patriarchs and prophets-第25章

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forgive　them；　for　they　know　not　what　they　do。〃　Luke　23：34。

Of　Abraham　it　is　written　that　〃he　was　called　the　friend　of　God；〃　〃the　father
of　all　them　that　believe。〃　James　2：23；　Romans　4：11。　The　testimony　of　God
concerning　this　faithful　patriarch　is；　〃Abraham　obeyed　My　voice；　and　kept　My
charge；　My　commandments；　My　statutes；　and　My　laws。〃　And　again；　〃I　know　him；
that　he　will　command　his　children　and　his　household　after　him；　and　they
shall　keep　the　way　of　the　Lord；　to　do　justice　and　judgment；　that　the　Lord
may　bring　upon　Abraham　that　which　he　hath　spoken　of　him。〃　It　was　a　high
honor　to　which　Abraham　was　called；　that　of　being　the　father　of　the　people
who　for　centuries　were　the　guardians　and　preservers　of　the　truth　of　God　for
the

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worldof　that　people　through　whom　all　the　nations　of　the　earth　should　be
blessed　in　the　advent　of　the　promised　Messiah。　But　He　who　called　the
patriarch　judged　him　worthy。　It　is　God　that　speaks。　He　who　understands　the
thoughts　afar　off；　and　places　the　right　estimate　upon　men；　says；　〃I　know
him。〃　There　would　be　on　the　part　of　Abraham　no　betraying　of　the　truth　for
selfish　purposes。　He　would　keep　the　law　and　deal　justly　and　righteously。　And
he　would　not　only　fear　the　Lord　himself；　but　would　cultivate　religion　in　his
home。　He　would　instruct　his　family　in　righteousness。　The　law　of　God　would　be
the　rule　in　his　household。

Abraham's　household　comprised　more　than　a　thousand　souls。　Those　who　were　led
by　his　teachings　to　worship　the　one　God；　found　a　home　in　his　encampment；　and
here；　as　in　a　school；　they　received　such　instruction　as　would　prepare　them
to　be　representatives　of　the　true　faith。　Thus　a　great　responsibility　rested
upon　him。　He　was　training　heads　of　families；　and　his　methods　of　government
would　be　carried　out　in　the　households　over　which　they　should　preside。

In　early　times　the　father　was　the　ruler　and　priest　of　his　own　family；　and　he
exercised　authority　over　his　children；　even　after　they　had　families　of　their
own。　His　descendants　were　taught　to　look　up　to　him　as　their　head；　in　both
religious　and　secular　matters。　This　patriarchal　system　of　government　Abraham
endeavored　to　perpetuate；　as　it　tended　to　preserve　the　knowledge　of　God。　It
was　necessary　to　bind　the　members　of　the　household　together；　in　order　to
build　up　a　barrier　against　the　idolatry　that　had　become　so　widespread　and　so
deep…seated。　Abraham　sought　by　every　means　in　his　power　to　guard　the　inmates
of　his　encampment　against　mingling　with　the　heathen　and　witnessing　their
idolatrous　practices；　for　he　knew　that　familiarity　with　evil　would
insensibly　corrupt　the　principles。　The　greatest　care　was　exercised　to　shut
out　every　form　of　false　religion　and　to　impress　the　mind　with　the　majesty
and　glory　of　the　living　God　as　the　true　object　of　worship。

It　was　a　wise　arrangement；　which　God　Himself　had　made；　to　cut　off　His
people；　so　far　as　possible；　from　connection　with　the　heathen；　making　them　a
people　dwelling　alone；　and　not　reckoned　among　the　nations。　He　had　separated
Abraham　from　his　idolatrous　kindred；　that　the　patriarch　might　train　and
educate　his　family　apart　from　the　seductive　influences　which　would　have
surrounded

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them　in　Mesopotamia；　and　that　the　true　faith　might　be　preserved　in　its
purity　by　his　descendants　from　generation　to　generation。

Abraham's　affection　for　his　children　and　his　household　led　him　to　guard
their　religious　faith；　to　impart　to　them　a　knowledge　of　the　divine　statutes；
as　the　most　precious　legacy　he　could　transmit　to　them；　and　through　them　to
the　world。　All　were　taught　that　they　were　under　the　rule　of　the　God　of
heaven。　There　was　to　be　no　oppression　on　the　part　of　parents　and　no
disobedience　on　the　part　of　children。　God's　law　had　appointed　to　each　his
duties；　and　only　in　obedience　to　it　could　any　secure　happiness　or
prosperity。

