SECT. XII.
SOme time after this, when Isaac was well grown up (but of what age is not certain) God was pleas'd (though he knew the heart of Abraham perfectly, yet to manifest the strength of his Faith, and the unfeignedness of his Obedience, both for his own Glory and the benefit of his whole Church in after Ages) to put Abraham upon an extraordinary trial. Wherefore he commands him (and in such a manner that he could not but be assur'd it was the Command of God, and no Satanical illusion) to take Isaac his only Son by Sarah his lawful Wife, the Son whom he had so long ex∣pected, whom he so dearly and tenderly loved, the Son by whom God had promised to multiply his Seed as the Stars of Heaven, and from whom the Messiah was to Spring, in whom all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed, (which could not be if Isaac died without Issue) yet notwithstanding God commands him to take this Son, this dearly beloved Isaac, and to go to the Land of Moriah, and upon one of the Mountains there which he would point out to him, (viz. the very place where Jerusalem, and the Temple were afterwards built, 2 Chron. 3.1.) to slay him first with his own hand, and then to burn his dead body to ashes on the Altar, as a Burnt-Offering unto Him. Here all that was in Abraham, either as a Man, or a Father, or an Husband, or a Believer, or Professor of true Religion, were put to it. And he must not do it presently neither, but must go three days journey with Isaac, before he did it, during all which time surely he found many strange struglings and workings of affection in himself. However, being well assured it was God that commanded him to do it, and Grace in him having got the upper hand of Nature, and firmly believing that God would raise him up from the dead, if he did sacrifice him,(u) [Heb. 11.17, 19.] I say, Abraham beliving this, rose up early in the morning, (without acquainting Sarah therewith, who in all likeli∣hood would have strove with all her might to divert him from it) and taking Isaac and two Servants with him, and as 'tis probable some lesser quantity of dry Wood to begin the fire (which was car∣ried on the Ass, (resolving to furnish himself with the rest upon the Mountain) they travailed three days, and at last came within sight of the place. At which, nothing appall'd, he bad the young Men his Servants stay with the Ass, at the bottom of the Hill, telling them, that he and Isaac would go to the Mountain to worship, and then return to them again.(x) Then laying the Wood of the Burnt-Offering on Isaac, and taking fire in his hand, and a knife, they went towards the Mountain. As they went along, Isaac said to him, My Father, here is Fire and Wood, but where is the Lamb for the Burnt-Offering? Abraham answers, My Son, God will provide a Lamb. Hereupon it is likely Abraham by degrees began to ac∣quaint him with Gods Command, and shewed him the necessity of Obedience and submission thereunto, and set before him the Promises and Power of God, and whatever else might dispose him to yield Obedience. Isaac meekly submits, and suffered his Father to proceed, without making any resistance, and therein was an eminent Type of Christ, who went forth bearing his Cross, Joh. 19.17. Acts 8.32. When they were come to the top of the Mountain,