, that Abraham
was the first human being, as far as we know, who prayed with his
heart and soul; who knew what true prayer means--the prayer of the
heart, by which man draws near to God, and finds that God is near to
him. This--this communion with God, is the especial glory of
Abraham's character. This it is which has given him his name
through all generations, The friend of God. Or, as his descendants
the Arabs call him to this day, simply, 'The Friend.'

This it is which gained him the name of the Father of the Faithful;
the father of all who believe, whether they be descended from him,
or whether they be, like us, of a different nation. This it is
which has made a wise man say of Abraham, that if we will consider
what he knew and did, and in what a dark age he lived, we shall see
that Abraham may be (unless we except Moses) the greatest of mere
human beings--that the human race may owe more to him than to any
mortal man.

But why need we learn from Abraham? we who, being Christians, know
and believe the true faith so much more clearly than Abraham could
do.

Ah, my friends, it is easier to know than to believe, and easier to
know than to do. Easier to talk of Abraham's faith than to have
Abraham's faith. Easier to preach learned and orthodox sermons
about how Abraham was justified by his faith, than to be justified
ourselves by our own faith.

And say not in your hearts, 'It was easy for Abraham to believe God.
I should have believed of course in his place. If God spoke to me,
of course I should obey him.' My friends, there is no greater and
no easier mistake. God has spoken to many a man who has not
believed him, neither obeyed him, and so he may to you. God spoke
to Abraham, and he believed him and obeyed him. And why? Because
there was in Abraham's heart something which there is not in all
men's hearts--something which ANSWERED to God's call, and made him
certain that the call was from God--even the Holy Spirit of God.

So God may call you, and you may obey him, if only the Spirit of God
be in you; but not else. MAY call you, did I say? God DOES call
you and me, does speak to us, does command us, far more clearly than
he did Abraham. We know the mystery of Christ, which in other ages
was NOT made known to the sons of men as it is now revealed to his
holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spoke to the fathers by the prophets, hath in
these la