His　own　example；　the　silent　influence　of　his　daily　life；　was　a　constant
lesson。　The　unswerving　integrity；　the　benevolence　and　unselfish　courtesy；
which　had　won　the　admiration　of　kings；　were　displayed　in　the　home。　There　was
a　fragrance　about　the　life；　a　nobility　and　loveliness　of　character；　which
revealed　to　all　that　he　was　connected　with　Heaven。　He　did　not　neglect　the
soul　of　the　humblest　servant。　In　his　household　there　was　not　one　law　for　the
master　and　another　for　the　servant；　a　royal　way　for　the　rich　and　another　for
the　poor。　All　were　treated　with　justice　and　compassion；　as　inheritors　with
him　of　the　grace　of　life。

〃He　will　command　his　。　。　。　household。〃　There　would　be　no　sinful　neglect　to
restrain　the　evil　propensities　of　his　children；　no　weak；　unwise；　indulgent
favoritism；　no　yielding　of　his　conviction　of　duty　to　the　claims　of　mistaken
affection。　Abraham　would　not　only　give　right　instruction；　but　he　would
maintain　the　authority　of　just　and　righteous　laws。

How　few　there　are　in　our　day　who　follow　this　example！　On　the　part　of　too
many　parents　there　is　a　blind　and　selfish　sentimentalism；　miscalled　love；
which　is　manifested　in　leaving　children；　with　their　unformed　judgment　and
undisciplined　passions；　to　the　control　of　their　own　will。　This　is　the
veriest　cruelty　to　the　youth　and　a　great　wrong　to　the　world。　Parental
indulgence　causes　disorder　in　families　and　in　society。　It　confirms　in　the
young　the　desire　to　follow　inclination；　instead　of　submitting　to　the　divine
requirements。　Thus　they　grow　up　with　a　heart　averse　to　doing　God's　will；　and
they　transmit　their　irreligious；　insubordinate　spirit　to　their　children　and
children's　children。　Like　Abraham；　parents　should　command　their　households
after　them。　Let　obedience　to

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parental　authority　be　taught　and　enforced　as　the　first　step　in　obedience　to
the　authority　of　God。

The　light　esteem　in　which　the　law　of　God　is　held；　even　by　religious　leaders；
has　been　productive　of　great　evil。　The　teaching　which　has　become　so
widespread；　that　the　divine　statutes　are　no　longer　binding　upon　men；　is　the
same　as　idolatry　in　its　effect　upon　the　morals　of　the　people。　Those　who　seek
to　lessen　the　claims　of　God's　holy　law　are　striking　directly　at　the
foundation　of　the　government　of　families　and　nations。　Religious　parents；
failing　to　walk　in　His　statutes；　do　not　command　their　household　to　keep　the
way　of　the　Lord。　The　law　of　God　is　not　made　the　rule　of　life。　The　children；
as　they　make　homes　of　their　own；　feel　under　no　obligation　to　teach　their
children　what　they　themselves　have　never　been　taught。　And　this　is　why　there
are　so　many　godless　families；　this　is　why　depravity　is　so　deep　and
widespread。

Not　until　parents　themselves　walk　in　the　law　of　the　Lord　with　perfect　hearts
will　they　be　prepared　to　command　their　children　after　them。　A　reformation　in
this　respect　is　neededa　reformation　which　shall　be　deep　and　broad。　Parents
need　to　reform；　ministers　need　to　reform；　they　need　God　in　their　households。
If　they　would　see　a　different　state　of　things；　they　must　bring　His　word　into
their　families　and　must　make　it　their　counselor。　They　must　teach　their
children　that　it　is　the　voice　of　God　addressed　to　them；　and　is　to　be
implicitly　obeyed。　They　should　patiently　instruct　their　children；　kindly　and
untiringly　teach　them　how　to　live　in　order　to　please　God。　The　children　of
such　a　household　are　prepared　to　meet　the　sophistries　of　infidelity。　They
have　accepted　the　Bible　as　the　basis　of　their　faith；　and　they　have　a
foundation　that　cannot　be　swept　away　by　the　incoming　tide　of　skepticism。

