A Missionary Sermon, delivered It is believed, brethren, that

at Hartford on the Evening of the character of this patriarch the Election Day, May 10, may with propriety be brought 1804, by the Rev. Amos BAS- | into view on the present occaSET, of Hebron.

sion, since the Holy Ghost has

testified that, “ what is written JOHN VIII. 56. Your Father Abraham rejoiced sake alone, but for us also”—

of him was not written for his to see my day; and he saw it since we of the Gentiles partake and was glad.

of the blessings promised in his WE Sacred Scriptures bear seed-and since, with the high

ample testimony to the approbation of his maker, he high esteem in which Abraham joyfully devoted his heart and was held by the only wise God, life to the same cause which we who is never deceived in char- now profess to have in view, and acters. Such an esteem must which we hope we “prefur ahave been occasioned by some bove our chief joy.” Your atexcellent spirit discerned in him, tention is invited, which rendered him totally dif- 1. To the view which Abraferent from his idolatrous co- ham had of the day of Christ. temporaries, from the men of 2. To the influence which this the world in all ages, and parti- view had upon his heart and life. cularly from his degenerate pos- 1. The view which Abraham terity, the carnal Jews. Christ had of the day of Christ. in conversation with these Jews The promise made to Abradenied their right to call Abra- ham signified, that in his “ seed ham their spiritual father. He i.e. Christ, all nations of the referred them to several things earth should be blessed.” We wherein this father of the faith- are informed, that “God preachful essentially differed from ed the Gospel to Abraham.them: the sum of which things Gal. iii. 8. That which constimay be considered as given in tutes the chief excellence of the the text.

Gospel, constituted the chief

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excellence of the view referred | should reach the uttermost parts to in the text.

of the earth, and all nations taste It may, accordingly, be ob- the salvation of God. Deity disserved, that the most interesting played-all his perfections seen part of the view which this friend to harmonize-millions and mil. of God and of mankind had of the lions made happy-a Paradise day of Christ, was his appear- upon earth-a revenue of glory ance upon earth to reveal the to the great Author of all this gracious counsels of his Father; happiness ! and as the author of everlasting My Christian friends, can happiness to multitudes besides there be a doubt that a view of his own posterity; and eventu- the day of Christ was a very ally to all the nations of the justifiable ground of joy? Let earth.

our attention be directed, 1. The perfections of the most 2. To the influence which this High were then to be fully and view had upon the heart and life clearly displayed. The unseаr- of Abraham. chable love of God would then He rejoiced, saith the Saviour, shine upon the carth with a that he was permitted to see this brightness before unknown-ac-day. He rejoiced with an eager companied by his sovereign wis- desire to obtain as perfect a view dom and power, justice and as possible ; and in proportion faithfulness, mercy and truth. to the clearness of the view, his

At that day God would pub- holy, benevolent heart glowed licly marifist himself in the with delight. flesh. “ The only begotten Son A strong affectionate faith 0. who was in the bosom of the nited him to the Messsiah and Father, would proceed forth and to his cause by an inviolable atcome down to this world to “de- tachment. clare him," so that men and An- In full confidence that God gels might “ sec bis glory."-wasimmutably faithful, he "stagAnd finally he would close his gered not through unbelief" at public appearance upon earth by any difficulties or apparent imsuch an exhibition of love as the possibilities in the way of duty. universe had never beheld be- In him we observe that sure fore, “the Son of the Highest” mark of true religion, a tender offering his life a ransom for en- | regard for the Divine honor. emies. Then would the law of How evident did this appear in God be highly magnified, Satan his intercession with the Deity, vanquished, and an everlasting on the plains of Mamre. How righteousness brought in. evident also, in his refusal of the

2. The extensive spread of goods offered him in the valley happiness. Abraham delighted of Shaveh, lest any, except Jeto contemplate the divine per. hovah, should have the honor of fections. He wished all the making him rich. world to behold them and be Assured that the Messiah happy. The day of Christ would should come in his family, and introduce this most desirable e- the true religion be entrusted vent. Then should the “word with them, he was strict to rego forth—the day spring from gulate his household according to on high should spread;" till it the precepts of God. While He pub

other families went into idolatry, ters. Wherever we follow him he laboured to fix upon his the in his pilgrimage from place to character of piety.

