The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-24
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 Connection.--After their interview with Abraham, as related in last les son, the angels journeyed to Sodom and entered into the House of Lot. The ten righteous souls required to save the city could not be found, and after Lots family had been delivered, Sodom was destroyed by Ire. After this Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines, where he made eQuivocal statements concerning his wife as he had done in Egypt. The birth of Isaac followed, the child leng promised through whom Gods purpose was to be unfolded. That there might be no obstacle to the proper care of Isaac and no division of interest in the family Hagar and Ish mael were cast out. The increasing prosperity of Abraham attracted the attention of yAbimelech. who made an alliance with him, thereby greatly ad- yancing his worldly prospects. There wuafter the Patriarch established his tent at Beer-Sheba, where he called upon God, and thensrorward the course of his pious life moved steadily on with marks of Divine Flavor.
 Testing Verses i and 2)-In those days of prosperity 1t was important that the-secree springs of Abraham's heart should be disclosed. Was he ab- solutely loyal to God? Could he be trusted in any emergency? Had the Divine schooling, conducted for many years, produced a man who could go out into the future and fill an appoint ed destiny? To settle this point, the Almighty determined to subject him to trial. for so the word translated tempt signifies q Cor. \. 13). Abraham was commanded to take Isaac into the land of Mariah and sacrifice him as d burnt offering upon a mount Thus was pre- sented to him a most trying alterna- tive. On the one side was his desire to be submissive to his covenant God. On the other side were several consid- erations that might dispose him to re- fuse compliance--his affection as a fa- ther for an only son, his hope in the promises which centered in that son. his natural repugnance to human sac rifice. then practiced by some and re- garded with horror by the people of God. Ger. xix, 5.
 Obeying Verses and D-Judging from the record, 1t is probable that there was no struggle in Abraham's mind concerning the course to be pur- sued. He seems to have reached an immediate decision which he proceed ed with great promptness to execute. Rising early next morning, he took his DS&SIs niG son, LWO young HIGH dS dl- tendants, and the necessary wood and whatever else was required for a sacri- flee, and set out Every separate act in this preparation was a test of his obedience. exhibiting more and more the character of the man and his un- 2 swerving purpose to do what God re- qulred. One might have expected that he would fail long before he was ready for the Journey. It was probably forty f1x1a AE YV1tI n pointed. Three days were required in travel, the whole of which would be passed in reflection upon the end in view. What thoughts and feelings must have come to the fathers mind and heartl Still, there is no evidence of hesitation. no abandonment of his purpose. His courage does not fail in sight of the very spot.
 Bearing (verses and 6)-At same distance from the hill where Isaac was to be offered, perhaps at it's base, the servants and the beast were dismissed. It was not prudent on many accounts to have witnesses of the serious trans action. While in those days a father had control over his children, their lives being in his hands, yet had the two young men been present at the sacrifice its highest purpose would have been missed. As one for the best form of prayer must now retire to the secret place (Matt. vi. g so then it was desirable to be alone with God. The wood was laid on Isaac as the cross was borne hy Jesus John xix. ID, when the latter passed out If Jerusa- lem to be crucihed. Abraham carried fire in one hand and the knife in the other. So the two went forward, fath- CT and son. the priest and the lamb. up the hill together. One may easily imag zine the pain that would ordinarily be experienced by any parent who is about to slay his child.
 Asking (verses and s)-The twain doubtless moved on awhile in silence. The thoughts of the father would pre- vent his speech. There could be no subject before him save the command of God delivered before the journey be gan. and that could not be discussed. Al length the son considered that the preparatiOn for an offering was incom- plete. The wood and the fire were present. but there was no lamb. That question might have been like sharp ened arrow piercing to the very center of tn eheart already pained by the ne- eessity involved in A stern duty. But Abraham did not relent-he was stead Gast in his pnrposs of Obeaisnes. How