from" his "fathers house."* "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place, which he should" afterwards "receive for an inheritance obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."+

We may see the faith of Abraham in the peaceable and benevolent temper which he exercised towards Lot, his brother, that is, his brothers son. He believed the promises, which God had made to him, Gen. xii. 1-3, 7. and was not anxious about their fulfilment. He lost nothing by his peaceable conduct. For, when he had given Lot his choice, where to dwell, Lot, under the direction of Divine Providence, made such a choice, that "Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan," and the LORD confirmed to him and to his seed forever the promise of that land, promising to make his "seed, as the dust of the earth."

Trusting in God, and feeling a sympathy for Lot, Abraham pursued and conquered Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him. This was a pledge of the future victories of the promised seed; and the bread and wine, which Melchizedek, in his priestly office, brought forth to Abraham, might signify the blessings of the covenant. Abraham likewise

exercised faith, in his conduct towards Melchizedek, and towards the kings of Sodom. See Gen. xiv. "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abraham in a vision, saying, Fear not Abram, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."*

Abraham believed the promise of God concerning a numerous seed. While he was yet childless, God promised him, that his seed should be as numerous as the stars of heaven. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." This promise had ultimate reference to his covenant seed, which were to consist of "many nations." Hence St. Paul says, that Abraham "against hope believed in hope, that he might be the father of many nations."+

With faith, Abraham received the particular promise of the birth of Isaac. God said to him, "Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him." "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God."||

* Gen. xv. 1. † Gen. xv. 6.
Gen. xvii. 19.

Rom. iv. 18.

Rom. iv. 20.

Abraham received the seal of the righteousness of faith for himself and household. He had faith in God's covenant, before he applied the seal; and this step was an evidence of his faith. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had, yet being uncircumcised."

Abraham commanded his children and household after him to keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. The promises of the everlasting covenant were not to be fulfilled to Abraham, without his doing his duty; but in consequence of his obedience. God said to Isaac, "I will perform the oath, which I sware unto Abraham thy father; and I will make thy seed to multiply, as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because" "Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."* Thus it is written, "Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation; and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." This promise was absolute. But in order to its accomplishment, it was necessary, that Abraham should do his duty, as a

*Gen. xxvi. 3, 4, 5.

parent and head of a family; that he should restrain and instruct his household; and God said, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD to do justice» and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."* In obedience to the Divine command, Abraham consented to sacrifice his son Isaac upon the altar.

God said to him "Take now thy son, thine 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 mountains, which I will tell thee of."+ Obedience to this command was a peculiar manifestation of his submission and faith. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son; of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting, that God was able to raise him up even from the dead; whence also he received him in a figure." In consequence of Abraham's not withholding" his only son, God solemnly confirmed his gracious promises.

* Gen. xviii. 18, 19. † Gen. xxii. 2. Heb. xi. 17—19:

Another expression of

noticed in Heb. xi. 9, 10.

Abraham's faith is
By faith he so-

journed in the land of a promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city, which hath foundations," the "builder and maker" of which "is God."

Thus Abraham believed God, and, from step to step, manifested his faith by his works. By faith he was justified, and his whole life afterward was a life of faith. "So, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise;"* that is, obtained the things, which had been promised. (The word promise is here used objectively; as it is in other places.† So "the promise of the Spirit" means the prom. ised Spirit.) Abraham obtained the things, which had been promised: for in consequence of his persevering faith, God has been fulfilling his gracious promises to him from age to age; he has sent into the world Jesus Christ, that unspeakable and all comprehending gift; and Abraham, when he died, entered into everlasting peace, § with a sure title to a glorious resurrection, and the blessings of that heavenly kingdom, in which many from the different *Heb. vi. 15. † See Heb. ix. 15, x. 36. xi. 13, 39.

Gal. iii. 14. ¿ Is. Ivii. 2. Luke, xvi. 22, 25.