The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-10-26
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Tho Story OF Abraham and Isaac
Graphically Told.
Lessons From the Patriarhs Sublime Test
- Faith-Christ's sufrerings aud
Death the Prototype OF the
Mount Morissh Incident.

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmnge selects TO
the theme OF this weeks sermon tn,
supreme test Of Abraham's faith, has
ing it on the text:
Behold the fire and the wood; but where 4
the lamb.-Genesis xii, q
Here are Abraham and Isaac; tn,
one kind, old, gracious, affectionat,
father; the other a brave, obedient, re
ligious son. From his bronzed appear
ance you can tell that this son has
been much in the fields. and from hi.
shaggy dress you know that he has
been watching the herds. The noun
tain air has painted his cheek rubi
cund. lie is twenty, or twenty-five,
or, as some suppose. thirty-thrcc years
of age; nevertheless a boy, consider.
ing the length of life to which people
lived in those times, and the fact that
son never is anything but boy to a
father. remember that my father
used to come into the house when
the children were home on some
festal occasion, and say: Where
are the boys?' although ''the
boys" were twenty five and
thirty, and thirty-five years of
age. So this Isaac is only boy to
Abraham, and his fathers heart is in
him. 1t is Isaac here and Isaac there.
If there is any festivity around the
fathers tent. Isaac must enjoy it. 1t is
Isaacs walk, and Isaac's apparel, and
Isaacs manners, and Isaac's prospects,
and Isaac's prosperity. The fathers
heartstrings are all wrapped around
that boy, and wrapped again, until
nine-tenths of the old mans life is in
Isaac. lean just imagine how lovingly
and proudly he looked at his only
son.
Well, the dear old man had borne a
great deal of trouble, and it had left
It's mark upon him. In hieroglypics of
wrinkle the story was written from
forehead to chin. But now his trouble
seems all gone, and we are glad that
he is very soon to rest forever. If the
old man shall get decrepit, Isaac is
strong enough to wait on him. If the
father get dim of eyesight, Isaac will
lead him by the hand. If the father
become destitute, Isaac will earn him
bread. How glad we are that the
ship that has been in such a
stormy sea, is coming at last in
to the harbor. Are you not rejoiced
that glorious old Abraham is through
with his troubles? No. no! A thun-
derbolt. From that clear eastern sky
there drops into that fathers tent a
voice with an announcement enough
TO turn black hair white. and to stun
the patriarch into instant annihila-
ton. God said: .Abraham" The old
man answered.: Here / am" God
said to him: Take thy son, thy only
son. Isaac, whom thou lowest. and get
thee into the land of Moriah, and offer
him there as burnt Offering" In
other words, slay him; cut his body
into fragments; put the fragments on
the wood; set fire to the wood and let
Isaac's body be consumed to ashes.
"Cannibalism. Murder" says some
one. Not So" said Abraham. l hear
him soliloquizc: Here is the boy on
whom l have depended. Oh, how
loved him. lie was given in answer 20
prayer, and now must surrender him?
o Isaac, my son! Isaac, how shall l
y
safer to do as God asks me to; | have
been in dark places before, and God
got me out. will implicitly do as
God has told me, although it is very
dark. / can't see my way, but know
God makes no mistakes, and to Him i
commit myself and my darling SON"
Early in the morning there is stir
around Abraham's tent. A beast of
burden is fed and saddled. Abraham
makes no disclosure of the awful
secret. At the break of day he says:
Come, come, Isaac, get up! We are
going off on two or three days jour-
ney" ] hear the AK hewing and split
ting amid the wood until the sticks
are made the right length and the
right thickness, and then they are
fastened on the beast of burden. They
pass on-there are four of them
Abraham. the father; Isaac, the son;
and two servants. Going along the
road. see Isaac looking up into his
fathers face, and saying: Father,
what is the matter? Are you not we'll!
Has anything happened? Are you
tired? Lean on my arm" Then, turn
ing around to the servants. the son
says: "Ah! father is getting old, and
he has had trouble enough in other
days to kill him."
The third morning has come. and it
IS the day OF the tragedy. The two
servants are left with the beast of
burden, while Abraham and his son
Isaac, as was the custom of good peo-
pie in those times. went up on the hill
to sacrifice to the Lord. The wood is
taken off the beasts back, and put on
Isaacs back. Abraham has in one
hand pan OF Goals or lamp. and in
the other sharp, keen knife. Here
are all the appliances for sacrifice, you
say. Co. there Is one thing wanting:
there is no victim-no pigeon. or
heifer, or lamb. Isaac, not knowing
that lie is to be the victim, looks up
into his fathers face, and asks ques-
ton which must have cut the old man
to the bone, MY father!" The father
said, my son, Isaac, here I am" The
son said, Behold the fire and the
wood, but where is the lamb?" The
fathers lip quivered and his heart
tainted and his knees knocked together
and his entire body, mind and soul