rev. Dr. J. Wil- bur Chapman, the popular pastor-evangel ist, who is now preaching to overflowing congregations in this city, has furnished the following eloquent sermon to the press. It was preached from the text Genesis xxiv, 58: “Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.” This is the story of an Old Testament wedding in which our text is found, and naturally because it is a marriage scene it i8 interesting. The saying that *‘all the world loves a lover” is very true, and I Suppose 1s not without meaning the wide world round, but there is something about an Oriental wedding which is especially interesting. Again and again in this Book of Inspiration such scenes are recorded, but of all the Old Testament stories 1 place this the first of its kind. _ If I were an artist I should paint it, and if I were an artist worthy of my theme it would surpass the other masterpieces in the world’s great gallery of art, notably that of the Russian wedding feast, which has had admiration everywhere. The heart of the picture is an old man: his hair is whitened with grief which in the past days has taken hold upon him, and the lines of his countenance have been peculiarly softened by the touch of finger of sorrow, | AVING an expression which can only cor to those who have been obliged fo be great burdens and endure great afflictions. ; Abraham is prac lly world, for Sarah is journeyed with Egypt and place of fell cave of Mac to hear the nons given at the resur- rection morning. Abraham was desolate, They had made so long a journey that their 4 were lil “In the long vears Till at the if to } Like perfect music unto n ole words.” Above him is God. who has kept His word with him when He said, “As I was with Moses so I will be with thee:” abot him the angels who keep tech over } all day and all the night before him the trusted he speaks, “And raham was old and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abra- ham said unto his eldest serv ant of house, that ruled over all that he h I pray thee, thy hand i and 1 will make thee swear by the Lo the God of heaven, and the God of ear that thou shalt not take a wife unto son of the daughter of the (a among w I dwell. But tl unto mj 0 to my take a wife u servant said wr woman will not unto this land 80m again t camest? Beware t thither 4 which and from the | which spake unto me, me, saying, Unto thy seed land; He shall send His ar and thou shalt take a wife from thence. f tl be willing > be clear from this my oath; o my son thither again. ut his hand under the thigh of Abraham, 18 master, and sware to him concerning that matter.” Genesis 24: 1.9. One of the incidents of the picture would be the setting forth of this servant. “And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed: for all the oods of his master were in his hand: and e arose and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.” Genesis 24: 10. One of the most picturesque sights of the East is a camel train. With a peculiar swinging gait these strange animals of the desert push their way along on a most interest. ing journey, but the picture can only be appreciated when looked upos in the at. mosphere of the Orient. 1 counted 100 one morning jeurnsying toward the pyra- mids beyond Cairo. The train of this old servant was made up of ten camels only, but they were the camels of a prince. Their trappings were gorgeous, and side 4 side with or es we watch them as they go until they are lost to view, The next incident is the aporoach to Na- For. It is the hour of su set; the doy dying out of the sky. ‘Thero is really noth. ing that can be compared with that time in the East, when the day is far speat and the night is at hand. The birds hush their song, the cattle are eotill. all nature is at rest, the hills are transfigured and the rivers and the scas are like most beautiful jewels. Ladened with precicts gifis the ten camels kaeel just as the worien are coming forth to draw water from the well. The old servant as they knesl begins to pray. “And let it come to pass that the demsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, pray thee, that I riay drink: and she shall e2y, Drink, and I will give thy cary els drink also; let the sare be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isanc; and thereby shall I krow that Thou haet showed kindness vath my master.” 24: 14, and the answer comes at once. “And it came to jase, before he done speaking, that bekold, Rebekah came out, who was bors to Bethuel, son of Mileal, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her fischer upon her shoul der.” Geaesis 24: 15, Elastic of step, modest of manier, pure of heart, fair of face she stands in the presence of the servant of Abraham. As } Li intage she was the daughter of huel; as to condition she was of virgin jt; a8 to appearatice she was fair to ok upoa; aa to education she was trained to doraestic . This is Rebekah, the bride cf the picture. “And the man won- dering at her eld his peace, to witness whe the Lord had made his journey or not. And it came to , as the camels had done drinking, that the ran took a golden suring of halt a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands shekels of gold; and said, 7 puny the in the} who had *l, down into ebron, I rest, and in the waits by y alone She the Ves > One, 1 4 iker had they ¢ last she set hersel In sieepiess vigil: servant to whom fis to 4 y bring not And the servant The next incident is the wooing and the departure. The old servane tells his story, makes his appeal, and the text is spoken, “Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.” Genesis 24: 538. And the camel train i& moving once more, the fam- ily of Rebekah watching until the last camel is lost to view in the distance. The Journey is uneventful, but the end of it is more than striking. “And Isaze went out to meditate in the field at eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master; therefore she took a veil and covered her- self. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her unto his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife: and he loved her, and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.” Genesis 24: 63-67. Here is a lesson of divine providence. Hear Abraham when he says, “The Lord God of heaven which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; He shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.” Crenesis, 24: 7 We think of this as Old Testament history simply. We hear God saying, “As I was with Moses I will be with thee,” and we say certainly, but not with myself. Why it is we always think of God's care of the patriarchs as mira- cles, without its counterpart 18 In our own lives, when God is our Father, everything mm our life 18 precious to Him, and the very hairs of our head are numbered? He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and He isa your God. The angel of the Lord is still living. We have grown world- ly wise and speak or Impressions, convie tions, coincidences, impulses, when all the time it 18 the angel of the Lord speaking to us. Have you noticed that there were two servants, one winged one in the air and the other in charge of the camels. It is always so. It is by this double ministry that providences are confirmed through life we see it; in the conversion of men, in things common and in things unusual. You say, “I feel a strong im- pulse to do a certain thing.” It is the an- ged of the Lord troubling the stagnation of your heart. You say that I am impressed that 1 ought to do thus and so, when it is the finger of God writing His purpose on your soul. These are but the heavenly ministers of Jehovah, Look around you and you will find some opportunity for service fitting yom: impulse or e¢ vietion, and that which yesterday you ndered at lence filla h the spirit of wors to-day as , Lord was in this place and 1] Vid Life without a religious is little than a g thus viewed may have urns, but ends in heaven 31. I find here a good picture of real service. When Eleazar was leaving Abraham The said, “Peradventure, the woman will not willing ] unto this must I needs bring thy son again un land f thou camest?” i unto him, “Beware, bring not my son thither ag d God of heaven, which took father’s house, and from the land ndred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; He shall sen His angel before thee, and thou shalt tak a wie unto my son from thence. the woman will not be willing thee then thou be clear from my oath; only again.” Genesis It is same the watchman upon the walls } these appeal strongly to us. We are free from responsibility until we have t . 1 : at jeast to fF 80Oul over whon you you ‘he no ir 1 wes twists many be to me to the that we have an influen vert bat I can try to ren 1 ssioned to say, | Oh, for the intense Master's will that Ele he ei8 Aare cared f even the smallest 1" tell Deen 3 oT n eakness, Was get said, I old mine errand Ane on." Genesis M4: 33. Is tl Paul on $ missionary journey “In journey often, in perils of waters. in perils of robbers, i is by n Yn countrymen, in perils the heathen. in perils in the city, in perils in the wilder ness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painful ness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” 2 Corinthians 11: 28-27. And is it not like Jesus Himself, when He is weary by the well side, hungry with much fasting and sends His disciple to buy meat which He forgot to eat because of the woman by His side. I am sure Rebekah saw in him the great love of Isaac’s heart. And when they said, “Wilt thou go with this man? She said, will go.” . II. Yet there is more to the story than this, I am sure. I know it because I read that what was written afore time was written for our instruction. The great object and aig of the Bible is to illustrate the operations of divine grace, to show the works of Providence in the minute things of life, to show us that provision has been made for the fulfill ment of the great scheme of Redemption. God speaks in every way; by direct state ment, by parable, by picture, by types by symbols, if by all means He may make known the riches of His grace: and here is a whole chapter, one of the longest in the Pentateuch, taken up with a wedding story; there must be some reason. The spirit of Cod would mot use an entire chapter to describe the journey of Abra- ham to Mt. Moriah, lt another to tell of the death of Sarah, and another to give an account of a wooing and a wed. ding without meaning. I think it must be that it is all to ilustrate the mystery of the church. In the 22d chapter of Genesis, the son is offered up as a sacri- fice, at least Abraham is willing to offer him, in the 23d chapter of Genesis Sarah is laid aside in the tomb, while in the 24th chapter the servant is sent forth to win a bride for the son. It is at least a perfect illustration of that New Testa ment story where Christ was offered, the only begotten Son of God, where Israel was rv because they would not come home. The Holy Spink a a serve ant of God, is calling forth from the world a bride for the Sou. is in the work of generation. The Holy Spirit in the one of whom Jesus spoke when He said, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I wi unto you from the irit of Truth, which He op testi not ings i you all “Wilt theu go with this Man? And 1 refer to Christ ns this Man e is the bid you men, ate [ it you will go with Him it must be in some better way than in other davs. First: You must share His opinion of men. He was always excusing weakness, always helping the distressed and al- ways rebuking unkind criticism. You may need to forgive the man who injured you yesterday, for He did, and if you eet be like Him vou must do the same. “Wilt thou go with this Man?’ Second: He will lead you inte the homes where distress is tarrving, reliev- ing embarrassment as when He made the water into wine. Driving the wolf from the door as when He fed the multitudes. You will need to give vour money as we'l as your sympathy. “Wilt thou go with | this Man? I think 1 Him treading the streets of our own city where die tress has gone before Him. There is a child with a heavy heart, and He stops long enough to breathe a benediction of peace. Yonder is a man vpon” the verge of despair, and this matchless Savior of ours bids him come unto Him that he mav find rest. There is a woman whose child is dying, whose mother is on the brink of Eternity, and He who spoke as never man spake bids ber listen as He says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” There is a celebrated picture which rep- resents Jesus walking through the multi tude. Before Him all the people are dis- eased, while back of Him as he trods they are all perfectly well, This is His influence always “Wilt thou go with this Man?” v I put it to all those of you who are not Christiane, and bid vou remember that it is not an invitation come to Christ simply but a command. and in His name, after the manner of Kl azar, say, “Deal and truly with my Master.” By His beautiful life, wilt thou go?! By His agony in the Garden, wilt thon go? By His betraval and His trial of mockery, wilt thou go? By His shame- ful death, I ask vou once again. wilt go? His marred face His b back, His breaking heart. His agony, wilt thou go with this Man? hath trodden the wine press a you. He WAR A man of SOTTOWS na ainted with grief for you. It is moment crisis in vour "Wilt po with Man?®’ nEwer now as did Rebekah. “I go." Oh, say it; say it. and shall hear 1t and tremble, shall hear it and shout for ic y shall hear it and shall unspeakable, wee to kindly and of and wil the Devil the angels (ind Him rejoice with this self Joy Seeking the Truth. Nicodemus represents a large multitnde f men and w in * was seeking truth if not sals He Was wy OL wait men the world to ation «1 } Tesliess soul. anxiety, moral courage to come teacher by daylight not an unpardonable not even 1 i coming of lasting sine revocable ¢ How could have made plainer necessity of the “New Birth*" nly career, | Jeans the therefore I m God's hands with His sunshine snd sweet lilv and counted z i His plan of i rein their 1 8 Horn Spear Points, Conscience is God's Immortality is the glorious dis Christianity Christ reckons not with, but what is kept It Is 4 wea hide from his house ¢ A conscience void of offense before God and man is an inheritance for eternity ! There is no human life so poor and | small as not to hold many a divine possi. | bility i Humility is the altar upon which God | wishes that wé should offer Him our eacri- | fices, The same spirit of faith that teaches a | man to ery earnestly, teaches him to wait | patiently i More dear in the sight of God and Hie | angels than any other conquest is the | conquest of self. No true work since the world began was ever wasted; no true life since the world began has ever failed To love God is our happiness, to trust in Him is our repose, to surrender our selves entirely to His will is our strength When God designates our work. He will give what is needed for its accomplish ment, if we keep in touch with Him. devty +EPULY what is by that “Purse-and-All"" Conseoration, . Many whe count fhatuseives wholly the ©ord’s do count all their possessions the Lords 2 Yt either we and all that we have are Christ's, or we do not feel that we or anything that we have are Christ's. There is no balf-way conseera- tion in God's service, although many seem to think that personal consecration only applies to those things that are specifically included. That was a very positive truth stated by Prebendary Fox at the Student Volunteer Convention in Toronto, when he said. “There are thou sands who will trust Christ with the sa) ration of their souls who will not trust Him with the key of their emsh-box.” It has been well mid that personal conse. eration must be spelled “purseand-all” consecration, or it practically amounts to nothing. ——— The Dafly Level. It is the man who lives the well-regu- lated daily life who is tit to meet an emergency when it arises, Little bits of pure inspiration very seldom come to or are acted upon by slovens, self-indulgent or undiscipiined people. Similarly, the ordinarily at a lower er ira lives vtddinarsiy life is de. el of grace, w pressed and feeble, is unable to seize on fies opportunities of usefulness when oceur, Have Faith, I you will look up will walk stead- ily. Do not ignore danger, nor pre sumptuously { your weakness but BC ¢ sod my held A d enoug for anybody! Art Havana FiLLer ham'’s Pr a— Vegetable Com- adapted to the Change of Life. other remedy cases, Irregular, Suppres General Debilit VYomb troubles, lieved and permanently ache cure harmless as water, It quickly tude, “don’t care” a irritability, nervou nd melancholy or the “blu medicine always cures, Compound always cures. No other female widespread and has such a record Those women who warded a hundred - @ Cure. Thers are to orty-aine men in women Switzerland y-one eYery | Ask Your Dealer For Allen's Foot - Fase, A powder. 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