004. The Worship Of Abraham.
The Worship Of Abraham.
Genesis 13:4. The “place of the altar” to which allusion is here made, was Bethel, which signifies “house of God.” It was a name given to it by Jacob, in after times, when on his journey from Beersheba to Haran; but, in the days of Abraham it was called Luz. It was situated some fifteen, or twenty miles north of Jerusalem. Moses, the author of the Pentateuch, often speaks of places by the appellation they bore at the time he wrote, instead of their original names. At Bethel the Lord had appeared to Abraham soon after he reached the promised land, a distance from Haran, in Mesopotamia, of some five or six hundred miles. Here he had pitched his tent; built an altar, and “called upon the name of the Lord.”
This, indeed, would seem to have been his constant practice, wherever he sojourned (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:18.) “Wherever he had a tent,” says Henry, “God had an altar, and an altar sanctified by prayer. He erected his own altar that he might not participate with idolaters in the worship offered upon theirs.”
While sojourning at Bethel, or in its vicinity, a “grievous famine” occurred, which compelled the patriarch to remove with his household. Accordingly, turning south, he directed his course towards the fertile country of the Nile. At this time, he was poor; but after a residence in Egypt for some time, his temporal condition had greatly improved; since, according to the sacred narrative, on his return to Canaan, he was “very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” On once more reaching the promised land, he repaired to a spot, which, in former years, had been endeared to him by the manifestations of the divine mercy; “unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first; and there Abraham called on the name of the Lord.” On the occasion of first building that altar, before which he now stood, he had many and joyful reasons for thanksgiving and praise. It had been preserved, during a long and untried journey; he had entered the land of promise, and been protected in the midst of a proud, imperious, and idolatrous people. But, how greatly were those reasons for thankfulness and praise increased! He had been sustained during a grievous famine; he had gone down into the land of the Pharaohs, where, in respect to his wife, losing confidence in the assurances of divine protection, he had been guilty of an unworthy deception; yet, God had delivered him from his fears; had enlarged his house, and increased his wealth; why should he not be grateful? Why not remember the way, in which God had brought him, and renew his pledges of love and fidelity to Him, who had thus already favored. him, and moreover had promised him blessings, which in their influence should extend to nations yet unborn? An old divine, in commenting on the practice of Abraham in regard to prayer, has well observed:
1. “All God’s people are praying people. As soon will you find a living man without breath, as a living Christian without prayer.
2. Those who would approve themselves upright with God, must be constant and persevering in religion. Abraham did not leave his religion behind him, as many do, when they travel.” The fidelity of Abraham to his religion, wherever he sojourned, does, indeed, rebuke a multitude in modern times; who, with more light and knowledge, might be expected to be even more scrupulous in their practice. But their conduct, instead of adding to, greatly detracts from, the honor of religion.
Take, for example, a professor of the gospel, a young man, who, for the purpose of business or pleasure, leaves his home, and commences a journey among strangers. From the day he sets forth, his devotional duties are, perhaps, imperfectly performed, or entirely suspended! Instead of seeking out as he passes on, for those who love the name of Jesus, consorting with them, and holding communion with them, he finds his pleasure in associating with the gay and volatile; and is, at length, found mingling with the vicious and profane. Is religion attacked? He regrets it, indeed, but has no courage to defend his master’s cause. Are professors derided? Quite possibly his previous conduct requires silence, lest the finger of scorn should be pointed at him.
It is urged, that in stages, in steamboats, and in railroad cars it is difficult to attend to devotional duties, or maintain a devotional frame? This is not denied. But the very difficulty creates a necessity for universal watchfulness and effort. Granted that the professor may not find his own quiet “Bethel,” while a passenger, may he not lift his heart to God? May he not maintain a devotional spirit? And if his absence be long, will he not occasionally stop? Happy is it, if, when opportunity allows, he is ready to avail himself of it, to renew his intercourse with his Heavenly Father, and gather fresh strength for days to come. The great desideratum is to keep the heart right. If that be so kept; if a sense of holy obligation be duly cherished; if we rouse ourselves to appropriate moral courage, we shall be able to attend to the duties of piety in every situation, whether at home or abroad; whether on excursions for pleasure or business.
