Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-03-29

the lite. and kindle
new ideals and as
pirations, it soon fades and the darkness
of the old conditions prevails. Man re
ceives more light only as he is obedient
and faithful to the light which he al
ready has.
To every soul, undoubtedly. there
comes sometime a CLEAN OF light,
vision-be ii ever so faint and vague
OF something higher and better. To
cherish such light. such vision: TO be
obedient to it; to struggle towards il.
means increasing light and better self
This is specially true in respect to
spiritual things.
II was SO with Abel as the thought OF
God 'unfolded in his life and heart and
found expression at last in the more
excellent sacrifice and perfect accept
ance with God. 1t was so with Enoch.
who early saw the light and entered on a
pilgrimage with God which finally ended
In Heaven. 1t was so with Noah who
heard God speak, and was obedient unto
His command and reaped the reward OF
deliverance from the flood. And IL was
emfnently so of Abraham who I'm the
midst of an idolatrous people, with a
rather and grandfather corrupted by the
heathenish Chaldean worship of the
hosts of heaven. caught a glimpse of
God, and turned resolutely from the
false, TO worship the true and living God.
And, dear reader, it may be so with you.
If you, too, will be obedient TO the Heav-
emily vision which God will give you,
and VIII seek earnestly to know Him.
whom to know Alright is life eternal.
OF the first rs years of Abraham's life
then we have practically no knowI-
edge, but there can be no doubt
that the influences which pre-
vailed over his life were any
thing but helpful. The atmosphere of
his home was tinctured with heather
ism, for his father served other gods. and
In Ur eff the Chaldees, where he prob
ably spent the first 80 or 60 years of his
life, every condition led away from the
knowledge and service Of the true God
But II is only reasonable to suppose
That in spite of Abrahams idolatrous
environment he maintained a condition
OF mind and heart and life which made IL
possible for God to reveal Himself to him
and at last call him out to live the SEN
arated life OF faith and obedience to
Him. Sometime during the period of
residence at Ur there had come the
clearer revelation of God and the inner
convictions which led to a positive stand
against idolatry and its corrupting ten
denotes.
IL may be, nay ii is probable that the
religious convictions of the young man
ADraham-for because of his long and
vigorous life he may be considered
young at even so or 60 years of age
would arouse opposition and persecu-
ton. and this suggests reasonable ex-
PLANTATION OF the removal of Terah and
part of his family from Ur of the Chat
dees TO Haran.
AS we have said Scripture tells of
Abrahams call but what of his awaken
ening? What of the circumstances ana
influences which led up to the call? Nav
we not reverently and earnestly search
between the lines and read more of the
life Of this great patriarch than Scrip-
ture records?
Day has broken over the citv nj IT,
Of the Chaldees, and people singly ana
In groups are beginning to move through
49, ohaDcho are UuTTYl0E 10 tho
shops which since the suns first waking
call have been open for trade. Others
are bending their steps towards the
great temple In the midst of the CITY
where at the beginning of the day thew
may pay their obligations to Mulita the
great goddess OF fertility and birth
moDg the number of these worshipere
observed a young man Of noble face
md splendid physique. His rich robes
nd dignihed bearing indicate that he he
Pngs To q ssmily Of some wealth and no.
hition, and as he proceeds on his wav wa
have opportunity of studying his face
The earnest, frank expression i'm the eyes
which look straight out before him
without fear or hesitancy: the broad
high brow suggestive of mental vigor
and breadth of view; and the strong.
firm lines about the mouth and cha
which the heavy beard and mustache fail
TO entirely hide. indicate strength and
depth of character much above the av-
erage. But there is something I'm tho
face and bearing OF the man as no
strides forward which is suggestive Of
special conviction and determination
The earnest. set expression of the face
speaks Of an inner conflict and final
and positive decision. and the firm. IN
faltering footsteps indicate an eager
ness to meet and perform a duty, hard
aad unpleasant though It may be.
AS he enters the temple he is met by
one IN priestly robes who has evidently
been expecting his coming, and they
two pass 70 an inner apartment 70
gethsr.