had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou, how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."1 The appeal of James is made to those who quoted Abraham's privilege as a believer freely justified; but yet would not follow the example of Abraham, in the exercise of a faith evidencing and approving itself by sacrifices of holy obedience. His faith influenced his conduct and was connected with practical devotedness to God's will, in a circumstance of unexampled trial. His faith therefore was made perfect by works; as the goodness of a tree is not perfect, without bringing forth its appropriate fruits. In other words, the faith whereby Abraham was justified, when he believed God, was one which afterwards evidenced itself by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar." Ye see then how that by works in this plain and simple sense of God's inspired word, a man is justified, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." 3

1 James ii. 21.

2 Professor Scholefield's Sermon on St. Paul and St. James reconciled, p. 12. 3 Ibid. ii. 24.

SERMON XXXIV.

ABRAHAM A TYPE OF GOD THE FATHER. ISAAC A TYPE OF GOD THE SON.

GENESIS XXII. 6-10.

AND ABRAHAM TOOK THE WOOD OF THE BURNT OFFERING AND LAID IT UPON ISAAC HIS SON; AND HE TOOK THE FIRE IN HIS HAND, AND A KNIFE; AND THEY WENT BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER. AND ISAAC SPAKE UNTO ABRAHAM HIS FATHER, AND SAID, MY FATHER AND HE SAID, HERE AM I, MY SON. AND HE SAID, BEHOLD THE FIRE AND THE WOOD; BUT WHERE IS THE LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING? AND ABRAHAM SAID, MY SON, GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF A

LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING: SO THEY WENT BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER, AND THEY CAME TO THE PLACE WHICH GOD HAD TOLD THEM OF. AND ABRAHAM BUILT AN ALTAR THERE, AND LAID THE WOOD IN ORDER, AND BOUND ISAAC HIS SON, AND LAID HIM ON THE ALTAR UPON THE WOOD. AND ABRAHAM STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND, AND TOOK THE KNIFE TO SLAY HIS SON.

A STUDENT of the Bible may be compared to a person travelling through a pleasant and fertile country. The wayfaring man follows a path abounding in every part with natural beauty,

well fitted to delight him, if he has an eye to discern, and a heart to feel it. But occasionally he is led up some gentle ascent, from which a scene of unexpected, and unusual loveliness or grandeur bursts upon his view, filling him with astonishment and gladness. The way of a diligent and devout reader of God's holy word, lies through a spiritual garden, wherein is every thing pleasant to the sight, and good for food, equally exciting and refreshing. But lest even this paradise might pall upon his mind by continued uniformity, he is frequently conducted by the sacred narrative, as the hand of the Spirit leads him along it, up to some high ground, commanding a vast and varied extent of gracious and glorious manifestation; more than usually radiant with the features of divine love; well fitted to raise his mind much nearer to heaven, and give it closer communion with God, in the everlasting mercies of his Son.

Of such kind is the history now under consideration. We passed through a region of no common interest, while journeying together over the various circumstances of Abraham's temptation, in that emphatic trial of his faith, which bade him take Isaac, and offer him for a burntoffering unto God. And I must have failed in

describing, and you must have been wanting in discernment, and all of us in a spirit of grace and supplication for holy teaching, if we passed that region uninstructed. Our way hath led us to the summit of Moriah. Upon that sacred mountain we are now standing. Look we then abroad, as God the Holy Ghost may enable us, upon the stupendous prospect that opens to us in a Typical View of the mysterious, and most significant transaction already reviewed. It presents us with two subjects especially demanding our devout contemplation: and if that contemplation be blessed from on high to our hearts, we shall eagerly exclaim, as the love of Christ constrains us all, What reward shall we render unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto us? Lord, it is good for us to be here.'

The father and the son had each a part to perform in this figurative action, which has been registered for the instruction of the Church in all

ages of its militant state: and there is a very remarkable, a very close, a very intimate similarity between Abraham and Isaac on the one hand, and the Eternal Father, and the Eternal Word made flesh on the other, in the awful scene before us. We regard then,

I. ABRAMAM'S CONDUCT, AS TYPIFYING THAT OF JEHOVAH THE FATHER.

Many are the instances of holy faith and zealous love displayed by this friend of God: but none more remarkable, none more unquestionable, none that sprang from a deeper source, or rose to a higher point of devotion, than the offering of his son, his only son Isaac, whom he loved, and who was the desire of his eyes. Long expected before he came, and cherished when he was given, in the patriarch's heart of hearts, connected with every desire, the chief substance of every earthly joy, so far as the creature could provide it; and mingling himself with every hope as Isaac did, Abraham lived again in his son, with a joy dearer and more pure, than can well be imagined. Parental love may realize a part of this affection: and doubtless the history of this trial has drawn forth tears of parental sympathy in more instances than may be numbered. But a child given by miracle, as well as taught and sanctified by the grace of God; a child in whom Abraham embraced every promise of individual and general blessedness, as the son of God's undertaking for man's redemption, had claims upon his affection, with which no other could compete, save those