ful mother, who sincerely devoted him to God. Solomon had a faithful father, who trained him up in the way he should go. Timothy's mother and grand mother were persons of unfeigned faith, by whose pious care he was taught the holy Scriptures from a child.* These were remarkable instances of God's covenant faithfulness to pious parents. It was the duty of the Jews to obey the Christian dispensation when it was introduced. Had the Jews followed the steps of Abraham, they would have gladly received Christ when he came. He said to those who rejected him, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham."-"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad."+ Literally, Abraham, your father, joyfully leaped, that he might see my day; and he saw it, and rejoiced. "The just shall live by faith." In the gospel of Christ, "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;" from the faith of the Mosaic dispensation, to the faith of *II. Tim. i. 5. iii. 15. † John, viii. 39, 40-56. Rom. iii. 17. the Christian dispensation. It was the duty of the Jews to obey the law of Moses. It was their duty to hearken to John the Baptist. When Christ came, it was their duty to obey him; and it was for rejecting him, that the Jews in general were deprived of their visible church privileges. "Because of unbelief they were broken off."* But some of them believed. Simeon, Anna and others, who were waiting for redemption in Israel, were true children of Abraham, and rejoiced to see Christ, when he was an infant. Others believed on him after hearing his gracious words. "As many as received him," while he abode on earth, oF after his ascension, whether Jews, or Gentiles, were "Abraham's" spiritual "seed, and heirs, according to the promise." They became the children of God by adoption; being “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, [or a man, that is, a male, andros] but of God." Like Abraham, Christians "walk by faith, not by sight." In imitation of the faith and submission of Abraham, they are to believe all, that God has revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, however sublime and mysterious some of the doctrines of the *Rom. xi. 20. gospel may appear, and to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus. They are to manifest their faith in Jesus and love to him, by keeping his commandments. Thus walking with God, they will from time to time receive cheering manifestations of the Divine favour; Jesus and his Father will come to them, and make their abode with them. If Abraham, who lived about 1800 years, before Jesus, the glorious seed, was born, leaped with joy, that he might obtain a prospect of the Saviour's day, and when, by a lively faith, he had a clearer prospect of it, than he had before enjoyed, was glad; how ought those Christians, who live above 1800 years since the birth of Jesus, to love the Saviour, and rejoice in his salvation! All Christians, in every age, ought to cleave to Jesus, as their only hope, as "the LORD" their "righteousness;" accounting "all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" their "Lord." Desiring to "win Christ, and be found in him ;" not considering themselves, as "already perfect," as having" already attained" the great object of their wishes, but pressing towards the mark for the prize of their high vocation, "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." They are to be imitators of those, ise." "who through faith and patience inherit the promises;" particularly of Abraham, who having "patiently endured," "obtained the promChristians "have need of patience;" that having "done the will of God," they may receive that incorruptible, undefiled and unfading inheritance, which is reserved for them in heaven. Being "compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses," it becomes them, laying aside every weight, and the sin, which so easily besets them, to "run with patience the race" set before them, "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of" their "faith," considering what he endured, and how he is exalted, and remembering that those only, who endure to the end, will be saved in Jesus with an everlasting salvation, and be glorified with their Lord. Under Jesus, as the Captain of their salvation, they are to "fight the good fight of faith," taking to themselves the panoply of God, that they may be able successfully to oppose all their spiritual enemies, and trusting that they shall be more than conquerors, through him who loved them. When from time to time they obtain spiritual victories, they will be cheered with the gracious presence of the "King of righteousness," and "King of peace," who is a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. "His dearest flesh he makes" their food," Thus he gives them spiritual life. This he does, especially, when they enjoy the privilege of eating bread and drinking wine in solemn remembrance of their Saviour's death. Waiting upon the Lord in this ordinance, and in other ways, they "renew their strength"" Abraham gave Melchisedec the tenth of all the spoils; and Christians are to ascribe all the glory of their salvation to their divine Melchisedec. : Christians are to imitate Abraham in his peaceable and affectionate conduct towards Lot. Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." Christians are, as far as they can, to live peaceably with all men. Among themselves they are to endeavour to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;" considering, that they are brethren. All men are brethren, as the children of Adam, and, in a certain sense, the offspring of God. But |