upon the lad neither do thou any thing unto him for now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy Son thine onely Son from me n 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and behold behind him a Ram caught in a thicket by his horns And Abraham went and took the Ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his Son o 14 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 THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFULL TEMPTED Hebr. XI XVII By faith Abraham when he was tempted offered up Isaac AT what time this Epistle was written unto these Hebrew Converts these Hebrew Converts did as at this instant many of us do endure (p) Hebr 10.32 a great fight of afflictions So great a Fight of afflictions they now endured that as all of us so most of them had confessedly (q) 36 need of patience Such need of patience they now had that the Author of this Epistle whosoever he was opportunely (r) 35. presseth them in the same words where with I beseech you Cast not away your Confidence And that cast away their confidence they might not with the cords of a man even with a three-fold cord he endeavoureth to wind up their hearts unto a stedfastnesse of Faith For. First from Habak 2.4 he bringeth to their remembrance how they were not now to learn that (s) 38. the just should live by faith Next he defineth what faith is saith he (t) 17.1 Faith is the substance the confident expectation of things hoped For The things which are not seen are eternall and Faith is the evidence the conviction of things not seen Thirdly to declare what faith can do he in this XI CAP. repeateth what faith hath done Saith he V. 4. By faith Abel offered a more costly Sacrifice then Cains was V. 5. By faith Enoch so pleased God that God took him from Earth to Heaven V. 7. Then when the whole world despised the fore-warnings of God By faith Noah was so moved with fear of the Flood to come that for himselfe and for his familie he prepared an Ark of refuge It was through a Faith in the truth of Gods promises that Abraham when he was thereunto called v. 8. forsook his own Countrie v. 9. sojourned in a strange Land and here v. 17. offered up Isaac Hebr. 11.17 By faith Abraham when he was tempted offered up Isaac THis useful Observation immediately releiveth us with three seasonable comforts The one Abraham was tempted The other When Abraham was tempted he offered up Isaac A third When Abraham offered up Isaac he offered up Isaac by Faith Of the last of these first BY faith By the use and benefit which he made of his faith By the good fight of faith which He fought Abraham fighting every affliction which did assault him and overcoming every affliction which he fought Offered up Isaac had although with much conflict the patience and the power to offer up Isaac 1 upon the Altar Dub Since it is said m Now Know I that thou feared God It should seeme Abraham did offer up Isaac not by faith but through feare Solut You find no repugnance between the feare there applauded and the faith here extolled For example (u) Heb. 11.7 By faith Noah moved with feare As a prudent fear was the effect of that so a filial feare was the fruit of this Patriarks faith (x) 17. By a faith moving him to feare Abraham offered up Isaac Abraham offered up Isaac DUB Since n the life of a Ram was Sacrificed and m the life of Isaac was preserved Can it hold true that Abraham offered up Isaac Answ It holdeth true in every respect 1 Solut Beyond the scope of this Text Abraham offered up Isaac representatively ye Know as in Sacraments so in Sacrifices the sign signifying betokeneth the matter signified When in the stead of his Son Isaac he slew that Ram Abraham did representatively offer up the life of Isaac in the life of that Ram. 2 Sâ—lut Within this Text. 1. These words he offered up Isaac are not so much an expresse affirmation as a Select expression To shew how uncouth a Duty this Patriarch now underwent it is here specified that what Duty he now underwent was to offer up Isaac 2. In our Authors his large acceptation Abraham did offer him up Our Author here prosecuteth not the Death of Isaac but the life of Faith Now as in round numbers so in running styles it abundantly sufficeth if what is cursorily affirmed be true in the main 3. Our ready writer forgetteth not unto whom he Dedicateth this Epistle Unto these Hebrews Moses was read every Sabbath-day Tell these Hebrews out of the Book of Moses that Isaac was offered up and out of the Book of Moses these Hebrews will tell you your own limited sense and meaning With 2 Sam. 21.19 compare 1 Chron. 