against him, and despises his word and will. The works of Fuch an one testify that he believes not on Christ, and whosoever believeth not, (as Christ himself declares,) is condemned nlready. (John 3.) Therefore, it is all in vain to excuse, or seek for evasion. Whoever is so unbelieving and stubborn, that he will refuse God a handful of water, will not obey the command to love enemies, to mortify the flesh, to serve neighbors, and to take up the christian cross. I will commit this to the serious reader, for reflection, in the fear of God.

I know for certain, that all your disputation, excuse and covering, are nothing but fig leaves, and your life is nothing but hypocricy.

Observe, when the Lord had promised to Abraham, that at 'the end of a year he would return, and that Sarah, his wife, would have a son, whom he should call Isaac, and that he would make his eternal covenant with him and his seed after him, (Gen. 17, 18;) though he was near a hundred years old, and Sarah ninety, nevertheless, he doubted not. He did not think upon, or regard his own frailty and the barrenness of Saralı, but, firm and strong in faith, he trusted upon the promise of his God, and praised him for his grace. He knew that God was able to do what he promised. (Rom. 4.) Therefore, from this same Abraham, descended as many as the sands of the sea shore or the stars of the sky. (Heb. 11.)

Behold, most beloved, how an upright christian faith regards God as almighty and true, it knows that he can and will do all that he promised, and therefore, Abraham looked not upon the frailty and age of himself or Sarah. He doubted not the promised words, but believed without wavering, for he knew well, that the same God who created heaven and earth, (John 1,) who stretched the heavens abroad, and to the raging sea set an established bound, whose word sustains the earth in the midst of the water, who rules all with the word of his strength, and gives life to the dead, (Jer. 5; 2 Pet. 3,) could undoubtedly, when he chose, render that fruitful, which before was barren. (Heb. 1; Rom. 4.)

Since then, (I say) such a promise was made him by God, he doubted not, but hoped for that, which in nature, was not to be expected. Through faith in God, he received that which was promised to him: That the aged and barren Sarah should have a son. (Gen. 21; Heb. 11.) And thus it is spiritually with us if we believe, with the whole heart, the pro

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mised word of grace, (which is the gospel of peace,) whereby the redemption from our sins, through the blood of the Lord is made known; so will also our dead conscience flourish and live; we shall receive the spiritual Isaac, Christ Jesus, with the eternal blessing, and bring forth fruit. Christ has said: My mother and my brethren are those, who hear God's word and will, and do accordingly, (Luke 8; Matt. 12; Mark 3;) but whosoever believeth not, receives not Christ, but the wrath of God abides upon him. (John 3.)

Observe further, how severely the Lord tried the faith of Abraham, when he said: Take thy only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and go into the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon the mountain which I will shew thee. Abraham heard the word of the Lord and was obedient. He took his son with him and went to the place, which the Lord had commanded him; and when he came there, Isaac said: Father, behold here is fire and wood, but where is the lamb that shall be offered? Abraham answered his son, and said: My son, the Lord will provide a lamb for the offering. (Gen. 22.)

O my most beloved, do reflect! Observe the conduct and conversation of Abraham and his son. I suppose reason will tell you how full of trouble and grief the mind of the father was on account of his beloved son, for Abraham was flesh and blood as we are. That son, who was born to him in his old age, through the promise and gift of God-his only son born of a free woman-the desire, the joy and the peace ofhis heart -the staff of his age, through whom he received the comforting promise, must be slain and burned with fire.

How hard and sorely he was tried, yet did he not oppose God with a single word, nor contend and say: Why has thou given me a son since he must die? Neither did he reprove the Lord, by saying, that he had falsified his promise, for, it was through Isaac that the promise was made. But he confided in his God with his whole heart; he laid aside all reasoning and followed not sense nor flesh. He spared not his beloved son for the Lord's sake. He loved his God far above his child, and therefore, he refused not to offer him willingly as a burnt offering to Him from whom he received him. He bound him and lifted him upon thewood, and raised his hand and knife to slay him-he believed that God could again recall him from the dead. He was about to obey the command which he had

received, when an angel spake from Heaven, saying: Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing to him, for now I know that thou fearest God; seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me. (Gen. 22.) And thus the obedient, faithful Abraham received his son as a type of the resurrection. (Heb. 11.) The word of James is true: Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness, and he is called the friend of God.. (James 2.)

