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might seem to him best.

There is un- from being concerned in guarding great doubtedly something shocking in the minds from great trials, that it is rather idea of a parent's taking away the life evinced in granting them. Nor are we of his own child; but when this is done to estimate such a dispensation by the in obedience to an express command slight and transient anxieties or pains of from a competent authority, then that the trial itself, but by the lasting joy which would otherwise be a sin be- that awaits and rewards the triumph. comes a duty, and whoever would im- Add to this the incalculable advantages pugn the act, must necessarily impugn that would redound to mankind at large the authority from which it proceeds. from such an example. No one can doubt To human view it might appear a very that every signal instance of devout barbarous deed in a father to order a submission to the will of God under the son to be beaten to death with rods be- pressure of sharp temptations is among fore his eyes; yet the conduct of Junius the stablest supports and the most powBrutus, who passed this sentence upon erful incitements to a similar conduct his own children, is usually considered under similar circumstances. Every as having been fully justified by the such example is a new and shining light circumstances which occasioned it. set up on high to guide, enlighten, and And did Abraham owe less obedience cheer us in the path of duty. But while to God than Brutus to his country? we find, in these considerations, an ample Indeed, had the command been actually vindication of the wisdom and equity of executed, we should have been bound, this command, perhaps a still more adeby our antecedent knowledge of the quate estimate will be formed of it, if we perfections of the Deity, to regard it as view it in another light. It has genewise, just, and good; though we might rally been held that the present comnot, from our limited powers, have been mand was imposed merely as a trial of able to see the reason of it; for a di- Abraham's faith; and seeing the deed vine command necessarily supposes wis- was not executed, it has been affirmed dom, justice, and goodness in the highest that there was nothing unworthy the possible degree. But this was not the divine goodness in having instituted case. God never intended that the such a trial; all which may be readily command should be actually executed. admitted: but as Bp. Warburton has His purpose was to make trial of Abra-suggested, it hardly accounts for all the ham's faith and obedience; to make circumstances; and it may be well to him perfect by suffering; and in him state, in a condensed form, the theory of to propose to all coming generations an that learned divine in regard to it. He illustrious example for their imitation sypposes that Abraham was desirous of in the various trying services and sacri- becoming acquainted with the manner fices to which the voice of duty might in which all the families of the earth call them. And will any one affirm should be blessed in him; and upon that God may not, without impeaching this he builds the conclusion that the his wisdom, his justice, or his mercy, command was imposed upon him chiefput true religion to the test ?-the test ly with the design of teaching him by of severe and repeated trials-the bet-action, instead of words, and thus enater to display, to perfect, and to crown bling him to see and feel by what means it? Great virtue has a right to be made this great end should be accomplished. conspicuous. It is sinking the merit of In other words, that it was a prefiguraall true moral heroism to withold from tion of the sacrifice of Christ. it the occasions of exercising itself. The justice of God, therefore is so far

This theory the author founds upon that passage of the Gospel of John 8.

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AND it came to pass after these Abraham, and said unto him, Abrathings, that God did tempt ham: and he said, Behold, here I

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Abraham must have rejoiced to see, and
seeing which he was glad. But there
is nothing recorded of Abraham in the
Old Testament, from which it could be
inferred that he saw Christ's day in
this sense, if he did not see and feel it in
the command to sacrifice his only son.
In this transaction therefore, he would »
have a lively figure of the offering up of
the Son of God for the sins of the
world; and not only so, but the inter-

der the Mosaic economy was represented by the prescribed oblation of the ram instead of Isaac.

56. in which the Lord says to the unhelieving Jews, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad.' It is evident, from the reply made by the Jews to this assertion, that they understood the expression to see in its most literal sense; while it is equally evident, that when they objected to the possibility of a man, not yet fifty years old, having seen Abraham, our Lord did not correct them in the notion which they had formed as mediate system of typical sacrifices unto seeing. It was not, however, himself personally, whom our Saviour asserted that Abraham rejoiced to see, but his day; by which cannot be meant the On the whole, we regard this as a veperiod of his sojourn upon earth, but the ry rational and plausible hypothesis, and circumstance in his life which was of one that derives no little support from the highest importance, and mainly the place where the scene of the transcharacteristic of his office as the Re-action was laid. If the design of the deemer. That the term will admit of command had been simply a trial of this interpretation is indubitable, from Abraham's faith, it is not easy to see the frequent use made, in a similar why he should have been required to sense, of the word hour. Thus, when go to such a distance to perform an act our Lord repeatedly says, My hour is that might as well have been performnot yet come''the hour is at hand, ed anywhere else. But when we find and the Son of Man is betrayed into him directed to go to the site of Jerusathe hands of sinners;' when he prayed lem, and to rear his altar, and offer up that if it were possible the hour might his sacrifice, on or near the very spot pass from him:' where it is said, that where the Saviour was afterwards actuno man laid hands on him, because ally crucified, we cannot well avoid seehis hour was not yet come;' and again, ing in the incident a designed typical *that the hour was come when the Son and prophetical character. But a fuller of Man should be glorified,'-in all these view of the event in its various bearinstances it is evident that the wordings will be gained from the explanadoes not signify a mere portion of time, tions that follow. from which no one can be saved by its passing from him; but some particular circumstance or circumstances in his life, which were peculiar to him as the Redeemer. The peculiar circumstance, however, which constituted Jesus the Redeemer of the world, was the laying down of his life; and this it was which