place, we easily trace his footAll his worldly arrangements steps by the monuments of his were made subservient to the piety and devotion--altars erectcause of religion. There was ed—where “he called upon the no particular spot where he set- name of the Lord.” tled, but what he held himself licly honored the Messiah with in readiness to leave at the Di- his substance, in the person of vine call. Seperate from Christ“ Melchisedek-a priest of the and the promotion of religion he most high God” after a peculiar avowed no interests, no pursuits, order the noted representative no treasures.

of Christ in that day. To this The promises belonging to illustrious character the patrithe day of Christ, though “afar arch imparted a “ tythe of all,” off,” were realized, and sweetly as a pledge that his substance engaged the ardent attention of was consecrated to the service his soul. And having his will of one who was to be made a entirely swallowed up in the priest according to the power will of God, he stood continually of an endless life.” He wished in the attitude of one listening the world to know that Jehovah to the voice of his sovereign. was his shield. He obtained his This voice was the supreme law wish. The princes around him, of his heart. Did this voice di- struck with the evidences of its rect him “Get thee out of thy truth made to him this acknowlcountry and from thy kindred, edgment, “ God is with thee in and come into the land which I all thou dost." shall shew thee ?" Immediate- Such was the influence which ly “ he went out not knowing a view of the day of Christ had whither he went." Did the upon the heart and life of Abrasame voice command him, “ A. ham. Attracted by the glory braham take now thy son—thine of that day, which in his view only son Isaac-whom thou lov- shone with a lustre superior to estoffer him for a burnt offer- all earthly thing's, he lived “a ing upon one of the mountains pilgrim and stranger on the which I will tell thee?" To him earth.” His time, his possesit was sufficient to be assured sions, his habitation, his worldly that GOD had given this com- arrangements, yea, his tender mand. He arose. He took his attachment to a beloved son, beloved Isaac with full purpose were all made to subserve the of heart to obey ; knowing, that cause of that Saviour, whose tho' Isaac should be offered, God day he saw, and in whose day would easily fulfil his promises. he rejoiced. He persevered in When the same authority com- faith and obedience till his life manded him to stay his hand” and his trials were in the same he desisted, and not till then moment finished successfully His obedience was implicit, finished. “ He died in the faith, prompt and persevering. seeing the promises afar off,"

He was not afraid nor asham- fully persuaded that he who had ed to appear on the side of Je promised would assuredly perhovah, tho' in the midst of idola: form, and leaving behind him

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this truly excellent and honora- shall be increased. He shall ble character, “ Abraham thu judge among the nations, and friend of God and father of the shall rebuke many people, and faithful.”

they shall beat their swords into

ploughshares, and their spears IMPROVEMENT.

• into pruning hooks : nation The Holy Ghost has left on shall not lift up sword against record the religious feelings and“ nation, neither shall they learn conduct of good men for " en- war any more. The lofty looks samples.”

“ of man shall be humbled, and The faith and obedience of A- - the haughtiness of men shall braham derive some special lus- “ be bowed down; and the LORD tre from the circumstances of " alone shall be exalted in that the age in which he lived; but

