aside every weight, and the sin which easily entangleth us, and let us run with patience the 2 race which is set before us, Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured a cross, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne 3 of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye 4 be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against 5 sin. And have ye forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as to children? "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, and 7 scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." If ye endure chastisement, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the fa8 ther chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then 9 are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who chastised us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of || Follow holiness. Spirits, and live? For they verily for a few 10 days chastised us according to their own pleasure; but he for our profit, "that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastisment 11 seemeth for the present joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those that are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang 12 down, and strengthen the feeble knees; And 13 make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be turned out of the way, but rather be healed. Follow peace with all 14 men; and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any 15 man fall short of the grace of God: lest any bitter root springing up trouble you, and by it many be defiled; Lest there be any forni- 16 cator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright. For ye know 17 how that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no way of changing his father's mind, though he sought the blessing earnestly with tears. For 18 Be made perfect. We now enjoy what they hoped for; and we are looking for Christ's second coming, when both they and us shall be saved from the last enemy, death, and in this respect made perfect for ever. CHAP. XII. 1, 2. A cloud of witnesses. That is, a great multitude. Is. Ix. 8. There was at Jerusalem a theatre and amphitheatre built by Herod, so that the Jews were not unacquainted with the games of Rome and Greece. The apostle is supposed to allude to the races of which there were many spectators, and in a strong figure, he considers that the ancient patriarchs, prophets and worthies are, as it were, spectators and witnesses of our conduct while running the christian race; and from this consideration we should lay aside every incumbrance, and the sin by which we are most easily entangled, looking to Jesus as our great example.—The author, &c. Peirce contends that captain or leader is the only proper rendering; and Macknight agrees with him. See on the other hand Schleusner. Hence they confine the sense to the example of Christ. I think this does not give the sense of the apostle, but that he intended to impress on the minds of the Hebrews, that Jesus was the author and finisher of the faith of their ancestors, of whom he had been speaking in the preceding chapter; the author, as by and in him the promises were made, on which their faith rested; and the finisher of it, by his coming into the world and doing all that had been foretold of him. See Ch. xi. 40. Endured a cross. The joy set before him, was that of bringing many to glory, as well as his own exaltation. 6. Consider him, &c. Regard with fixed attention his meekness, patience, and mercy, while he endured such contradiction, calumny, and persecution from sinners, lest ye be, &c. 4-6: Resisted unto blood, &c. As the boxers did. And have ye, &c. I point with Peirce and others, because I cannot think the apostle would bring a direct charge against them. See Prov. iii. 11, 12, and notes. Furthermore. lected, their fathers having no regard to their education. Our fathers as to the body have chastised us, and we still reverence them, shall we not then be subject to him who in the highest sense may be called the father of our spirits, when he corrects us for our sins that we may live for ever For though they may correct us from passion, yet he always does it for our profit, to make us more like himself in holiness. Hence, though no chastisemen i sin itself joyous, but grievous; yet afterwards it yieldeth fruits of righteousness. 12, 13. Lift up the hands,&c. Is.xxxv. 3.- -Make straight paths, &c. Mal. iii Walk uprightly, that the lame, the weak, and the timid may be healed and strengthened and not turned aside. Not only 14-17. Follow peace. See Rom. xii. 18.And holiness. abstain from outward acts of impurity and vice, but cultivate all the pious dispositions of the christian character; for without these no man can enjoy God.—Fall short of the, &c. Lest any one apostatize; lest any bitter root spring up, any error in faith or practice, which will spread and pollute many. -Any fornicator. See 1 Cor. v. 1.—Profane person. One who treats with contempt sacred things, and renounces them for any present pleasure as Esau did. See Gen. xxv. 32-34.-No way of changing, &c. I have preferred this rendering to the more verbal one, to prevent mistake. See Gen. xxvii. 33. This is a proper warning to those who were ready for some worldly advantage, to renounce their christian profession; and it implies that if they did so, God might give them up to final obduracy and ruin, so that tears should avail nothing. No one who truly repents of sin, or who seeks to God for this blessing, has any reason to be discouraged by what is here said; for to all such the promise secures their forgiveness, acceptance, and salvation. Apostates never had true repentance, nor ever do truly repent; for in this case they would not be apostates, but renewed and recovered sinners. 