Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-05-08
OLD TESTAMENT WEDDING
Sunday Discourse by DR.. Chapman, the
Noted PastOr.EvangeIist.
The Love Romance Of Isaac and Rebekah
Retold-Teaches Lesson Of Divine
Providence.

The Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D. D., is
now the most distinguished and best
known evangelist in the country. He was
second only to DR.. Talmage, but since the
man has the undisputed possession of the
Pulpit as the preacher to influence the
plain people. His services as an evangel-
ist 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 Oberln College and Lake For
est University, and graduated for the min
ary, 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 hear
him. DR.. Chapman is now in charge of
the Fourth Presbyterian Church, New
York City.]
NEW YORK CITY.-The Rev. Dr. J. Will
bur Chapman, the popular pastor-evangel-
ist, who is now preaching to overfiowing
congregations in this city, has furnished
the following eloquent sermon to the
press. 1t was preached from the text
Genesis xiv, 5s: '"Wilt thou go with this
man? And she said, J. will 60"
| This is the story of an Old Testament
| wedding in which our text is found, and
naturally because it is marriage scene it
is interesting. The saying that "all 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 l
| place this the first of its kind.
If | were an artist | should paint it, and
| If were an artist worthy of my theme it
would surpass the other masterpieces in
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 the
| 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
| journeyed 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
10 near lne summons given dJ tHe ItSuI
rection morning. Abraham was desolate
They had made so long journey together
| that their lives were like one.
"In the long years hker had they grown,
Til 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, "As | was
| with Moses so 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 l will make thee swear by the Lord,
the God of heaven, and the God of earth.
| that thou shalt not take a 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 | needs bring thy
son again unto the land from whence thou
earnest? 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 a 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 i'll his hand; and
he arose and went to Mesopotamia unto
| the city of Nahor." Genesis 24 10. One
of the most picturesque sights of the East
is camel train. With peculiar swinging
gait these strange animals of the desert
push their way along on most interest
| appreciated when looked upon i'll the at
mosohere of the Orient ] counted 100
one morning journeying toward the ,pyra..
mids beyond Cairo. The train Of this old
servant was made up of ten camels only,
but they were the camels of a prince.
Their trappings were gorgeous, and side
by side with Abraham we watch them as
they go until they are lost to view.
The next incident is the approach to Ma
hor. 1t is the hour of sunset; the day Is
dying out of the sky There is really moth
rg that can be compared with that time in
the Fast, when the day is far spent and
the night is at hand. The birds hush their
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. Ladcncd with precicrs gifts the tea
lnrr
forth to draw water from the well. The
old servant as they kncel begins to pray:
"And let it come to pass that the damsel
to wi ON shall say, Let down thy PITCHER,
I pray thee, that | may drink; and she
shall say, Drink, ard l will give thy carl
els drink also; let the same be she that
Thou hast appointed for Thy servant
Isaac and thereby shall | know that THOU
hast showed Kindness INTO my master.
Genesis "a: IA, and The answer comes at
once. "And it came to lass, before he
had done speaking, that behold, Rebckah
! car,c out, who was born to Bethuel, son
OF Mlcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham s
brother, with her pitcher upon her shout
der" Genesis "a: 10.
Elastic of step, modest of manner, pure
of heart, fair of face she stands in the
presence of the servant of Abraham. As
to parentagc she was the daughter OF
Bethue; as to condition she was of virgin
purity; as to appearance she was fair to
leok upol; as to education ahe 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 tie Lord had made his journey
prosperous or not. And it came to pass.
as the cameis 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,
Whose daughter art thou? tell me, l pray
thee; is there room in thy fathers, house
for us to lodge in? And she said unto
him, / am the daughter of Bethuel, the
son of Micah, which she bare unto Major.
She said moreover unto him, We have
both straw and provender enough and