The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-05-08
old TESTAMENT WEDDING
Sunday Discourse by DR.. Chapman, the
Noted PastOr-Evangelist.
The Love Rumsnce Of Isaac and Rebekah
RetoId-T Teaches Lesson Of Divine
Providence.

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 lundisputed possession of the
Pulpit as the preacher to influence the
plain people. His services as an evangel-
st are in constant demand. His sermons
have stirred the hearts of men and women
TO degree unapproached by any latter
day divine. j, Wilbur Chapman was born
in Richmond, Ind, june II, 1859. He was
educated at Oberlin College and Lake For
est University, and graduated for the min
istry from the Lane Theological Semin-
airy, 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 bear
him. DR.. Chapman is now in charge Of
the Fourth Presbyterian Church, New
York City.l /
New York CIrY.--The Rev. DR.. j. Will.
bur Chapman, the popular pastor-evangel-
ist, who is now preaching to overfowing
congregations in this city, has furnished
the following eloquent sermon to the
press. 1t was preached from the text
Genesis XIV, So: wilt thou go with this
man? And, she said, / will 60" /
This is the story of an Old Testament
wedding in which our text is found, and
naturally because it is a marriage scene it
is interesting. The saying that call the
world loves a lover" is very true. and L
suppose is 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 /
place. this the first Of its kind.
II l were an artist should paint it, and
il were an artist worthy of my theme it
would tho ntbar NM ~
the worlds 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 whtened with grief which in ths
past days has taken hold upon him, and
the lines of his countenance have been
peculiarly softened by the touch of the
finger Of sorrow, leaving an expression
which can only come to those who have
been obliged to bear great burdens and
endure great Affections.
Abraham is practically alone in the
world, for Sarah is gone. She who had
lourneyed with him to Bethel, down into
Egypt and back again to Hebron, the
place of fellowship, is at rest, and in the
cave of Machpelah she waits by his side
to hear the summons given at the resur.
rection morning. Abraham was desolate.
They had made so long journey together
that their lives were like one
I'm the long years liker had they grown,
I'LL at the last she set herself to him
Like perfect music unto noble words"
Above him is God, who has kept His
word with him when He said, Gas was
with Moses SO l will be with thee;" about
him the angels who keep watch over him
all day and all the night in sleepless vigil;
before him the trusted servant to whom
he speaks, "And Abraham was old and
well stricken in age; and the Lord had
blessed Abraham in all things. And Abra.
ham said unto his eldest servant of his
house, that ruled over all that he had, Put,
l pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,
and | will make thee swear by the Lord,
the God of heaven, and the God of earth,
that thou shalt not take wife unto my
son OF the daughter OF the Canaanites,
among whom dwell But thou shalt go
unto my country, and to my kindred, and
take wife unto my son Isaac. And the
servant said unto him, Peradventure the
woman will not be willing to follow me
unto this land; must l needs bring thy
son again unto the land from whence thou
eamest! And Abraham said unto him,
beware thou, that thou bring not my son
thither again. The Lord God of heaven,
which took me. from my fathers house,
and from the land of my kindred, and
which spake unto me, and that sware unto
me, saying, Unto thy seed will give this
land; He shall send His angel before thee;
and thou shalt take wife unto my son
from thence. And if the woman will not
be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt
be clear from this my oath; only bring not
my son thither again. And the servant
put his hand under the thigh of Abraham,
his master, and sware to him concerning
that matter" Genesis "a: 10.
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
goods of his master were in his hand and
ha aw.I - =
the city of Major" Genesis "a TO- 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
mosphere of the Orient l counted 100
one morning lcurneying toward the pyra-
mids beyond Cairo The train of this old
servant was made UP of ten camels oaly,
but they were the camels of prince.
Their trappings were gorgeous, and side
by side with Abraham we watch them as
they go until they are lest to view.
The next incident is the approach to Ma
hor. 1t is the hour os sunset: the day is
dying out of the sky. There is really moth
ing that can be compared with that time in
the East, when the day is far spent and
song, the cattle are still, all nature is at
rest, the hills are transigured and the
rivers and the seas are like most beautiful
jewels. Ladened with precious gifts the ten
camels kleel just as the women are coming
forth to draw water from the well. The
old servant as they Eneel begins to pray.
And let il come to pass that the damsel
to whom / shall say, Let down thy pitcher,
j. pray thee, that l Elay drink; and she
shall say, Drink, and will give thy cam
els drink also; let the same be she that
Thou hast appointed for Thy servant
Isaac; and thereby shall l know that Thou
hast showed kindness unto my master"
Genesis "a: IA. and the answer comes at
once. And it came to lass, before he
had done speaking that behold, Rebekah
carle out, who was born to Bethuel son
Of Milcaa, the wife Of Nahor, Abraham's
brother. with her pitcher upon her shoul-
der" Genesis "a: Is
Elastic of step, modest of manner, pure
of heart, fair of face she stands in the
presence of the servant Of Abraham. As
to parentage she was the daughter of
Bethuel; as to condition she was of virgin
purity; az to appearance she was fair to
lcok upol as to education she was trained
to domestic service. This is Rebekah, the
bride CT the picture. "And the man won
dering at her held his peace, to witness
whether the Lord had made his journey
prosperous or not. And it came to pass,
as the camels had done drinking, that the
man took golden earring of half shekel
weight and two bracelets for her hands
of ten. shekels weight of gold; and said,