Nine Sermons, Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
Abraham's offering up his Son Iſaac.
GENESIS xxii, …2.
And he ſaid, lay not thine Hand upon the Lad, neither do thou any thing unto him for now I know that thou feareſt God, ſeeing thou haſt not withheld thy Son, thine only Son from me.
THE great St. Paul, in one of his Epiſtles informs us, that whatſoever was written aforetime was written for our Learning, that we through Patience and Comfort of the Holy Scripture might have Hope—And as without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, or be accepted in Jeſus, the Son of his Love, we may be aſſured, that whatever Inſtances of a more than common Faith are recorded in the Book of God, they were more immediately deſigned by the Holy Spirit for the Learning and Imitation of us, upon who… the Ends of the World are come.—For this Reaſon, the Author of the Epiſtle to the Hebrews, in the 11th Chapter, mentions ſuch a noble Catalogue of Old-Teſtament Saints and Martyrs, who ſubdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteouſneſs, ſtopped the Mouth, of Lions, &c. and are gone before us to inherit the Promiſes. A ſufficient Confutation, I think, of their Error, who lightly eſteem the Old-Teſtament Saints, and would not have them mentioned to Chriſtians, as Perſons whoſe Faith and Patience we are called upon more immediately to follow—If this was true, the Apoſtle would never have produced ſuch a Cloud of Witneſſes out of the Old Teſtament, to excite the Chriſtians of the firſt, and conſequently pureſt Age of the Church, to continue ſtedfaſt and unmoveable in the Profeſſion of their Faith.—Amidſt this Catalogue of Saints, methinks the Patriarch Abraham ſhines the brighteſt, and differs from the others, as one Star differeth from another Star in Glory—For he ſhone with ſuch diſtinguiſhed Luſtre, that he was called the Friend of God, the Father of the Faithful, and thoſe who believe on Chriſt, are ſaid to be Sons and Daughters of, and to be bleſſed with faithful Abraham—Many Trials of his Faith did God ſend this great and good Man, after he had commanded him to get out from his Country, and from his Kindred, unto a Land which he ſhould ſhew him—But his laſt was the moſt ſevere of all—I mean that of offering up his only Son—This, by the Divine Aſſiſtance, I propoſe to make the Subject of your preſent Meditation, and, by Way of Concluſion, to draw ſome practical Inferences from the Obſervations that God ſhall enable me to draw from this inſtructive Story.
The ſacred Penman begins the Narrative thus. Ver. 1. And it came to paſs, after theſe Things, God did tempt Abraham—After theſe Things, that is, after he had underwent many ſevere Trials before, after he was old, full of Days, and might flatter himſelf perhaps that the Troubles and Toils of Life were now finiſhed—After theſe Things, God did tempt Abraham—Chriſtians, you know not what Trials you may meet with before you die.—Notwithſtanding you may have ſuffered, and been tried much already, yet, it may be, a greater Meaſure is ſtill behind, which you are to fill up—Be not high-minded, but fear—Our laſt Trials, in all Probability, will be the greateſt. And we can never ſay our Warfare is accompliſhed, or our Trials finiſhed, till we bow down our Heads, and give up the Ghoſt— And it came to paſs, after theſe Things, that God did tempt Abraham.
"God did tempt Abraham"—But can the Scripture contradict itſelf? Does not St. James tell us, that God tempts no Man? And God does tempt no Man to Evil, or on Purpoſe to draw him into Sin. For when a Man is thus tempted, he is drawn away of his own Heart's Luſt, and enticed—But in another Senſe God may be …aid to tempt—I mean to try his Servants, and in this Senſe we are to underſtand that Paſſage of St. Matthew, where we are told, that Jeſus was led up by the Spirit (the good Spirit) into the Wilderneſs, to be tempted of the Devil—And our Lord, in that excellent Form … Prayer which he has been pleaſed to preſcribe us, does not require us to pray, that we may not abſolutely be led into Temptation, but delivered from the Evil of it—Whereby we may plainly infer, that God ſees it fit ſometimes to lead us into Temptation, that is, to bring us into ſuch Circumſtances, as will try our Faith, and other Chriſtian Graces—In this Senſe we are to underſtand the Expreſſion before us—God did tempt or try Abraham.
