[Commons] [School] [Garden] [Kitchen] [Meditorium] [Library]
rigby/abraham-001.htm

THE WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM

CHAPTER 1

BEHOLD my son, I have caused to come into thine hands a fragment of the writings of Abraham in which he hath left a record of his sojourn among men and of the blessings of the Lord unto him. This I have brought to thee that thou might restore that which is lost that the fullness of the record in its original purity might be found again among the sons of God.

2 Behold, these things are sacred, wherefore, send them not forth unto the children of men but let them be for the edification of the elect that your hearts may be turned unto the Fathers and ye may draw close to them and they to you.

3 Thus will the veil be withdrawn and ye will commune with the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn and shall even be ushered back unto my presence.

4 Go to now and do this work which I have placed in thine hands. Amen.

CHAPTER 2

I, Abraham, was born the son of Terah who was Prime Minister to Nimrod who reigned in Ur of the Chaldees.

2 Now this Nimrod was a wicked man and an idolater and my father was led to follow after his abominations.

3 Moreover, Nimrod was a man of mighty power for he was Master Mahan and had in his hands the secrets of the ancients as they had come down from Cain wherein he knew the words of power and the signs for using them and he had the holy garments which had been given unto Adam in the garden in which was great power.

4 All of this power did Nimrod use to get gain after the manner of the secret combination.

5 With his power he had set out to build a tower which would reach to heave, even the city of my father Enoch which had been taken up, that he, Nimrod, might depose God from his throne for God had taken up his abode among the people of Enoch.

6 But God frustrated the plans of Nimrod by confounding the language of him and his people that they could no longer remember the sacred words and they scattered forth over the face of the earth.

7 At that time Nimrod came and established the city of Ur which is the City of Light, for he yet retained his determination to build a city to rival the city of God that the light and power might center in him.

8 And through the ministration of Satan he did receive again some of the words of power and did reorganize the secret combination among his people; but he had not power as at the first for the fullness of the pure language was not restored to him according to the decree of the Most High God.

9 Now, in all the wickedness of Nimrod, my father stood by his side for he was deceived by the subtle cunning and power which Nimrod possessed.

CHAPTER 3

MY father Terah was the son of Nahor and Hanor was the son of Serug and Serug was the son of Reu and Reu was the son of Peleg in whose days the earth was divided.

2 Peleg was the son of Eber who was the son of Eber who was the son of Salah who was the son of Arphaxad the son of Shem, who was Melchizedek, which by interpretation is king priest, for he was a king and a priest of the Most High God.

CHAPTER 4

NOAH was the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, who was taken up with his city that they might minister unto those in the flesh who sought a higher law than was available to them on the earth.

2 Now the birth of Noah was after this manner: While his father Lamech was journeying toward his home from preaching the gospel among the sons of men, most of whom had rejected his testimony, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him and saluted him, saying, Hail Lamech, thou favored one of God, for according to the promise of the Lord God to thy father Enoch, thou hast been chosen to be father to him though whom the seed of the Gods will be preserved through the great flood which the Gods will send upon the earth in judgment, for all the sons of men have gone astray through the corruptions of those angels who fell from among the Gods and mingled their seed with the daughters of men and begat sons of great strength and mighty wickedness.

3 Yea, these have caused all flesh to corrupt their way before the Lord; wherefore they shall be destroyed, save thy son who shall be the seed of the angels.

CHAPTER 5

THE mother of Noah was also the daughter of Methuselah for Lamech and his wife had the same father but different mothers.

2 And when Noah was born, his body was full of light, which thing caused great consternation to his father and mother and his father's wives and children and all his house.

3 Moreover, the child stood upon his feet when he had come forth from the womb and his tongue was loosed and he did sing praises unto the Lord saying, I will praise thee, O Lord, for thou art the source of all power, yea, the wellspring whence it floweth unto the sons of God, and thou art also abounding in wisdom and great and mighty counsel unto thy servants.

4 Nevertheless, though thou art a God who is long-suffering in judgment, the sins of the children of men have come up before thy face and thy fury hath waxed strong and will be visited with judgments upon the earth.

5 Thy mercies, O Lord, are beyond number, but thou art a God that visiteth wrongdoing upon the children of men who the fullness of their iniquity hath come upon them.

