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umphs of Christianity in the regions of Arabia: yet, as if he had hitherto achieved nothing, he bends his forces towards Jerusalem: then he marks out Rome for the seat of his spiritual warfare. After this, he forms the same beneficent design upon Spain, including, in his V comprehensive plan, the metropolis and the boundaries* of the known world. The universe is but just large enough to be the scene of his action; he never dis continues the charitable campaign, but with the last breath of his life; and he speaks of this unintermitted course of arduous and dangerous services as if he was only going to make some friendly visit, or join in a party of innocent pleasure: After I have been at Je rusalem, I must also see Rome.'+

Which of your Alexanders, which of your Cæsars,

* Spain was then supposed to be the boundary of the western, as the Ganges was reckoned the extremity of the eastern world:

Omnibus in terris quæ sunt a Gadibus usque
Auroram et Gangen.
Juv. Sat. X.

+ I am quite charmed, I must confess, with this very simple, but incomparable gallant manner of the apostle's speaking; far beyond all the pomp of panegyric, it displays the hero.

When a handful of Spartans undertook to defend the pass of Thermopylae against the whole army of Persia, so prodigious, it was reported, were the multitudes of the Persians, that the very flight of their arrows would intercept the shining of the sun, Then,' said Dieneces, one of the Spartan leaders, we shall have the advantage of fighting in the shade.' Just before the battle of Agincourt, news was brought to king Henry's camp that the French were exceedingly numerous, and would take the field with more than six times the number of the English troops; to which the brave captain Gam immediately replied, 'Is it so then there are enough to be cut in pieces, enough to be taken prisoners, and enough to run away. A commanding officer, I think, among the royalists, being besieged by the parliamentary forces, was summoned to surrender the castle. The summons he rejected and treated with contempt. Upon this the enemy threatened, that if he persisted in his resolution, the walls should without farther delay be battered to the ground. What if they are?" was his answer, I am not obliged to rebuild them."

Such calm and undaunted sentiments, amidst circumstances of the most imminent danger, argue an uncommon fortitude and superiority of mind; but if we consider the nature of the apostle's enterprise, that it was nothing less than an open attack on the empire of Satan, a declared war against the whole idolatrous world; all which was to be attended with persecution and imprisonment, was to end in martydom and death: if we consider this, I believe nothing will appear at once so humble and so exalted, so modest, yet so magnanimous, as the turn and air of his expression, After I have been at Jerusalem, I must also see Rome.'

which of all the heroes renowned in Grecian or Roman story, can vie with the zeal and magnanimity of this poor, despised tent-maker? so poor, that he was constrained to work with his own hands for a morsel of bread; so despised, that he was frequently treated as the offscouring of all things. Notwithstanding all these discouragements, what did he not attempt, what did he not accomplish, for the honour of his Master, and the good of his fellow-creatures? He embarks in a shallop, he has neither shield nor spear, yet he purposes to command the ocean, and conquer the globe. What greatness of soul was here! He expects nothing but poverty, contempt, and death; yet his heart is big with the hope of enriching, ennobling, and saving ages and generations. What benevolence of temper was this! Should you inquire concerning this illus trious champion of the cross, who were his potent auxiliaries? None but the divine Spirit. What were his mighty weapons? Nothing but the word of truth and grace. Whence proceeded his intrepid, his enter prizing, his all-conquering resolution? Only from faith, a lively faith in Jesus Christ.

This, I think, is a sufficient confirmation of my doctrine. Nevertheless I have another instance to produce; one that was exhibited in an age when the glorious object of our faith shone with dim lustre and with distant beams; yet it may justly be admired, and will hardly be eclipsed, by the most enlightened among the Christian saints. To keep you no longer in suspense, the case 1 mean is that which Moses records, and the apostle celebrates: By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only-begotten son.' As this is so singular an example of the efficacious and triumphant operation of faith, unequalled in any nation of the world, or under any dispensation of religion, you will give me leave to dwell a little on some of its marvellous circumstances.

Abraham was an eminent and distinguished servant of the Most High God, favoured with peculiar manifestations of the divine will, and dignified with the + Heb. xi. 17.

Acts xx. 23.

honourable title of his Maker's friend; yet even this man is harassed with a long succession of troubles, and, which was reckoned in those ages the most de plorable calamity, goes childless.+

Long he waits, worshipping God with the most pa tient resignation; at length an oracle from the Lord gives him hope, gives him assurance of a son. Joyfully he receives the promise, and rests in humble expecta tion of its accomplishment. Several years run their rounds, but no pleasing infant prattles in his arms, or is dandled upon his knees: at last the handmaid becomes pregnant; but what a disappointment was here! this is the son of the bond woman, not of the free.

