Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/108

 in  future? At the  end  of  this  lesson  we  will  say  three  Our  Fathersfor  the  conversion  of  sinners.

Detest and  fear  sin,  especially  sins  of  impurity. Set hell before your  eyes,  think  of  its  horrible  torments,  and  carefully avoid all  temptations  to  such  sins. Say thus:  “What  will  the whole world  profit  me,  if  I follow  my  own  inclinations,  and  suffer eternally in  hell!”

ARA gave  birth  to  a son,  as  the  Lord  had  promised. He was named  Isaac,  and  circumcised  on  the  eighth  day. Abraham loved this  son  very  tenderly,  and  the  Lord  wished  to  see whether he  loved  his  son  more  than  God. When the  boy  had grown up,  the  Lord  said  to  Abraham:  “Take  thy  only-begotten son Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  go  into  the  land  of  vision,  and there thou  shalt  offer  him   for  a holocaust  upon  one  of  the mountains which  I will  show  thee.”  Abraham  instantly  arose, and by  night  saddled  his  ass,  taking  with  him  two  young  men, and Isaac,  his  son. And when  he  had  cut  the  wood  for  the holocaust, he  went  to  the  place  which  God  had  shown  him. On the third  day  he  came  in  sight  of  Mount  Moria,  where  he  was to sacrifice  his  son;  and  he  said  to  the  servants:  “Stay  you  here with the  ass;  I and  the  boy  will  go  with  speed  as  far  as  yonder, and, after  we  have  worshipped,  will  return  to  you.”  Then  he took  the  wood  for  the  holocaust,  and  laid  it  upon  the  shoulders of Isaac. He himself  carried  in  his  hands  fire  and  a sword. As they  went  along,  Isaac  said:  “My  father.”  And  Abraham