6 Therefore shall the earth be destroyed according to the word of God which cannot fail.

7 For the waters of the flood shall come upon the earth and all things shall perish from before thy face, O Lord.

8 Nevertheless, in thee do we put our trust for in whatsoever thou doest, O Lord, thou hast ever done justly. Amen.

CHAPTER 6

THESE things were a source of amazement and concern unto Lamech who thereupon went unto his father, Methuselah, and finding him in the temple he said, My father, this day did my wife, they daughter, bear a manchild.

2 And at his birth the room was full of light so that we could not look upon him and when we could look upon him, behold, the child's hair was white and fire seemed to come from his eyes and then he stood upon his feet and sang a hymn of praise unto the Lord and lo, he seemed to have the tongue of an angel.

3 Tell me now the meaning of these things and how can I raise such a son?

CHAPTER 7

HEARING these words, Methuselah, too, was troubled and said, Fear not, my son, for although I know now the meaning of these things, I will go unto my father, Enoch, for he is privy to the angels and he will be able to explain all things to us.

2 Whereupon, Methuselah traveled to the top of the highest mountain whence he could speak unto his father, Enoch, and he said unto him, My father, my daughter, who is the wife of my son Lamech, hath this day brought forth a manchild.

3 And at his birth the room was full of light so that they could not look upon him and when they could look upon him, Behold the child's hair was white and fire seemed to come from his eyes and then he stood upon his feet and sang a hymn of praise unto the Lord and lo, he seemed to have the tongue of an angel.

4 Thus saith my son Lamech, who is greatly perplexed as to the meaning of these things and how he can raise such a son.

CHAPTER 8

HEARING this report, Enoch comforted his son Methuselah, saying, Fear not, my son, nor fret thyself about this matter for did not a holy angel visit thy son Lamech and tell him that this should be the seed of the angels? And was it not so?

2 For this cause have these things happened; but on the eighth day when the child is circumcised, he shall be covered and shall appear as other men except that his hair shall remain white as a token that through him the Lord will do a mighty work.

3 This word did Methuselah return to his son Lamech and he was comforted.

CHAPTER 9

AND on the eighth day when the child was circumcised, he was covered that he became as other men except that his hair remained white and they called his name Noah, which by interpretation is comfort, because, Lamech said, Mine heart is comforted to know that my seed shall be preserved through the great flood.

CHAPTER 10

AND the child grew and waxed strong in wisdom and mighty in the power of the priesthood for he was initiated into the Order of the Ancients in his childhood and learned the rites and ordinances and the powers of the priesthood with the signs and tokens and key words wherewith he could call upon the powers of heaven to combat the forces of the adversary.

2 And when he was come of age, he took twelve wives and begat many sons and daughters who grew up in righteousness and served the Lord all their days and some died and others were caught up unto the city of Enoch.

3 But in the next generation they corrupted themselves, for the daughters of Noah's sons did go forth and lay with the sons of men, which thing was an abomination in the eyes of God.

4 Wherefore, the Lord said unto Noah, Behold, the daughters of thy sons have sold themselves, for behold, mine anger is kindled against the sons of men, for they will not hearken to my voice; wherefore, all those who go in unto them will be destroyed with them.

CHAPTER 11

AND when Noah was four hundred and fifty years old, he begat a son and he called his name Japheth.

2 Forty­two years later he begat another son of her who was the mother of Japheth, and he called his name Shem.

3 Eight years later Noah begat a son of his wife Naamah, who was of the seed of Cain, and he called his name Ham, for he said, Through him will the curse be preserved in the land.

CHAPTER 12

NOW Noah had taken a wife of the seed of Cain, and she was a righteous woman; nevertheless, the curse remained with her seed according to the word of God.

2 And Noah took her on this wise: For the word of the Lord came unto Noah, saying, Take unto thyself Naamah, the daughter of Lamech, who dwelleth here in the city of thy fathers, for she hath been faithful to my gospel, wherefore I shall preserve through her the seed of Cain through the flood.

3 This Lamech who was the father of Naamah was of the seed of Cain being the son of Methusael, the son of Mahujael, the son of Irad, the son of Enoch, the son of Cain.