How afflicting the case of this excellent person! his kinsfolk and acquaintance see their olive-branches flou. rishing round about their tables: even his ungodly neighbours have children at their desire, and leave the residue of their substance for their babes. But Abraham, the worshipper of the Almighty, the favourite of heaven, this Abraham is destitute of an heir to support his name, to propagate his family, and inherit the blessing. O the straits to which the believer is sometimes reduced! How does a sovereign Providence try his faith as it were in a furnace of fire! Not that it may be consumed, but refined, and come forth with augmented lustre to the praise of ever-faithful, all-sufficient grace. God is pleased to renew the grant, and assure him But this more explicitly, that Sarah shall have a son. notice comes at a very late period in life, when Sarah is advanced in years, and too old, according to the course of nature, to conceive. However, the pious pa triarch staggers not through unbelief,' but hopes even against hope.' Is it improbable? is it difficult? nay," is it to all human appearance impossible? So much the 2 Chron. xx. 7. Isa. xli. 8.

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+ There was so much gall in this calamity, that it embittered every other species of happiness. Visited by this affliction, the patriarch could taste no joy in his late signal victory; all the worldly prosperity was insipid, and he seems to have been incapable of relishing any other comfort: What wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless! Gen. xv. 2. I would entreat the reader to take particular notice of this circumstance; it will have the same effect upon the representation of Abraham's obedience, and the whole series of his difficulties, as a magnifying glass has upon the objects to which it is applied. 1 Rom. iv. 18, 20.

fitter for the exertion, and so much the more proper for the display of Almighty power.

At last, the gift, so earnestly desired, is vouchsafed. Sarah has a child-a son-an Isaac; one who should be a source of consolation and delight to his parents, should fill their mouth with laughter, and their tongue with joy. With tender care, doubtless, this pleasant plant is reared: many prayers are put up for his long life and great happiness. The fond parents watch over him as over the apple of their own eye: their life is bound up in the life of the lad :+ he grows in grace as he grows in stature: so amiable is his temper, and so engaging his behaviour, as could not fail of endearing him even to a stranger; how much more to such indulgent parents, after so long a state of barrenness, and so many expectations so frequently frustrated.

Now, methinks, we are ready to congratulate the happy sire, and flatter ourselves that his tribulations have an end; that the storms which ruffled the noon of life are blown over; and the evening of his age is be coming calm and serene. But let'not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off." Our warfare on earth is never accomplished till we bow our head and give up the ghost. The sharpest, the severest trial is still behind: God, the supreme and uncontrollable God, demands the child. It is the will of heaven that he make his exit just as he arrives at manhood. Where now, Abraham, are all thy pleasing prospects? How often didst thou say in thy fond de lighted heart," This same shall comfort us concerning our trouble."S. Many have been my sorrows, but this child shall dry up my tears, and bring me to my grave in peace. Alas! this lovely flower is to be cut down in its fairest fullest bloom: all thy shining hopes are overcast in a moment."

Abraham, says God, Abraham knows the voice! it is the voice of condescending goodness; he had often Psalm cxxvi. 2. This is the import of the Hebrew name Isaac. + Gen. xliv. 30. Gen. v. 29. The sentence with which the inspired historian introduces this affecting narrative, is unhappily translated in our Bibles; DAMER AND God did tempt Abraham. This expression

1 Kings xx. 11.

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heard it with a rapture of delight. Instantly he replies, 'Here I am: speak, Lord, for thy servant is all attention: hoping, no doubt, to receive some fresh manifes tation of the divine good-will to himself and his family, or some new discovery of the method in which the divine wisdom would accomplish the promises,' I will multiply thy seed; I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

Take thy Son,' adds God. And might not Abraham reasonably expect, that since his son was advanced to years of maturity, he should be directed how to settle him in the world with honour and advantage, where to find a virtuous and fruitful partner of his bed? He is commanded, not barely to take his son, but his only son, his son Isaac, whom he loved. How must these affecting images awaken all that soft complacency, and all that tender triumph which are known only to the fondly-feeling heart of a parent! Must not such an introduction, so remarkably endearing, heighten his expectation of some signal mercy to be conferred on the beloved youth; and would it not render the blessing peculiarly acceptable, more than doubly welcome?

Was he not then startled? Was he not horribly amazed? When, instead of some renewed expression of the divine favour, he received the following orders: 'Take now thy son, thy only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the moun'tains which I will tell thee of."

Was ever message so alarming? Each word more piercing to parental ears than the keenest dagger to the heart: every clause brings an additional load of mi. seems, more than seems, to clash with the doctrine of St. James, chap. 1. ver. 13; and cannot but sound harsh to those ears which have been accustomed to understand by tempter and tempting, persons utterly odious, and practices extremely pernicious: whereas, the true and natural signification of the original is, he tried or exploded. God sounded the depth, and measured the height of his servant's faith, in order to erect an everlasting monument of the victorious efficacy of this sacred principle, and exhibit an illustrious pattern to all them who should hereafter believe.

Gen. xxii. 2.

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