7-11. As with sons. As it is usual for fathers to deal with their sons, for their improvement.As bastards. Who are but too generally neg 18-24. For, &c. A reason is given for the caution suggested, v. 15.That might be. An earthly mount, and which might have been touched had -- ye are not come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor to 19 blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the sound of God's words; which sound those that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them 20 any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, "And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, 21 or thrust through with a dart." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I exceedingly 22 fear and tremble:") But ye are come unto mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable 23 company of angels, To the general assembly and congregation of the first-born, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men that are 24 made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the church in heaven. the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. 25 For if those escaped not who refused him that uttered the oracles of God on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we reject him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then 26 shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but heaven also. And this word, Yet 27 once more, signifieth the removing of the things shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which are not shaken may remain. Wherefore, since we receive a kingdom which 28 cannot be shaken, let us hold fast the favour, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is 22 even a consuming fire. joy of saving us animated him to endure the cross and to despise the shame. Especially let us consider him as seated on the throne to secure the interest and happiness of all believers; and that as he hath begun, so he will finish faith, in the salvation of our souls. REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER XII. 1. How great is our en- to Jesus as our leader, our example. O let us never forget, what suf couragement to faith and patience! We have a cloud of witnesses, offerings, agonies, shame, and ignominy he endured for us; and how the holy and eminent examples in the Old Testament, to animate us to courage and perseverance. Have we entered the christian course and begun the race? How necessary is it that we shonld lay aside every incumbrance, especially our besetting sin, whatever it may be; as this would impede our progress, and be dishonourable to ourselves, and prevent our success and triumph. Let a holy ambition awaken all our energies, and excite us so to run that we may obtain the crown of life. Let us remember, that the eyes of departed saints and worthies are upon us; that they are bending from their thrones to behold our spiritual combats! O let them not see us basely and ungratefully betraying the cause of the gospel, or loitering in our course. The way to perseverance and victory is set before us; and it is a constant regard not God prohibited it.- -That burned, &e. See Exod. xix aud Deuter. iv. 11.- -Sound of a trumpet, &c. Exod. xix. 19.—Intreated, &c. Exod. xx. 19.A beast, &c. Exod. xix. 13. -Moses said. This is not mentioned in the history, but the apostle might have it revealed to him.To mount Zion, &c. In what follows, the apostle considers the church on earth and that in heaven as one society, and that those on earth are associated with those in heaven now by their faith and hope, as they will soon be in reality. To mount Zion, not to mount Sinai, at which your fathers trembled; not to the earthly, but to the heavenly Jerusalem, which is the city of the living God; not to the thousands of angels, who attended when the law was given, but to an innu. merable host who are now ministering spirits and under Christ as their head; not to the general assembly of the tribes of Israel, but to that of apostles and most eminent saints, who enjoy rank and honour in heaven as the first-born do on earth; not to God as giving his fiery law, but as to a judge who will clear and vindicate you and say, Come ye blessed, &c., thus ye shall join the spirits of righteous men now made perfect; not to Moses as the mediator of the old covenant, but to Jesus the mediator of the new, whose blood is sprinkled on you, and secures your peace and happiness; and it is not like that of Abel, which only cried for vengeance? 2. We are taught to consider our trials and sufferings in general, if we are believers, not as proofs of the divine displeasure, but as evidencies of God's love and fatherly care. Jesus, his innocent and best beloved Son, was afflicted, persecuted, and crucified; and if these things were done to the green tree, what may we expect to be done to the dry? should we even be called to resist unto blood, and should we actually die in the cause of Christ, our sufferings have been deserved; and this should produce patience and submission. But when 25-27. Him that speaketh. The Son is meant.