4 Lamech had married Adah and Zillah, the daughters of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam. Adah bare children unto Lamech, but Zillah was barren until her old age when the Lord opened her womb, and she conceived and bare a son and a daughter.

5 Her son she named Tubal Cain, saying, After I had withered away have I obtained him from the Almighty God.

6 Her daughter she named Naamah, saying, After I had withered away have I obtained pleasure and delight.

CHAPTER 13

WHILE Naamah was yet a child, great consternation fell upon the seed of Cain, for Irad the Son of Enoch, the son of Cain, had become a member of the secret combination and was privy to all it secrets until one night when the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, Irad, thou hast done evil instead of good and hast followed after Satan rather than God; wherefore, I shall destroy thee and thine house when I send in the floods upon the earth.

2 But Irad was pricked in his heart and pled with the Lord to show mercy and preserve his seed through the great flood.

3 Seeing that his penitence was true, the Lord said to him, Irad, if thou wilt repent and reveal the evils of the secret combination unto the sons of Seth, I will have mercy upon thee and I will join thy seed unto the seed of Seth that it may be preserved through the great flood.

4 Wherefore, Irad went forth and began to reveal the secrets of the sons of Cain unto the sons of Seth.

5 Lamech, being Master Mahan at that time, found Irad sitting in his garden with Joram, the young son of Irad, and slew him.

6 Thus Lamech slew Irad for the sake of the oath of the secret combination and he slew Irad's son with him.

7 But Tubal Cain, the son of Lamech, had followed him and viewed his evil deed which he had committed and he revealed it unto his mother Zillah and she unto her sister Adah.

8 Wherefore, Adah and Zillah confronted Lamech with his evil and cursed him in the name of the Lord for having slain Irad who had repented of his wickedness from among the sons of men.

9 And Lamech said unto his wives Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech; hearken unto my speech, for I have slain a man to my wounding and a young man to my hurt.

10 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech shall be seventy and seven fold.

11 Lamech's wives, therefore, feared to confront him further, but Lamech repented not of his evil deeds and finding his son Tubal Cain at prayer, he slew him for having revealed his murders. 12 When Adah and Zillah, the wives of Lamech, learned of this, they took their remaining sons and daughters and went unto their father Cainan's city and revealed the remainder of the secrets of this evil combination among the sons of Adam.

13 Thus did Naamah come to dwell among the sons of Adam and she grew up before the Lord in righteousness and was known for her tender care toward the sick and the unfortunate.

14 Nevertheless, she had not husband because she was of the forbidden race.

CHAPTER 14

WHEN the word of the Lord came unto Noah, saying, Take unto thyself Naama, the daughter of Lamech who dwelleth here in the city of thy fathers, for she hath been faithful to my gospel, wherefore, I shall preserve through her the seed of Cain through the flood, Noah went unto his father, Methuselah.

2 Methuselah inquired of the Lord and returned this word unto his son Lamech: Verily, thus saith the Lord, Mine handmaiden Naamah have I given unto my son Noah that the seed of Cain might be preserved through the great flood which I will send upon the earth.

3 Wherefore, let not my son Noah fear to take her to wife, for in so doing he shall be blessed for through him will come all nations.

4 Wherefore, say unto him, Noah, my son, I have looked upon the evils of the sons of men which have come up before me, for they have corrupted the whole earth save only this city in which thou dwellest.

5 Therefore, I will send in the floods upon the earth but thou and thy seed will I preserve through the flood, for I will send mine angels to instruct thee in the building of an ark wherein ye shall be saved.

6 Behold, I shall establish thy seed before me forever and I will spread them abroad over the earth as numerous as the sand upon the seashore.

7 Thy seed shall not cease as long as the earth shall stand but through thee and thy priesthood which will be preserved in thy seed shall all nations be blessed.

CHAPTER 15

WHEN Lamech returned this word to his son, Noah rejoiced and praised the Lord saying, I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, for thou hast been unto me a strong wall against all that would seek my destruction.

2 Yea, thou hast promised to shelter my from the disasters which are coming upon the earth, that the floods shall not come in upon me to destroy my seed from the earth.

3 Thou hast set my foot upon a rock that the sons of men shall not prevail against me.

4 Yea, I will walk in the way of the Ancients; in the paths which thou hast appointed will I spend my days for thou art my Shield and my Deliverer and in Thee will I trust all the days on my life. Amen.

