SERMON IV.

THE COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE.

GENESIS XII. 2, 3.

AND I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS THEE, AND MAKE THY NAME GREAT, AND THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING: AND I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE; AND IN THEE SHALL ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED,

A DIVINE injunction, however briefly made, and however distinct from all other considerations, implies, in the very nature of things, the fitness of an entire obedience. When that emphatic preface, "Thus saith the Lord" introduces any message of the will of God, it involves the creature in obligations which it would be most guilty rebellion to oppose. The sovereignty of Jehovah supposes the absolute subjection of man to its exercise. His Omnipotence can enforce submission. His Wisdom claims to be implicitly trusted. His Beneficence offers an ample pledge that his purposes

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are kind and his holiness gives assurance, that they have unmingled good for their end and object.

When that command therefore was made by the Most High to Abram, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy Father's house, unto a land that I will show thee," its fulfilment would have been imperatively bound upon him, although no reason should have been given, and if no promise had been annexed. But the condescension of God induced Him to accompany the exercise of sovereign prerogative with such assurances, as, once received into the heart, were powerfully calculated to subdue all opposition, and make obedience, not only prompt, but delightful on the part of Abram. The box of spikenard is partially opened, and the patriarch's soul apprehends so much of its sweetness, as to be refreshed and strengthened for all the sacrifices and self-denials, that lay before him on his journey. And that believer, who carefully links the precept with the promise, as the prophet joined the staves in one, will find a rod thus made for his hand, on which he may safely and happily lean, to "run with patience the race that is set before him."

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The command of God, that Abram should forsake his country, his kindred, and his idolatries, to seek a land at once distant and unknown, was the subject of my last discourse. I have now to consider

THE PROMISES, WHEREBY THE COMMAND WAS ACCOMPANIED.

The whole scheme of Redemption, with all the glory of the Godhead by whom it was to be accomplished, and all the amazing circumstances of its process and completion, was enwrapped in a single promise, which has been unfolding gradually for nearly six thousand years; and is yet to be evolved; until it is finally exhibited in the glory of the Mediator, and the salvation of his Church. Every promise of Scripture, is in fact an intermediate and visible link, connecting to a believer's eye those purposes of the divine mind (otherwise hopelessly dark and unintelligible,) with the intention and method of their fulfilment. They are registered in the word of God, for the assurance of faith, and the comfort of those who receive them in singleness and sincerity of heart. All these exceeding great and precious promises are branches of the tree of life, springing forth from the person and mediation of Jesus Christ as their

stem and root. Very many, very beautiful, and very refreshing are their fruits: and those Christian travellers, who would enjoy their sweetness, must pluck them with the hand of faith, and live upon them in the heavenward journey, as Sampson went forwards, eating the honey from the lion's carcase. Thus, and thus only, can they go on their way rejoicing.

Since however, the promises of Scripture, excellent as they are, and transcendantly manifesting divine graciousness, "are only the golden vessel, while God in Christ is the manna contained within," it is needful to consider:

I. THE AUTHOR OF THE PROMISES, AS REVEALED TO THE MIND OF ABRAM.

The Lord, even Jehovah, the Almighty and self-existent God, the Giver of life and happiness, who revealed Himself to the mind of the Patriarch, and brought him into the light and blessedness of covenant engagement and love towards Him, was the source and centre of them all. And no promises will do their full work of goodness on the heart, by making Christians partakers of the divine nature, until, looking through them, God in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself, is realized and appropriated as their well-spring. Faith must

take the warrant of a promise, if it may seek God with hope: but faith can be assured of no saving interest in that promise, except as the believer is persuaded that he hath union with Christ, who, in his mystical person, is the true and proper Object of faith.

And what shall a Christian see, if, like Stephen, he look steadfastly up into heaven, where those promises are deposited with Him who liveth, and was dead, and is alive again for evermore; and waits at the right hand of the throne of God to dispense them, as Joseph opened the granaries of Egypt, to supply the wants of his brethren? He will discover the infinite grace and goodness of God, whereby every engagement of his love for the salvation of men hath been so freely made, and every blessing is with his Son, offered in absolute mercy, even to the chief of sinners. Those engagements once undertaken, their fulfilment becomes justice; according to the terms of that covenant wherein the Word undertook with the Father for the whole work of Redemption, and for opening all the stores and fulness of God in Himself. But if we carry our thoughts upwards, and endeavour to look into the origin of these mercies, we can neither find, nor imagine