20.5 3. Solut Moses shews how Abraham offered up Isaac 1. Inceptively For instance Gen 22. He v. 3. arose and went unto the place of which God had told him And yet v. 4. two daies after he saw that place afarr off How this Answ He was v 3. beginning to go to that place Gen. 37. Reuben v. 21. delivered Joseph out of his brethrens hands neverthelesse v. 24. his brethren did cast him into a pitt and did v. 28. sell him into Aegypt Quest How then was Joseph delivered Answ Reuben v. 21. began to deliver and although the person of Joseph was not the life of Joseph was through Reubens care delivered Thus Abraham he arose to offer up Isaac Whereupon although the life of Isaac was not the person of Isaac was offered up upon the altar And that too 2. Actually The offering up of Isaac was not a three houres but a three daies businesse in all which space the Obedience of this Patriarch ceased not untill his Duty first ceased For he slew his Son 3. Intentionally As when this Son was first promised Abraham had a purpose a full purpose of heart to give this his Son his Name at his birth and to circumcise him at eight daies old so now that the same Son is demanded his true intention is to sacrifice him d at the third day And he did so 4. Interpretatively When Jephthah caused his deare child Judg. 11. to v. 39. vow the vow of a Nazarite he did v. 31. compared with v. 36 37. he did interpretatively offer up that daughter of his for a burnt-offering unto the Lord So here Abraham his oblation receiveth a value not from the execution of his hands for m his hands were tied up but from the resolution of his mind for k his mind was sincere even so much that the searcher of hearts made this construction of his sincerity m Thou hast not with-held thy Son from me It followeth If with-hold him the Patriarch did not some
a Sottish Apish and Idolatrous heart they cherish in their graceless bosoms For Satan that wicked one ceaseth not to work evil out of good but then our refuge is God most Holy worketh our good out of his evil the poison of this subtile old Serpent is made treacle for the medicinal benefit of Gods elect Wherefore 2. Bless thou that God who hath not given thee over unto such abominable practices unto such hellish delusions As God hath not sorted thy daies unto the time of that ignorance so he hath in this Gospel-age called thee into his marveilous light He hath shewed thee O man what is good 3. Let the Idolatries objected convince Magistrates how fearful a Judgment it is unto a Kingdom when the rulers thereof bear the Sword in vain Wee see Leave a people unto the suggestions of Satan that is Leave a people unto what is good in their own Eyes and they will commit wickednesses destructive unto the very being and existing of mankind Yea they will think that they do God good Service when they are a smoak in his nostrils 4 It was but once only that Abraham was tempted to offer up his Isaac upon the Altar if it be true that one single pattern had so Malignant an influence upon several nations and ages then let every one of us abstain from all appearance of evil A little Leaven Leaveneth the whole Lump and evil examples as well as evil words corrupt good manners 5. Let the trial wherewith Abraham was tempted stop the mouth if the mouth can be stopped of all those seditious Separatists among us who at this day cruelly disdainfully and despitefully speake against the righteous more especially if at this day they submit themselves unto every ordinance of Man for the Lords sake Some Protestants and among them some Conformists and among them some Gospel-Ministers be the endeavour of their hearts and lives never so sincere yet if evil befal Against them forthwith the tongues and quils of these Sectaries are their own Who is Lord over them Forsooth they deem it a faire advantage unto their Sect and Partie if they can Libellously and scoffingly report of Abraham that he spared no paines to have butchered his Isaac Whereas it is not unknown unto all the Churches that this present Text yea and a great part of this present Chapter inspireth not the diminution but the praise of Abraham for conforming His private will unto the revealed will of God most Holy But these latter Replies anticipate mine intended method in as much as the three Usefull observations explained from the last to the first I would orderly applie from the first to the last For if Abraham was tempted 1. LET the innumerable afflictions which this faithfull Patriarch suffered for ever hereafter un deceive those ignorant worldlings who think hardly of all such professours as endure tribulation When Christs Disciples saw a man blind from his birth they quickly asked Who sinned this man or his Father When by clinging upon St. Pauls hand a viper seemed to threaten Death unto that Apostle the Barbarians at Melita rashly concluded This man was some murderer Usually the like opinion possesseth the men of this world If they see one fallen into infamie povertie or some other distresse they begin to conceive hard thoughts against such a Christian But a believers comfort is that Gods thoughts are not as Mans thoughts With the most he that is low in this world is low in mans eye but in Gods Eye he is not Abraham had the honour the peculiar honour to be stiled the Friend of God yet do ye find him tossed from place to place a long while child-lesse thwarted by the Wife of his bosom and through her meanes deprived of the first bodie that had made him a Father to witt of Hagar and of the first Son that ever he delighted in to witt of Ishmael as for Isaac in Him he was to sacrifice at once the dearest love the greatest joy and the chiefest