The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-16

Matthew S: o, Therefore. if thou bring
thy gift to the altar, and there remember.
est that thy brother hath aught against
thee Do this and the soag will return
and God will accept the sacrifice. The bit.
ter waters OF Morah were made sweet BY
the casting in of the wood of q certain
tree. ! tell you OF tree on which Christ
died; get the peace OF this Christ into your
experience. live for others. suffer for 9th.
ers. die for others il reed be, and the bit.
terness OF your lie will be instantly
changed.
Third.-"Room." This, too, is a strange
name for an Old Testament well. but With
the opening OF this we'll the strife ceased,
for instantly Isaac had found the place
where God was willing he should stay.
There is q place for every one to stand in
this world. God so intended it. We have
crowded men out OF their positions in
these days. II is true that with the for
nation and progress OF great trusts there
ia little opportunity for some OF us, but
this is not in accordance with the plan CT
God. Somewhere there 10 we'll waiting
10 be discovered, and God expects you to
drink ard to be satisfied. 1t may be that
that we'll is in foreign land. perhaps IT
is in the slums Of our own city, possibly
j: may be in your own home, and who
knows but that it is in this church, only
find Gods plan for your life and help to
FIJI it in and you will be full OF JOY;
which was sren to the fourth we'll. I We
must pass through discipline. 1t is not
nece ssary that We should complain about it
for this is life When Paul wrote his letter
to the Galatians he said, "Whatsoever q
man sowcth that shall he also reap" and
this Scripture is frequently quoted as il
it were for the unregenerate man. and
while it may be applied to him it is for the
Christian. We reap what we SOW and
Cow what we reap. in the light OF this the
wonder is we have had 80 little discipline.
"Rcckon up the prayers you ought to
have offered and never spoke; the deeds
you ought to have done and never accom-.
plished; reckon up oil neglects, all OF.
fences against God and mar; all weakness
of character and the woader is that we
have not been cut of altogether" But !
summon you to the well OF the covenant
and bid you open it up. What il We have
discipline and trial when we stand BY Him
who declares, II will be with thee" and
also explains to US, THAT our light afaic.
tions are but for q moment" and that as
they tarry, "they work for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
bring you good cheer this morning. IT
God be for US, who can be against u.s."
II.
But You will notice that Isaac digged
again the wells of water which emphasizes
my subject, "A Revival of Old Customs" I"
am very sure that there are some old
customs which in these days we need to
have revived.
First-The old custom of making the
home haven Of rest. a type Of heaven,
and a place OF refuge for all the members
of the family circle. We greatly underes.
Innate the powerful influence Of home upon
young life. When Isaac went out to live
his tent BY the well Laharoi. think this
must have been because in his childhood's q
days with Haear, his nurse. and Ishmael,
his half.brother. he tarried there where
Hagar must have told him the story Of
Jehovah. and it 10 just the natural inclina'
ton Of his heart in his manhood days "a
90 back where be may be reminded OF the
happy scenes OF his childhood.
You doubtless know Of the boy sent a.
. waif from our city who was found in his
new western home tearing the lining out
Of his cap. and when asked why he did it.
he said, 1T was my mothers dress and
she loved me-" have preached every
where to men in this country and have
always found that there was one name that
could stir the heart Of the murderer in his
outcast on the street. and that name Wal
Mother" Nero's mother was murderess
and gave to the world the most cruel man
in history. Lord Byron's mother was q
proud. intellectual. worldly minded woman
and she gave to the world the most intel
lcctual autocrat Of his day. George Wash
ington's mother was a good, plain. sensi
bic woman and gave to America thu
father Of bis country:
We need better. homes to-day. Gu,
homes for our children should be as on,
narents' homes were for rs. If we ss
back to our homes to-day and study oul
children We will find that they have not
q fault or a virtue that their parents have
not got Oh. for revival OF the old Gus
tom OF having . family altar in a homt
where the father acts as q priest, and tn
mother rs 4 saint: We could stir the whols
country for Christ.
One of my dearest friends was prohigats
until he is man grown. In great west
ern city he had determined to take hi
life, threw himself down on his bed to col
lect himself before the awful deed. and
iarred a little book of from-a sheh jus,
above his bed and it struck him in the face
With an oath he threw it from him. and
then it dawned upon him that it was hii
mothers Bible given him to read. HI
walked across the room to pick it up just
to show her some mark Of respect. and
read upon the fly leaf written in her owr
hand, Dear boy. you can never get away
from your mothers prayers" Instead ol
being self.murderer he became one OF sht
country's greatest preachers. l wish thai
We might dig again the well that our fath
ers digged before US and make our homes
IKE heaven.
There are some wells that have been
filed in in the past by those who are
worldly wise and this morning / seek te
First-I would open the well OF the wa!
of salvation. The Scripture declares that
man is a sinner and deserves to die. but
the same Scripture states that Jesus took
our place and died in our stead. A heather
on account OF his sins had walked for
miles with pebbles in his shoes that nc
might do penance. sat down TO rest De
meath q tree and heard a missionary
preaching Of Jesus. and cried out; Ina;
il what I want; give me Jesus. Ch.
could but open this well from WHICH our @
fathers drank and make you see tne 90
viour treading the wine press alone, SUI; 4,
but snapped. dying in agony for you upon
the cross. the man OF sorrows and &C:
ouainted with grief Let us open this old
we'll and drink Of its waters. And then !
would open the we'll Of consolation for the
afflicted. Why do you mourn for your
baby" said woman to her friend. he
is better of Suppose he had lived and
become a profligate and broken your heart
with his sim Away with all such conso!1,'
tion. falsely so called. Your baby Is with
Him, in His presence. who took httie
babies in His arms and blessed them, 10
singing His praises. who said. Their an
ceis 40 ALWAYS behold the face OF Ny