How God was pleaſed to reveal his Will at this Time to his faithful Servant, whether by the Shechinah, or Divine Appearance, or by a ſmall ſtill Voice, as he ſpoke to Elijah, or by a Whiſper, like that of the Spirit to Philip, when he commanded him to go join himſelf to the Eunuch's Chariot, we are not told, nor is it material to enquire—It's enough that we are informed, God ſaid unto him Abraham, and that Abraham knew it was the Voice of God—For he ſaid, Behold here I am—Oh! what a holy Familiarity (if I may ſo ſpeak) is there between God, and thoſe holy Souls that are united to him by Faith in Chriſt Jeſus! God, ſays Abraham, and Abraham ſaid (it ſhould ſeem without the leaſt Surpriſe) Behold, here I am—Being reconciled to God by the … and Obedience of Chriſt, which he rejoiced in, and ſaw by Faith afar off—He did not, like guilty Adam, ſeek the Trees of the Garden to hide himſelf from, but takes Pleaſure in converſing with God, and talketh with him, as a Man talketh with his Friend—Oh! that chriſtleſs Sinners knew what it is to have Fellowſhip with the Father and the Son! They would envy the Happineſs of Saints, and count it all Joy to be termed Enthuſiaſts, and Fools for Chriſt's Sake.
But what does God ſay to Abraham? Ver. 2. Take now thy Son, thine only Son Iſaac, whom thou loveſt, and get thee into the Land of M…riah, and offer him there for a Burnt-offering upon one of the Mountains which I ſhall tell thee of.
Every Word deſerves our particular Obſervation—Whatever he was to do, he muſt do it …, immediately, without conferring with Fleſh and Blood—But what muſt he do? Take now thy Son—Had God ſaid, take now a Firſtling, or choiceſt Lamb or Beaſt of thy Flock, and offer it up for a Burnt-offering, it would not have appeared ſo ghaſtly; but for God to ſay, Take now thy Son, and offer him up for a Burnt-offering, one would have imagined was enough to ſtagger the ſtrongeſt Faith—But this is not all—It muſt not only be a Son, but thine only Son Iſaac, whom thou loveſt—If it muſt be a … and not a Beaſt, that muſt be offered, why … Iſhmael do, the Son of the Bond-Wo… No, it muſt be his only Son, the Heir of all Things, his Iſaac, by Interpretation … ▪ the Son of his old Age, in whom his Soul delighted, whom thou loveſt, ſays God, in whoſe Life his own was wrapped up—And this Son, this only Son, this Iſaac, the Son of his Love, muſt be taken now, even now, without Delay, and be offered up by his own Father, for a Burnt-offering, upon one of the Mountains of the which God would tell him.
Well might the Apoſtle, ſpeaking of … Man of God, ſay, that againſt Hope he believed in Hope, and being ſtrong in Faith, gave Glory to God—For, had he not been bleſſed with Faith, which Man never before had, he muſt have refuſed to comply with this ſevere Command—For how many Arguments might Nature ſuggeſt …o prove, that ſuch a Command could never come from God? or to excuſe himſelf from obeying it. What! might the good Man have ſaid, butcher my own Child! it is contrary to the very Law of Nature—Much more to butcher my dear Son Iſaac—in whoſe Seed God himſelf has aſſured me, that all the Families of the Earth ſhall be bleſſed—But ſuppoſing I could give up … Affections, and he willing to part with …, tho' I love … ſo dearly▪ yet, … I … ▪ him, what will become of God' …—Beſides, I am now like a City built upon a Hill—I ſhine as a Light on the World, in the midſt of a crooked and perverſe … ſays ration—How then ſhall I cauſe God's … ſeem to be blaſphemed, how ſhall I become a By—word among the Heathen, if they … tha… ▪ I have committed a Cri… … But, above all, what will Sarah my Wife ſay? How can I ever return to her again, after I have imbrued my Hands in my dear Child's Blood?—Oh! that God would pardon me in this Thing, or take my Life in the Place of my Son's! Thus, I ſay, Abraham might have argued, and that too ſeemingly with great Reaſon, againſt complying with the divine Command. But as before by Faith he conſidered not the Deadneſs of Sarah's Womb, when ſhe was paſt Age, but believed on him, who ſaid, Sarah thy Wife ſhall bear thee a Son indeed; ſo now being convinced that the ſame God ſpoke to and commanded him to offer up that Son, and knowing that God was able to raiſe him from the Dead, without Delay he obeys the heavenly Call.