hopes which the whole world could yeild him Wherefore if this Friend of God was thus humbled let no worldling surmise evill of Gods favourites for any miseries which befals them in this life much lesse for any miseries which in this life they draw upon themselves by persevering in their Duties Behold we accompt them happie that endure 2. O consider this ye that forget God Are any of you so prosperous that pride encompasseth you as a chain and setteth your mouth against the Heavens You who speak thus boldly and are thus corrupt this Hictorie and other Histories like this read yee The righteous Abel was murdered by his own brothers the righteous Lott lost all his wealth upright Job who more miserable you beheld the Innocent Isaac narrowly escaping a most untimely Death And your eares have heard and the eares of this assemblie have heard with what reiterated conflicts the faithful Abraham was tempted If here upon earth the troubles of the righteous are so many and so searching can you here upon earth hope to escape Gods judgments Be not mercifull O Lord unto them that sin of malicious wickednesse I appeal unto that Flood which in the daies of Noah drowned a whole world of transgressours I appeal unto that fire from Heaven which in the daies of this Patriarch Abraham made Sodom and Gomorrah the pictures of Hell Within our own age Island I appeal unto late civil Wars unto latter pestilences and unto devouring fires hardly yet quenched Within your own bosoms I appeal unto your self-condemning consciences that if the Righteous are scarcely preserved in this Word in this world it shall go ill with the wicked If favourites are thus afflicted here shall Enemies continue here unpunished God shall wound the head of his enemies and the hayrie scalp of such a One as goeth on still in his trespasses 3. Let Abraham his temptations speak peace unto many Sons of Abraham who as if they were neither Sanctified nor Adopted nor Elected are prone alas to disquiet their Souls in the day of trial Some Christians although they believe that sufficient for the day is every daies trouble although they grant that man born in Sin is born to see sorrowful daies although they read that God doth not willingly afflict yea although they foreknow that whom the Lord Loveth them he chasten th yet when the fierie tryal tempteth they think that strange 1 I beseech such dejected Spirits to ponder well that he is the Penman of this Epistle who was p in bonds and that these Hebrews were then sincere converts when they were †H br 10 34. spoiled of their goods and were by reproache * 33. made a gazing-stock In this cap. XI It was not before but after that they beleeved that they v. 38. wandred into deserts Mountaines dens and caves Or that they v. 37. were destitute afflicted tormented stoned tempted slain with the sword and some of them sawn asunder that they v. 36. had a
The Knowledge of the Lord covereth our Island as the waters cover the Sea He was ye were not the unclean Children of unbeleeving Parents He could not say Thou hast loosed my bands for I am the Son of thy hand-maid but Ye were by praier and by baptisme consecrated to your God in your infancie and were from your infancie nurtured up in good knowledge 2. He was like S. Paul in journeyings often Abiding citie he had none but was ever unsetled As for you ye in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places have retirednesse and leisure to devote your selves to praier meditation c. 3. Eight or nine times did Jehovah converse with Him with you he converseth eightie times nine times Twice or thrice was the Gospel preached unto Him and that too very darkly To you it shineth as clearely and in a sort as frequently as day-light What a small pittance of saving knowledge could he glean from the traditions of his fore-fathers in comparison of what may be learned by you by you who may all know the Lord from the least to the greatest by you who are in Gods Scriptures all taught of God 4. Christ is the vision the visage of the father of mercies the Gospel is the image the face of Christ Of this Gospel of this face of Christ more is manifested unto you then ever was revealed unto Abraham 4. As zeal without knowledge is the mother of persecution idolatrie superstition enthusiasm schism heresie sedition rebellion c. So knowledge without zeal begetteth atheism profaness hypocricie pride c. But that which maketh mans knowledge of God to be mans salvation is the spirit of faith sanctifying unto him what he knoweth For. 1. By faith we understand one office of faith is to enlighten the understanding 2. By faith Moses refused chusing rather viz As faith discerneth what is good so faith embraceth what good it discerneth 3. A third effect of faith is to purifie the heart 4. By faith they subdued and obtained When faith hath so instructed the heart that it no longer beleeveth a lie and hath so corrected the mind that it holdeth not the truth in unrighteousness When a Knowledge of the truth of the whole truth yea and of nothing but the truth freeth the head from errour and when a love of that truth freeth the heart from disobedience