1, Imitation: they dwelt with them ; it implieth likeness of practice; they did it after Abraham's death.
2. Cohabitation : for Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born, and Isaac at sixty years old begat Jacob and Esau ; so that Abraham lived with Isaac seventy-five years, and with Jacob fifteen years. Compare Gen. xxi. 5, and xxv. 8, 26. But Abraham and Isaac lived in distinct families when Jacob was born, therefore it is to be understood successively that Isaac dwelt in tents as well as Abraham : Gen. xxvi. 17, 'Isaac pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar ;' Gen. xxiv. 67, ' Isaac ])rought her into his mother Sarah's tent.' And of Jacob it is said: Gen. xxv. 27, ' He was a plain man, dwehing in tents,' in opposition to Esau, Avho built cities. Therefore Jacob's tents are used proverbially in scripture ; see Num. xxiv. 5, Jer. xxx. 18.
[1.] Observe, that saints are of the same spiritual dispositions.
(1.) Because acted by the same spirit : Acts iv. 32, ' And the multi- tude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.' If it were possible that two bodies were acted by the same soul, they would weep together and rejoice togetlier, and have the same gestures and motions. These old believers were not only united to the same head, but acted by the same spirit ; Christ is the head of the church, and the Spirit is as it were the soul of the church.
(2.) They are governed by the same laws: Jer. xxxii. 39, 'I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever.' There are many ways to hell, and but one way to heaven. They are all alike in regard of newness of heart, and there is but one rule of life and worship. Men that will find out new ways to heaven put them- selves into the highway to hell ; all the saints have trodden this path : Heb. vi. 12, ' Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' They that seek to make the way to heaven more easy will find themselves at last mistaken.
(3.) They have all but one scope, to please God, and to glorify him upon earth. Wicked men dilfer in their particular sco])e, though they agree in their hatred of the power of godliness ; like Samson's foxes that were tied by their tails, though their heads looked several ways ; it is but a faction and conspiracy. But all the saints make this their scope. Many times they dilFer in judgment, but agree in scope ; as two physicians that consult for the cure of a man that is dangerously sick may propose different courses, but both design the recovery of the sick man.
(4.) They are called to the same privileges, they are heirs of the same promise : 2 Peter i. 1, ' To them that have obtained like precious
Vers. 9, 10.] sermons upon Hebrews xi. 269
faith with us ; ' as a jewel held b}^ a child and by a man is of the same worth . Jiule 3, ' Beloved, when I gave diligence to write unto you of the common salvation.'
Use 1. It informeth us of the reason of differences in the children of God, partly, because they do not regard the spirit of communion, or mingle with those that have no share in it ; partly, because of some partial error about the law and way they ought to walk in ; partly, be- cause through corruption they seek their own things, and forget they are called to the same privileges. In practicals, and in the power of godliness, they all agree, and in things necessary to salvation.
Use 2. It presseth us to search whether or no we have the same spirit by which all God's saints are acted, the same spirit of ftiith and of holiness, and of self-denial, and of heavenly-mindedness. Do we behave ourselves as heirs of the same promises ? Ps. xxxix. 12, ' I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.'
[2.] Observe the fruit of godly education. Abraham dwelt in tents, and trained up Isaac in the same profession, and Isaac trained up Jacob. This is the way to continue religion in families, to bring up children ' in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,' Eph. vi. 4. God reckoneth upon it from those that are faithful ; as he saith con- cerning Abraham, Gen. xviii. 19, 'For I know him, that he will com- mand his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.' Alas ! many parents are negligent in this kind, whom in charity we may judge godly. We are careful to leave our children great estates, that they may be rich ; but who is careful to leave them thus mortified, to train them up in the contempt of the world ; nay, we rather strive to make them worldly. We do not teach them to dwell in tents ; all that we care for is that they may not be given to prodigality and excess, that they may not waste what we have scraped up for them ; but let them be as worldly as they will, we like that. Plutarch, taxing the abuse of parents that strive to leave their children rich and not virtuous, he saith, They do like those that are solicitous about the shoe, but care not for the foot. Oh, begin with them betimes! Jerome compareth youth to water spilt upon the table; it runneth after you that way which you draw your finger. Train them up to self-denial before their affections are stiffened by long use in the world. The best riches you can leave them is to teach them the art to despise riches, saith Chrysostom in one of his homilies on Timothy.