342 



SIR ANDREW WINGATE, K.C.I.E., 



the 23rd of St. Matthew is followed by a rain of tenderness and 

 pity before the chapter closes. So the Bow breaks forth in 

 beauty above the altar of Noah. God when He looked on the 

 sacrifice saw His Son laying down His life for the world. The 

 Eainbow round about the throne of God is Love shining through 

 the tears of God. 



But it was to Abraham that the meaning of the slain lamb 

 was disclosed. The whole life of Abraham led up to this 

 revelation. First, he was trained to resign all material things, 

 home, kindred and country. He built no city. He possessed 

 no land, but a tomb. He had no roots in this world. He was 

 indifferent that Lot deprived him of the well-watered plain. He 

 refused to accept the spoil of Sodom. Passing up and down in 

 tents among the nations, he witnessed, alone in a Godless world, 

 that there is a future life, worth losing this world to win, but 

 which, won, gains this world too. Christ said to Abraham, 

 " Leave all," and was obeyed. Jesus said, " Sell," — not leave, 

 but — " Sell whatsoever thou hast," whereupon the wealthy 

 young ruler turned his back on the promised Heavenly treasure. 

 Does Britain to-day similarly reject the call of the Edinburgh 

 Conference to yield something of her great possessions to rescue 

 the millions of the Far East, whose cries for help can be heard 

 coming out of the darkness ? 



Secondly, Abraham holds aloft for all ages the standard of 

 faith, which Eve had dropped with doubting heart. Not less 

 than six times during twenty-five years, God had solemnly and 

 circumstantially promised to Abraham a son. The years passed, 

 but nothing happened, till there was no longer any possibility 

 of the promise being fulfilled. Then, from the dead, Isaac was 

 born. The fact that the promised seed would be the miracle of 

 God is thereafter emphasised in Eebekah, in Eachel, in Manoali's 

 wife, in Euth, in Hannah, in the lady of Shunem, till a Virgin 

 was thus prepared to believe the angel's message. For without 

 faith, the Christ could not be born. Among women, there is no 

 recorded instance of faith comparable to Mary's reply, " Be it 

 unto me according to Thy word." 



Next, Ishmael had to be yielded up, and finally the demand 

 came for Isaac, the child of prayer and promise. Did Abraham's 

 liglit go out in that darkness ? His faith shines still with a 

 brilliance that enheartens mankind. Neither to atone for his 

 own sin, nor to placate an angry deity, was he ready to slay his 

 son, but simply because " God hath said." That was enough 

 for both Abraham and Isaac. " Shall not the Judge of all the 

 earth do right ? " " Lo, I come to do Thy Will, 0 God." 