—Escape not, hi. The Israelites were punished for neglecting the law given by Moses, who uttered the oracles of God to them; and much more we, if reject him, &c. The use of the word Xgnuarioquera, in my opinion, confines it to Moses; and if so, him that speaketh from heaven most naturally means Jesus who came from heaven, and who was in heaven, but speaking to men by the gospel, and espe cially by the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Whose voice then, &c. This, as Newcome observes, favours the opinion that our Lord was the angel of the new covenant, who presided at the giving of the law. See DoddridgePromised. To erect his kingdom as Messiah, when he said, Hag. ii. 6.The things shaken. Of the Jewish dispensation, and of the tabernacle and other things made for it, that the gospel-state may remain stable to the end of time. 28, 29. A kingdom. The spiritual dispensation of the gospel: let us hold fast the favour, or gift, by which, &c. For the sense attributed to the verb, see 1 Tim. i. 19.; iii. 9. Macknight renders gift, and supposes the apostle alludes to Dan. vii. 18. Hallet retains the common version, and explains it by Ch, iv. 16.- -For our God is even, &c. To all false professors and apostates. Contentment enforced. CHAPTER XIII. HEBREWS XIII. A. D. 63. Various admonitions respecting charity, duty to ministers, constancy in the faith, obedience to governors, &e. 10 LET brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful of hospitality: for by this some have 3 unknowingly entertained angels. Remember those that are in bonds, as if bound with them; and those that are cruelly treated, as being 4 yourselves also in the body. Let marriage be honourable among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will 5 judge. Let your conduct be without covetousBe content with such things as ye have: for God himself hath said, "I will never leave 6 thee, nor forsake thee." So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and 1 will not fear what man shall do unto me." 7 Remember your guides who have spoken to you the word of God: whose faith imitate, 8 considering the end of their behaviour: For ness. we reflect on the kind design of God, in our sufferings, we should not only be patient, but thankful. If our earthly parents corrected us, and we respected and reverenced them, how much more are we bound to respect and reverence the Father of our spirits, who only designs to make us partakers of his holiness? By thus exercising our faith and patience, he marks us as his sons; and could we wish to be neglected and treated as if we were a spurious race? Let us then lift our hands and our hearts to God, maintaining a spirit of devotion, and following peace and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. 3. While we contemplate the majesty of God as displayed in the giving of the law, we cannot avoid feeling terror and dismay, and turning with hope and joy to the grace and mercy displayed in the gospel. How terrible is the voice of the law! how awful its sanctions: The blackness, the darkness, the fire and the tempest bespoke what it is to transgressors; and when it is applied to the awakened conscience, it spreads darkness over the soul; it burns like a fire within, and overwhelms like a horrible tempest; it summons to the bar of God, as with CHAP. XIII. 2. By this some, &c. See Gen. xviii. and xix.; and by hospitality you may derive unexpected pleasure and advantage. 4. Let marriage, &c. As the verb is omitted, it is as proper to supply it in the imperative as the indicative mood; and is so done in the next verse. 5. Let your conduct, &c. Or manner of life, be free from the sordid vice of covetousness; and learn to be content with that measure of good which in the use of means God bestows; and trust to his promise. Josh. i. 5. God is the same helper to all his believing children. 6. Boldly say, &c. When afflicted or persecuted, "The Lord is my helper, &c." Ps. exviii. 6. "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" 7,8. Your guides. Or leaders, that is, your pastors and teachers, who have spoken to you the word of God, but who are now either dead or exiled; whose faith imitate, &c.--For Jesus Christ, &c. Imitate their faith; for Jesus Christ, the object of it, is the same in his nature, grace, and love, as he VOL. III. PART XXIV. 3 H Christ immutable. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with various and strange 9 doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established in the doctrine of grace; not in that of meats, which have not profited those that have attended to them. We have 10 an altar, of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of 11 those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sin-offering, are burnt without the camp. Wherefore Jesus 12 also, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Let 13 us therefore go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no 14 continuing city, but we seek one to come.) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of 15 praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. But to do 16 Who does not cry the sound of a trumpet, to hear his awful sentence. out as the Israelites, Let not God speak to us, lest we die? Amidst the terror and despair which the law produces, how comforting the discove ries and blessings of gospel grace. Here is deliveranee from the law, from its curse and terrors, and the richest privileges are set before condemned sinners; and all who believe in Jesus are brought to the city of God, the general assembly and church of the first-born; are associated with myriads of angels, and the spirits of the just made perfect ; yea, and through Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, they are now accepted and shall finally stand before God the judge of all! How precious the blood of sprinkling, by which the New Covenant is confirmed, the conscience cleansed, and pardon and peace proclaimed. Nor let us fear that this covenant will ever grow old and vanish away, like the national and typical covenant made with the Israelites. No, this will not be shaken, nor the kingdom founded on it. Be it then our care to serve God acceptably, by believing on his Son; and with reverence and godly fear, as knowing his holy nature and inflexible justice. was to them and ever will be so. Others would join verse 8th to what follows, and suppose that Jesus Christ means "the doctrine which he taught," and which is the same, &c. This, indeed, is true, but not the sense of the text. 9. With various, &c. Such as many mistaken Jews teach, and by which they would pervert the gospel of Christ.