ABRAHAM. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.-Hebrews, xi. 8, 9, 10. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.-Romans, iv. 3. HIM God the Most High, vouchsafed All nations shall be blest; he straight obeyed, Milton. Like Abraham ascending up the hill Though round him numerous tribes, Sworn foes to Heaven's dread Ruler, pitch their tents, No wayward doubts or coward fears appal The Patriarch's soul. By the bright hope sustained, That in his seed all nations should be blest, Calm and unmoved the delegated seer Submissive bends to the Eternal Will. Samuel Hayes. ABSENCE. I PAUL myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you.--II. Corinthians, x. 1. I write these things, being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me.-II. Corinthians, xiii. 10. To Jesus, the crown of my hope, And waft me away to His throne! My Saviour, whom absent, I love, All glory, dominion, and pow'r. Thus far my God hath led me on, Through this wild wilderness I roam, Temptations everywhere annoy, Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews, If love to God and love to men Cowper. Fawcett. Watis. ACCEPTANCE. THUS saith the Lord unto this people, thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet; therefore the Lord doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Jeremiah, xiv. 10. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. --Psalm xix. 14. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.-Ephesians, v. 10. God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.-Acts, x. 34, 35. THIS woman, whom thou mad 'st to be my help, Thus I imboldened spake, and freedom and God is a spirit just and wise; He sees our inmost mind; In vain to heaven we raise our cries, And leave our souls behind. Nothing but truth before his throne The painted hypocrites are known Milton. Milton. Lord search my thoughts, and try my ways, And make my soul sincere; Then shall I stand before thy face, And find acceptance there. Accept my prayer O Lord, A contrite spirit cries, And asks, depending on Thy word, Let me acceptance find, Unworthy though I be; Be there a place in heaven assigned Watts. Anon. ACQUAINTANCE. ACQUAINT now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.--Job, xxii. 21. ACQUAINT thee, O mortal! acquaint thee with God; And joy, like the sunshine, shall beam on thy road; And peace, like the dewdrop, shall fall on thy head; And sleep, like an angel, shall visit thy bed. Acquaint thee, O mortal! acquaint thee with God; And he shall be with thee when fears are abroad, Thy safeguard in danger that threatens thy path, Thy joy in the valley and shadow of death. Knox. Acquaint thyself with God, if thou would'st taste It yields them: or recumbent on its brow And such well pleased to find it, asks no more. To read his wonders, in whose thought the world, Not for its own sake merely, but for his Cowper. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.-Genesis, i. 27. By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.-Romans, v. 12. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. -I. Corinthians, xv. 21, 22. The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.-I. Corinthians, xv. 45. THOU man thy image mad'st, in dignity, In knowledge and in beauty like to thee; For contemplation he, and valour formed; Round from his parted forelock manly hung So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard |