by his prevailing intercessions! Suppose the Christian to be instrumental to the salvation of one single soul; the whole world is not equivalent to the good that he has done. Nor is it that individual soul only that shall acknowledge him as its benefactor; for, all the good that shall arise through the medium of that soul to the remotest posterity, shall be traced up to him as its author; and shall occasion thanksgivings to God on his behalf to all eternity.

Let these inducements be duly weighed, and how light will the vanities of this world appear in comparison of them!]

From a believing prospect of these benefits arose, III. His ready obedience—

Notwithstanding all the obstacles in his way, he without hesitation obeyed the call—

[His friends and relatives would consider his conduct as an indication of consummate weakness and folly: especially, when he could not so much as tell them whither he was going, they would be ready to pity him as insane. But as, on the one hand, he valued not the comforts of their society, so neither, on the other hand, did he regard their contempt and ridicule: every consideration gave way to a sense of duty, and a desire of the promised blessings. He believed, firmly believed, all that God had spoken. He believed especially that the Saviour of the world should spring from his loins; and that, through the merits of that Saviour, he himself, together with all his believing posterity, should possess that good land, even heaven itself, of which Canaan was a type and shadow. Under the influence of this faith he was contented to forego all the comforts that he could lose, and to endure all the sufferings that could come upon him.]

In this he was a pattern and example to all believers

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[If we renounce the world for Christ's sake, and set ourselves in earnest to seek the land of promise, we shall be despised and hated, even as Christ himself was. But this we are not to regard. We are not to confer with flesh and blood;" but instantly and perseveringly to pursue our destined course. What though we have never seen heaven, nor can even tell where it lies? it is sufficient for us to know that it is a land flowing with milk and honey, and that it is "kept for us until the time appointed of the Father." Nor need we doubt but that it will far more than counterbalance all the sufferings that we can endure in our way to it". Let us only exercise the

Heb. xi. 8-10.

t John xv. 18-20.

u Rom. viii. 18.

faith of Abram, and we shall instantly set out to follow his steps.] ADDRESS,

1. Those who are at ease in their native land

[It may appear harsh to say, that, "if you hate not father and mother, and houses and lands, yea and your own life also, you cannot be Christ's disciple:" but this is the word of Christ himself. It is true, we are not to understand it in a literal sense; for we are not to "hate" even our enemies: but when our friends, or even life itself, stand in competition with Christ, we must act as if we hated them; we must sacrifice them all without one moment's hesitation. On lower terms than these Christ never will accept us: "We must forsake all, and follow him."]

2. Those who have set out towards the land of promise

[Terah the father, and Nahor the brother, of Abram, accompanied him as far as Charran; and there (from what motive we know not) they all abode five years. God then renewed his call to Abram; but alas! his father was dead; and Nahor was weary of a wandering life; so that, on the recommencement of his journey, Abram had no associate but his Wife and Nephew. We pretend not to determine any thing of the spiritual state of Terah or Nahor; but their never entering into the land of Canaan may well be a caution to us to "beware, lest, having received a promise of entering into God's rest, any of us should seem to come short of it." It were better never to have begun our journey heaven-ward, than to turn back, even in our hearts.]

ABRAM'S JOURNEY TO CANAAN.

Gen. xii. 5. They went forth, to go into the land of Canaan and into the land of Canaan they came.

:

THE call of Abram is one of the most instructive subjects that can occupy the human mind; both because the perfections of Almighty God were most gloriously displayed in it; and because, in it, he shewed himself one of the brightest patterns of obedience that ever the world beheld.

He had had a revelation from God whilst yet he was at Ur, in the land of the Chaldees: by that he was directed to leave his native country; which was immersed, as he also and his father were, in idolatry". At Haran (or, as it is also called, Charran) he abode till his father's death; when he received from God a further direction to go into Canaan, with an express assurance that the whole land of Canaan should be given to him and his posterity for an inheritance, and that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed". With this direction he complied: he took his wife and family, and all that he possessed, and set out upon the journey; as it is said in the words before us-" They went forth, to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came."

