Sermon XIV.

BE A BLESSING!

GENESIS xii. 2.

Thou shalt be a Blessing!

IT was the observation of an enlightened heathen, "That we are not born for ourselves alone, but that our country and our friends have each a claim upon us." And certain it is, that of all enquiries connected with our present state as men and as Christians, there is scarcely one of greater importance than this, viz.: "In what way may I so dispose of myself and my affairs; my time and my influence; my situation and circumstances, so as to be a Blessing?" Yes, my brethren, a Blessing! And,

truly, a sentiment more pure, more patriotic, more Christian, cannot warm the heart of man. And when we behold it embodied in practice, when we behold a fellow-creature acting up to such a sentiment (be his situation in life what it may, high or low, rich or poor,) we involuntarily pronounce him to be one of the best, as well as the happiest of mankind. On the contrary, that man who is so wrapt up in self, so blind to the call of duty and religion; so overgrown with rust and idleness, sensuality and profligacy, as to forget this grand purpose of his existence such a person may justly be denominated a curse-the most contemptible of his species.

The words of the text were addressed by God to the patriarch Abraham. Wherein, I shall consider briefly what was required of him in order to be entitled to the promise herein contained. The promise itself, made to him, "Thou shalt be a blessing ;" and conclude with a practical improvement of the subject.

I. First, we are to consider, what was required of Abraham in order to be entitled to the proImise in the text. He was required to obey the divine command and to leave his country, estate, relations and connections-"Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy

father's house." Whither was he to go: Where to hope for compensation for such sacrifices? He was to follow Providence; to trust Divine care; and he therefore stood in need of some gracious promise to encourage him. The world may deem such a notion ridiculous and enthusiastic. To relinquish a certainty for an uncertainty; to exchange for a distant country that sacred spot which unites every fond association; -to sever oneself from old friends, from present attachments ;-but above all to tear oneself from the scene of our childhood, our dearest recollections ;-from that holy and consecrated circle "our father's house," at the very mention of which the heart is filled with a thousand inexpressible sensations of delight and tenderness -to leave all these, I say; and for what? for an undefined good-" a place that I will show thee"-possibly flying before us, eluding the search;-or even if found, certain to fall short of those immediate joys and comforts we have resigned-all this appears at first sight to be an act of compliance which the world would probably denominate weakness, or doubtful policy.

Not such, however, did it appear to Abraham. A command of this nature we may suppose fell harshly upon his ears, and he would struggle for a moment with the feelings of humanity. Religion

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was never intended to quench, or extinguish these natural feelings. It corrects, it exalts, it purifies them. It deals with us as men; and consequently requires us to make no sacrifice of feeling, to burst asunder no social band, but what it proposes to us under a clear sense of duty. God called, and Abraham obeyed. He well knew that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Omnipotence, my brethren, stands pledged, not indeed to work miracles, but to provide for the good man, the pious believer, the holy pilgrim and sojourner upon earth; seeking, with Abraham, a better country, i. e. a heavenly, in every possible way;-though not in every way of our own choosing. In this belief, Abraham left his country, his friends-his father's house, "not knowing whither he went," but still possessed with the rational expectation, the wellgrounded hope, that what God had promised, he was able, and intended to make good. Thus, therefore, assured to meet Him in all his ways; at every turn, though of a doubtful, long, and tedious pilgrimage, to experience the blessing of Heaven,-every place was to him a country, every stranger he met, a friend, a brother, and a sister-every stage of his earthly sojourn, his father's house.

In imitation of faithful Abraham, the Christian is invited to make similar sacrifices, with the promise of a similar reward. "Verily I say unto you, (it is the assurance of our divine Redeemer) there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the Gospel's, but he shall receive a hundred-fold now in this time, houses and brethren, and sisters and mothers, and children and lands-and in the world to come, eternal life." In order to discover when and wherein we are called upon, by the clear voice of duty, to make this painful surrender of all we hold dear on earth, the rule is, That whatever comes in competition with religious duty, with the voice of God addressing us through the clear dictates of conscience, directed, and informed, and supported by his sacred oracles, the Holy Scriptures-whatever (be it never so dear or fondly cherished) strikes at the root of Christian growth in faith and godliness-that we must relinquish.

II. But, secondly, we are to consider the promise made to Abraham. "Thou shalt be a Blessing." In that memorable discourse which the Amighty condescended to hold with his faithful servant, he was pleased thus to honour and encourage him: "I will make of thee a