ABRAHAM;

OR, FAITH AND WORKS.

ONE of the greatest and most important questions is, "How can a man be justified (or accepted) before God?" St. Paul tells us that "a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." But we find St. James in his Epistle saying, "By works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

Here then are two passages of holy Scripture, which seem to contradict one another. St. Paul seems to say, that a man is justified by faith; and St. James, that he is justified by works. And yet they teach one and the same truth, though they appear to differ. They both mean, that to be accepted of God we must have a living, active, WORKING faith. And it is remarkable that both of them call our attention to the very same passage of Scripture, namely, Gen. XV. 6, which declares that "Abraham be

lieved in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness."

Abraham then was St. Paul's pattern believer, and he was St. James's too. Let us look a little into his life, and see what sort of Faith his was.

Abraham was born about three hundred years after the Flood. His parents were heathens; and he no doubt was brought up as a heathen himself. God however made himself known to him, whilst he was yet living under his father's roof. But how or when we are not told. Perhaps a little glimmering of light shone into his soul, notwithstanding all the darkness around him. And perhaps, like Cornelius in later times, he put up earnest prayer to God that grace might enlighten his soul. But it matters not in what particular way any of us are brought to God, or by what means the scales fall from our blind eyes, so that we become His people, and see that our happiness lies in serving Him.

We can find out but little of Abraham's history till he was about seventy years old; and then he gave a most striking proof that

he had indeed yielded up his heart to the Lord, as a loving child yields it to his parent.

Whilst Abraham still dwelt under his father Terah's roof, in the land of Chaldæa, a command came to him from the Lord, desiring him forthwith to bid farewell to his native country, his kindred, and his home, and to bend his steps towards the far off land of Canaan.

This was a hard command to obey. That land had become dear to him. His affections had struck deep into that soil. It was the home of his childhood, and of his riper years. But Abraham felt that if such was God's will, all must be right. Not a doubt nor a misgiving crossed his mind. And therefore cheerfully and hopefully he set out on his long journey, with his face turned towards the promised land, which he at length reached.

Here was faith indeed-simple, earnest, obedient faith! He was willing to give up a certainty for an uncertainty-to leave all that he saw around him, for an unseen possession-to resign what was actually his, for

something that was only promised. Here faith gained a victory indeed!

Abraham soon became a great man, a sort of prince in Canaan. He had exceeding many flocks and herds, and a large number of servants. The Lord greatly prospered him. But one thing was yet wanting to complete his earthly happiness. Sarah, his beloved wife, was childless; and they were both grown old. Again and

again God had promised them the blessing of a son. Years however passed by, and still no son was given to them. What a trial was this! But God had spoken, and that was enough for Abraham. "He staggered not at the promise through unbelief." "Against hope he believed in hope." And at length the promised child is given to him. Isaac is born, the joy of his father's heart.

Nothing is told us concerning the boyhood of Isaac. But when he reached the age of twenty-five, a circumstance occurred which again puts his father's faith to the sorest trial. God bids him take this very son Isaac-the son of his old age-the child of promise, on whom he had built his

fondest hopes-God bids him take this son, and do with him what would make any parent's heart shudder. He bids him go to a certain spot, three days off, and there put him to death with his own hand, and offer him up as a sacrifice.

Oh! here was an act of obedience far greater than any that he had yet been called upon to perform. God calls upon him to do a thing from which nature shrinks. If he had reasoned with himself, his own heart would have found many an excuse. Was it right to slay his child? Was not every feeling of his inner man against it? Would not every one of his fellow-men condemn him as a murderer? Then, again, had not God promised great blessings through this very son?

He might naturally have reasoned thus. But no; the Lord had given a plain command, and that was enough. He had left him no choice: he must obey. And so, without a moment's hesitation, he takes his darling son, and leads him as a lamb to the slaughter. And it is only at the very instant, as his hand is lifted up to slay him,