CHAPTER 16

THUS did Noah take to wife Naamah, the daughter of Zillah, the wife of Lamech of the seed of Cain, and she bare him a son whom he named Ham, and thus was the curse preserved in the land through the great flood.

2 For when the patience of God was ended in which He did grant a space of time for repentance unto the sons of men, the floods came in upon the earth and destroyed all flesh from off the face of the earth save eight souls only, for Noah and his youngest wife Adah, and his three sons Shem, Japheth, and Ham and one of each of their wives were preserved in the ark which the angels had instructed Noah in building.

3 The remainder of the righteous had died or been caught up into Enoch's city prior to the time of the flood, and these eight were saved.

CHAPTER 17

NOW when the flood had abated and the ark had come to rest upon the top of a mountain, Noah and his family descended the and after offering sacrifices unto the Lord and dedicating the land, they began to till the ground and raise all manner of crops.

2 And when the grape harvest was come in, Noah made wine and drank of the new wine in his tent and his heart was made glad and he rejoiced before the lord for the bounty which the Lord had given him.

3 And it was upon the Feast of Pentecost when Noah drank of the new wine before the Lord and lay down naked in his tent to sleep.

4 When Ham, the son of Noah, entered the tent he saw his father sleeping naked upon his bed with the sacred garments which had been given to Adam in the garden of Eden laying nearby.

5 Ham knew that he and his posterity could not bear the priesthood because of the curse of Cain which was upon them and knowing there was great power in the sacred garments, he stole them form his Father Noah and hurried to his tents.

6 Rousing his family, Ham instructed them to strike their tents and led them away to the plain of Shinar where he dwelt and where Ham died.

7 Now Ham's wife was named Zeptah and she was also of the seed of Cain and they had a daughter named Zeptah.

8 This daughter, after the death of Ham, led a body of his people westward until they reached a body of water in the land of Zeptah, which is Egypt, where they settled and as the waters receded from off the land, they spread out and build many cities and temples.

CHAPTER 18

BEFORE the death of Ham, the sacred garments were given secretly by him to his son Cush

2 Cush also kept them hidden and in his old age gave them unto his son Nimrod and when Nimrod was twenty years of age, he put on the garments and he derived great strength and power from them.

3 Moreover, Nimrod was instructed in all the secrets of the evil combination by his father Cain, for Cain had not perished in the flood.

4 Wherefore, Nimrod became a mighty man among the sons of men and established his kingdom and grew stronger and stronger in wickedness after the order of the secret combination which was from the beginning, for Nimrod spread his dominion over all mankind save those in the city of Shalom.

CHAPTER 19

SHEM ruled in the city of Shalom and he was called

Melchizedek, for the reigned as king under his father Noah, and was a priest of the Most High God.

2 After the departure of Ham from the presence of his father Noah, Shem and Japheth dwelt together in peace under the benign rule of Noah; but in time, conflict arose among them and Noah led the seed of Shem to a new land which the Lord showed him where they built a city which they called Shalom, the City of Peace.

3 Noah invested his son Shem with authority to reign as Prince of Peace, and Noah devoted his days to instructing his people after the Order of the Ancients.

4 And his people dwelt in righteousness and worshipped the Lord their God and served Him.

5 They established the order of heaven among them and sought after the City of Enoch and the Lord came among them and ministered to them and those who sought for the gain of this world went out from among them, for they held all things common after the order of Enoch and no man had above his neighbor.

CHAPTER 20

AMONG those who went forth from the city of Shalom was Peleg, who traveled to the northwest and established a city after the order of his father Noah, for Peleg was the son of Eber, the son of Salah, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem; and his people sought after the heavenly order and obtained it for they were caught up like the City of Enoch.

2 But Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, followed not after the way of his fathers, for he sought after gain for himself; wherefore, he led those who were of a like mind with himself out from the City of Peleg and they journeyed even unto the land of Shinar and became confederate with Nimrod.

3 Under the direction of Nimrod, Serug and his companions entered into the secret combination and became men of power and wealth in Nimrod's kingdom.

4 In the land of Shinare, Serug begat Nahor, and Nahor begat Terah, my father.

5 And Terah became great in the eyes of Nimrod, and Nimrod elevated him over all his people to stand at his right hand and advise him on all matters.