Now this call of Abram is very instructive; no less as displaying the glorious perfections of God who called him, than as exhibiting the distinguished virtues of him who obeyed the call. I propose then, in illustrating this subject, to set before you,

I. The perfections of God for your admiration

To this we are particularly led by that expression of St. Stephen, "The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham." Observe, then,

1. His sovereignty

[Why was Abram distinguished above all other of the sons of men, to be so blessed in himself, and such a blessing to the world? He and all his family were idolaters, as also were all around him: yet was he selected by Almighty God from among them, and made the friend and favourite of heaven. Can any account for this? Can it be traced to any thing but the sovereign will and pleasure of Jehovah? However adverse any man may be to the idea of God's sovereignty in the dispensation of his blessings, he cannot deny, he cannot question it, in this case. Yet this is really what is done in the conversion of every soul to God. The Almighty Sovereign of the universe "has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." "It is God, and God alone, that has made any of

a Josh. xxiv. 2. b ver. 1-4. with Acts vii. 2-4. 2 Tim. i. 9.

us to differ" from our fellows: and every saint, whether in heaven or on earth, must say, By the grace of God I am what I am."]

2. His power—

[Nothing less than omnipotence could have effected such a sudden and total change in the heart of Abram as was wrought at this time: nor, in truth, could any thing less than omnipotence have sufficed to accomplish for him all that was now promised. And is less power required for the "turning of any man from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God?" It is a new creation, and is expressly called so by God himself. It is compared by St. Paul to the power which the Father exercised in raising his Son Jesus Christ from the dead, and exalting him to glory far above all the principalities and powers, whether of heaven or hells. From the first awakening of a sinner to his final exaltation to glory, he must say, in reference to the whole work, "He that hath wrought me to this self-same thing is God"."]

3. His faithfulness

[Not one foot of ground had Abram: nor for twentyfive years after the promise was made to him, had he the child to whom the promises were made. The time was past in which, according to the course of nature, it was possible for him and Sarah to have a child. Yet the child was given him; and to his posterity all the land of Canaan; and in due time, the seed also, in whom all the nations of the earth were to be blessed. Thus, in like manner, are all the promises fulfilled to every one who believes in Christ: not one jot or tittle of God's word is ever suffered to fail. "The promises of God in Christ are, not yea and nay, but yea and amen, to the glory of God," and to the everlasting salvation of all who rely upon them. However numerous their dangers be, or great their difficulties, "they shall never be plucked out of God's hands'," but shall be "kept by his power unto full and complete salvation"."]

Let us now set before you that which is no less conspicuous in our text; namely,

II. The virtues of Abram, for your imitation-
We are told, on divine authority, that if we be

Abram's seed, we shall do the works of Abram. Behold, then,

1. His simple faith

[He received implicitly all that God spake unto him. To whatsoever it referred, and however improbable, humanly speaking, the accomplishment of it was, he never for one moment doubted the truth of God's word, "nor ever staggered at any promise through unbelief." Now in this most particularly he is set forth as an example to us; who are required to "walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had whilst he was yet uncircumcised"." And more especially are we to imitate him in relation to the faith which he exercised on the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he beheld at the distance of two thousand years as the Saviour of the world. If any person ever could be justified by his works, Abram might have claimed that honour: but, eminent as his obedience to the divine mandates was, "he had nothing whereof to glory before God;" and, sensible of his own utter unworthiness, he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for righteousness, and was justified solely by faith in him. And why is this so minutely recorded concerning him? Was it for his sake, that he might be honoured? No: it was altogether for our sakes, that we might know how we also are to be justified, and may look simply to Christ as our all in all3.]

2. His prompt decision

[It is said concerning him, that "when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, he obeyed." There was in him no hesitation, no delay. And in this way must we also obey the divine call, when bidden to "forsake all and follow Christ." We must "not confer with flesh and blood;" but must, like the Disciples with their nets, and Matthew at the receipt of custom, leave all for Christ. We must be on our guard against specious excuses, "Lord, let me go home and bury my father," or "take leave of my friends:" we must not be looking for "a more convenient season;" our obedience must be prompt, our decision firm and unchangeable: whilst it is called to-day, we must avail ourselves of the opportunity that is afforded us to do the will of God: to hesitate, is treason: to delay, is death. "What our hand findeth to do, we must do it instantly, and with all our might."]

3. His self-denying zeal—

[Doubtless Abram felt that attachment which men

n Rom. iv. 12. o ib. ver. 1-3. P ib. ver. 22-25. q Gal. i. 16.