True, his friends could see nothing,-true, his bodily eyes could see nothing,--true, his mind had no help to conceive any prospect, but then his faith, the vision of his soul, saw something, and that so plainly, that it had more effect on him, than all that he saw with his senses.

Here was the principle, that wonderworking principle of faith, for which he through grace was famous. This was the secret spring of his action. Faith was the ear that made God's word sound louder and more important than the entreaties of his neighbours. Faith was the eye that saw a land that was far off, and made him count it better than the one that was near. Faith gave him spiritual affections which are stronger than those that are merely natural. Faith caused him to see a friend in Him who called him, whose friendship outweighed all that he could leave behind him, " a friend that sticketh closer than a brother," therefore he obeyed, not knowing whither he went," but well knowing God would keep His word, and "shew" him "a land." The word of God was more to him than all the substance of his house, the friendship of friends, and the comforts of life. That word had said, "get thee out," "so Abram departed as the Lord had said unto him." And as he went, his faith upheld

him. He lost his name in the place where he dwelt, but faith recovered it in the word of promise, "I will make thy name great." Many a hard word may have followed the soft but vain words of entreaty, but faith heard a sweet word and took comfort, "I will bless thee," and "thou shalt be a blessing." He lost opportunities of usefulness in the land of the Chaldees, but faith looked for the fulfilment of the promise, "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Others besides Abraham have had such calls, and others have obeyed it. The Lord Jesus called Matthew the Levite, to leave all and follow Him, and he went out, not knowing whither he went, taking the Lord for his portion. The Lord called the Apostles, and they left all, and followed Him." Paul had a like call, and by faith was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, and for His sake who had called him; he went out taking nothing, but suffered the loss of all things.

The question rather is, Are there any who are not called to some such acting of faith as Abraham? Are not all to whom the faith of Christ is preached, called to leave something seen, and to look by faith to something not seen? Most undoubtedly. All are called to "walk by faith, and not by sight." All are

called so far to leave the "things seen which are temporal," as is necessary for obtaining the things not seen which are eternal.'

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Thus, in the first place, all are called, at all costs, to leave sins behind them. There is no doubt of this, and every man acknowledges it. But, we must remember, that it implies of necessity that we leave behind us, the occasions of sinning. And it is the office of faith, to make us leave those occasions. Reason, plain sense, fear of wrath, natural conscience, will often make a man leave off certain evil habits; but, faith only will make him give up those things, which are occasions of sinning, when those things can only be forsaken at a loss. Take one instance only, where such demands are made of us by Christ in the gospel, it is said, "If thy hand offend-or if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched." (Mark ix. 43-45.) You see the demand here made. Here is a voice from on high, calling on us to leave occasions of sinning. The hand and the foot are precious members. But, if one of them through disease have begun to mortify, it is better to part with it, and pass our days without it, than keeping it to let the whole body

die in a little time. Some men's sins are so closely joined to their earthly callings and occupation, that to leave one, they must cease from the other. Some men's sins are so closely bound up with the friends they have, the company they keep, or the pleasures they take, that to leave off the sin, it is necessary they should cease to keep the same company, have the same friends, and pursue the same pleasures. Whosoever feels this, and reads these words of God, does hear a voice calling him, even as Abraham heard also his call. Are

you obeying this call? Does your faith in God's command, make you see it is for your real good, thus to leave the causes of offence, and to follow holiness?

Again, see the call in another point of view. Think of where our affections have to be placed, and for this cause how they often have to be cut off from some beloved objects. On this point also, hear the direct call of God.

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke xiv. 26.)

This says plainly, Christ is to have our hearts, if we would have part or lot with Him, and His inheritance. Such love must we have to Him, that all other loves are sacri

ficed, when He requires it. We may displease other friends, but we may never run counter to His wishes. When friends call us one way and Christ another, then must our utmost affections for one, be as hatred compared with our love for the first object. When duty to Christ is crossed by friends, however dear to us, then is the call of God most plain, and faith will make us, both hear and obey it, "Get thee out from thy kindred."

Once more, God calls on us to leave much, when we are taught to count ourselves as "strangers and pilgrims" here, and to look forward to "a city which hath foundations:" "as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" This implies a sitting loose in our affections from earthly things, a not taking them as our portion,-not finding our chief delight in them,--not loving pleasure so much as God,—— not wishing to take up our abode here, even if all things could be continued to us, and their enjoyment made good to us. It implies having heaven as our home, and that a departure hence would lead to something "far better."

Now what can do all this for us but faith, such as Abraham's faith that sees God, hears His word, loves His favour, desires His promises. This is why it is said, "this is the