undeniable truth upon the hearts of the Scribes and Pharisees, that bragged very highly of their privileges and prerogatives, and said, “Abraham is our father.”  “No (saith Christ), if ye were Abraham’s children ye would do the works of Abraham.”  To be like Abraham in constitution, to be one of his blood, is not that which makes a man a son of Abraham, but to be like him in holiness of affection, to have a heart framed and a life disposed answerably to his.  The apostle in like manner presseth this point when he would provoke the Hebrews, to whom he wrote, to follow the examples of the saints:  “Whose faith (says he) follow, considering the end of their conversation.”  So the apostle Peter presseth the example of Sarah upon all good women:  “Whose daughter ye are (saith he) as long:  as ye do well.”

For the opening of the point, and that ye may more clearly understand it, a question here would be resolved, what were “the footsteps of the faith of Abraham”? which way went he?  This is a question, I say, worthy the scanning, and therefore (leaving the further confirmation of the point, as already evident enough) I will come to it that you may know what to settle your hearts upon.

I answer, therefore, there are six footsteps of the faith of Abraham, which are the main things wherein every faithful man must do as Abraham did, in the work of faith—­I mean in his ordinary course; for if there be any thing extraordinary no man is bound to imitate him therein; but in the works of faith, I say, which belongeth to all men, every man must imitate Abraham in these six steps, and then he is in the next door to happiness, the very next neighbor, as I say, to heaven.

The first advance which Abraham made in the ways of grace and happiness, you shall observe to be a yielding to the call of God.  Mark what God said to Abraham:  “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee; and Abraham departed,” saith the text, “as the Lord had spoken unto him.”  Even when he was an idolater, he is content to lay aside all and let the command of God bear the sway; neither friends, nor kindred, nor gods can keep him back, but he presently stoopeth to the call of God.  So it is, my brethren, with every faithful man.  This is his first step:  he is content to be under the rule and power of God’s command.  Let the Lord call for him, require any service of him, his soul presently yieldeth, and is content to be framed and fashioned to God’s call, and returneth an obedient answer thereto; he is content to come out of his sins, and out of himself, and to receive the impressions of the Spirit.  This is that which God requireth, not only of Abraham, but of all believers:  “Whosoever will be my disciple,” saith Christ, “must forsake father, and mother, and children, and houses, and lands”; yea, and he must “deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”  This is the first step in Christianity, to lay down our own honors, to trample upon our own respects, to submit our necks to the block, as it were, and whatever God commands, to be content that His good pleasure should take place with us.