The Tupelo journal., 1905-03-31

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, a
vision-be it ever SO faint and vague
of something higher and better. To
cherish such light. such vision; to be
obedient to it; to struggle towards it,
e increasing light and a better self.
This is specially true in respect to
spiritual things.
God longs to reveal Himself to the
heart of man. This has always been so
from the days of Adam, when God
walked with him in the garden and COM
muned with him, until the present day
of full revelation through His dear Son.
But it has only been as man has yielded
to the first faint glimmerings and turned
resolutely towards the dawning light,
that he has seen the day break and has
walked in a larger liberty and fuller
knowledge of God, and received blessing
at His hands.
1t 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 it was
eminently so Of Abraham who, in the
midst of an idolatrors people. with a
father 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 will seek earnc5tly to know Him,
whom to know Alright is life eternal.
The Scripture record of Abraham's
life begins really at his seventy-fifth
year. when God called him to sever fam
lily ties and separate himself from the
idolatrous people in whose midst he had
been dwelling. From this point on his
career is closely followed. but of the
years preceding the call we only know
that he vas probably born at Ur of the
Chaldees; that he lived there until after
H. i o4+l ~f - L,~4 ,4p + ~ ,a ~ 4 lAt h.
and his brother Major were married
there, and that frcm that place Terah re-
moved with Abraham and Sarah, his
wife, and Lot to Paran, where, Is or 90
years later, Terah died. We also know
that Terah was a worshiper of other
gods. and probably his father before
him, being cor. )ted by the idolatrous
practices of the people with whom they
dwelt.
OF the first rs years of Abraham's life
then we have practically no knowl-
edge, but there can be no doubt
hat the influences which pre-
vailed over his life were any
thing but helpful. The atmosphere of
his home was tinctrred with heathen-
ism, for his father served other gods, and
in Ur of the Chaldees, where he prob
ably spent the first SO or so years of his
life, every condition led away from the
knowledge and service of the true God.
But it is only reasonable to suppose
that in spite of Abraham's idolatrous
environment he maintained a condition
of mind and heart and life which made it
possible for God to reveal Himself to him
and at last call him out to live the sep
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.
1t may be, nay it is probable, that the
religious convictions of the young man
Abraham-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-
DldllGttOIl VI IL l. Oh VI anu
part of his family from Ur of the Chal-
dees to Haran.
AS we have said, Scripture tells of
Abraham's call. but what of his awaken
ening? What of tho circumstances and
influences which led up to the call? May
we not re%verently 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 city of Ur
of the Chaldees, and people singly and
in groups are beginning to move through
the streets. Some are hurrying to the
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 they
may pay their obligations to Mulita, the
great goddess of fertility and birth.
Among the number of these worshipers
is observed a young man of noble face
and splendid physique. His rich robes
and dignified bearing indicate that he be-
longs to a family of some wealth and po-
sition, and as he proceeds on his way we
have opportunity of studying his face.
The earnest, frank expression in the eyes
which look straight out before him
without fear or h~esitancy; the broad,
high brow suggestive Of mental vigor
and breadth Of view; and the strong,
firm lines about the mouth and chin