Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1916 — Finding the Bride [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Finding the Bride

By REV. L. W. GOSNELL

Superintendent of Men. Moody Bible Institute of Chicago

TEXT—But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take * wife unto my eon Isaac.—Gen. 24:4.

' The twenty-fourth chapter of GeneMs contains the account of the serv-

ant of Abraham seeking a bride for his son Isaac. The chapter Is * long one, containing 67 verses, and this fact has led many Bible students to feel that the seeking of Isaac’s bride 18 typical of some spiritual truth. Such Bible students agree that the chapter well Illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit, who is sent

forth by God the father to call out the church, which is the bride of him, typified by Isaac, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Since the Holy Spirit uses men |n this sacred work, the chapter under consideration furnishes many points of instruction for the soul winner. First of all, we note that Abraham’s servant was anxious for the glory of his master. He prays, "Show kindness unto my master Abraham.” This motive will affect many things in our Christian service. On one occasion, after a sermon, remarkable from the literary standpoint as well as in other ways, one of the hearers remarked, "What beautiful language the preacher used.” True servants of Christ are troubled if his face is veiled, even by! beautiful language. They would rather. glory in infirmity if the power of Christ might rest upon them. We have heard of a church upon the back of whose pulpit was carved this text, “Sirs, we would see Jesus." Every minister who sat behind this pulpit faced this appeal, and every worker who has the spirit of Abraham’s servant will seek to heed this appeal. Notice again, that the servant of Abraham received guidance. He was led to the well where Rebekah watered, her flocks and she was pointed out to, him as the bride for his master. As the servant expressed it, "I being in the way, the Lord led me.” The writer has a friend who was a pastor in a southern town. He longed for the salvation of a man who lived out in the country, but although he visited his house, he seemed never to find an opportunity to speak with him privately concerning his soul. On one occasion, this minister was impressed that he should pay a special visit in the hopeof reaching the man in question. As the impression persisted, he took the train and finally reached the house.' It looked as if no one were at home and he began to chide himself for his foolish trip. Nevertheless, he rapped at the door, which was opened by the man be wished to see and who welcomed him heartily, saying, “I am all alone today and was just wishing that you would come here and tell me how td become a Christian.” Undoubtedly God still leads his servants. Again the servant gave gifts to Rebekah, jewels of silver, jewels of gold and raiment How happy it is that Christian workers, though poor, torPaul was, may make many rich. Unhappy the Christian worker who has nothing better to give than bread and soup and clothes. Abraham’s servant gave to. Rebekah an earnest of the riches which should be .hers when she came into Isaac’s tent' So should Christian workers be filled with an earnest of the coming glory and scatter its light and blessing to all thorn to whom them minister. We may say a word, also, about tho bride. It will be noted that the servant found her by the well of water. These words may fall under the eye of someone who is sighing to become a member of the bride of Christ. May not the incident under consideration suggest to him that he should be found by the well of water, which may hint at the means of grace. ‘When Charles Spurgeon was seeking to know the love of Christ, he went from church to church throughout London, trusting that the word of. some minister might bring to him the blessing he sought. He at last found peace in a Primitive Methodist chapel, where he had taken shelter from a snowstorm one Sunday morning. And what a lesson is conveyed by the fact that as soon as Rebekah had the ring and bracelet upon her hand, she ran and told them of her mother’s house all that Abraham’s servant had said. As one has put it, we must either give our religion away or else give it up. Would that all of us were as busy in spreading the good tidings as was Uncle John Vassar., Dr. A J. Gordon tells of once driving along a country road with this good man. A< gentleman stopped them to inquire the way to Dedham. After the directions were given, Uncle John Vassar turned to the man and said, “Friend, I too am a stranger and pilgrim in the better country, even a .heavenly. Allow me to' ask if you know the way to that country and are journeying thither?” It» was done so naturally and sincerely that the man stood as if spellbound, under this gracious appeal. >