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DISCOURSE I.

PART I.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FAITH AND CONDUCT OF ABRAHAM.

GAL. iii. 6.

Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

THE high character, which the inspired Servants of God give of Abraham, justly intitles him to our esteem. He is called, the "friend of God,"*" the father of all them that believe:"t his faith and obedience are set as patterns for our imitation; and we are taught to estimate the value of our faith by its conformity to his. Propriety, therefore, as well as duty, require us to examine the nature and effects of that faith and obedience which were so eminent in him, that we may judge whether we are possessed of them. To this inquiry we are fed by the text, which presents four things to our consideration. I. The meaning of the phrase, "Abraham believed God."

II. What is meant by his belief being him for righteousness."

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III. What is meant by the expression, are of faith."

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IV. What we are to understand by "the children of Abraham."

*Jam, i. 23.

Rom. iv. 11.

VOL. II.

B

I. The first thing into which we are to inquire, is the meaning of the phrase, "Abraham believed God.” To ascertain this, I know no better way than to apply to the history of the faith of Abraham, as it is recorded in the Bible; for to that history the subsequent writers refer, in their commendations of him.

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The first instance we have of Abraham's faith, is his leaving his father's house and his country, at the command of God, and going into a strange land to sojourn, “not knowing whither he went,"* nor what was to be his portion in the world. When we reflect, that by the command of God, Abraham was obliged to leave his country, family, friends, connections, and all the interest and advantages which could arise from them; and to throw himself, unconnected, unsupported, friendless, and a stranger, on the wide world, trusting merely and solely to the promise which God had made, that he would be with him, and protect, and support him; it must appear, that his faith in the divine promise was exceedingly strong..

Should a reason be asked, why God commanded Abraham to leave his country; the common opinion is highly probable, that his countrymen were degenerating fast into idolatry; and that it was to preserve him, and, through him, the line from which the great Mediator was to spring, in the pure worship of the true God. For this promise was made to him at this time, "Thou shalt be a blessingand in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." This promise evidently relates to Messiah, the Mediator whom God had promised to Adam. It was, therefore, his faith in the promise of a Mediator to spring from bin, that induced Abraham to leave his country and religion, and to become a stranger and sojourner in the world. It 'could not be the promise of the land of Canaan-That was rather made to his descendants than to him; nor were they to enjoy it, till four hundred and thirty years after. Nor could it be the promise of worldly prosperity; of being made a great nation, and living under the blessing and protection of God. Worldly prosperity seems to have

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been more in his power, in his own country, than when he was a stranger and wanderer in the world. His father's family were probably of considerable note, if not among the first in Chaldea; and consequently his chance of worldly advantages was greater by staying at home, than by wandering abroad. But he sought "a better country, that is, a heavenly”—“ a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."* He, therefore, resigned himself up into the hands of God, to be directed by him in all things; knowing, that the promise he had received was merely of grace and favour, and only to be obtained in the precise way God should direct, Accordingly, at the next.interview which God afforded him, he graciously promised him a son, whereby the promise that all nations should be blessed in.bis seed became possible to him. Great must have been the support of this promise to his faith and hope; for it is with regard to this very promise, that Abraham is said to have "believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness."t

Another instance of the faith of Abrahan, was his confident assurance, that he should have a son by Sarah his wife, who had ever been childless, and was then arrived at the age, when the bearing of a child was beyond the power of nature. At the time this promise was made, the rite of circumcision was enjoined him. The great age of Sarah staggered not his faith in the promise; nor did the pain and inconvenience of circumcision make him hesitate in his obedience. He knew in whom he believed, and whom he obeyed; even the "Almighty God," before whom he was directed to "walk, and 'be perfect;" that is, with a sincere and upright heart, to believe all his declarations, and obey all his commands. This God, he knew, was able to fulfil the promise, and had a right to impose the command. He believed the promise, that he should have a son by Sarah, even against the course of nature, through whom the blessing of all nations should come: and he submitted to circumcision as the means of entering into that covenant which was to be established

*Heb. xi. 10, 16.

† Gen. xv. 6.

Gen. xvii. 1.

through the promised seed-a mark or seal on the part of God, that he would make good that promise; and a testimony to him, that he and his seed were heirs through hope of the promise, partakers in the covenant of mediation, and entitled to all the rights and privileges of it.

f shall mention but one instance more of the faith of Abraliain, and that is his offering up his son Isaac in sacrifice, at the command of God. This, probably, was the greatest trial that ever happened to mere man. He had received Isaac as the child of the promise, being assured, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed; and just as he was come to the years of manhood,* he had a positive and peremptory command to offer him up a burnt-offering to God. Who could bear this? An unheard of thing! A buman sacrifice! An obedient and beloved son to be slain and offered in sacrifice by a tender father! The child of promise to be put to death by him to whom the promise had been made! Where now is the mercy, and truth, and loving-kindness of God? His truth endureth to all generations,"t-his "mercy is great above the heavens," and his "faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." This Abraham knew, and that no word of his would fall to the ground. God had promised, and he would perform-God had commanded, and he would justify the deed. He knew that he had received Isaac by the power of God, and not according to the course of nature; that HE who gave him a son, was able to raise him. from the dead, and to fulfil all his promises in him; and he humbly trusted he would do so. Therefore he stumbled not at the command, but was confident God would fulfil the word which had gone out of his mouth. Graciously did God accept his faith and submission, and graciously did he reward them, by sending his angel to prevent the death of his son; by blessing him with temporal promises; and by renewing to him the assurance, that the blessing of all nations should come through him.

This instance of Abraham's faith affords the most live

* According to the chronology of the Bible, Isaac was, at this time, twentyfive years old.

+ Psa. c. 5,

+ cviii. 4.

§ xxxvi. 5.

Heb. xi, 19.

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