(3.) Observe, that temporal blessings are usually made good to the posterity of the faithful. Abraham was a strangei* in the land of pro- mise, and had not a foot of land there ; but his posterity possessed it, and drove out the Canaanites. Believers have enough in God ; and however he dealeth with them, they can wait upon him ; but usually their posterity, if they have nothing else, enjoy many temporal blessings with respect to their father's faith. A land of promise contents Abraham ; he leaveth the possession to his posterity. Thus it often falleth out — the father is rich in faith, and the children, though carnal, are rich in this world ; they have the blessing of Ishmael, if not the blessing of Isaac.
(4.) Observe, that though God giveth a title, yet we must wait till providence giveth us fair possession. Abraham had a title given him by God, but the Amorites had the possession, therefore ' he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange land.' Whatever our hopes are, faith maketh not haste. If we may have right as an heir to his land, or a lord to an estate that is leased out, or an unjustly exiled man to his possessions, yet we must use no irregular means, not secretly with the death of those that enjoy it— that is murder, but we must be con- tented for awhile to be as mere strangers, as Abraham was in the laud of promise.
(.5.) Observe, that God doth not cast a people out of their posses- sions till their iniquities be full. He had given the land of Canaan to Abraham, but he giveth him not the possession ; and the reason is rendered, Gen. xv. 16, ' For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.' His posterity was not to possess it till four hundred years after the first grant. Thus God gave the kingdom to David, but Saul possessed it a good while afterwards. Great is the patience of God to sinners, and the sentence is not executed as soon as past.
(6.) Observe, that the accomplishment of promises is delayed till a fit time. It was a land under promise ; but yet to Abraham and his seed for awhile it was as a strange land. When Abraham wandered up and down like a stranger, where was the heritage that was promised to him ? He might say, Is this my land which others possess ? but he lets God alone with his promise. God is not slack, but we are hasty : Gal. iv. 4, ' When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.' Our times are always present, but God's time is not come. The Lord tarried so long, till it was high time to take vengeance of the Amorites for their sins ; and till it was high time for the Israelites to shift dwellings, and the people were
252 SERMONS rpoN HEBREWS XI. [Ser. XLII.
grown to such a number, that they might not come by way of miracle to take possession, but by conquest. When the oven is hot, then is the loaf set in ; so when all circumstances concur, then shall the pro- mise be accomplished.
(7.) Observe, a man that is called to converse with idolaters must converse with them as sparingly as may be. While Canaan was full of idolaters, Abraham must be but a scijourner, and must dwell in tents to profess his religion. Thus we have considered Abraham's sojourn- ing as appointed by God.
[2.] Let us consider it as an act of faith and obedience. ' By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country.' In his faith there are three things notable — his patience, his contenta- tion, and his constancy.
(1.) His patience, not only in digesting the troubles of his present estate, but in waiting God's leisure. Observe, we must not be offended with delay, but must patiently wait for the accomplishment of God's promises. Abraham borrowed a place wherein to fix his tent ; Isaac is fain to struggle for a well ; and Jacob lived in a wandering and mo\'able condition ; and yet they Avaited till God should make way for the possession of Canaan. What can we do in such a case ? can we live upon the reversion of a promise, especially of promises that are to be made good to posterity ? God is much glorified in our patient expectation, when we can think ourselves as well for that which shall come as if we were in actual and present possession. This is the pro- perty of faith : Heb. xi. 1, ' Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen." The word of God is enough to a believer, but carnal men are all for present possession ; they will trust God no further than they can see him.
(2.) His contentation. Observe, contentment with a small portion of earthly things is a great fruit of faith. By faith Abraham sojourned, though he had neither house nor home in the land of promise, but only a sepulchre ; this was enough. Faith doth not only beget a confidence, but also a composure of spirit, and submission to the Lord's will. A little thing will serve on earth, because we expect so much in heaven. Well then" do not always look to confidence, but to this contentation. Are carnal affections mortified ? can you submit to hardships ? Though in regard of temporals you find loss by trusting in God, yet is it enough that you have a promise of better things ? Then do you believe. Abraham was not covetous ; he looketh upon the spiritual rather than the earthly part of the promise ; he was not for fields and lands ; he saw that his Canaan must be heaven, and was content.