him. Behold the Judge appear! Be faithful, and he will give you a crown of life. Rev. ii. 10.

THE CHRISTIAN'S EXTREMITY IS GOD'S

OPPORTUNITY.

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireth: as it is said to this day. In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.-Genesis xxii. 14.

We never act more improperly, or err more widely, than when we attempt by the finite line of our own imperfect powers to measure or fathom the dealings and dispensations of an infinitely wise Jehovah. It is the province of God to govern and direct, of man to obey and submit. A lesson plain and evident, but which we often find hard to learn, or at least to practise.

The dealings of God with his people are oftentimes dark and mysterious; and the way of duty appears not only unpleasant, but painful. To teach us at a season like this duty, obedience, and patient resignation to the will of God, the history before us is recorded.

Verse 1. God tempted Abraham, i. e. tried or proved Abraham. The Lord calls himself a refiner, his people are the silver, and affliction the furnace. "He called Abraham:" God knows his by name.

Verse 2. Take thy son: parental affections would lis ten with expectation to what followed. Not his servant, not his son Ishmael.

Verses 3, 4. Abraham arose, &c. It is hard to imagine what sort of a night Abraham passed: those who are parents may best judge.

Verse 5. Abraham said, &c. Every step of Abraham's conduct is calculated to call out afresh our wonder and astonishment.

Verse 6. And Abraham took, &c. The narrative before us becomes every period more interesting and painful to his feelings. He doth not in the least delay.

Verse 7. And Isaac, &c. This painful silence is at length interrupted by the dutiful youth. "My father." Judge ye how the tender appellation would vibrate on the ear of the aged parent.

Verses 8-14. From this narrative we shall now attempt to draw some plain and useful lessons.

I. That God, for the trial of his people, often calls them to severe and painful exercises.

God, in his word, hath called himself a Refiner, &c. Those trials of his people's faith are called precious.

If we look into the history of the people of God, in all ages, we shall find them all exercised with various trials. And, indeed, the more exalted they were in the Lord's favour, the more severe sometimes their trials, &c.

Lot was called to leave his offspring in Sodom; Abraham to offer up Isaac in Moriah; Moses, David, and all the worthies of sacred writ, following in succession, to prove that whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.

II. It is our duty to obey the callings and leadings of our God, however unpleasant, painful, or mysterious.

When the commands of our Father are plain and easy, we may obey without murmuring; but when we cannot apprehend the intentions of his dispensations-when flesh and sense begin to comment on his ways, and the path of duty seems rugged and thorny, then it is we begin to halt our pace, and vent the language of repining. To discourage this, and produce a contrary principle, is the history before us.

Our Lord hath given us to expect opposition here. The Christian is called a soldier; the soldier must endure hardness. We are encompassed about with a cloud of witnesses.

III. Our subject teaches us, when we enter on duty, to labour after the removal of impediments.

When Abraham was about to ascend the mountain, he foresaw that his servants might hinder, and therefore wisely disposed of them; duty would not be so difficult, nor the result so little profitable, were we concerned to act in this instance as Abraham; did we labour to have our prejudices removed, &c. Shall the man of science fatigue himself; shall the sordid sons of earth deny them

selves to accumulate wealth; shall the soldier brave danger and death, only to obtain a little honour; and shall the Christian fear danger, when it is in the way of spiritual attainment; when Omnipotence hath said, "Fear not," &c. The child that would tremble alone, loses all fear of danger when his Father is at hand.

IV. Divine supports are equal to the bearing up of the soul in every scene of danger and trial.

When we behold Abraham's conduct, under a trial so severe, we lose sight of the severity of the trial, while we admire the grace that so wonderfully supported him through it.

And the memorable instance before us doth not stand alone; we have an instance in the person of David; when Saul, ignorant of that faith that animated his soul, would have dissuaded him from what he thought an unequal combat, hear the answer he made him. 1 Sam. xviii. 34. 37.

Another instance of this kind we have in the prophet Daniel. (Dan. vi. 10.) Nor should we forget his three famous countrymen, who became dissenters, in the face of death, when duty called them to it. When the Babylonish monarch would have reasoned with them, they cut short his argument with that ever memorable answer. (Dan. iii. 16. 18.) They were cast into the furnace, but were they forsaken? (Dan. iii. 24.) Thus was that promise verified. Isa. xliii. 2.

