The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-07-04
DIR. CHAPMAN'S SERMON
A SUNDAY DISCOURSE BY THe NOTED
PAsToR.sviNcEllsT.
Subject; RevivinR old Customs-Lessops
Prom the Life Of Isaao-Bettsr Had He
Died Upon the Altar-No Man So Bad
as Some Parts Of His Career.

| New YORK CITY.-It may now be stated
ss a fact that the sermons Of the Rev.
1 DIR. j. Wilbur Chapman are heard and
read bv more people than are those oi
any American pulpit orator. His style
seems 20 have made deep impression on
J that portion OF the public which likes 70
read It's discourse in the weekly paper.
/ For these admirers Dr.. Chapman has pre-
| pared the following sermon, entitled Re
! viving Old Customs" II il preached from
! the text Genesis 26 IS. And Isaac digged
| again the wells OF water which they had
digQed in the days Of Abraham, his faith
/ er"
There are three names in the New Testa'
ment inseparably bound together. We
rarely think of one without having imme-
diately suggested 20 US the names OF the
other two These three are Peter, James
and John. They were specially chosen OF
Christ for conspicuous service. and were
the particular objects OF His divine ahec.
ton There are three names in the Old
Testament quite as intimately associated:
and one can scarcely speak the name OF
one Of the three without finding himself
running az once in speech 20 the other
two Abraham. Isaac and Jacob form the
Old Testament trio. j do not know how
familiar you are with the story OF Isaac.
! have found myself that knew very NJ
tie about him. ] was quite familiar with
account
Mt Moriah, and the fascinating story OF
his meeting with Rebekah. bat concerning
other incidents of his life ] knew very lit
tie. As a matter OF fact Isaac does not
show of 70 advantage between Abraham
on the one side Of him and Jacob on the
other: Abraham because OF what he was,
the father Of the faithful. and Jacob be-
cause OF what he became for by the power
OF God he was changed from Jacob the
cheat 20 Israel the prince, having power
with God and with men, and one cannot
helm but feel he reads the whole story
of Isaac's life that il would have heen bet
ter for him had he died upon the altar.
He made a splendd start IN lie, but so
did Noah and Lot, and so have many OF
you, but that is not enough. At the be-
ginning Of his career Isaac goes away be-
yond the others whose names j have men
toned. We are so taken up with Abra'
ham and his Willingness 10 offer his son
that somehow we have forgotten lsaac's
willingness to he offered He really made
a splendid start, and was a most estimable
young man. II we look at single verse
in his career we say what an excellent
man. and IL we look at others we find our.
selves excaiming How mean he is" and
vet so IL is with our own lives. Men must
not be Judged by one paragraph IN our ex-
perience.
Joseph Parker says, "Our hfe's story is
not 10 be read through as II II were one
sentence: il must be broken up into verses
and they are strangely punctuated.' We
cannot take one verse out OF mans lie
and say that is the man, for one verse
would make him too good. while another
would make him quite too bad. ] am very
sure that you are not quite so good as some
acts of your life would lead men 10 believe.
I am equally sure that no man is quite so
bad as some parts of his life story would
4 a. Il L. IA
agement TO know that the reading OF the
story Of our lives is a matter of divine elo-
cution. Some men read the most interest
ing book. and make IL prosy. while others
who know how 10 read read the most un-
interesting production, and behold, 1t IS
thrilling 1t is said that Edwin Booth
could saw the Lords Prayer in such way
as to bring the tears to your eyes. What
n ioy it is to know that our story Is TO be
read by one who read the scroll in the svn'
agogue, and read II in such a wav that
men contested whether he was reading the
old scroll or not. As He reads our lives,
humble though they nav have been, they
will exnand into a noble eloquence. We
are perfectly safe with His Interpretation
Of our acts.
Theu are certain texts akin 10 this. as
for example. Whose fan is in his hand"
II is a good thing that the fan is not in our
own hands. for we would be unjust, and
equally good that it is not IN our enemies
hands for thew would be ofttimes cruel.
but with the fan in His hand there viii
come TO ms not one touch of discipline but
what we need.
The subject of wells is interesting. In
Oriental times a well of water was for
tune. When a king dug a well he became
as famous as If he had built a pyramid.
Great battles were fought 10 gain posses
sion OF wells and mighty conquests waged
for their defense. Castles and towers were
erected TO secure their possession. Abra-
ham dug at least four wells; how many
more 7 do not know. but these four were
their reopening that we have 10 do in the
text. like TO speak of wells because there
is music in the very sound Of the word
In Isaiah, the twelfth CHAPTER. second
and third verses. we read, Behold. God
is my salvation: | viii trust. and not be
afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my
strength and nv song; he also is become
my salvation. Therefore with Joy shall We
draw water out of the wells OF salvation y
This is not only an Old Testament figure.
but New for Jesus said. But whosoever
drinketh of the water that | shall give
him shall never thirst but the water that
/ shall give him shall be in him well OF
water springing IN into everlasting life.
John &: a. Therefore the gospel Is a well.
water as you have been weary in yonr
tramp up the mountains or across the
plain that could compare with the refresh
ING influence Of drink of the water Of life
from the well of salvation. Some OF you
have had sorrow. your hearts have been
almost breaking, you have wondered where
you might find help; stoop and drink this
morning Of this old gospel well Some OF
YOU have failed. and indeed who has not IN
this awful struggle Of life, but in your fail
ure YOU have wondered If there could ever
be restoration; stoop and drink this morn
ing. and YOU will find that as YOU drink
you will take IN Of His life, and this is the
secret OF victory over sin. Some OF you
are exceedingly weak and YOU dare not
trust yourself for another day. / bid you
drink OF the water of the well OF salvation.
and you will find strange new strength
taking possession OF you. Isaiah 50; IL.
These wells had names. 1t is little SIN.
gular as we study the story Of Abraham
/ end Isaac 10 find the names given TO the
wells and likewise singular that IN these
names we find revelation of our own ex'
perence IN the journey of life. -.
First. the first well was named STRIFE.
/ We have all had a drink at this well. We
I have had IL IN our business as we have
/ been striving tor success, we have met u
/ in our homes as We have aimed 10 conduct
| them as homes should ever bc conducted.
| We might as well understand that as we
| dig wells IA tnis world We must expect op-
I position. We cannot be LET alone, and this
/ striie will come from one OF three sources,
/ perhaps from all three.
First.-The world. Jesus said 20 His
/ disciples. Marvel not If the world bate
I YOU We must expect 10 hear from the
I devil Ii Is rather old-fashioned IN these
| DAYS 20 say that He has a personality, but