Mr. Bickersteth gives an account of a pious man, who was led by some engagement to associate with a minister of the gospel, who had sadly neglected his sacred duties. They journeyed together, and the subject of religion was, indeed, a topic of conversation. But on retiring to rest, being obliged to lodge in the same room, the clergyman undressed, and was soon in bed. The pious man paused, hesitated, and for a short time appeared to doubt what was duty; but, at length, convinced that he was bound to pray, even although he should thereby rebuke a minister of Jesus Christ, he knelt down, while yet the light was unextinguished, and prayed as he was wont. The rebuke was felt; conviction of guilt followed; and, from that time, the unfaithful ambassador became a devoted and laborious servant of Jesus.
But, perhaps, professors who travel, do the cause of Christ even greater injury, by continuing their journey on the sabbath, and thus intermitting the duties appropriate to that day.
I have, indeed, read of those who travelled only till the hour of divine service; when, if they happened to reach a church, they would attend service, and proceed when that was ended. There have been those also, who were quite careful to lay in a stock of good books to peruse, while proceeding on their journey on the sabbath; and not long since, it was stated in a public journal, that a steamboat put out on one of the western lakes, on Saturday evening, or on the morning of the sabbath, with four clergymen on board, who quieted their consciences and the consciences of numerous professors, with the determination of holding divine service on board; thus serving God, while at the same time they were serving themselves. Dr. Nevins tells us of a lady, who, intending to travel on the sabbath, volunteered this exculpation of herself. “She had travelled one sabbath already since she left home, and she supposed it was no worse to travel on another.” To the spiritual and conscientious believer, such apologies it must be apparent, are mere excuses to silence an upbraiding conscience; to keep up the show of piety and devotion, while, in fact, piety and devotion have little, if any concern in the case.
There are those, however, who have more of the spirit of the conscientious patriarch. They carry their principles, and a pious practice, with them. The late Mr. Evarts, the distinguished secretary of the American Board, being once on his return from a visit to the Missionary stations, among the Indians, was passing up the Mississippi in a steamboat. Just before Saturday night, he informed the captain that it was not his custom to travel on the sabbath, and requested, therefore, to be left at some convenient village on the banks of the river. The captain remonstrated; and, when, at length, the intention of the Secretary became known to the passengers, they also attempted to dissuade him from his purpose. “Another boat might not come along in days; nay, a fortnight might he be detained” “No matter for that,” replied Mr. Evarts, “Providence will take care. Duty is mine; consequences I must leave with God.” Finding his passenger fixed in purpose, the captain landed him. On the sabbath, Mr. Evarts conducted a religious meeting in the destitute village, at which he had stopped; and on Monday morning another boat came along, on board of which he took passage. It so happened, that the other boat, not long after he left it, broke some portion of her machinery, which so retarded her progress, that the secretary reached his destination on the river about the same time.
Such a regard for the honor of God may be rare; but who will deny its propriety and beauty? And, in this case, we see virtue rewarded. God did not suffer a servant, who wished to honor him, to be retarded in the journey before him. And who can say, that the security in which Abraham travelled among heathen, and even warlike tribes, was not a reward for his “building an altar to the Lord,” whenever he encamped? He had the courage to show to the idolatrous nations of Canaan, that he feared the Lord; and he found time to send up the smoke of the expiring victim on the altar, or some other sacrifice, while “he called upon the name of the Lord.”
Recall, for a moment, the journeyings of Paul. Who travelled more than the great apostle of the Gentiles? We read of his visiting some of the most celebrated regions, and renowned cities of the world. “With indefatigable step, he toiled his way over no small portions of Syria, Arabia, Asia Minor, and Europe. He sailed the waters of the Mediterranean sea. He coursed his track among the innumerable islands, that so beautifully stud the Grecian Archipelago. On the soil of ancient Troy, along the classic shores of Greece, at Antioch, Ephesus, Phillippi, Corinth, and Athens, he planted the standard of the cross” But when, or where; whether on the land, or sea; in polished Athens, or in licentious Corinth; before Felix, or while a prisoner near the court of Rome, did this champion of the cross, either through fear, haste, or indifference, fail in the duties of personal piety, or in honoring the cause of his Master?