There are a sort that come short of being the sons of Abraham, and they are the close-hearted hypocrites.  These are a generation that are of a more refined kind than the last, but howsoever they carry the matter very covertly, yea, and are exceeding cunning; yet the truth will make them known.  Many a hypocrite may come thus far, to be content to part with anything, and outwardly to suffer for the cause of God, to part with divers pleasures and lusts, and to perform many holy services.  But here is the difference between Abraham and these men:  Abraham forsook his goods and all, but your close-hearted hypocrites have always some god or other that they do homage to—­their ease, or their wealth, or some secret lust, something or other they have set up as an idol within them—­and so long as they may have and enjoy that, they will part with anything else.  But thou must know that, if thou be one of Abraham’s children, thou must come away from thy gods—­the god of pride, of self-love, of vainglory—­and leave worshiping of these, and be content to be alone by God and His truth.  This shall suffice for the first use; I can not proceed further in the pressing thereof, because I would shut up all with the time.

The second use is a word of instruction, and it shall be but a word or two; that if all the saints of God must walk in the same way of life and salvation that Abraham did, then there is no byway to bring a man to happiness.  Look, what way Abraham went, you must go; there are no more ways:  the same course that he took must be a copy for you to follow, a rule, as it were, for you to square your whole conversation by.  There is no way but one to come to life and happiness.  I speak it the rather to dash that idle device of many carnal men, that think the Lord hath a new invention to bring them to life, and that they need not go the ordinary way, but God hath made a shorter cut for them.  Great men and gentlemen think God will spare them.  What, must they be humbled, and fast, and pray!  That is for poor men, and mean men.  Their places and estates will not suffer it; therefore surely God hath given a dispensation to them.  And the poor men, they think it is for gentlemen that have more leisure and time:  alas! they live by their labor, and they must take pains for what they have, and therefore they can not do what is required.  But be not deceived; if there be any way beside that which Abraham went, then will I deny myself.  But the case is clear, the Lord saith it, the Word saith it; the same way, the same footsteps that Abraham took, we must take, if ever we will come where Abraham is.