Oh! that Unbelievers would learn of faithful Abraham, and believe whatever is revealed from God, tho' they cannot fully comprehend it. Abraham knew God commanded him to offer up his Son, and therefore believed, notwithſtanding carnal Reaſoning might ſuggeſt many Objections—We have ſufficient Teſtimony, that God has ſpoken to us by his Son, Why ſhould we not alſo believe, tho' many Things in the New-Teſtament are above our Reaſon? For where Reaſon ends, Faith begins—And however Infidels may ſtile themſelves Reaſoners, of all Men they are the moſt unreaſonable—For, is it not contrary to all Reaſon, to meaſure an infinite by a finite Underſtanding, or think to find out the Myſteries of Godlineſs to Perfection?
But to return to the Patriarch Abraham—We obſerved before what plauſible Objections he might have made—But he anſwered not a ſingle Word—No—without replying againſt his Maker—We are told, Ver. 3. that Abraham roſe up early in the Morning, and ſaddled his Aſs, and took two of his young Men with him, and Iſaac his Son, and clave the Wood for the Burnt-offering, and roſe up and went unto the Place of which God had told him.
From this Verſe we may gather, that God ſpoke to Abraham in a Dream, or Viſion of the Night—For it is ſaid, he roſe up early—Perhaps it was near the fourth Watch of the Night, juſt before Break of Day, when God ſaid, …ke now thy Son—And Abraham riſes up early to do ſo—As I doubt not but he uſed to riſe early to offer up his Morning Sacrifice of Praiſe and Thankſgiving—It is often remarked of People in the Old Teſtament, that they roſe early in the Morning, and particularly of our Lord in the New, that he roſe a great while before Day to pray—The Morning be friends Devotion, and it People cannot uſe ſo much Self-denial, as to riſe early to pray, I know not how they will be able to die at a Stake (if called to it) for Jeſus Chriſt.
The Humility, as well as Piety of …he Patriarch, is obſervable—He ſaddled his own Aſ… great Men ſhould be humble;) and to ſhew his Sincerity, tho' he took two of his young Men with him, and Iſaac his Son, yet he keeps his Deſign as a Secret from them all—Nay, he does not ſo much as tell Sarah his Wife. For he knew not but ſhe might be a Snare unto him in this Affair; and, as Rebekkah afterwards, on another Occaſion, adviſed Jacob to flee, ſo ſhe alſo might perſuade Iſaac to hide himſelf Or the young Men, had they known of it, might have forced him away, as in After-Ages the Soldiers reſcued Jonathan out of the Hands of Saul—But Abraham fought no ſuch Evaſion, and therefore like an Iſraelite indeed, in whom there was no Guile, he himſelf reſolutely clave the Wood for the Burnt-offering, roſe up and went unto the Place of which God had told him—In the ſecond Verſe God commanded him to offer up his Son upon one of the Mountains which he would tell him of—He commanded him to offer his Son up, but would not then directly tell him the Place where—This was to keep … dependant and watching unto Prayer—For there's nothing like being kept waiting upon God, and if we do, aſſuredly God will reveal himſelf unto us yet further in his own Time—Let us practiſe what we know, follow Providence ſo far as we can ſee already, and what we know not, what we ſee not as yet, let us only be found in the Way of Duty, and the Lord will reveal even that unto us—Abraham here knew not directly where he was to offer up his Son—But he riſes up and ſets forward, and behold now God ſhews him, and he went to … Place of which God had told him —Let us go and do likewiſe.
Ver. 4. Then on the third Day Abraham lifted up his Eyes, and ſaw the Place afar off.