This powerful support was also evidenced in the case of the first preachers of the gospel, Paul and Silas. Acts xvi. 25.

And do you ask, how supports of this kind are to be obtained? I answer, By waiting on, and trusting in, the Lord, &c.

V. God, at his own time, and in his own way, will ap pear for his people's deliverance.

Impatience is often the fault of the Christian; we do not only want deliverance, but we want it in our own way, and at our own time. How often have we blamed the petulant fretfulness of Jonah, and yet too often have we imitated Jonah's conduct.

Not only our afflictions, but their duration, and seem ing delay of deliverance, are designed for our good.

Finally, From this subject let us learn to expect our faith to be tried. It is after these things the Lord called on Abraham, i. e. after many trials. It is through much tribulation, &c. But let us never forget, that God hath said, "My grace is sufficient for thee," &c.

THE HAPPINESS OF GOD'S ISRAEL.

Happy art thou O Isreal who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord, &c.-Deut. xxxiii. 29.

THIS book is a repetition of much of the three foregoing books; which repetition Moses delivered to Israel from his own lips, that it might affect, and by writing, that it might abide. There is no new history, but that of the death of Moses, in the last Chapter; neither any new revelation to Moses; therefore the style here is not as before, The Lord spake, &c. Yet it is the word of the Lord by Moses. Hence this book is called Deuteronomy, i. e. second law, or a second edition of the law. We need precept upon precept. (Phil. iii. 1.) The king was to write a copy of this book. (chap. xvii. 18.) It was to be written on the stones, (xxvii. 3.) and to be read publicly, xxxi. 9. 11.

The gospel is a kind of Deuteronomy, a second edition, a redimical, a spiritual law, a law of faith, a law of liberty, a law that maketh perfect.

In the 31st chapter Moses preacheth his farewell sermon, in the 32d he gives them a hymn, and in this he gives them a blessing. Having declared each tribe blessed, he, in the text, pronounceth all blessed in general.

I. The character. Happy art thou, O Israel.

Israel, according to the flesh, were a typical people, typical of the church and people of God, under the New Testament.

1. As they were delivered out of Egyptian bondage by the instrumentality of Moses.

As they were preserved by miracle in the wilderness

3. As they had a promise of farther rest given them; so the people of God are such as have,

1. Been brought out of spiritual bondage, partly by the instrumentality of the law of Moses, and especially by that great prophet like unto Moses.

2. They are preserved in the world by miracle, having bread to eat the world knoweth not of.

3. They have a promise of farther rest. Heb. iv. 9. II. Their happiness, Happy art thou.

1. As they have the Lord for their God. (Ps. cxliv. 15.) And none is like to him; he rideth on the heavens. No enemy can either anticipate or obstruct his progress; he is the eternal God, verse 27.

2. There is none like the Israel of God, ver. 29.

What is said of Israel is certainly true with respect to the church of the first-born, on whom there is peace. Gal. vi. 16.

1. There is none so well sheltered: The eternal God is thy refuge, i. e. thine habitation, or mansion-house. Every Israelite is at home in God. Ps. cxvi. 7: xxxii. 7; xci. 1; 1 John iii. 24.

2. None are so well supported: underneath are the everlasting arms, i. e. The Almighty Jehovah is engaged for them, Matt. xvi. 18; 2 Cor. xii. 9.

3. Never were any so well commanded and led to battle; he shall thrust out the enemy by his power, and by his commission, which shall bear them out; he shall say, "Destroy." Christ our Captain hath thrust out our enemy; and in his strength we proceed from conquering to conquer.

4. Never were people so well secured and protected; Israel then shall dwell in safety alone. Those who dwell in God are safe, though alone, because alone, a peculiar people.

5. Never were people so well provided for. The fountain, or the eye of Jacob, is on a land of corn and wine; Canaan was before them. The eye of the believer is on that better country.

6. Never were people so well armed, God himself is their shield and sword. Ephes. vi. 16, 17.

Lastly, Never were any people so sure of victory; thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; i. e. forced to sub