In　too　many　households　prayer　is　neglected。　Parents　feel　that　they　have　no
time　for　morning　and　evening　worship。　They　cannot　spare　a　few　moments　to　be
spent　in　thanksgiving　to　God　for　His　abundant　merciesfor　the　blessed
sunshine　and　the　showers　of　rain；　which　cause　vegetation　to　flourish；　and
for　the　guardianship　of　holy　angels。　They　have　no　time　to　offer　prayer　for
divine　help　and　guidance　and　for　the　abiding　presence　of　Jesus　in　the
household。　They　go　forth　to　labor　as　the　ox　or　the　horse　goes；　without　one
thought　of　God　or　heaven。　They　have　souls　so　precious　that　rather　than
permit　them　to　be　hopelessly　lost；　the　Son　of　God　gave　His　life　to　ransom
them；　but　they　have　little　more

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appreciation　of　His　great　goodness　than　have　the　beasts　that　perish。

Like　the　patriarchs　of　old；　those　who　profess　to　love　God　should　erect　an
altar　to　the　Lord　wherever　they　pitch　their　tent。　If　ever　there　was　a　time
when　every　house　should　be　a　house　of　prayer；　it　is　now。　Fathers　and　mothers
should　often　lift　up　their　hearts　to　God　in　humble　supplication　for
themselves　and　their　children。　Let　the　father；　as　priest　of　the　household；
lay　upon　the　altar　of　God　the　morning　and　evening　sacrifice；　while　the　wife
and　children　unite　in　prayer　and　praise。　In　such　a　household　Jesus　will　love
to　tarry。

From　every　Christian　home　a　holy　light　should　shine　forth。　Love　should　be
revealed　in　action。　It　should　flow　out　in　all　home　intercourse；　showing
itself　in　thoughtful　kindness；　in　gentle；　unselfish　courtesy。　There　are
homes　where　this　principle　is　carried　outhomes　where　God　is　worshiped　and
truest　love　reigns。　From　these　homes　morning　and　evening　prayer　ascends　to
God　as　sweet　incense；　and　His　mercies　and　blessings　descend　upon　the
suppliants　like　the　morning　dew。

A　well…ordered　Christian　household　is　a　powerful　argument　in　favor　of　the
reality　of　the　Christian　religionan　argument　that　the　infidel　cannot
gainsay。　All　can　see　that　there　is　an　influence　at　work　in　the　family　that
affects　the　children；　and　that　the　God　of　Abraham　is　with　them。　If　the　homes
of　professed　Christians　had　a　right　religious　mold；　they　would　exert　a
mighty　influence　for　good。　They　would　indeed　be　the　〃light　of　the　world。〃
The　God　of　heaven　speaks　to　every　faithful　parent　in　the　words　addressed　to
Abraham：　〃I　know　him；　that　he　will　command　his　children　and　his　household
after　him；　and　they　shall　keep　the　way　of　the　Lord；　to　do　justice　and
judgment；　that　the　Lord　may　bring　upon　Abraham　that　which　He　hath　spoken　of
him。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　13

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Test　of　Faith


Abraham　had　accepted　without　question　the　promise　of　a　son；　but　he　did　not
wait　for　God　to　fulfill　His　word　in　His　own　time　and　way。　A　delay　was
permitted；　to　test　his　faith　in　the　power　of　God；　but　he　failed　to　endure
the　trial。　Thinking　it　impossible　that　a　child　should　be　given　her　in　her
old　age；　Sarah　suggested；　as　a　plan　by　which　the　divine　purpose　might　be
fulfilled；　that　one　of　her　handmaidens　should　be　taken　by　Abraham　as　a
secondary　wife。　Polygamy　had　become　so　widespread　that　it　had　ceased　to　be
regarded　as　a　sin；　but　it　was　no　less　a　violation　of　the　law　of　God；　and　was
fatal　to　the　sacredness　and　peace　of　the　family　relation。　Abraham's　marriage
with　Hagar　resulted　in　evil；　not　only　to　his　own　household；　but　to　future
generations。

Flattered　with　the　honor　of　her　new　position　as　Abraham's　wife；　and　hoping
to　be　the　mother　of　the　great　nation　to　descend　from　him；　Hagar　became　proud
and　boastful；　and　treated　her　mistress　with　contempt。　Mutual　jealousies
distur