The wolf also shall it must not be forgotten, that “ dwell with the lamb, and the there can be no essential moral “ leopard shall lie down with the difference between him and the "kid, and a little child shall lead friends of God in every age. “ them. They shall not hurt “ All drink into one Spirit.” All “ nor destroy in all my holy must be tried. From all is re- mountain : for the earth shall quired a temper essentially the be full of the knowledge of the same. So surely as our souls “ LORD, as the waters cover the live, our professed faith and love" sea.” Psa. lxxii. Isa. xlii. 4. will be justified by obedience, if Psa. Ixviii. 31. Rev. xv. 4. Psa. they are not vain. There are xxii. 27. Dan. xii. 4. Isa. ii. 4, now the same things to excite 11. and xi. 6, 9. Hab. ii. 14. faith and exertion that there Look upon the prospect oper. have ever been. The same Goded by these promises. It is not and Saviour—the same joy—the an illusion. It is made substansame supports and the same tial by the “Counsel of God and prospects, brought near by the confirmed by his oath, that we lapse of centuries and shining might have strong consolation." brighter as we approach them. It is not possible for these promTo the anointed Saviour, both ises to fail. The Lorel, “ faiththeir Lord and ours, are the ful and true" has made them. promises made, that “He shall | The Lord, who “is not a man « have dominion from sea to sea that he should lie, nor the son “ and from the river unto the of man that he should repent.< ends of the earth. They that Here then is the faith and pe“ dwell in the wilderness shall tience of the saints. Need it “ bow down before him. The be added, that Jehovah has hith“ kings of Tarshish shall bring erlo fuithfully accomplished each

presents. Ethiopia shall stretch promise in 'iis seasoni, for more “out her hands unto God. The than five thousand years? * Isles shall wait for his law.

(TO BE CONTINUED.] “A nations shall call him bles"sed-yea, all kings shall fali On the Helinces of the Inspired “ down before him. All the kin- Writers of the Sacred Scrif.. « dreds of the nations shall wor- tures. í ship before him. Many shall T has been the general idea * run to and fro, and knowledge of the Church, in all ages,

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that the penmen, employed by Ghost."'S The words holy men, the Holy Ghost, to give the ori- and men of God, especially as ginal copy of the Sacred Scrip- both the phrases are used to. tures, which they respectively gether, and in connection with wrote, were truly pious men.- the declaration, that they were This is the concurrent opinion moved by the Billy Ghost, are of annotators, expositors, and sufficient to admonish us to be other Christian writers, who cautious of so explaining them, have given us their sentiments on as to suggest that the whole · the subject, with but here, and means no more, than that God there, a solitary instance of one, inspired them to write his will, who has seemed to doubt of the without an evident necessity for real piety of a few of the writers. such an explanation. That they If this sentiment be true, it is were moved by the Holy Ghost worthy of being noticed and il. is sufficient alone for that idea, lustrated, because it furnishes without the appellations holy an argument, calculated to con. men and men of God, which are firin our faith in these writings ; here given without distinction, while the opposite idea would ne- to all the sacred writers in ancessarily degrade them in our cicnt times. That they were estimation. And the circum- all of the household of God, has stance that this has ever been also been supposed to be implied the belief of the Church, will of in the words, ‘Ye are built upon itself lead a serious and modest the foundation of the Apostles mind, to favor the thought that and Prophets, Jesus Christ himthere are sufficient reasons to self being the chief corner stone, support it. Some of these will in whom all the building, fitly fra. now be mentioned.

med together, groweth into an

holy temple in the Lord.* Thisi. 1. There is nothing said in dea appears to be further confirmopposition to this opinion in the ed, by the declaration, of which holy Scriptures. God has not salvation, the Prophets have enexpressly informed us, that any quired and searched diligently, of the inspired writers were un- who prophecied of the grace that sanctified men. He never speaks should come unto you; searchof them as he does of the Pro- ing what, or what manner of phets of Baal, of false Apostles, time, the Spirit of Christ, which and of unfaithful shepherds ; was in them, did signify, when tho' he has seen fit to record the it testified before-hand the sufsins, which some of them com- ferings of Christ, and the glory mitted, that they might stand as that should follow.i' To these a warning to his people. lie has, may be added the passage, 'And therefore, left us to form a ta- what shall I more say, for the vorable opinion of their moral time would fail me to tell of characters. Instead of intimat- Gideon, and of Barak, and of ing, that any of them were his Samson, and of Jephthae, of Daenemies, he has told us, that vid also, and Samuel, and of the “Prophecy came not, in old time, by the will of man; but

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2 Peter i. 21. holy men of God spake, as Eph. ii. 20 and 21. they were moved by the Holy Peter i. 10 and 11. VOL. V. No. 1.

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