CHAPTER 21

NOW, my father Terah took many wives and begat many children.

2 And when he was sixty­five years of age, he took to wife Amthelo, the daughter of Cornebo, the son of Serug, and she was a young woman of fifteen years.

3 And when Terah was seventy years old, his wife Amthelo conceived and bare him a son whom he named Abram, which be interpretation is Exalted Father, for he said, Nimrod hath raised me on high over all his host, wherefore, my seed shall reign as gods forever.

4 Now this prophecy he spake, not knowing that it was of the Lord God.

CHAPTER 22

ON the night that I was born, their were great sings in the heavens, and when Nimrod's astrologers saw them, they were astonished and they spake evil of me to the king, saying that surely I should overthrow his kingdom.

2 Wherefore, they counseled the king to purchase me of my father that they might slay me and thus frustrate the plans of God.

3 King Nimrod thereupon sent for my father, Terah, and spake unto him of the words of the astrologers and asked for his son in return for a great sum of gold and silver.

4 But the Spirit of the Lord wrought upon my father that he was loathe to give me up to the king.

5 On the night that I was born, a son was also born unto one of my father's concubines and this child my father took unto the king and the king slew him in my stead, for thus had God ordained that I might grow up to serve him, the only wise and true God, and strive to establish his order in the earth all my days.

CHAPTER 23

THUS was my life saved by my father Terah, and he took me with my mother, Amthelo, and my nurse, Edna, unto a cave hidden in the mountains some distance from the city of Ur where he secreted us and visited us each month at the New Moon.

2 For my father thus informed the king that he went each month on the New Moon to a spot sacred to his family deity.

3 For in the kingdom of Nimrod, each man worshipped gods of his own make, gods of wood and stone, each after the imagination of his own heart.

4 Thus did I dwell in the cave with my mother, Amthelo, and my nurse, Edna, and knew no other man save my father, Terah, and my elder brothers, Haran and Nahor, who accompanied my father on his visits.

CHAPTER 24

WHEN I was three years of age, the Lord visited me in a dream of the night and he said unto me, Abram.

2 And I said, Here am I.

3 And he said unto me, Abram, I am the God of thy fathers Peleg and Shem and Noah.

4 It is I who preserved thy life when the wicked king Nimrod would have destroyed thee, for I softened the heart of thy father that he should hide thee away.

5 This I did for I have a mighty work for thee to do in establishing mine order upon the earth, and, verily, I say unto thee, I the end, through thee shall this wicked Nimrod be destroyed from off the face of the earth.

6 Behold, thou shalt remain in this cave with thy mother and thy nurse for yet seven years, and at the end of that time thou shalt depart and I will send mine angel to guide thee unto the city of thy father Noah where thou shalt be instructed in the way of life.

7 And from that time forth the Lord instructed me often in dreams of the night that my mind was opened to the ways of his kingdom.

CHAPTER 25

WHEN I was ten years of age, I departed from the cave by night while my mother and my nurse slept and the angel of God met me and led me to the city of Shalom where Noah and his son Shem dwelt, and no man knew where I was.

2 And I dwelt with Noah and Shem for thirty­nine years, being instructed in all the ways of the Most High God.

3 And finding great happiness and peace and rest therein, I sought for the blessings of the Fathers and I received, under the direction of Noah and Shem, those instructions whereby I might enter into the Order of the ancients and I became a rightful heir and high priest, holding the right belonging to the Fathers. For I was ushered into the Church of the Firstborn and tasted of the fruits of heavenly life.

CHAPTER 26

IN my fiftieth year, Father Shem called my into his presence and instructed me to return to the house of my father, for there were many there now who were seeking after light and truth for they had seen the foolishness of worshipping idols of wood and stone, but they knew not where to find the true God.

2 And Father Shem blessed me saying, Blessed art thou Abram of the Most High god for He hath looked upon thee and found thine heart right before Him.

3 For this cause, the Most High shall visit thee and thou shalt stand at the head and be the father of a multitude, for many nations shall spring forth from thy loins.

4 Behold, in thy father's house dwelleth she to whom the promises belong, for she is a princess in the house of the Most High and shall reign as a queen over thy posterity forever.

