and this conviction is a source of unbounded consolation to his soulb. In this conviction he has " an anchor for his soul, both sure and steadfast0 ;" an anchor which shall enable him to ride out in safety all the storms which either the world or Satan can raise against him.
But present comfort is but a secondary consideration. The question is, What will avail us at the day of judgment? What will secure to us the promise then ? God has told us, that he has appointed salvation to be by faith for this very end. Will God then, who has declared, that, if we believe not on his Son we are condemned already, and that his wrath abideth on us ; will he, I say, reverse his sentence in favour of those who have proudly rejected the salvation which he offered them? This cannot be. Let me therefore entreat all to renounce all dependence on their own works, as Paul did on hisd; and to seek salvation in that adorable Emmanuel, of whom it is said, " In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and in him shall they glory0."]
b Heb. vi. 17 — 19. c Here is the same word, fitfialav.
d Phil. hi. 9. e Isai. xlv. 25.
Abraham's faith.
Rom. iv. 20 — 25. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief ; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God ; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it zvas imputed to him ; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead ; who ivas delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
THERE is no Christian grace, the want of which is so much condemned in Scripture, or the exercise of which is so much applauded, as faith. In the Epistle to the Hebrews there is one whole chapter occupied in celebrating the saints that were distin- guished for this grace. Amongst these Abraham makes a very conspicuous figure. In the chapter before us also the Apostle mentions this eminent trait in Abraham's character, and expatiates upon it in support of that, which it is the one scope of this
1839.] Abraham's faith. 113
whole epistle to establish, namely, the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
In opening the Apostle's words, we shall consider, I. The faith of Abraham —
This faith was most extraordinary —
[It had respect to two things, which God had promised him, namely, The birth of a son by Sarah, ivhose progeny should be numerous as the stars of heaven*; and the gift of one parti- cular seed, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessedb. Incredible as these events appeared, he staggered not at God's promises relating to them ; but was fully per- suaded that they should be fulfilled in their season.
Considering his age and Sarah's, he being one hundred years old, and she ninety, there was no hope, according to the course of nature, that a child should be born unto them. But natural impediments were of no account with him : he knew that, whatever God should promise, he was able also to per- form: and therefore, whilst " Sarah laughed" at the tidings in a way of unbelieving derision, Abraham laughed at them in a way of believing exultation0.
The gift of a Saviour too to descend from his loins, a Saviour in whom both his own soul, and the souls of all his believing posterity, should be blessed, he fully believed. Our blessed Lord himself assures us, that, at the distance of two thousand years, " Abraham saw his day, and was gladd." Abraham knew himself to be a sinner before God, and consequently that he needed a better righteousness than his own to procure him acceptance with God in the last day : and he believed that this promised Seed should work out a righteousness for him, a righteousness commensurate with his necessities, yea, and with the necessities of the whole world. " This Gospel was preached to Abraham" in the promise before use, and on this he founded all his hopes, and placed the most unshaken affiance.]