The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-05-12

tH--T ~ NSr.t4 bb4ICNS III LIZ III
TSR &gE tt mat blessing
u N/AS which is to come
-A>wN to US from God, as
INDf II it is to wait patent
L ly for the working
NN out Of the perfect
will Of God in our lives 50 that The bless
ing promised may be received.
When God said to Abraham, All the
land which thou seest, to thee Will |
give it, and to thy seed forever. And
| Will make thy seed as the dust OF the
earth" Abraham doubted not, but he
wondered how it was to be brought to
pass, and as the years sped by he
sought by human wisdom and planning
to obtain the promise. Mistakes were
thus made, and trouble for himself
and others caused. And the mercy,
ove and patience of God are no more
s~trikingIy manifest than in the way IN
which the mistakes were Overruled ard
the promised blessings at last given IN
Gods own good time and way.
But didst thou not agree with NY
master for so much?" questioned Eli
eZcr, sharply, as he turned from his
weighing of the silver n gold ard
NSiJeu lot the man Sla1dilS DIT his
side to speak.
Mamre, in whose country Abraham
dweIt, had come that day to receive
the annual tribute tor as we would call
it to-day, the rent money! which had
been agreed upOn when Abraham had
settled with his fIOckS and herds IN
the beautiful valley. In the true spirit
OF hospitality of the cast Abraham had
entertained his guest. and after they
had broken bread together, thereby
pledging to each other undying fealty
and friendship, Abraham directed
Eliezer, his confidential servant and
steward OF all his household and pos
sessions, to make settlement with
Mamre. Accordingly the two men had
Withdrawn, and were thus busily en-
gagged when the dispute as to terms
arose.
The willy Mamre sought to escape
direct answer to Eliezer's question by
recalling the unusual prosperity Of
Abraham since his coming thither. AS
he lifted his Eyes and cooked down the
valley and towards the hillsides, he
exclaimed:
See his splendid focks and herds
AiA tAiS HAiNS tliu ttCit ! / ii SN ti1D
of his hand in the direction OF the lit
tie village Of tents where Abraham's
men and their families were sheltered)
his numerous followers dwell in con-
tentment, for there is plenty for all. lis
it not little enough which l ask for all
this? 1t is my land and my friendship
that are making Abraham rich. Should
| not be treated fairIy?" And as he
ceased speaking he let his eyes fall
greedily pom the chests of treasure
which Eliezer guarded in his tent, and
from which he had just taken the sill
yer and gold for payment to him.
lac Eliezer not been too modest to
speak for himself. he might have told
how it was his care and devotion To
Abraham's interests more than tn
q special favor of the country which had
so enriched and prospered his master
Ike might have old how by his skill
and management he had made focks
and soil yield abundant returns. He
might have ole how by precept and
example he had inspired in Abraham's
men the same spirit of devotion and
f~aithfulness to duty which marked his
administration. But he said not 2
word. Instead he pushed the bags o.
gold and silver. which by this time
had been filled and tied up, towards
the other with an air of decision. anC
Mamre, seeing that further effort tc
exact a larger tribute was vain, took
he proffered treasure and departed.
In the meantime in the tent of Abra
ham master and wife were holdins
important conference. The coming O
Mamre had stirred strange memories
for the year before, just previous t.
coming to Hebron and settling. Got
had appeared to him and promised hin
not only the land, but a seed to occur,
it as numerous as the dust of the earth
But as yet no heir had come. and tn,
realization of the promise seemed 81
far Off as ever. Abraham was the frs
to speak:
4 am minded to make Eliezer m,
500 and heir. May it not be tina
Gods promise is to be realized il
him."
Surely he hath been more than
son to you since first he met YOU a
Damascus, when a mere STRIPPING, an
insisted in following you whittier 70
went" replied Sarah, in evident syn
pathy with Abraham's plan, for sh
had long since ceased to hope that sh
herself would be the mother of Abrs
hams heir, n her bitterness an
grief seemed to find relief in tn
thought hat in Eliezer was to be rea
iged Gods promise.