Beloved children, we must always stand confounded before God, when we compare our little faith and its fruit with the faith of Abraham. He refused not to travel in an unknown country, as soon as he was commanded. (Gen. 12.) He was a man full of peace, and sought not his own interest. (Gen. 13.) He released Lot out of the hands of his enemies. (Gen. 14. He believed the promise concerning the promised land and seed. He murmured not on account of the long time nor of the oppression of his seed. (Gen. 15.) He suffered himself to be circumcised in advanced age. (Gen. 17.) He believed the Lord's promise concerning Isaac, and taught all his servants and children, that they should follow the way of the Lord, and do that which was right. (Gen. 18.) He was willing to offer Isaac as the Lord had commanded him. (Gen. 22.) This may truly be called faith.

So entirely was this pious man dead to himself, that he denied all his lusts, his will and mind, and loved his God alone. He trusted, feared, served and honored his God, with all his soul and heart, and walked according to his commandments, ⚫ as is evidenced by his works. But what kind of faith our false-famed christians possess, who suffer themselves to think that they are the children of Abraham, I will let their fruits be the judge; for they covet and hoard, curse and swear, lie and cheat; they are proud and haughty; they eat and drink, are incontinent and fierce, they rob and pillage, are full of all idolatry and wickedness. Those who have a little light refuse to remove from one village to another, for the sake of the • Lord's word and truth; they seek their own interests and esteem brotherly love but lightly, they are earthly minded; the Lord's promise and goodness they regard not; they fear not his coming judgment, and punishment; they love the creature more than the Creator; His name be blessed forever.

In short, I know not what it is, in which they do not serve

themselves and act contrary to the command of God. They boast notwithstanding, that they are the children of Abraham, and have his promise. Ah no! my friends, your prophets deceive you, and your false hopes delude you; as true as the Lord lives, if you believe not his word, from the whole heart, nor through the power of the same faith, walk in his waysbring not forth the christian fruits of righteousness, nor follow the footsteps of this pious patriarch, you are not his seed and children, neither have you his faith nor his promise. But all who receive Christ in their hearts, through faith, and adhere to his word, are the children of Abraham, and fellow heirs of of his promise, (Gal. 3,) for they are reckoned his seed. (Rom. 9.)

OF MOSES'S FAITH AND FIDELITY.

Moses, a servant and messenger of God, was also found faithful, vigorous, living and active in his faith. He was called of the Lord, that he should lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses did not exalt himself to the high station of a prince and leader, but he humbled himself before God with all his heart; he said: Send, Lord whom thou wilt send, but what am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and lead forth Israel? Beside, had I not a slow tongue from the time that thou spakest to thy servant. (Exod. 3, 4.) He refused so long, that the Lord was angry. With fear and trembling, he at last took upon himself the commanded duty, and surrendered himself to his God, in whom he trusted.

He went willingly before the fierce Pharaoh, and shewed great wonders and power before him and all his servants. (Exod. 5, 7, 8, 9, 10.) He ransomed the people, through God's out-stretched arm and strong hand. (Exod. 14.) He divided the Red Sea and passed with Israel, unharmed, through the deep. (Exod. 32, 34.) He received the tables of stone on

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which were written the Lord's commands. (Gal. 3.) caused bread to rain from heaven, and water to flow from the flinty rock. (Exod. 16, 17.) He prepared the tents and the ark of the testimony, as he was directed upon the mountain. He ordained the figurative priesthood, with all the duties, offerings, sanctifications, apparel, &c. according to the Lord's command. (Exod. 25, 30.)

He went with the people-pitched the tents, and took them up again at the command of the Lord. (Num. 9.) He gave them the Lord's statutes and laws. He stood as a faithful mediator between God and the people, when they had sinned, and he turned the wrath from Israel. He punished idolatry, whoredom and stubborness. He slew Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. The Lord was with him in all his works and ways. (Num. 9, 25, 16, 21; Exod. 32; Deut. 3.)

Through faith, says Paul, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and chose rather to endure affliction with the people of God, than the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward; by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them. (Exod. 12; Heb. 11.)

Good reader, regard the word of the Lord, for when we look upon such holy examples and contrast them with the insupportable, pride haughtiness, avarice, idolatry, disobedience and ⚫ unfaithfulness of the Prince of the world, and with the hardened, mad unbelief of the common people, we shall know that they are far from the obedience and active faith of Moses. Yea, they are unbelieving heathens and not christians.

Moses believed his God, he acted rightly in all his transactions. He was kind, and was solicitous for the welfare of the people under his care. He was the meekest of men. (Numb. 12.) He served neither for gift nor reward-but obeyed the Lord's word-was faithful in all his house, (Heb. 3) and faithfully prosecuted his duties in the fear of the Lord. He faithfully commanded out of the mouth of God, and in upright love faithfully admonished the people, that they and their de