So that the Place of which God had told him, was no leſs than three Days Journey diſtant from the Place where God firſt appeared to him, and commanded him to take his Son▪ Was not this to try his Faith, and to let him ſee that what he did, was not merely from a ſudden Pang of Devotion, but a Matter of Choice and Deliberation? But who can tell what the aged Patriarch felt during theſe three Days? Strong … he was in Faith, I am perſuaded his Bowels often yearned over his dear Son Iſaac—Methink… I ſee the good old Man walking with this dear Child in his Hand, and now and then looking upon him, loving him, and then turning aſide to weep. And perhaps ſometimes he ſtays a …ittle behind to pour out his Heart before God, for he had no Mortal to tell his Caſe to—Then methinks I ſee him join his Son and Servants again, and talking to them of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, as they walked by the Way—At length, on the third Day, … lift up his Eyes, and ſaw the Place afar off—And to ſhew that he was yet ſincerely reſolved to do whatſoever the Lord required of him, he even now will not diſcover his Deſign to his Servants out ſaid, Ver. 5. to his young Men (as we ſhould ſay to our worldly Thoughts when about to …ead the Courts of the Lord's Houſe) Abide … with the Aſs … and I and the Lad will go up yonder and worſhip, and come again to you—This was a ſufficient Reaſon for their ſtaying behind, and it being their Maſter's Cuſtom to go frequently to worſhip, they could have no Suſpicion of what he was going about—And by Abraham's ſaying, that he and the Lad would come again, I am apt to think he believed God would raiſe him from the Dead, if ſo be he permitted him to offer his Child up … a Burnt-offering—However that be, he … yet reſolved to obey God to the uttermoſt, and therefore,
Ver. 6. Abraham took the Wood of the Burnt-offering, and laid it upon Iſaac his Son, and he took the Fire in his Hand, and a Knife, and they went both of them together —Little did Iſaac think that he was to be offered upon that very Wood which he was carrying upon his Shoulders, and therefore, Ver 7. Iſaac innocently, and with a holy Freedom (for good Men ſhould not keep their Children at too great … Diſtance) ſpake unto Abraham his … and ſaid, My Father; and he (with equal … and holy Condeſcenſion) ſaid, Here am I, my … —And to ſhew how careful Abraham had been …as all Chriſtian Parents ought to be) to inſtruct …is Iſaac how to ſacrifice to God, like a Youth trained up in the Ways wherein he ſhould go, Iſaac ſaid, Behold the Fire and the Wood; but where is the Lamb for a Burnt-offering?—How beautiful is early Piety! How amiable to hear young People aſk Queſtions about ſacrificing to God in an acceptable Way! Iſaac knew very well that a Lamb was wanting, and that a Lamb was neceſſary for a proper Sacrifice— Behold the Fire and the Wood, but where is the Lamb for a Burnt-offering? —Young Men and Maidens learn of him.
Hitherto it is plain Iſaac kn…w nothing of … Father's Deſign—But I believe, by what his Father ſaid in Anſwer to his Queſtion, that now was the Time Abraham revealed it unto him.
Ver. 8. "And Abraham ſa… ▪ My Son, God will provide himſelf a Lamb for a Burnt-offering"—Some think Abraham by Faith ſaw the Lord Jeſus afar off, and here ſpake prophetically of that Lamb of God already ſlain in Decree, and hereafter to be actually offered up for Sinners—This was a Lamb of God's providing himſelf indeed (we dared not have thought of it) to ſatisfy his own Juſtice, and to render him … in juſtifying the Ungodly—What is all our Fire and Wood, the beſt Preparation and Per…mances we can make or preſent, unleſs God … himſelf this Lamb for a Burnt-offering…—He could not away with them—The Words will well bear this Interpretation. But whatever Abraham might intend, I cannot but think he here made an Application, and acquainted his Son of God's dealing with his Soul, and at length, with … ears in his Eyes, and the utmoſt Affection in his Heart, cried out, Thou art to be the Lamb, my Son—God has commanded me to provide thee for a Burnt-offering, and to offer thee upon the Mountain which we are now aſcending—And as it appears from a ſubſequent Verſe, Iſaac, convinced that it was the Divine Will, made no Reſiſtance … all—For it is ſaid, they went both of them to…; and again, Ver. 9. When we are told, that Abraham bound Iſaac, we do not hear of … complaining, or endeavouring to eſcape, … he might have done, being (as ſome … thirty Years of Age, and it's plain, … carrying Wood enough for a Burnt-…—But he was Partaker of the like pre… Faith with his … Father, and therefore … willing to be offered, as Abraham is to offer him—And ſo they went both of them together.
Ver. …. At length they came to the Five of … God had told Abraham— He built an Altar there, and laid the Wood in Order, and bound … his Son, and laid him on the Altar upon the Wood.
