2. His prompt decision —
[It is said concerning him, that " when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an in- heritance, he obeyed." There was in him no hesitation, no delay. And in tliis way must we also obey the divine call, when bidden to " forsake all and follow Christ." We must "not confer with flesh and blood q;" but must, like the Dis- ciples with their nets, and Matthew at the receipt of custom, leave all for Christ. We must be on our guard against spe- cious excuses, " Lord, let me go home and bury my father," or " take leave of my friends :" we must not be looking for " a more convenient season ;" our obedience must be prompt, our decision firm and unchangeable : whilst it is called to-day, we must avail ourselves of the opportunity that is afforded us to do the will of God : to hesitate, is treason : to delay, is death. " What our hand findeth to do, we must do it instantly, and with all our might."]
3. His self-denying zeal —
[Doubtless Abram felt that attachment winch men
11 Rom. iv. 12. ° ib. ver. 1 — 3. P ib. ver. 22 — 25. i Gal. i. 16.
usually do to their native country ; and found it painful to turn his back upon all his friends, and to forsake all the comforts which he enjoyed in opulence and ease. No doubt, too, he had much to combat with amongst his friends and acquaintance. He was leaving his native country, and yet " he knew not whither he was going." How strange must this appear ! yea, what a folly and infatuation ! But " he knew in whom he had believed," and had no fear but that the Lord Jehovah, who had called him, would guide his feet, and keep him in all his ways. And shall not we also have much to contend with, if we obey the call of God in his Gospel ? To renounce the world, to " mortify our members upon earth, to cut off a right hand, to pluck out a right eye, to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts," is surely no easy work. The very terms in which these duties are expressed sufficiently declare what self-denial is necessary for the dis- charge of them. From without, also, our difficulties will be increased. We shall have foes without number to obstruct our way ; and most of all, " those of our own household." Hence our blessed Lord warned his followers, saying, " If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." In truth, " if we hate not father and mother, and houses and land, yea, and our own lives also in comparison of him, we cannot be his disciples." Let not this appear a hard saying : obey it, like Abram ; and, like him, you shall find it " a light burden and an easy yoke."]
4. His prudent care —
[Abram collected together all the substance which he could conveniently carry with him, and took it along with him for his support. To have acted otherwise, without necessity, would have been to tempt God, rather than to trust in him. He had many dependent on him ; and it became him, as far as with propriety he could, to provide for their support. And the same prudent care becomes us also. It is one thing to improve the means we possess, and another to trust in them. We must never say to gold, " Thou art my hope ; or to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence :" but at the same time we are to employ the talents which God has committed to us, that we may support ourselves, and not be chargeable to others. That is a remarkable expression of Solomon, "I wisdom dwell with prudence r." And a prudent attention to our worldly circumstances tends rather to honour, than dis- grace, religion. Abram, as the head of a family, provided for his own : and he did right in this : yea, if he had not done it, he would have " denied the faith, and been worse than an