1. And it came to pass after these things. Heb. After these words.' That is, we suppose, not merely after the things recorded in the preceding chapter, but after all the previous trials which Abraham had been called to pass through. Notwithstanding he may have hoped for a period of tranquil rest in the de-,

2 And he said, Take now thy | land of Moriah; and offer him there son, thine only son Isaac, whom for a burnt-offering upon one of the thou lovest, and get thee into the mountains which I will tell thee of.

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a Heb. 11. 17. 2 Chron. 3. 1.

of their hearts. In this sense of trying, putting to the proof, bringing to the test, the original term in many other instances is used in reference to the Most High, and always in such a way as to leave his attributes unimpeached. Thus

Deut.

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13. 3, 'For the Lord your God nissah) proveih you, to know (i. e. to make known) whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.' 2 Chron. 32. 31, In the business of the ambassadors God left him (1703 lenassotho) to try him, that he might know all the evil that was in his heart.' Indeed, in some cases we find this kind of trial made a subject of petition on the part of good men, as if they regarded it as a special favor. Ps. 26. 2, Examine me, O Lord, and (“D nassani) prove me; try my reins and my heart.' And so with a different word, but to the same effect, Ps. 139, 23, 24, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' And we find Paul, 2 Cor. 13 5, employing the corresponding Gr. term, when enjoining as a duty to be performed by Christians towards themselves, the very probation, which is indicated by the Heb. word;

cline of life, after the various trials and conflicts, the dangers and deliverances through which he had passed; yet he is once more reminded that he is still in the flesh, that the days of his warfare are not yet accomplished, and that he must arm himself for a far more fiery trial than any he has yet endured. We cannot but feel for the venerable patriarch thus suddenly awakened from his state of repose, and summoned to a new and unparalleled conflict; but the event teaches us that a believer's trials are not confined to the commencement of his course; that the longest period of rest and peace may be succeeded by a sore temptation; and the severest conflict be reserved for the last.-T God did tempt Abraham. Heb. O nissah, tried, proved. Gr. Enεipaos, id. This literal rendering of the term, which is actually given in the old Geneva version, God did prove Abraham,' goes at once to correct the erroneous impression that might possibly be received from our English word 'tempt,' which usually has the sense of exciting to sin. But in this sense we are expressly assured by James 1. 13, that God is not tempted of evil, neither tempteth he any man;' he neither deceives any man's judgment nor perverts his will, nor seduces his Examine (&pageтɛ try) youraffections, nor does any thing else that selves, whether ye be in the faith; can subject him to the blame of men's prove your own selves.'-¶ Behold, Heb. hinnini, be sins. Temptation in this bad sense al- here I am. Arab. What is thy pleaways proceeds from the malice of Sa- hold me. tan working on the corruptions of our sure?' The patriarch's prompt abown hearts. God may, however, con- sequiousness to the slightest call of sistently with all his perfections, by his God is strikingly set forth in this reply. providence, bring his creatures into cir- It exhibits him as presenting himself in cumstances of special probation, noi for the divine presence, ready at a mothe purpose of giving him information, ment's warning to enter upon any serbut in order to manifest to themselves vice that might be enjoined upon him, and to others the prevailing dispositions without first waiting to know distinctly

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Our obedience ever derives its principal value in the sight of heaven from the ready, implicit, and unquestioning spirit in which it is rendered.