And here let us pauſe a-while, and by Faith take a View of the Place where the Father has … him—I doubt not but the bleſſed Angels … round the Altar and ſang, Glory be to God in the Higheſt, for giving ſuch Faith to M…n—Come all ye tender-hearted Parents, … what it is to look over a dying Child … that you ſaw the Altar here erected before you, and th… Wood laid in Order, and the beloved Iſaac … upon it—Fancy that … ſaw the aged Parent ſtanding by weeping—(For why may we not ſuppoſe that Abraham wept, ſince Jeſus himſelf wept at the Grave of …z…us?)—Oh! what pious, endearing Expreſſions paſſed now alternately between the Father and the Son!—Joſephus has a pathetick Speech made by each, whether genuine I know not—But methinks I ſee the Tears trickle down the Patriarch Abraham's Cheeks, and out of the Abundance of the Heart, he cries, Adieu, Adieu, my Son—The Lord gave thee to me, and the Lord calls thee away—Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord—Adieu my Iſaac, my only Son, whom I love as my own Soul, Adieu, Adieu. Methinks I ſee Iſaac at the ſame Time meekly reſigning himſelf into his heavenly Father's Hands, and praying to the moſt High to ſtrengthen his earthly Parent to ſtrike the Stroke▪—But why do I attempt to deſcribe what either Son or Father felt? It is impoſſible—We may indeed form ſome faint Idea of, but ſhall never fully comprehend it, till we come and ſit down with the… in the Kingdom of Heaven, and hear them tell the pleaſing Story over again—Haſten, O Lord, that bleſſed Time!—O let thy Kingdom come!
And now, Ver. 10. the fatal Blow is going to be given. And Abraham ſtretched forth his Hand, and took the Knife to ſlay his Son —But do you not think he intended to turn away his Head, when he gave the Blow? Nay, why may we not ſuppoſe he ſometimes drew his Hand in after it was ſtretched out, willing to take another laſt Farewel of his beloved Iſaa… and deſirous to defer it a little, tho' reſolved laſt to ſtrike home—Be that as it will—His … is now ſtretched out, the Knife is … Ha… and he is about to put it to his dea… … Throat.
But ſing, O Heavens; and rejoice, O Earth! Man's Extremity is God's Opportunity—For behold, juſt as the Knife, in all Probability, was near his Throat.—Ver. 11. The Angel of the Lord, (or rather, the Lord of Angels, Jeſus Chriſt, the Angel of the everlaſting Covenant) called unto him, probably in a very audible Manner, from Heaven (his Dwelling-Place) and ſaid, Abraham, Abraham—(The Word is doubled to engage his Attention, and perhaps the Suddenneſs of the Call made him draw back his Hand, juſt as he was going to ſtrike his Son) And Abraham ſaid Here am I —
And he ſaid, (Ver. 12.) Lay not thine Hand upon the Lad, neither do thou any Thing unto him—For now know I that thou feareſt God, ſeeing thou haſt not with-held thy Son, thine only Son from me.
Here then it was that Abraham received his Son Iſaac from the Dead in a Figure—He was in effect offered upon the Altar, and God look'd upon him as offered and given unto him—Now it was that Abraham's Faith being tried, was found more precious than Gold purified … Times in the Fire—Now as a Reward of Grace▪ tho' not of Debt, for this ſignal Act of Obedience, by an Oath, God confirms the Promiſe he made to him long before, that in his … …tions of the Earth ſhould be bleſſed, was to be … 8.
… (this … Comfort may we ſuppoſe the Iſaac▪ was offend his Son went down from the Mount, and returned unto the young Men, Ver. 19. With what Joy may we imagine he went home, and related all that had paſſed to Sarah!—And above all, with what Triumph is he exulting now in the Paradiſe of God, and adoring rich, free, diſtinguiſhing, electing, everlaſting Love, which alone made him to differ from the reſt of Mankind, and tender him worthy of that Title which he will have given him ſo …long as the Sun and the Moon endureth—"The Father of the Faithful."
But let us now draw our Eyes from the Creature, and do what Abraham, if he was preſent, would direct to—I mean, fix them on the Creator, God bleſſed for evermore.
