The Great Cloud of Witnesses; Or, Faith and Its Victories [In the Old Testament]. (Paperback)

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. 1868 Excerpt: ...pity in the fact of her barrenness, a condition lamented by every wife in Israel; but mocked on that account by her rival, whose jealousy, excited partially, we doubt not, by her husband's preference, did not a little to embitter Hannah's life. This was the effect of bigamy in a home where as much seems to have been done to mitigate its evils as could be done under almost any circumstances. And it is by quietly recording such facts that the Word of God bears its testimony to the nature and effects of the practice. Some have expressed surprise that bigamy and even polygamy is not formally condemned there, that its existence even among the patriarchs is mentioned without so much as a word of unfavourable comment. Careful readers, however, will not fail to observe that it is never mentioned without evil results being mentioned in connection with it, which are clearly traceable to its influence. Abraham's paternal troubles in reference to Ishmael were the consequence of his making Hagar his concubine, though by Sarah's advice. Jacob's home was distracted and a great part of his later years clouded with sorrow, because four women were the mothers of his children. David's numerous wives were the cause, directly or indirectly, of the greatest sorrows of his life. And Solomon's extensive harem led to such dubious testimony being borne to his character, that now it is a matter of dispute whether he be numbered among the saved or the lost. Such are the consequences which the Bible very clearly connects with a custom which was nevertheless permitted, like divorce, because of the hardness of men's hearts. And by presenting it to us in such light and in such connection, God's Word, apart from the original institution of marriage and the teaching of our Lord, leaves us i...