Forwarned-Forearmed [Sermons]. - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885. Excerpt: ... A BIRTHRIGHT BARGAINED AWAY. 1 SUPPOSE that, since the world began, there never was struck so foolish, so insane a bargain! Just think what that young man did in a moment of impetuous folly. Let me remind you what his "birthright " was. As the eldest son of Isaac, he had a noble future before him. To his renowned grandfather Abraham the Lord had solemnly sworn, saying, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee, and I will make of thee a great nation; and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing." That signal blessing was to descend from sire to son all down the ages in the line of the first-born, until it should find its consummation in Christ Himself, of whom the Psalmist sang, in those prophetic words, "Men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed." As Isaac's eldest son, Esau was naturally destined to be, so to speak, chief of the great clan: not only would he inherit a double portion of his father's wealth, but he would be one of the successive heads of that favoured nation, who were to be in multitude "like the stars of heaven, or the sand upon the seashore." Moreover, there were spiritual privileges pertaining to his position. As the first-born, he would be the priest of the family. He would have a right to the covenant made with Abraham, and from his loins the Messiah would come. Never was a greater future before any child of man--never did a grander panorama of prospect open up to any one. Certainly no man of his day--no man living upon the earth--was so favoured as he. His "birthright" was everything to him. It was far more valuable than all other possessions. We can fancy him prizing it, glorying in the thought of it. We ca...