I ſee your Hearts affected, I ſee your Eyes weep—(And indeed, who can refrain weeping at the Relation of ſuch a Story?)—But, behold! I ſhew you a Myſtery, hid under the Sacrifice of▪ Abraham's only Son, which, unleſs your Hearts are hardned, muſt cauſe you to weep Tears of Love, and that plentifully too—I would willingly hope you even prevent me here, and are ready to ſay, It is the Love of God, in giving Jeſus Chriſt to die for our Sins—Yes, that is it—And yet perhaps you find your Hearts, at the mentioning of this, not ſo much affected—Let this convince you▪ that we are all fallen Creatures, and that we do no… love God o… Chriſt, as we ought to … if you admire Abraham offering … how much more ought you to … and adore the Love of God, … World, as to give his only begotten Son Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, that whoſoever believeth on him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting Life?—May we not well cry out, Now kn…w we, O Lord, that thou haſt loved us, ſince thou haſt not with-held thy Son, thine only Son from us?—Abraham was God's Creature, and God … Abraham's Friend, and therefore under the higheſt Obligation to ſurrender up his Iſaac▪ But Oh, ſtupendous Love… Whilſt we were his Enemies, God ſent forth his Son made of a Woman, made under the Law, that he might become a Curſe for us—Oh! the Freeneſs, as well as the Infiniteneſs of the Love of God our Father▪—It's unſearchable—I am loſt in contemplating it—It is paſt finding out—Think, O Believers, think of the Love of God, in giving Jeſus Chriſt to be a Propitiation for our Sins—And when you hear how Abraham built an Altar, and laid the Wood in Order, and bound Iſaac his Son, and laid him upon the Altar upon the Wood—Think how your heavenly Father …ound Jeſus Chriſt his only Son, and offered him upon the Altar of his Juſtice, and laid upon him the Iniquities of us all—When you read of Abraham's ſtretching forth his Hand to ſlay his Son—Think, O think, how God actually ſuffered his Son to be ſlain, that we might live for evermore—Do you read of Iſaac carrying … Wood upon his Shoulders, upon which he was to be offered? Let this lead you to Mount … (this very Mount of Moriah where Iſaac was offered, as ſome think) and take a View of the Antitype Jeſus Chriſt, that Son of God's Love, bearing and ready to ſink under the Weight of that Croſs, on which he was to hang for us—Do you admire Iſaac ſo fre…ly conſenting to die, tho' a Creature, and therefore obliged to go when God called?—Oh! do not forget to admire infinitely more … Lord Jeſus, that promiſed Seed, who … ſaid, Lo I come (tho' under no Obligation ſo to do) to do thy Will, to obey and die for Men, O God—Did you weep juſt now, when I bid you fancy you ſaw the Altar, and the Wood laid in Order, and Iſaac laid bound on the Altar?—Look up by Faith, behold the bleſſed Jeſus, our all-glorious Emanuel, not bound, but nailed on an accurſed Tree—See how he hangs crowned with Thorns▪ and had in Deriſion of all that are round about him—See how the Thorns pierce him, and how the Blood in purple Streams trickle down hi… ſacred Temples!—Hark how the God of Nature groans!—See how he b…ws his Head, and at length gives up the Ghoſt!—Iſaac▪ is ſaved, but Jeſus, the God of Iſaac, dies—A Ram is offered up in Iſaac's Room, but Jeſus has no Subſtitute—Jeſus muſt bleed, Jeſus muſt die, God the Father provided this Lamb for himſelf from all Eternity. He muſt be offered up in Time▪ or Man muſt be damned for evermore▪ And now, where are your Tears? Shall I ſay refrain your Voice from weeping? No, … let me exhort you to look to him whom you have pierced, and mourn▪ as a Woman … for her Firſt-born—For we have … Betrayers, we have been the … of the Lord of Glory—And ſhall we not bewail thoſe Sins, which brought the bleſſed Jeſus to the accurſed Tree▪—Having ſo much done, … much ſuffered for us, ſo much forgiven, ſhall we not love much? Oh! let … love him with all our Hearts, and Mind…, and Strength, and glorify him in our … and Bodies, for they are his▪ … me to a …cond Inference I ſhall draw from the foregoing Diſcourſe.
