ping God. But he was self-righteous. He had no sense of sin, and felt no need of an atonement. But Abel was a believer in the atonement. He presented a bloody offering. His offering was accepted, while Cain's was rejected. These two men represent the two great classes into which mankind have always been divided, believers and unbelievers. As Cain persecuted Abel, so have his seed always persecuted the seed of Abel. Even among us, those self-righteous moralists, who feel no need of being saved from their sins, will vex and harass the true believer, with ridicule and opposition, even while the profession of extreme liberality is on his lips. This is liberal Christianity,--and it is the same kind of liberality which Cain exercised towards Abel,-a liberality of hatred, on account of the truths believed and professed by the true children of God.

The example of Abraham exhibits a practical exhibition of what is meant by forsaking all for Christ. This is the term of discipleship. "Whosover he be of you," says the Saviour, "that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple." The meaning of this, as illustrated in the conduct of Abraham, is, that we must make such an entire consecration of every thing to Christ and to God, that we shall be ready, with the same promptness, to give it up at his call. Isaac was very dear to Abraham. He was the consummation of all his hopes, for which he had been, for more than twenty years, a wanderer in a strange land. He had many severe trials of his faith before; but now God called for his beloved Isaac. And did he hesitate? Not a moment. He went deliberately to

work to obey this command, as though it were a longsettled point with him, that whatever the Lord should order must be acquiesced in as a matter of course. How is it, Christian reader? Have you no beloved Isaac, which you are withholding from God, or permitting to come between him and your affections ? God may find it necessary to call upon you to sacrifice your Isaac; yet if you freely give him up to God, he may permit you still to enjoy him, as he did Abraham. He may give him to you, as life from the dead. But has he come to any of you, and taken away your Isaac ? Remember that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, may thereby be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

5. This subject gives us an exhibition of the love of God, which is adapted to melt and subdue our hearts. Who can describe or imagine the emotions of Abraham's bosom, when God said to him, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt-offering !" Yet Jesus Christ was God's only-begotten and wellbeloved Son; and he freely offered him up for us; and that while we were yet sinners,-yes, "God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!" O how should this affect our hearts; and how deeply ungrateful are they, who will neither be moved by this love, nor accept of Jesus Christ as their Saviour! With what infinite abhorrence must God look upon those who neglect, slight, or despise such a manifestation of his love! Yet every impenitent sinner does thus slight, or neg

lect, or despise this infinite love of God. Yes, even those that are partially awakened, will not suffer their hearts to be melted and subdued with this love. Yet they complain that they cannot feel that they are sinners. Some of them make the most frivolous excuses imaginable for slighting eternal love. Some think if such and such a companion would love God, they would love him too. But this is setting up their friendship with a mortal worm above the friendship of the infinite God! Others are afraid of being ridiculed by their companions, if they come out and make a suitable return for such infinite love. But it is better to bear the ridicule and scorn of a wicked companion, than to be an object of scorn and derision of the whole universe in the day of judgment; for of them that are ashamed of Christ now, he will be ashamed then ; and God will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh. In that day his offers of mercy will be clean gone forever, and in his anger he will shut up his tender mercies forever.

He

6. Finally, this subject furnishes occasion for exhortation to sinners to flee to the Ark of Safety. The long-suffering of God is waiting for you, impenitent reader, as it waited for the old world in the days of Noah. Now God is waiting to be gracious. bids you flee to Christ, the true Ark, before the storm of wrath approaches, which is to overwhelm you in despair and eternal destruction. If you take refuge in him, you will be secure in the day of God's awful visitation. To you it may be very near. You will soon have to pass through the deep waters of death. But if Christ is your Ark, you will pass over in safety.

Soon, also, "the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire." But if you are in Christ, the true Ark, when you pass through the waters, he will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you pass through the fire, you shall not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon you; for the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, shall be your Saviour.

CHAPTER VII.

FOURTH PILLAR, concluded.-Types of the Old Testament, continued.

IV. THE next type which I shall consider is Melchizedek. The fact of the typical character of Melchizedek is explicitly declared by Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews. Who Melchizedek was is not certain. Commentators have advanced various opinions on the subject; but the most probable one is, that he was a pious king, of one of the tribes of the Canaanites. This is the conclusion to which any one would naturally come, by reading the account given of him in Genesis. Yet, as a type of Christ, he was greater than Abraham, for Abraham paid him tithes ; and it is probable that God had revealed to him Melchizedek's typical character, so that these tithes were paid to him, with faith in his great Antitype. The resemblances between Melchizedek and Christ are, that they both united in themselves the offices of priest and king; Melchizedek was king of Salem, which is King of Peace, and Christ is the Prince of Peace, because it is through him alone that peace is proclaimed on earth,-in him righteousness and peace meet together; they both hold their priesthood by the