what it was, or what were the reasons ment put our souls in his soul's stead, of it. and realize to ourselves the spontaneous train of thought and feeling which must have passed through his mind. 'Take now thy son; and for what?—To in2. Take now thy son, thine only son vest him with all the honors of the proHeb. 7 yahid, only. Gr. ayamnrov mise, to put him in possession of the beloved. As an only son is usually destined inheritance? Alas no!-To the object of a very intense affec- seek for him a fitting companion to share tion, the epithets only and beloved came with him the blessings and comforts to be used interchangeably. Thus Prov. that might be expected to flow from the 4. 3, For I was my father's son, ten- covenant favor of his own and his fader and only (beloved) in the sight of ther's God? Neither is this the end of my mother;' where the original Heb. the command. Take now thy sononly is also rendered by the Sept. thine only son-Isaac-whom thou lovayanwpɛvos beloved. The term povoyε- est, and-offer him up upon one of the vns only begotten, applied to Christ in the mountains, which I will tell thee of!' New Testament, is of equivalent import. Was ever message like this addressed In accordance with the Heb. there- to a father?-each word more piercing fore, Paul calls him, Heb. 11. 17, his to parental ears than the keenest dagger only begotten son.' Isaac was the to the heart!-every clause awakening only son of Sarah, the free woman, and a new and sharper pang of anguish ! he only, in contradistinction from Ish- Who but Abraham could have forborne mael, who was now expelled, was to be remonstrance on such a heart-rending reckoned the seed of Abraham and the occasion? Who but he could have reheir of the promises. In this sense frained from saying, 'Lord, shall I lose Abraham would naturally understand my child?-lose him almost as soon as it; and thus understood, it could not but I have received him? Didst thou give go to enhance beyond expression the him only to tantalize thy servant? Reanguish of a father's heart in view of member the long years through which the command now given him. Indeed, his birth was expected, and the transthe language in which this severe man- ports of joy with which at length it was date is conveyed, appears to be pur- hailed, and which was commemorated posely so constructed as to aggravate in the name of thine own appointment. to the utmost the wound it was calcu- Remember the promises which can be lated to inflict. Every word seems fulfilled only on the condition of his life chosen with a view to awaken some being prolonged.-If sin lie at the door, painful feeling, and to increase the diffi- let me expiate the guilt. Let thousands culty of compliance. To a person of of rams, let every bullock in my stalls. humane and benevolent disposition, like bleed at thine altar. These are nothing Abraham, the idea of a human sacrifice compared with my child. Or if nothing would naturally be in the highest de- will appease thine indignation but hugree revolting, had the meanest slave man blood, let my death be the sacrifice. of his household been demanded, and I am old and grey-headed. The best had the choice of the victim been left of my days are past, and the best of my to himself. What then must have been services performed. My life is of little his emotions as the true object of the value. Let me die, but let him live.command unfolded itself, and he found Yet if the decree cannot be reversed, if his own beloved son demanded as a the offering must come from my own sacrificial offering! Let us for a mo- family, if it must be the fruit of my own

body, O that Ishmael-yet how shall I spicuous land. Chal. "To the land of speak it ?--my heart bleeds at the reverence or worship; the variation thought!--but as for Isaac, the son of from the Hebrew being owing to the Sarah, the son of my old age, the crown Targum's referring the word to the root of all my hopes, the very solace of my yara, to fear, to reverence, instead of soul; how shall I survive such a loss? deriving it from raah, to see. The The blow that goes to his heart, must Gr. evidently refers the term to the right be fatal to us both.' Such we may root, but interprets it solely of the high, conceive to have been the plea which commanding, conspicuous character of the fond nature would have prompted in locality in question. The probability is, any other father than the father of the that the name is here used proleptically, faithful; and if his prayer availed not it having been given from the event, in to avert the doom of death, he would reference to the remarkable vision or have besought that it might be mitigat- manifestation of the Most High which ed; that he might expire by a natural was there made, and to which allusion dissolution; that some disease might is had in the expression Jehovah-jireh, v. gently loose the cords of life, and that 14. Indeed, this seems to be intimated his sorrowing but submissive parents in the very form of the word itself, might have the melancholy consolation which Fuller (Misc. Sac.) suggests is a of soothing his dying pangs, and of clos- contraction or compound of ing his eyes when he had ceased to moreh-jah, Jehovah manifested, by a prolive. At any rate he would sue to be cess of formation which is fully given by exempted from the pain of witnessing Rosenmuller in loc. That the land of the sad catastrophe. If the son of his Moriah included the site of Jerusalem, love must be bound hand and foot for where was a well-known mountain the slaughter; if he must receive the called by the same name, is a point steel into his bosom, and welter in his universally admitted; but upon which own blood, how fervently would he ask one of the several hills included in the to be spared the anguish of beholding compass of the city the commanded such a scene. Such, we say, would be sacrifice was to be offered up, it is imthe native promptings of the paternal possible to determine. From the conheart. Yet in the case of Abraham all gruities of the case, we should naturalthese aggravations clustered round the ly suppose that the spot would be secommand that was given him, and as lected on which the antitypical sacrino alleviation was hinted to him, so none fice was to be made in the fulness of does he seem to have sought. He who time, and this is perhaps the general before staggered not at the promise, opinion of commentators. But this is staggers not now at the precept. Deaf made less certain by the now admitted alike to the arguings of carnal reason, and fact that Calvary was not properly a the yearnings of fatherly affection, he mountain; and that, although the place consults not with flesh and blood, but of the crucifixion is often popularly enters with the utmost promptitude up-called 'Mount Calvary,' yet the Scripon the work before him; and the sequel tures nowhere authorise this mode of informs us that it was carried out as it expression. There was doubtless a was commenced, in the full triumph of gentle swell or rocky protuberance in an unwavering faith.-¶ The land of the ground, resembling in form a human Moriah. Heb. 78 38 el eretz skull, from which the name was derivhammoriyah; by interpretation the land ed; but as the present locality has no of vision. Gr. eis τny ynv tnv vynλny to appearance of a mountain, or even a the high land; i. e. the visible, the con-hill of any size, so we have no reason

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