5 Seek after her and take her to wife for she will be the mother of the promised seed.

6 The blessings of the God of Noah attend thee, my son, as thou journeyest on thy way for, from this time forth, thou shalt be a wanderer in the earth until thy seed shall come in to inherit this land by the power of God and the sword of His might.

7 Be faithful always, preach the truth in soberness and be valiant in the cause of God, and thou shalt be blessed forevermore. Amen.

CHAPTER 27

WITH this blessing resting upon me, I gathered together my family, for I had taken seven wives in the city of Shalom who had borne me fifty daughters.

2 And although I had no sons of mine own flesh, yet I had adopted twelve sons of those who were faithful to the Order of the Ancients and foremost among these was Eliezer of Damascus who had come to the city of Shalom seeking after the blessings of the Fathers and had remained as my son.

3 Him I appointed as steward over all I possessed for this journey, for he stood as mine heir for I loved him as my son and brother.

4 But Father Shem said unto me, Eliezer is a good and righteous man and he shall be greatly blessed in time and in eternity, but he shall not be thine heir who shall be thine heir who shall take in the house of thy father, for she is ordained to be thy queen of queens and the mother of thine heir.

5 Wherefore, as I have said, I gathered together my wives and my daughters and my adopted sons and their wives and children and I said unto them, Hear my words, beloved and hearken unto my speech, for I have been sent with a mission unto the house of my father in the land of Shinar to gather out the pure in heart who are seeking after the true God.

6 Gather together all your goods and make you tents in which to dwell and saddle your asses to travel upon for the Most High God hath declared that we shall be wanderers upon the earth from this time forth until our seed shall come in to inherit this land by the power of God and the sword of his might.

CHAPTER 28

THEN commenced they their preparations and on the appointed day, all was in readiness for our departure.

2 And when Father Shem came forth to bless us, Father Noah came also with him.

3 Now Father Noah dwelt in the temple in the heart of the city of Shalom and seldom came out of the holy place, for I had never seen him without its sacred precincts.

4 But he came forth at this time and lifted up his hands and blessed us in the name of the Most High God and we departed from his house.

CHAPTER 29

WE journeyed slowly for there sake of the women and children and we journeyed not upon the Sabbath day nor upon any of the holy days, for we thought it better to worship the Lord our God according to the pattern of heaven than to proceed rapidly upon our way, and we did know that the Lord prospered us in our journey and protected us from the power of all our enemies because we did faithfully serve Him and worship before His throne according to the divine pattern.

2 But at length we did arrive in the land of Shinar at the city of Ur.

3 Now the size of this city was immense.

4 Its buildings were grand and beautiful with gardens upon the rooftops and rivers of water running down from level to level.

5 The streets were wide and smooth and the inhabitants wealthy, dwelling in luxury.

6 Merchant caravans continually entered and left her gates and the great of all nations came here to pay homage to the might King Nimrod.

7 Nevertheless, the wealth of this great city was built upon sin for the people served many idol gods and offered upon their altars men, women, and children after the same manner as the Egyptians.

8 And they had numerous slaves who were kept down in bondage and poverty and were driven like dumb beasts to provide the luxury in which their masters dwelt.

9 Behold, the inhabitants of the city did delight in whoredom and adultery and murder and all manner of evil, whereby they might get gain.

10 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them.

11 Nevertheless, he did let them go on that they might be fully ripened in iniquity before the fullness of his wrath should fall upon them.

12 All of these things did the Lord God show unto me in a dream on the night before we entered into the city of Ur; and He said unto me, Abram, this city is vile and corrupt, but in it are some few souls who have not bowed the knee to their idol gods and it is because of their prayers that I have brought you here, that they might be taught to worship the true God after the order of heaven and be led out from wickedness and bondage.

13 Wherefore, go unto thy father's house, for thy mother hath sorrowed for these many years, and I have softened the heart of thy father toward these that he shall make thee welcome and will protect these against the anger of the king such that thou shalt be able to accomplish thy mission.

14 Behold, Abram, I am the Lord God of thy Fathers Shem and Noah, and of all the righteous Fathers back to Adam.

15 Wherefore, I will remain with thee and confirm upon thee all the blessings of the Fathers and thou shalt stand at the head of a multitude. Amen.

