him, and to confirm that contempt of lucre which he had shewn in refusing to accept even a thread of a shoe-latchet of all the spoil that he had taken. But was Abram contented with this promise ? No. God had before promised that he should have a child, from whom in due time the Messiah should spring. He had waited already ten years, and had no child : and as he and his wife were far advanced in years, the prospect of issue became, daily, more dark and dis- couraging. He therefore could not be completely happy till he could see this great point accomplished. Hence, notwithstanding the declaration which God had just made to him, he expressed his regret at not having an offspring to inherit his substance, and to confirm his expectations of the promised Messiah ; " Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and lo, one born in my house is mine heir." We cannot suppose that it was merely an anxiety to have an heir to his fortune, that produced this reply to God : that, though natural enough, would have been unworthy of so eminent a saint, and especially at the very moment when he was receiving such commu- nications from God. But, if we suppose his anxiety to have respect- chiefly to the Messiah, then was it every way worthy of his high character. Indeed the answer which God gave to him in the text, clearly shews that Abram's views extended not to an immediate progeny, so much as to a remote posterity, who should " be blessed through him." And in this view the conduct of Abram strongly exemplifies our introductory ob- servation.
We do not apprehend that he doubted whether the promise formerly given him would be fulfilled ; but, that he began to be impatient for its accomplishment. The repetition of the promise, however, with all its attendant circumstances, confirmed his faith ; in the exercise of which he obtained renewed testimonies of his acceptance with God.
We shall endeavour to set before you,