said "lam thy shiel<l and thy exceeding great reward "-i. e. I run with thee clay by db:y as the God of prov!dence; I will abun~antly bless thee here~fter. The pro- mise of n numerous offsprmg, of descendants hke the stars for multitude, was not a merely temporal promise, it wns a spiritual blessing set in the framework of national prosperity. "Al;mi.m bel~eved in t~~- Lord; an~. he counted it to him for righteous- ness'' (vor. 6; cf. Rom. 1v.; Galm.; Heh. :x1.). I. It wo.s I\ FAITH IN THE PERSONAL, revealed, covenant Jehovah; not merely in a. word, or in a sign, or in a prospect, but " in the Lord.'' II. The GRACIOUS DOND OF RELATIONSHIP AND OF COVENANT. Faith on the one side, God dealing with a sinful creature as righteous on the other. The elements of that bond are (1) gracious acceptance, (2) gracious revelation, (3) gracious reward of obedience-in each case vouchsafed to faith. Thus the faith which justifies is the faith which sanctifies, for the sanctification, as the Apostle Paul shows in Rom. viii., is as truly the outcome of the grace which accepts as the acceptance itself.-R. Ver. 1.- What the Lord is to his people. I. A SHIELD against--1. The charges of the law (Isa. xiv. 24). 2. The accusations of conscience (Rom. xv. 13). 3. The force of temptation (Rev. iii. 10). 4. The opposition of the world (Rom. viii. 31), 5, The fear of death (Heb. ii. 15). •II. A REWARD-1. For sufferings patiently endured (2 Tim. ii. 12). 2. For sacri- fices cheerfully made (Matt. xi:x. 28). 3. For service faithfully accomplished (Rev. ii. 28). Lessons :-1. Admire the exceeding richness of Divine grace. 2. Appreciate the fulness of Divine salvation. 3. Realise the height of Divine privilege ar.corde<l to the saint.-W. • Ver. 6.-Faitli and Righteousness, "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Even by itself this passage claims attention. How does the idea of righteousness come into it at nil? What is meant by " counting" or " imputation " ? And what is the connection between belief and imputed righteousness? But it does not stand alone. (1) In Ps. cvi. 30 (cf. :t-lum. :xxv. 7) the same" counting" takes place on an act of an entirely different character; and (2) it is thrice quoted in the New Testament as an example of the action of faith in the spiritual life. Imputation must not be explained away. Its meaning is seen in Levit. vii. 18; xvii. 4; 2 Sam. xix. 19. There is here the germ of II the Lord our righteousness." In Rom. iv. 3-5, 23-25, St. Paul refers to it as an instance of justification by faith, connecting it with "the reward ; '' and this again with forgiveness and acceptance (Ps. :x:xxii. 2), the psalm almost repeating the worJs of the text (see o.lso Gal. iii. 6). We need not suppose that now for the first time Abram was accepted of God, or that he alone was counted righteous. Mark, Abram beliend not merely the particular promise, but "in the Lord." This instance is specially noticed by St. Paul as an instance of faith, because from the nature of the case there was no opportunity of action. I. THE WORKING OF FAITH- simple belief of what God hns said, because he is true; casting all care upon him. No merit in this. Faith is the channel, not the source of justification. By the look of faith the dying Israelites lived (N um. xxi. 9) 1 but the healing was from God. God offers salvation freely (John vii. 37; Rev. :x:xii. 17), because he loves us even while in our sins (EJ?hes. ii. 4). What hinders that love from being effectual is unbelief. Many "believe 11 lie "-e. g. that they must become better ere they can believe (cf. Acts xv. 1). Primary lesson of prac- tical Christianity is that we must begin by receiving, not by giving; must learn to believe his word because it is his word. This delivers from the spirit of bondage (Rom. viii. 15), und enables to ask with confidence (Rom. viii. 32). And this faith is counted for righteousness. II. FArrlI GROWS BY USE. It is the gift of God (Ephes. ii. 8), but it is given according to laws. Sometimes it springs up suddenly-e. g. N nthanael, St. Paul, the Philippian jailer; but usually it is like the growth of the seed, hardly to be traced- ll gradual growth from efforts to live by faith, Let none think, I can believe when I will, The endeavour delayed will meet with many difficulties, suggestions of doubt, 220 1:'lrn BOOK OF GENESIS. [CH, XV, 7-iJt,
or hal~its of indecision. And let none despise the trai11ing which prepares the soul to lehe,·e. It may seem to be labour in vain, yet the Holy Spirit may be workin!( unseen to prepare the soul for life and pence. • _III. FA~TH LEADS TO !IOLINE:SS. It renders possible a service w.bich cannot other- wise be gH·en. The faith wluch was counted to Abram for rio·hteousness formed the character :diich _enabl~d him afterwards to offer up Isaac (cf Jamee ii. 21-23). Thns growth m holiness 1s the test of real faith, There is a faith which has no power ( cf. James ii. 19; 1 Cor. xiii. 2; 2 Tim. iv. 10). It is with the heo.rt that man belie-ves unto righteousness (cf. Ps. b::xxiv. 6, 7; Prov. iv. 23).-M.