99 1

are come. It is equally certain, that those elders, who through faith obtained a good report, had this high testimony of the Spirit, not merely for their own peace and joy in believing, but also, that their examples might serve as guides and landmarks to the Church, through all its history. They form an important part of that great cloud of witnesses who comabout the faithful soldiers and servants of pass Jesus Christ, in their gracious warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Being dead, they yet speak. They bear testimony to the unsearchable riches of mercy in the covenant of redemption; to the unchangeable faithfulness of its surety, Jesus Christ, "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" and to the Almighty power of God the Holy Ghost, whereby they were "kept, through faith unto salvation." It is a Christian's duty, when reading the histories of these saints, to follow them by faith within the vail; and to see the happiness of their state, while awaiting the resurrection of the just, at the second coming of their Lord. They were men who "through faith and patience have inherited the promises." And their testimony is given to the intent that, "laying aside every

1 1 Cor. x. 11.

weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, we should run with patience the race that is set before us, (if indeed we have entered upon the spiritual course,) looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame; and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Among these elder saints, of whom the world was not worthy, the Patriarch Abraham occupies a distinguished place. The Holy Scriptures have invested him with titles and relations the most illustrious and important. They have described him as the father of the faithful, the friend of God,-the covenant representative of that Incarnate Word who is the Federal Head of the whole household of God, the chosen parent, in whose seed all the families of the earth should be blessed. Were he however to be exhibited only under these aspects, he would be invested with so large a measure, not only of superiority, but of abstraction, as to appear removed beyond the sphere of ordinary sympathies. He would therefore become an object of admiration, rather

mean of practical usefulness to the church, as one of the loftiest examples of faith 1 Heb. xii. 1, 2.

1

and holiness. But mark the graciousness and consideration of divine wisdom in the revelation of mercy to man! In the "great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh," we have not only "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; " but a Saviour invested with all the needful sympathies of our nature. He can therefore be touched with a feeling of our infirmities, for that He Himself hath suffered, being tempted. That very Redeemer, who in his divine nature is one with the Father over all, God blessed for evermore, wept, in the depth of human feelings, over the grave of a friend; and commended his mother to the disciple whom He loved, in the last agony of his passion. We have the preciousness of his atonement, for the pardon of sin; of his obedience, as the perfect righteousness of every believer; of his Spirit, as the Sanctifier and Comforter of the Church; and the blessed example of his most holy life, to direct the goings of its members heavenward. Even so in the case of Abraham. He is not only a man highly dignified of God, and mystically related to the heirs of salvation, but he has a peculiar claim upon the regard of all Christians, as perhaps the chief of those eminent saints who trod the pilgrimage of grace in the

twilight of its day, "before the Sun of Righteousness arose upon the world with healing in his wings." His eventful life is a beautiful realization of the principle of faith, whereby alone man can live to God, and do his will. He is an instance, the most animating, of its power, its walk, its trials, and its victories. We behold in him divine history teaching by a noble example; and the precept of the Holy Ghost practically illustrated by the conduct of one in whom He truly dwelled.

It is my purpose, therefore, in dependance on the divine blessing, to undertake a series of discourses upon the life and character of this devoted servant of God. I commence his por

fear, and in much

traiture in weakness, in trembling. Join with me in supplication, that my feebleness may be strengthened, my ignorance enlightened, my confined and unworthy views of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory enlarged. Plead for me at the throne of grace, that the storehouse may be made by the Holy Ghost more capacious to hold the bread of life, and the steward more faithful to distribute it among you!

The text has been selected, as furnishing, out of the argument of which it forms a part,

1 Mal. iv. 2.

the most undeniable proof, that every one who professes the gospel of a crucified Saviour in sincerity and truth, has an immediate and personal interest in the history of this illustrious believer; and that too, an interest the most momentous, because it is spiritual and gracious.

If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Holy Spirit of God, the unerring Teacher of all who seek Thee, open our eyes that we may understand, and our hearts, that we may receive thy word!

The subject obviously divides itself into two particulars,

I. THE SUPPOSITION MADE. If ye be Christ's. II. THE CONCLUSION DRAWN. Then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

We proceed then to examine briefly, THE APOSTLE'S SUPPOSITION. It is a view equally chilling, unsatisfactory, and unscriptural, to regard St. Paul's assumption as merely referring to a moral imitation of our Lord's temper of mind, holiness, and purity,-a kind of dim and distant connexion between Himself and his disciples, made visible only by the slight resemblance which may exist between persons