CHAPTER 30

IN the morning before entering the city, I gathered my family together consisting of my seven wives, my fifty daughters, my twelve adopted sons, and three hundred and fifty menservants whom Shem had sent with their families, being in all six thousand three hundred and seventy souls.

2 And I said unto them, Behold, this great city is steeped in wickedness and sin for the secret combinations which was from the beginning doth hold her sway.

3 Wherefore, ye shall remain here under the direction of Eliezer while I go alone into the city unto my father's house, for the Lord God of Shem and of Noah hath promised me that the will protect me against the anger of the king such that I shall be able to accomplish my mission.

4 I led my family in prayer before the Lord, kissed them all and departing from them, entered into the city.

CHAPTER 31

BEING led by the Spirit of the Lord, I found my father's house and, entering the gate, addressed the guard who was standing there, saying, Behold, I am Abram, son of Terah, who hath spent these forty years in the house of Shem.

2 Take me now to my father.

3 The guard stood as one dumbfounded, knowing not what to make of such a greeting, but at length called a boy whom he dispatched to locate my father.

4 At length the lad returned, followed closely by my father who was greatly surprised to see me, but who recognized me as his son by the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord.

5 By this time my arrival had caused great excitement throughout my father's household, which was very large, and my mother, having heard of my coming, hastened to the place where we were, weeping and rejoicing for she had thought that I had wandered from the cave and been slain by wild beasts in the wilderness.

6 At length she led me away to her chamber to talk with me and I told her of all that had transpired with me since my leaving the cave­­of my being led by the angel to the city of Shalom, of being instructed under the direction of Shem, of the increase of my family and of the mercies of the true God of heaven exercised in my behalf.

7 I talked to her of the futility of worshipping idols of wood and stone made by men's hands which have no power in them and of the Order of the Ancients which was preserved in the city of Shalom under Noah and Shem which I had been sent to proclaim in the great city of Ur.

CHAPTER 32

MY mother heard all my words and rejoiced in them for she was one whose heart had been turned from the worship of dumb idols to the worship of the unknown God.

2 Moreover, a small body of like believers numbering about one hundred souls met secretly in my father's house to worship the unseen God and pray for further light concerning his ways, among whom were my brother Haran, with his son Lot and his daughters Milcah and Sarai, and my brother Nahor.

3 Now, when my mother had heard my words, she bade me remain with her until evening when the believers were to meet in her rooms.

4 Wherefore, that night I met with those who had rejected the idolatry of their fathers and they were all of the seed of those who had come out from the city of Peleg.

5 Wherefore, I rehearsed unto them all the things I had told unto my mother and they likewise rejoiced therein.

6 But unto my father I spake not of these things at this time for he was yet privy to Nimrod and was steeped in his evil ways.

CHAPTER 33

WHEN I had dwelt in my father's house for seven days teaching the word of life unto the believers, I went unto my father as he sat in his outer court with his servants attending to affairs of state.

2 And when he would hear me, I said unto him, Father, where is the God who created heaven and earth and all the hosts of them?

3 My father Terah answered me and said, Behold, my son, those gods who created all things are here with us in the house.

4 My lord, show them to me I pray thee, I exclaimed.

5 Whereupon my father Terah led me unto a chamber in the center of his house wherein were twelve great idol gods and numerous smaller ones.

6 And my father said unto me, Behold, my son, these twelve great ones are rulers among the gods and this largest one is ruler above all and these others were their assistants in creating all things.

7 And my father Terah bowed down and worshipped before his idol gods and we departed from them.

CHAPTER 34

WHEN I departed from the presence of my father, I went unto my mother and said unto her, My mother, there is a great evil in this place for my father keepeth a room full of idols in the center of his house which thing is contrary to the commandments of God, wherefore the wrath of God shall not depart from this house until they are destroyed.

2 Let one of the young men be sent, therefore, to fetch a kid of the goats and make thereof savory meat for therewith shall I destroy these idols in which is neither life nor power.

3 My mother, therefore, summoned one of the young men who was with her in the house and sent him to fetch a kid of the goats whereof she made savory meat.

