Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-07-03
REYIYING OLD CUSTOMS
Sunday Discourse by DR.. Chapman, the
Noted Past0r-Evangelist.
Lessons from the Life Of Isaac-Better Had
He Died Upon the Alter

Nav YoRK CITY.-It may now be stated
nc fact that the sermons OF the heV;
DR. ], Wilbur Chapman are hearo ailr
read bv more people than are those OF
ANY American pulpit orator. His style
seems to have made deep impression on
That norton of the public which likes 10
rrod its discourse in the weekly paper
For these admirers DR.. Chapman mas pre-
pared the following sermon, entltle9 n
vving Old Customs It IS prf faoao dir coed
a@o;n the wells of water which they had
d;gged in the DAYS of Abraham, his 1ath-
There are three names in the New Iesta.
mont inseparably bound together. we
,,rnlv think of one without having lmme-
diatcly suggested to us the names OF the
other two. These three are Peter, James
aud John. They were specially chosen on
Christ for conspicuous service. ana Welo
the particular objects OF Ills a!Viht "i M
zion There are three names IN the oia
Testament quite as intimately associated,
and one can scarcely speak the name OF
one of the three without finding hlmsei
running at once in speech to the other
Two abraham. Isaac and Jacob form the
IA Testament trio. I do not know how
familiar YOU are with the story OF isaac
| have found myself that knew very ~
tie about him. | was quite famihar WIN
the account of the intended sacrillce on
Mt Moriah, and the fascinating story OF
his meeting with Rcbekah. but concerning
other incidents of his life | knew very nj
tle AS a matter of fact Isaac does not
show off to 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 inc
cheat, to Israel the prince, having power
with God and with men, and one cannot
help but feel as he reads, the whole story
Of Isaacs life that it would have been bet
ter for him had he died upon the altar.
Tic made a splendid start in lie, but SO
did Noah and Lot, and so have many OF
Won. but that is not enough. AT the Pc
thinning of his career Isaac goes away De-
vond the others whose names l have men
toned. We are so taken up with Abra-
ham and his willingness to offer MS son
that somehow we have forgotten isaac $
willingness to be offered. lie really. MADE
a splendid start, and was most estimabie
Young man. If we look at Il single verse
in his career We say what an excellent
man, and if we look ut others we ind our,
selves cxclaiming, How mean he u.s., and
vet so it is with our own lives. Men must
not be Judged by one paragraph in our cX-
periencc.
The subject of wells is interesting, In
Oriental times a well OF water was Il Tor
tune. When a king dug we'll he became
as famous as if he had built pyramid
Great battles were fought to 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 | do not know, but these four were
filed in by the Phlistines, and 1t IS with
their reopening that we have. to 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, "Rehold, God
is my salvation | will trust, and not be
afraid: for the Lord Jehovah IS my
strength and my song; he also Is become
nv salvation. Therefore with JOY shall We
draw water out of the wells of salvation"
This is not only an Old Testament figure.
but New, for Jesus said, ''l3ut 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 up into everlasting he,
John 4: IA. Therefore the gospel IS well,
and you have never had drink OF spring
water as you have been weary IN your
tramp I'D inc MOUNTAINS VI uNlooc VIZ
plain that could compare with the refresh
ing influence of drink of the water OF lite
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 we'll Some OF
you have failed, and indeed who has not in
this awful struggle of life, but III 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
Won sI 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 a strange new strength
taking possession of you. ISAIAH 30: IL,
These wells had names. 1t is a little sin
gular as we study the story OF Abraham
and Isaac to find the names given to the
wells, and likewise singular that IN these
names we find revelation OF our own eX'
perience in the journey OF lie. o. .. 81,
First, the first well was named 'StrliG:
We have all had drink at this well. We
have had it in our business as we have
been striving for success; we have met IL
in our homes as we have aimed to conduct
them as homes should ever be conducted.
We might as well understand that as we
dig wells in this world we must expect OPP
position. We cannot be let alone, and ting
strife will come from one OF three sources,
perhaps from all three.
Frst.-Thc world. Jesus said to His
disciples, Marvel not ii the world hate
you" We must expect to hear IRON the
devil. 1t is rather old-fashoncd in these
days to say that He has Il personality, but
l have had SO many dealings with him
myself, and have seen his work
so perfectly in the lives of 9th,
ers that | know he is a person, but
come from the flesh, and L find hint OF
this in the story Of Isaac. What envy
was to Cain, and wine to Noah, and lewd'
ness to Ham and wealth to Lot, the desire
for venison was to Isaac, for when he was
diving and his thoughts should have been
centered upon Jehovah he longs for veni-
son that he may satisfy himself, and the
story of his getting that venison and its
being traded for brthright Is one OF the
sad bits of history of the Old Testament,
but let it be known that whenever man
pampers himself and lives for himself he
is on the way to distress quite as great
name for Abraham's well, but SO he called
it. Some of us have been there, and alas,
have tasted of the bitter waters 1t is Il
sad thing to have hatred in your heart.
1T binders prayer; becouds heaven, takes
the angel out of your face; chokes the song
in your throat; gives your hands the wrong
twist in writing letters, puts between the
lines which almost breaks the heart of the
reader" He who hates cannot sing, he
cannot pray, he cannot offer a sacrifice.
Matthew s: %, Therefore, If thou bring