From hence we may learn the Nature of a true, juſtifying Faith—Whoever underſtands and preaches the Truth, as it is in Jeſus, muſt acknowledge, that Salvation is God's free Gift… and that we are ſaved not by any, or all the Works of Righteouſneſs which we have done or can do—No, we can neither wholly or in Part juſtify ourſelves in the Sight of God—The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is our Righteouſneſs, and if we are accepted with God, it muſt be only in & through the perſonal Righteouſneſs, the active and paſſive Obedience of Jeſus Chriſt, his beloved Son—This Righteouſneſs muſt be imputed or counted over to us, and applied by Faith to our Hearts, or elſe we can in no wiſe be juſtified in God's Sight—And that very Moment a Sinner is enabled to lay hold on Chriſt's Righteouſneſs by Faith, he is freely juſtified from all his Sins, and ſhall never enter into Condemnation, notwithſtanding he was a Firebrand of Hell before … it was that Abraham was juſtified before … any good Work—He was enabled to … the Lord Chriſt—It was accounted to him for Righteouſneſs, that is, Chriſt's Righteouſneſs was made …ver to him▪ and ſo accou… his—Thi…, this, is Goſpel, this is the only … of finding Acceptance with God—Good We have nothing to do with our Juſtification in Sight—We are juſtified by Faith alone, as ſo the Article of our Church—Agreeable to whi… St. Paul ſays, By Grace ye are …, … Faith; and than not of yourſelves▪ it is the … of God—Notwithſtanding Good Works … their proper Place. They juſtify our Faith, … not our Perſons—They f…llow it, and evide… our Juſtification in the Sight of Men—Henc… it is that St. James aſks, was not Abraham juſtified by Works? (alluding no doubt to the Sto… on which we have been diſcourſing) that is did he not prove he was in a juſtified State, becauſe his Faith was pro…ctive of good Work… ▪—This declarative Juſtification in the Sight … Men, is what is directly to be underſtood in th… Words of the Text—Now kn…w I, ſays Go… that thou feareſt me, ſince thou haſt not with … Son, thine only Son from me—Not but tha… God knew it before; but this is ſpoken in Condeſcenſion to our weak Capacities, and plain…y ſh…ws, that his offering up his Son was accepte… … God, as an Evidence of the Sincerity … …is Faith, and for this was le…t on Record … future Age…—Hence then you may learn, … ther… you are bleſſed with, and are … Daughters of faithful Abraham—… believe—You talk of Free Grace and … …ication—You do well—The Devils … and tremble—But has your Faith, which you pretend to, influenced your Hearts, renewed your Souls, and like Abraham's worked by Love? Are your Affections▪ like his, ſet on Things above? Are you heavenly-minded, and like him confeſs yourſelves Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth? In ſhort, has your Faith enabled you to overcome the World, and ſtrengthened you to give up your Iſaacs, your Laughter, your moſt beloved Luſts, Friends, Pleaſures and Profits for God?—If ſo, take the Comfort of it, for juſtly may you ſay—We know aſſuredly, that we do fear and love God, or rather are loved of him—But if you are only talking Co…nters, and have only a Faith of the Head, and never felt the Power of it in your Hearts, however you may bolſter yourſelves up, and ſay, We have Abraham for our Father, or Chriſt is our Saviour, unleſs you get a Faith of the Heart, a … working …, you ſhall never ſit with Abraham, Iſaac, …, or Jeſus Chriſt in the Kingdom of …
But I muſt draw one more Inference, and with that I ſhall conclude.
Learn, O Saints! from what has been ſaid, to … looſe to all your worldly …, and ſtand ready prepared to part with every Thing, when God ſhall require it at your Hand—Some of you perhaps may have Friends, which are to you as your own Souls, and others may have Children, in whoſe Lives your own Lives are bound up—All I believe have their Iſaacs— Their particular Delights of ſome Kind or other—Labour, for Chriſt's Sake, labour, ye Sons and Daughters of Abraham, to reſign them daily in Affection to God, that when he ſhall require you really to ſacrifice them, you may not confer with Fleſh and Blood, no more than the bleſſed Patriarch now before us—And as for you that have been in any Meaſure tried like unto him, let his Example encourage and comfort you—Remember Abraham your Father was tried ſo before you—Think, Oh think! of the Happineſs he now enjoys, and how he is inceſſantly thanking God for tempting and trying him when here belov…—Look up often by the Eye of Faith, and ſee him ſitting with his dearly beloved Iſaac in the World of Spirits—Remember it will be but a little while, and you ſhall …it with them alſo, and tell one another what God has done for your Souls—There I hope to ſit with you, and hear this Story of his offering up his Son from his own Mouth, and to praiſe the Lamb that ſitt…th upon the Throne, for what he hath done for all our Souls, for ever and ever.