4 When it was prepared, I took the savory meat from her and went unto the room where by father kept his gods and I prayed there unto the Lord my God saying, O Lord god of Shem and of Noah, look upon me here in my weakness and strengthen mine arm that I may destroy these false gods and give me the wisdom and strength to go through all that follows and endure unto the end in service unto my God.

5 When I had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, even the Spirit of prophecy, and I was led to exclaim, Woe unto my father and this wicked and corrupt people among whom he dwelleth, whose hearts are all inclined to vanity, for they serve idols of wood and stone, the workmanship of their own hands, which neither eat nor smell nor hear nor speak, for there is no power in them and those who serve them shall likewise be powerless to escape when the wrath of God shall overtake them in a day they think not.

CHAPTER 35

AT this time the Spirit of God fell upon me in mighty power to strengthen mine arm, and picking up a hatchet which I had brought with me for that purpose, I destroyed all my father's idols, both wood and stone, by the power of God which was in me, except for the largest in whose hand I placed the hatchet.

2 Then going to my father I said unto him, My Father, I have seen a wondrous thing for my mother did make me savory meat this day to offer before the gods who created all things.

3 And when I took the meat in unto them, they all reached forth their hands to partake thereof.

4 When the one who is ruler above all saw their words, he being angered left the room and returned with a hatchet wherewith he destroyed the other gods, both wood and stone; and behold, he standeth there even now with the hatchet in his hand and the savory meat before him.

CHAPTER 36

HEARING these words, my father hastened unto the room of his gods and found it even as I had said, and his anger was kindled against me and he said, This is an idle tale thou hast told me and false.

2 Why hast thou done this thing and lied unto me?

3 These gods have no life in them to do these things for they are wood and stone and, behold, I myself have had them made by the craftsmen.

4 Why hast thou then come into mine house to destroy my gods?

CHAPTER 37

THE Spirit of the Lord fell upon me at this time that I should answer my father and I said unto him, How is it thou servest these idols of wood and stone, the handiwork of the craftsmen in which is neither life nor power to act?

2 Can these which cannot deliver themselves from the hatchet deliver thee from the power of the enemy?

3 Can they hear thy prayers when thou callest upon them from out of the midst of thine afflictions?

4 Surely it is an evil thing that thou and thy people should serve these false gods for the Lord Jehovah, he is the God who created heaven and earth and all that in them is, and he hath commanded all men to worship him only and to serve him all their days.

5 Behold, your fathers in the days before the great flood worshipped false idols after the same evil combination into which ye have entered and, because of their perversions, they were destroyed.

6 Will ye also go on in their wickedness to bring down the wrath of the Most High God upon you that ye, too, should be destroyed from under heaven?

7 Nay, my father, but repent of this evil and turn unto the Lord thy God and live.

8 So saying, I took the hatchet from the hands of the remaining idol and smote him with it until he was destroyed.

CHAPTER 38

MY father, hearing my words and seeing what I had done, increased in anger against me and hastened from his house unto the king, for he had access to King Nimrod both day and night.

2 When he had entered the kings' presence, he bowed down before him and he saith unto him, My lord king, fifty years ago a manchild was born unto my wife Amthelo, and when he was ten years old, we went on the new Moon to worship our ancestral god when my son wandered off into the desert and was lost.

3 But he was found by the people of the desert and raised by them and he hath recently found his way back into my house and I have received him with honor as my son.

4 Notwithstanding this, he did this day enter into the room of my gods and destroy them and hath spoken against our gods and against that ancient order which hath been handed down from our first father whereunto we are called.

5 Now, therefore, my lord king, send for him that he may be judged according to our law that this evil may be put away from among us.

6 The king thereupon sent three of his mighty men who fetched me from my father's house and brought me before the king.

CHAPTER 39

WHEN I appeared before King Nimrod, he was seated upon his throne in all his glory, but it was as darkness to me.

2 At his right hand sat my father Terah and around them sat the princes and noble ones of his realm.

3 And the king said unto me, What is this thing that thy father saith unto me, that thou didst this day enter into the room of his gods and destroy them and that thou hast spoken against our gods and against that ancient order which hath been handed down from our first father whereunto we are called?

[Continued on next page][Sacred Scriptures Contents]

[Commons] [School] [Garden] [Kitchen] [Meditorium] [Library]
rigby/abraham-001.htm

Archive/Mirror Of: The Absalom Collection