Abrahams Trial, Title page – Synopsis
ABRAHAMS TRYALL: A Sermon preached at the Spittle, in Easter weeke Anno Domini 1602.
By George Downame Doctor of Diuinity.
LONDON Printed for Humfrey Lownes. 1602▪
To the Right VVorshipfull Sir Henry Killigrew Knight, Grace in this life, and glory in the life to come.
AMong all the worthy histories of the Saincts which are registred in the booke of God, there is not any one example of faith and obedience comparable (as I suppose) to Abraham: who as he was the father of all the faithfull Rom. 4.11. so he is propounded to all the heires of promise, as a most worthie patterne for imitation. And to this end the Lord as he had indued him with an excellent measure of his grace, so by a correspondencie of trials proportionable to his faith, he hath manifested the same to the world: that all those which professe themselues to be the sonnes of Abraham, might either imitate his faith and obedience, or else know themselues to be none of his children. For which cause the holy Apostles Paule and Iames, the one intreating of the causes whereby a man is iustified, the other of the effects and signes whereby a man is knowne to be iust: the one prouing that we are iustified by faith alone without works, the other concluding that we are iustified by such a faith as is not alone, or without works: both propound the example of Abraham as a rule, the one of that iustification whereby we are made iust, to wit, by imputatiō of Christs righteousnes apprehended by faith, the other of that whereby we are declared to be iust, namely by the fruits of faith, which are good works. Paule therefore prouing that we are iustified by faith without works, that is, by imputation of Christs righteousnes alone, which is apprehended by faith, argueth from the example of Abraham to this effect: that as he was iustified, so are we, Rom. 4.23.24. he was iustified by faith without works, that is, by imputation of Christs righteousnes apprehended by faith, without respect of anie righteousnes inherent in himselfe, therefore wee are iustified by faith, without works. Iames disputing against vaine mē Chap. 2. ver. 20. who thought to be iustified by an idle or counterfeit faith, proueth from the example of Abraham, that wee must be iustified by such a faith as is not without works. For by such a faith as Abraham was iustified, must we be iustified: Abraham was iustified not by an idle or dead faith, but by a liuely faith working by louelove, as apeareth especiallie by that example recorded, Gen. 22. Therefore howsoeuer we are iustified by faith alone, yet we are not iustified by such a faith as is alone: but as we are iustified by faith alone, that is, made iust by imputation of Christs righteousnes, which is apprehended by faith alone: so we are iustified, that is, declared and knowne to be iust by good works, which are the fruits of faith. Abraham therefore as you see, is propounded to all the faithfull as a patterne in both respects. So that if we would be esteemed the sonnes of Abraham (as all the faithfull are) we must looke to be iustified as he was, and by such a faith. The Papists therefore, who seeke Iustification by works, that is, inherent righteousnes, are not the sonnes of Abraham. For those who are of faith, that is, who seeke iustification by faith and not by workes, are the children of Abraham, Gal. 3.7. No more is the carnall Gospeller▪ … by such a faith as … and voide of righteousnes … our Sauiour saith Iohn. 8. … the sonnes of Abraham, … do the works of Abraham. … Abraham though he were iustified by faith alone, yet he was not iustified by such a faith as is alone. But howsoeuer the notable faith of Abraham whereby he was iustified before God, and his dutifull obedience whereby he was knowne and declared to be iust, appeareth in many particulars recorded by Moses, yet then especially he approued both his faith and obedience, when he was enioyned by a commaundement of tryall, to sacrifice his owne and onelyonly sonne Isaac. For by this greatest tryall the Lords purpose was to manifest to the world his greatest faith and rarest obedience: and in respect of both to commend him to all succeeding generations, as a most liuely patterne to be followed of all the heires of promise. For which cause as I thought this notable story of Abrahams tryall most worthie to be handled in this Easters solemnitie: so others hauehave desired, and I hauehave yeelded, that the Sermon wherein it was handled, should be made more publike for the benefit of more then did heare me. Being therefore to publish this Sermon as the first fruits of mine english labours, I thought good to dedicate the same to your Worship, to whome with your louing brother, and the vertuous Lady your wife, I am for great benefits exceedingly bound: that there might remaine some memoriall both of your bountifulnes, and of my thankefulnesse. Accept therefore (I pray you) according to your accustomed fauour this commendation of Abrahams faith and obedience. And as hitherto you hauehave (to Gods glory be it spoken, and to the good example of others) shewed your selfe to be one of the sonnes of Abraham: so my desire is, that this example of Abraham commended vntounto you, may be some incouragement for you, to continue to the end in that course wherein you hauehave long walked. That imitating still the faith of Abraham, and treading in the steps of his obedience vntounto the end, you may be sure after the labours of this life to rest in Abrahams bosome, Luk. 16.22.where you shall receiue the end of your faith, 1. Pet. 1.9.which is the saluation of your soule by the precious merits of Iesus Christ, ….
…, the 28. of Aprill 1602. Your Worships in the Lord George Downame.
AΣYNOΨIS OR BRIEFE VIEW of the particulars contayned in this Sermon.
…
Explication of the text, diuided into a
Proposition, where three questions are discussed.
1. Whether God tempteth any to euill.
2. In what sense he is said to hauehave tempted Abraham.
3. To what end he tempted him.
Narration, declaring the action of
God prouing Abrahā, which is two fold, his
Vocation or call, preparing Abraham, to the triall.
Commandement, containing the triall, which appeareth to be great, both by the
Deerenes of that which he was to forgo, amplified by the Lord in foure degrees, commanding him to sacrifice
1. His sonne.
2. His only sonne.
3. Whom he loued.
4. Euen Isaac.
Hardnes of that which he was to vndergo, shewed by the
Circumstāces of
Time whē this commandemēt
Was giuen.
Was to bee performed.
Place in
Generall, noted to be a hill in the countrie of Moriah.
Patricular, lest indefinit.
Substance of the worke, that he was to offer Isaac for a burnt sacrifice, which was very hard in respect of his
Affection to his son whom it had bin
Hard onelyonly to forgo, but more hard by death, and that a violent death.
Harder to
Consent to his death.
Deliuer him to be killed.
Bee present at his slaughter.
Hardest to kill him with his owne hands, and that as a burnt sacrifice.
Allegeance to God, viz. his
Obedience with which how could it stād to do an act so
Vnlawfull?
Vnnaturall?
Dishonorable to God?
Scandalous to man?
Faith: for how could he beleeue in the promises concerning Isaacs seede, and yet himselfe kill him, and consume him to ashes, before he had any seede?
Abraham approuing his
Obedience, which was
1. Absolute & simple.
2. Resolute & serious
3. Speedy and ready.
4. Not headie or for a brunt, but discreet, temperate, constant, and couragious.
Faith being assured that although Isaac were consumed to ashes, yet the promise of God concerning Isaac should be fulfilled.
Application in respect of
Gods prouing Abraham, that he vseth to try men▪ and that diuersly: but his trials may be distinguished by the
Obiects, that is, the things wherein we are tried, and thus trials are of the
Right hand, by temporall benefites.
Offered.
Conferred.
Left hand, by crosses.
Temporall.
Spirituall.
Subiects, that is, the men who are tried, viz.
Hypocrites.
Sound Christians.
Abrahams approuing himselfe, that if we would be esteemed his children (as all the faithfull are) wee must imitate both his
Obedience, and to that end we must as he did
Deny our selues.
Thinke nothing too deere for God.
Resolue beforehād to do what soeuer God shall commaund.
Faith in
Beleeuing the promises of God.
Working by louelove.