faith of Abram, and we shall instantly set out to follow his steps.]
Address,
1. Those who are at ease in their native land —
[It may appear harsh to say, that, " if you hate not father and mother, and houses and lands, yea and your own life also, you cannot be Christ's disciple":" but this is the word of Christ himself. It is true, we are not to understand it in a literal sense; for we are not to " hate " even our enemies: but when our friends, or even life itself, stand in competition with Christ, we must act as if we hated them ; we must sacrifice them all without one moment's hesitation. On lower terms than these Christ never will accept us : " We must forsake all, and follow him."]
2. Those who have set out towards the land of promise —
[Terah the father, and Nahor the brother, of Abram, ac- companied him as far as Charran ; and there (from what motive we know not) they all abode five years. God then renewed his call to Abram ; but alas ! his father was dead ; and Nahor was weary of a wandering life ; so that, on the recommencement of his journey, Abram had no associate but his Wife and Nephew. We pretend not to determine any thing of the spi- ritual state of Terah or Nahor ; but then: never entering into the land of Canaan may well be a caution to us to " beware, lest, having received a promise of entering into God's rest, any of us should seem to come short of ity." It were better never to have begun our journey heaven- ward, than to turn back, even in our hearts2.]
x Luke xiv. 2G. y Heb. iv. 1 .
z 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21. Heb. x. 38, 39.