The later Jews being under this delusion, attributed the reconciliation of Israel to Isaac's being bound. Accordingly the modern Jewish writings are full of the importance of this transaction; and in their devotions on every new-year's-day, they beseech God that he would be pleased to think of Isaac's being bound, and that he will be gracious to them for the sake of his bonds. Thus that obstinate, infatuatedpeople ascribe to the type what they ought to seek for in the great antitype. Blessed be God for that light which is risen on us in the Gospel, by the help of which we see, in all the circumstances of the history of this transaction, a very great resemblance with the circumstances of the crucifixion of Christ.

The two principal persons mentioned in the history of this remarkable transaction are Abraham and Isaac. The former of these was a type of the heavenly Father, and the latter a type of Jesus Christ his only begotten

son.

With regard to Abraham, as he was a father who had an uncommon tenderness and affection for his children, so that it was with great difficulty and reluctance he was prevailed on to consent that Ishmael, though rude and petulant, should be turned out of doors; much greater must have been the violence offered to his paternal heart, when he submitted to put to death his beloved and obedient son Isaac. Thus God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is love itself. He desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should live; much less would he desire the death of his innocent son, had not his justice required such a satisfaction.

However, as Abraham, at the divine command, spared not his beloved son, but willingly prepared to put him to death; so likewise the father of our Lord Jesus Christ determined at the demand of his justice, to give his only son up to death for us, that in him should be accomplished (Acts iv. 28.) what his wise counsel had before determined to be done.

As Abraham, in his ready willingness to offer up his son at the divine command, gave the highest proof of his love to God; so the heavenly Father has given the highest proof of his tender love to man, since he did not spare his own son, but gave him up a sacrifice for us all. In this, saith St. John, was manifested the love of God towards us, because God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live through him.' (1 John iv. 9.)

Abraham himself carried the knife in his hand, in order to sacrifice his son, together with the fire to kindle the pile of wood under the burnt offering. In like manner, the heavenly Father has shewn the rigour of his justice in his son's sufferings, and drawn it against our surety as a sharp sword, which he thus addresses: Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow; smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.' (Zach. xiii. 7.)

As to the other principal person concerned in this mysterious transaction, namely Isaac; he represents our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who was the great antitype prefigured by all the types of the Old Testa

ment.

Isaac was the only son of his father, being his only child by Sarah, and consequently he was heir to all his possessions; (Gen. xxv. 5.) a child whose birth had been promised long before, and whose coming into the world had been expected for several years. Christ likewise is the only begotten son of the father (John i. 18.) whom God hath appointed heir of all things (Heb. i. 3.) a son whose coming into the world was expect. ed by all holy men for four thousand years, and who was preceded by many gracious promises; a son who, like Isaac, was named before his birth, and, contrary to the usual course of nature, was produced, by the divine power, from the barren womb of a virgin, as Isaac was conceived in the dead womb of Sarah (Gen. xviii. 14. Luke i. 35, 37.) Isaac was a son for whom

his father had the tenderest affection; for the omniscient God says to him, 'take thou thy son, thine only son Isaac whom thou LOVES T.' The like circumstance the Scripture relates also concerning Jesus Christ. He is called God's dear son. (Col. i. 13.) He was begotten of the eternal love of the father, who himself sent a voice from heaven, saying, 'this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased,' (Matt. iii. 1.) John the Baptist beareth witness that the father loveth the son, and hath given all things into his hand,' (John iii. 35.) as Abraham gave all his possessions to his beloved son Isaac.

Isaac was a very obedient son, who, instead of making an ill use of his father's affectionate tenderness, always honoured him with the most unreserved obedience and submission; and in this transaction more particularly, he gave an astonishing proof of it in a very extraordinary case, at the very thought of which nature itself shudders. He patiently submitted, without making any remonstrance against the will of God, and of his father. And though he was grown to years of maturity (being supposed to be four and thirty years of age when this happened,) and therefore might easily have made his escape from his aged father; yet he suffers Abraham to bind him, to lay him on the wood, and proceed as he pleased. In the same manner also our blessed Saviour might easily have escaped from the hands of his enemies. He had not only sufficient strength in himself to procure his liberty; but also twelve legions of Angels were ready at his command, if he had been inclined to make use of them. But the blessed Jesus was obedient to his father, even unto de ith, the painful and ignominious death of the cross, (Philip. ii. 8.)

Isaac was an innocent son, and, though he was to be put to death by the divine command, had committed nothing worthy of death. But who was ever more undeservedly led to death than the only, the beloved son of God, who had always done what was acceptable to his father? who was holy, inno

cent, undefiled, and separate from sinners; who knew no sin, and in whose mouth was no guile.Thus Isaac exhibits a lively type of Jesus Christ, the only, the beloved, the obedient, the innocent son of God.

As to the rest of the circumstances of this transaction between Abraham and Isaac, they bear a striking resemblance to those of our Saviour's passion, First, In the circumstances preceding the transaction.

Secondly, In the circumstances connected with it. Thirdly, In the circumstances subsequent to this remarkable transaction.

First, Among the circumstances preceding the transaction, the following deserve particular notice.

1. The land of Moriah was the place appointed, on which Abraham was to sacrifice his son Isaac; so that he was not to be offered up in his father's house, but at a considerable distance from it. A similar circumstance appears in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He was the person typified by all the offerings mentioned in the Old Testament: hence it might be expected that Christ would have been offered up in the temple, as it was a place dedicated to his father, and emphatically called the house of God. But as Isaac, the type of Christ, was to have been sacrificed at a distance from his father's house; so was Jesus likewise to be sacrificed without the temple, his heavenly Father's house, and in the very place appointed for the sacrificing of Isaac. For as the land of Moriah included a considerable mountainous tract in those parts, it comprehended not only the mountain of that name, on which the temple was built (2 Chron. iii. 1.) but likewise Mount Sion, Mount Akra, the Mount of Olives, and Mount Golgotha. Now as God was pleased to choose one of these eminencies in the land of Moriah for this typical offering, it is very probable that he chose that on which our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Isaac's great antitype, was afterwards to be offered up.

2. Isaac, by the way to the land of Moriah conversed very affectionately with his father. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said My father!' [where the Chaldee parapharase uses the word Abba.] And Abraham answered, 'Here am I, my son.' The same filial affection shines forth in the Lord Jesus; and his first and last sayings on Mount Golgotha, begun with the endearing title of Father. And his heavenly Father, though not in words, answered him in effect, by powerfully strengthening him to undergo his sufferings, as if he had said, Here am I, my Son; and at length receieves his soul into his hands.

3. Isaac carried the wood on which he was to be laid, and offered for a burnt-offering. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, &c. and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up and went to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son.' Thus it is said of our Saviour, that he went forth bearing his cross,' and thus he dragged to the place of execution that heavy piece of timber on which he was afterwards to be sacrificed.

4. Isaac was alone with his father the day on which he was to be sacrificed; the two servants which followed them being left at a distance. Christ was likewise on the day of his crucifixion left by his disciples, who had fled from him the night before, and were dispersed. Yet he was not alone, but conversed with his father, as he had foretold in these words: Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that every man shall be scattered to his own, and shall leave me alone: And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me,' (John xvi. 32.)

Secondly, Let us consider the circumstances which attended the transaction itself, and we shall find that several circumstances of Christ's crucifixion were exactly prefigured by them.

1. Isaac probably was stripped of his clothes when he was to be sacrificed, according to the usual cere

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