Abraham in the character of a man; who ate with him; and whom Abraham styled the Judge of all the earth;" and with whom he interceded on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah ; must have been Christ, that Judge before whose judgment-seat we must all appear. Abraham, then, saw Christ "in the likeness of menk." Not only, then, was the Gospel preached unto Abraham', but the Founder of the Gospel covenant appeared to Abraham in that form and character, by assuming which, He founded that covenant of salvation, and in which He afterward finally ratified it. made fleshTM*.

Abrahain saw the Word

k Phil. ii. 7.

* Abraham was, in many points, a figure or type of Christ. As he left his father's house', so also did Christ leave the house of His Father 3. As GOD promised that the “name” of Abraham should be " great," and that he should be “ a blessing 4;" so unto Christ is given "a name which is above every names," and in him we are "blessed with all spiritual blessings." As Abraham interceded with GOD on behalf of the wicked cities 7, so Christ “ever liveth to make intercession for us 8 " The seed of Abraham was to be in number “ as the dust of the earth9" and as the stars1o, and the redeemed of Christ, the spiritual seed of Abraham ", form "a great mul

Gen. xii. 1.

2 John, vi. 38.

3 John, xiv. 2.

4 Gen. xii. 2.

5 Phil. ii. 9.

7 Gen. xviii. 23.

8 Hebr. vii. 25.

9 Gen. xiii. 16.

10 Gen. xv. 5.

II Gal. iii. 7, 29.

Thus it appears, that Abraham, the father of the faithful", was acquainted with the Christian scheme of redemption. He saw Christ" face to face;" a covenant was made with him which was confirmed of GOD in Christ; he knew that the Redeemer of mankind was to appear in the flesh, and that he was to take on him the flesh of his seed; he understood, that righteousness is

titude, which no man can number 12" Abraham rescued Lot and his family who had been made captives 13; Christ hath "delivered us from the power of darkness 14," and "hath led captivity captive 15." GOD promised to establish with Abraham and his seed, an everlasting covenant, to be a GOD unto him and his seed 16; Christ, "through the blood of the everlasting covenant "7," hath purchased for himself "a chosen generation 18," "a a peculiar people 18." The covenant made with Abraham received the seal of circumcision 19, which was a figure denoting that the covenant of Christ was to be sealed with blood. Abraham sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise 20;" Christ, who dwelt among men in the tabernacle of the flesh 2, was in the world," "and the world knew him not 22;" the " арpointed heir of all things 23 "had "not where to lay his head 24."

12 Rev. vii. 9.
13 Gen. xiv. 16.

14 Coloss. i. 13.

15 Eph. iv. 8.
16 Gen. xvii. 7.
17 Hebr. xiii. 20.

18 1 Peter, ii. 9.

19 Rom. iv. 11.

20 Hebr. xi. 9.

66

21 John, i. 14. 2 Cor. v. 1.

22 John, i. 10.

23 Hebr. i. 2.

24 Matt. viii. 20.

Rom. iv. 11. Gal. iii. 7.

• Gal. iii. 17.

S

by faith, and that faith inculcates obedience to the Divine command; he offered sacrifices' in token of his reliance upon vicarious atonement, thus showing that he accepted the Christian covenant; he believed in the power of God to raise the dead; he looked forward to a state of existence after death; he considered heaven as his true home, to which he was to pass through this world as through a strange land; he considered himself as a stranger upon earth *.

› Gen. xv. 6.
James, ii. 21.

r Gen. xv. 9, 10; xxii. 13. Hebr. xi. 13.

* "Melchisedek king of Salem"-" priest of the most high GOD'," met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, at the valley of Shaveh, and he "brought forth bread and wine, and blessed Abraham 3." This is the only mention made of this personage by Moses; but we find, from other parts of Scripture, that he was a figure of Christ: "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedek." Melchisedek was “made like unto the Son of GOD," as Christ was also made after the similitude of Melchisedek "." 6" Melchisedek represented Christ, in name, "being by interpretation, King of Righteousness"," Christ being styled " King," and "the Lord our Righteousness;" in title, "King of Salem, which is King of Peace9," Christ being styled, "the Prince of Peace";" in office, "Priest of the most high GOD"," Christ 'Gen. xiv. 18, 19. Hebr.

66

vii. 1.

2 Gen. xiv. 17.

3 Gen. xiv. 18, 19.

5 Hebr. vii. 3.

• Hebr. vii. 15.
7 Hebr. vii. 2.

Jere. xxiii. 5, 6.

9 Hebr. vii. 2.

II Gen. xiv. 18. Hebr. vii. 1.

爵

"Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond

maid, the other by a free woman; but he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise; which things are an allegory, for these are the two covenants." The son of the bond woman was the elder son, representing the covenant "which gendereth to bondage";" while "he of the free woman" represented the covenant of

being "the Apostle and High Priest of our profession 12," "called of GOD an high priest after the order of Melchisedek 13;" in person, appearing as "having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but being made like unto the Son of GOD 14" (no mention being made by Moses of his birth, death, descent, or offspring), Christ being "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever15,"" the first and the last 16," GOD blessed for ever17," of whose kingdom there shall be no end 18; and in his actions, bringing forth bread and wine 19, and giving blessing 20, as Jesus also gave bread and wine as figures of his body and blood11, and he came to bless us 22. Thus it appears, that Melchisedek was, in name, in title, and in office, made to afford a figure of Christ; and that the acts which Moses records of him, the abrupt manner in which he is introduced, and the mysterious brevity of the narration respecting him, are intended to strengthen the resemblance of the figure.

12. Hebr. iii. 1.

13 Hebr. v. 10.

14 Hebr. vii. 3.

15 Hebr. xiii. 8.

16 Rev. i. 17.

17 Rom. ix. 5.

18 Luke, i. 33.

19 Gen. xiv. 18.

20 Gen. xiv. 19.

21 Matt. xxvi. 26-28.

22 Acts, iii. 26.

t Gal. iv. 22-24.

u Gal. iv. 25.

." Ishmael,

hath made us free".".

Christ which then, was a figure of the covenant of works, while Isaac represented the covenant of Christ.

Respecting Isaac, GOD said, before he was born to Abraham, "I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him." And, after the birth of Isaac, God said to Abraham, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." GOD renewed to Isaac the promises which He had made to Abraham his father; and, in token of his faith in these promises, Isaac builded an altar, thus manifesting his belief in the efficacy of that vicarious atonement, which was to be made by the sacrifice of the Word incarnate; and, "by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to comed."

Gal. v. 1; iv. 26.

Gen. xvii. 19.

■ Gen. xxi. 12. Rom. ix.

7. Hebr. xi. 18.

b Gen. xxvi. 2-5.

e Gen. xxvi. 25.

d Hebr. xi. 20.

* Isaac was, in many particulars, a type of Christ. He is called the "only begotten son" of his father'; Christ is also styled the "only begotten Son2" of GOD. The offering up Isaac upon the altar3, was a figure of the sacrifice of "the Son of GOD." Isaac bare the wood upon which he was to be offered 4; Christ bare the cross upon which he was offered as a sacrifice. GOD rescued Isaac from death, "from whence " Abraham "received him in a figure";" a figure of Christ,

'Hebr. xi. 17.

21 John, iv. 9.

4 Gen. xxii. 6.

5 John, xix. 17.

3 Gen. xxii. 9.

6 Hebr. xi. 19.