when we like to retain God in our Knowledge then do we apprehend that for which also we are apprehended of Christ Jesus When ye seeke not your own wills but your Gods will when ye with meekeness and with earnestness search wait and watch and trie whether by his word of life God will make your heart as Abrahams was faithful then ye sow to the spirit And as what was born of your flesh was flesh so what is born of Gods spirit is spirit For such as wait upon God in His waies them God meeteth and whom God meeteth in them by his spirit of adoption he formeth the quickning spirit of Christ Jesus Brethren Hereby may ye know whether ye have with faithful Abraham believed unto righteousness If unto righteousness ye have beleeved then have ye passed from the death of unbeliefe wherein ye were born to the Life of faith whereunto ye were baptized 5. To whom God giveth a power to them he also vouchsafeth a habit of beleeving Having therefore obtained like precious faith with Him imitate ye the Patriarch in my Text. of this good and perfect gift which cometh down from above May ye ever make ye seasonable and sanctified Uses 1. That in you the righteousness of God may be revealed from faith to faith add to your faith Knowledge For this end let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and in all wisdom There can not in Heaven be a higher object of Knowledge then the God of Heaven neither can there be upon earth any Knowledge of the God of Heaven equal to what we learn in Holy writ No truth is worthy to be compared unto Scripture truths neither is any Scripture-truth comparable to Gospel revelations Gospel revelations are mysteries great misteries Misteries which immediately concern a reconciliation between God provoked and man offending Lay up therefore in your heart as Manna in a golden pott store up in your memorie as Oracles in the Ark of God the Gospel-treasures of spiritual truth and wisdom The best object of mans best understanding is that truth which is in Jesus 2. That that spirit of truth which is the spirit of Christ may free you as well from the errour of your way as from erring thoughts that ye may be renewed as well in practice as in Knowledge that ye may be as wel un-corrupted in your mind as un-deceived in your judgment Receive with every truth a love of that truth that a love of every revealed truth ye may receive purifie ye your heart by faith that by faith ye may purifie your heart seeing there is no example threat promise or rhetorick like unto Scripture examples threats promises and rhetorick Let these let all these have a due force and a full power over your sincerest affections so consult Holy writ as who are therein consulting even God Himself So obey Holy Writ as the Word of a God as the word of a God speaking to you as the voice of the gracious Jehovah so speaking with you as he some times spake with his friend Abraham even face to face Oh Sirs as the best object of your best understanding so the most delightful object of your purest affections is the good nature of Emannuel Jehovah Jesus Therefore 3. Whereas from Abrahams self denials I pressed a self-denial upon all such masters parents concerned officers and Magistrates as may and should befriend Souls under their tuition Old things are passed away I now urge the example not of Abraham representing but of the true father of many nations by Abraham represented The father of all men when there was no Arm to help spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all And shall worldly favour or neighbourly kindness prevent you from imitating the merciful example of a compassionate God If the Love of God if the example of God findeth faith in your hearts O ye Rulers neither let Souls stupidly ignorant escape untaught and unchatechised neither tollerate ye those unlawful meetings which wrest Holy Scriptures to the hazard of themselves and of this Kingdom 1. Witness our late civil Warrs As evil words corrupt good manners so a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump A cancer in the mouth is a pernicious disease even so much that Christ hateth that we should suffer among us the doctrine either of the Pharises or of the Nicolitans 2. When the Son of man took a farr journey he gave authoritie to his Servants If Law-givers Lawes and Judges protect mens cattle lands and limbs from violence much more let them guard mens memories affections understandings and consciences from the subtiltie and power
