SECTION VIII.

ABRAHAM, A BELIEVER IN THE LORD.

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus ?

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis xv. 1—6.) AFTER the spirited conduct of Abraham, in rescuing Lot, and chasing the hostile kings as far as to Dan, it was natural that he should fear the resentment of those powerful chiefs. The Lord assured his servant that he should be effectually protected and blessed. God had now turned the wrath of man to his praise; and having done so, he determined to restrain the remainder of that wrath. The warriorpatriarch therefore might return in peace to his dwelling in Canaan, secured by this declaration made to him in a vision; "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

There was however, in his own family-circle, a want which was keenly felt by Abraham. He had no child; and he anticipated that Eliezer, the steward

of his house, would consequently become his adopted heir. God condescends therefore on this occasion to renew to him the promise, making it yet more express, that he shall have an heir of his own body. "He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be."-The Lord gave him also very distinct prophetic views of the future condition of his descendants, even to far-distant periods of time.

It is on this occasion that the sacred writer introduces a verse which is frequently quoted in the New Testament; and which describes the fundamental principle of all true Religion; a principle equally of force both under the Old Testament and under the New. It is here recorded of Abraham, "He believed in the Lord: and he counted it to him for righteousness."-The subject is so important, that it requires a distinct and careful examination.

At present, we shall consider the fact asserted, that Abraham "believed in the Lord."

1. It will be useful, first of all, to inquire, "What is faith ?"

Perhaps the best general explanation of Faith, is this, "Taking a person at his word." The greatest honour we can do to any one, is to put full and unhesitating confidence in his declarations. Nor can a grosser insult be offered, than to call any one a liar; or, (which is much the same thing,) to show plainly that we put no reliance whatever on his word. How great the malignity then of Unbelief:

"He that believeth not God hath made him a liar.” On the other hand, genuine faith honours God: "He that hath received his testimony (i. e. Christ's testimony, who is God,) hath set to his seal, that God is true."

2. Looking then more particularly into the subject, we may remark that Abraham was favoured with many communications from the Lord: and all these he received with a believing heart. Sometimes he was addressed by God in visions; at other times, through the ministry of angels; and yet more graciously, by special appearances of the Son of God, who manifested himself in some visible form, and held sacred converse with this highly privileged man. Some may perhaps think, that under these circumstances Abraham could not possibly do otherwise than believe. Certainly he was under the strongest possible obligations to believe. Yet such is the perverseness of the human heart, that men are capable of resisting the clearest evidences of Religion. Of Abraham, however, it is expressly recorded that he did believe. "He believed in the Lord." We must expand this idea in a few particulars. (1) He believed in the existence and presence of the Lord. And in this belief we are bound to imitate him. Without this faith, it is impossible to please God. We are to adore Him as the selfexistent Jehovah, viewing ourselves as the creatures of His power. "In him we live and move and have our being." "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are

naked and opened unto the eyes of him, with whom we have to do."

- (2) Abraham believed also in the authority of God's commandment. He knew the voice of the Lord, and bowed to it. Whatever God required him to do, Abraham did. He kept, and he persuaded others to keep, "the way of the Lord."

(3) He believed also in the unfailing certainty of God's promises. At this particular time he believed that he (though his body were as good as dead,) should become "the father of many nations." "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief." 66 'Against hope he believed in hope." "He was strong in faith, giving glory to God."

(4) He more especially believed the promise of a Redeemer, who was to come; and who was to descend, according to the flesh, from himself. This is the meaning of the declaration made to Abraham from the first, and often repeated, "In thee," and "in THY SEED, shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." So it is expounded by St. Paul, (Galatians iii. 16.) "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."-Hence our Lord Jesus Christ, when on earth, plainly declared to the Jews, concerning their progenitor in whom they ignorantly boasted, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." He so fully believed in the coming Saviour of the world, that he might be almost said to have seen that Saviour actually and

already come. By faith he beheld our Gospel-day; and through his faith shared our Gospel-privileges.

And now, reflect on the consolations springing from such a faith as this. What an unspeakable happiness was it to Abraham, to have a Friend in whom he could confide! What greater comfort can there be to a weak, ignorant, and sinful creature, than to feel that he has a merciful Guide, able to carry him through every difficulty, and to support him in every danger? Such a Friend, Guide, and Supporter was revealed to Abraham: not once only, but frequently: not dimly, but clearly. It was the Lord, who thus made Himself known, as the selfexistent, ever-living Jehovah; the faithful, the Almighty, the everlasting God: the shield of his servant, and his exceeding great reward. And Abraham "believed in the Lord!" He rested and strengthened himself in the Lord his God!

SECTION IX.

JUSTIFICATION, THE FREE REWARD OF FAITH.

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis xv. 6.)

It stands on record, both in the Old and New Testament, that Abraham's "faith was counted unto him for righteousness." On this very account is this holy man held up, as a pattern to the Church of God in all ages. Let us then carefully consider the subject of Justification on Scripture-grounds: and