The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-05-15
DR.. CHAPMAN'S SERMON
& SUNDAY DISCOURSE EY THE NOTED
PASTOR.EVANCE uST.


Love Romance of Isaac and Rebekah
Retold-Teaches a Lesson Of Divine
ProYidence-'{pvitaticl to Unbeiievers.
1.-THE Rev. j. Wilbur Chapman, d. D., is
how the most distinguished and best
known evangelist in the country. lie was
second only to DR.. TalnagC but since the
death of that famous preacher Dr. Chap
man has the undisputed possession of the
Pulpit as the preacher to influence the
Z plain people. His services as an evangel-
list are in constant demand. HIS sermons
have stirred the hearts OF men and women
to degree unapproeched 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
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 these who h4c9T
HIM. D.. Chapman Is no" IN ci5&rge- OF
the Fourth Presbyterian ChurRh, New
York Cityl ~
New York CTTy.-Tl.6 Rev. DR.. 7. Will
bur Chapman, the paDuiar pastoreyangel-
list, who IS Aow p9taeh.ng to oyerhowing
congregations l2' this city has furnished
the following ! eloquent sermon to the
2 ~
Genesis WV. So: wilt thou go with this
man? And she said, win 60"
Ibls Is the story of an Old Testament
wedding i'll which our text is found, and
naturally because it is marriage scene it
interesting. The, saying that "all the
.Aworld loves a lover is very true, and
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.
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 whitened 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 car only come to those who have
endure great Affections.
Abraham Is practically alone in the
word, 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
to hear the summons given at the resur-
rection morning. Abraham was desolate.
They had made so long a journey together
that their lives were like one.
I'm the long years lilier had they grown,
Till 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 l was
with Moses so | will be with thee" about
rbn Doc oh l.;
all day and all the night in sleepiess 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 Cod of heaven, and the God of earth,
that thol shalt not take wife unto my
son OF the daughter of the Canaanites,
u among whom, | dwell But thou shalt go
= unto lily county, 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, saving. 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. Aud if the woman will not
he willing to follow thee. then thou shalt
!. be Gear from this my oath; only bring not
my soa ththeT again. And the servant
y put his hand urder the thigh of Abraham,
his master, ana sware to him concerning
that matter" Genesis q: l-9
One OF the Incidents Of the picture would
be the setting forth Of this servant. "And
the servant tOGk ten came,s OF the camels
OF bis master. and departed; for all the
goods OF his master were in MS hand and
he arose aud went to Mesopotamia, unto
the city of Nahor.' Genesis q: 10. One
of the mast picturesque sights of the East
is camel train. With a peculiar swinging
gait these strange animals of the desert
pISa their way a:ong on most interest
ing journey, but tne picture can only be
appreciated when looked upon in the at
mosphere Of the Orient. l counted 100
one morning jcurneying toward the pyra-
mids beyond Cairo. The train Of this old
servant was made up of ten Camels only,
but they were the cames of a 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
( nor. 1t Is the hour of sunset; the day is
| dying out OF the sky, There is really moth
ing that can be compared with that time in
t East, when the day is far spent and
TIM night is at hand. The birds hush their
song, the cattle are still all nature is at
rest, the hills are TRANSPORTED and the
rivers and the seas are like most beautiful
jewels. Ladened with precious gifts the ten
camels lneel Just as the women are coming
forth to draw water from the well. The
old servant as they kueel begins to pray
"Ard let it come 70 pass that the damsel
to whom | shai say Let down thy pitcher,
/ pray thee, tina. | may drink; and she
ea%H say Drink IL, and a. VIII give Thy cam cam
1 Thou hast appointed for Thy servant
Isaac; ard there0y shall l know that Thou
hast showed kindness unto my master"
1 Genesis -: IA, and the answer comes at
once. And 1t came to pass, before he
/ had done speaking, that behold, Rebeliah
i came oat, who was born to Bethuel, son
OF Micah, the wife Of Major, Abrahams