of seducers and of Satan 3. Seditious conventicles rebel against man profane atheists rebel against God but the Holy conformist rebelleth against neither yea he is therefore loyal to his Soveraign because he is obedient to his God 4. Is not the body more then raiment and is not the Soul more then the Body What shall his dread Majesties native Subjects give in exchange for their Souls 5. It is the people laden with iniquity that is the people of Gods wrath but a righteous people is a prosperous people then shall his Majesties Subjects flourish when their Soules prosper 6. While upon Lords daies and other daies sett a part for religious assemblies and duties some gadd about to change their way and others sit idle at home God loseth the glory of his full and publick congregations worship and Ordinances During the tyrannie of Oliver the Rebel orthodox Ministers were sequestred from their parochial congregations Under the Clemencie of King Charles the Second let not parochial congregations be sequestred from their orthodox Ministers In short so many as despise him shall be lightly esteemed but such as honour God them God will honour 4. Whereas I convinced you that the burden sharpness number of our trials are light afflictions in comparison of the temptations of Abraham behold a greater then Abraham is here Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners Consider Jesus by Isaac tipified and you will learn of him to possess your Souls in patience Faith instructeth us how to take pleasure in afflictions and to taste a joy even in tribulations Remove your eyes from the dead body of our departed friend unto the body of Christ crucified you will then in lieu of mourning for an onely Son even aspire a fellowship in Christs sufferings 5. Behold I shew you a mysterie The same faith which teacheth us to seek righteousness not by works but by grace doth also stirr us up to live just toward our neighbour our selves and our God When by faith Abraham offered up his Isaac he lived just to his Son true to himself upright toward his God 1. Vpright toward Jehovah for Jehovah had a greater right in Isaac then the Father of Isaac ever either had or could have 2. True to Himselfe for had he lifted up his Soul he had ceased to be upright 3. Just to his Son for it was the Duty of Isaac not onely to live but to die unto the Lord Blessed is that man which endureth temptation Would ye endure to the end Would ye have present victorie over your present conflict Fight the good fight of faith Who so would be justified must be justified not by works but by faith and he that would order his conversation aright must use his knowledge aright he must make the best use which he can not onely of his reason but of his faith 6. Faith fixeth one eye upon the Duty set before us and the other eye upon the promise annexed to that Duty Faith verily beleeveth that there is a reward for the righteous In the mount of the Lord was Jehovah seen By laying that Body which his father could not lift over the altar upon the Wood Isaac his mouth was filled with laughter 1. He saw heard an Angel sent from Heaven to find a way for his escape 2. He did not die but live 3. He lived and lived a type a figure a pledge of Christs and in Christ of our resurrection Life By not with-holding his Son Abraham received praise from his God yea and with praises blessings Abraham saw Christs day and was glad From the faith both of Abraham of Isaac Jehovah Himself received present yea and in all ages future Glory They who know His name will trust in it And yet shew I unto you more excellent things then these For 7. The same faith which enureth us to be ever at once just to our neighbour our selves and our God worketh upon our good nature it worketh in us a disposition to be like Christ harmeless and blameless 2. An emulation to put on the Lord ' Jesus To them that beleeve it is meate drink to studie Christ to learn Christ and to live Christ yea 3. Faith heightneth us to imitate with Jesus Christ the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ it cherisheth in us a filial delight of being followers of his Father and of our Father as dear Children Abba Father thou art long-suffering patient good merciful righteous liberal pure holy loving c. Oh make us make us like thy self long-suffering c. 4. By faith we rest assured that our fore-runner hath in Heaven prepared mansions and princely Lodgings for us who believe in Him To conclude by faith we reckon our selves therefore coheires with Christ because as he is by Nature so we are by a spirit of adoption priviledged to be the Sons of God all things are ours because we are Christs and Christ is Gods Gods in whom God is well pleased God is the Lord not of the dead but of the living and therefore the Dust shall give up her dead True the Soul of our dear friend is separated from his body nevertheless by faith we eye our Mediator as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Faith giveth us to understand that since Christ and we are one body together with his dead body shall our dead bodies arise and shall therefore arise as his dead body did arise partly because they that are joyned unto the Lord are one spirit and partly because witness Enoch Elias the blessed Jesus there is one flesh of man another flesh of beasts The flesh of beasts like their mortal Soules perisheth for ever The flesh of man the dead body of our dear friend like leafe Gold naturally ascendeth unto the same fingers unto the same Creatour who curiously wrought it upon earth that he might exalt it unto glory in Heaven To which Heaven and glory he bring us by his spirit and by his Son To whom with Himself the Father of all things be dominion and salvation ever ascribed Amen FINIS Psal 116.10 I beleeved therefore have I spoken