- In the doctrine, &c. Or of the gospel, a sense which the term often has. John i. 17. Gal. v. 4. 10-16. We have an altar, &c. The cross on which Christ suffered, may be thus called.- Of which they, &c. That is, of the sacrifice offered; for as expecting pardon, by the blood of animals, they reject this sacrifice.-Are burnt, &c. Nay, they had no right to eat of any sin-offering, whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest; for the bodies of the sacrificed were burnt without the camp in the wilderness, and now without the city of Jerusalem.Jesus also, that, &c. See Ch. x. 10. This sacrifice was therefore a true sin-offering; and according to the law they have no right to partake of it. The inference is, they must forsake the law 425 Duty to pastors. 17 HEBREWS XIII. Christian salutation. good and to communicate forget not: for with everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in 21 such sacrifices God is well pleased. every good work, that ye may do his will; working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Obey your guides, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account: they watch that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for this would be 18 unprofitable for you. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things de19 sirous of behaving ourselves well. But I more especially beseech you to do this, that I may be shortly restored to you. REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER XIII. 1. We are reminded of the great gospel duty of brotherly love. Nor should this consist in profession and words, but in the tenderest sympathies and the most diffusive charity, according to the means we possess, and the opportunities afforded us. Our hearts and our houses should be alike open to receive christian brethren; and if they be what they profess, we may be repaid in the comfort they impart, by their edifying conversation and prayers. And if we know any in bonds for Christ, let us not be ashamed of them; but with a noble courage own and assist them in every possible way. And this we should do from the consideration of our own insecurity, as being in the body exposed to like sufferings. Whether believers be single or married, let them maintain purity of conduct; and avoid especially the crimes of fornieation, adultery, and covetousness. How necessary is it to our peace and comfort, to learn contentment. 2. The removal of spiritual guides should awaken our remembrance of what they taught, and of the manner in which they behaved. They spoke the word of God, and gave proof of their own faith in it. Let us exercise like faith; and follow the holy example which they have left us, ever relying on Jesus, who is immutably the same, and in whom all the promises are yea and amen. Let us not listen to the strange doctrines of human invention, nor even of the law of meats which is now done away; but adhering to the gospel, the doctrine of grace, and to Christ our great high priest and sacrifice, let us bear any reproach for his sake. And this we should do, as we know and profess that here in and the tabernacle, and go to Jesus without the camp, being ready to bear any reproach or dishonour for his sake; and let us do this, as here we have no continuing city, &c. 17-19. Obey your guides, &c. The authority and power of these guides and leaders is stated as arising from the care with which they performed their office; for they watch for your souls, to promote your piety and to secure the salvation of your souls. Newcome, considers "your souls" as equivalent "in your behalf." ."— That they may do it, &c. Give in their account with joy, having succeeded as instruments in saving you; and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable, ending in your condemnation.—Restored to you. This shows that the author was now confined; and as this remark is so similar to many made in Paul's epistles written at Rome, it tends to prove him the author of this. 20, 21. The great Shepherd, &c. Who loved them and laid down his life And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the 22 word of exhortation: for I have written a letter to you in few words. Know ye that our brother 23 Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all your 24 guides, and all the saints. They of Italy salute Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy. you. 25 this state, we have not our rest, our happiness, but are seeking a city, even the new Jerusalem. By Christ then let us daily offer the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name; and abounding in charity to men, assured that he is able to keep us, and will reward us hereafter for all our labours of love for his sake. 3. We learn the duties of christian pastors and people. The former are appointed and qualified by the great head of the church, for their office; and let them consider the account they have to give, in what manner they have discharged the duties of it. If they have watched for souls, have laboured to win them to Christ; if they have been faithful in their admonitions and exhortations, and have set before the people the way of life and death; have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God; and have shown in doctrine incorruptness, in behaviour, gravity, sincerity, they will be honoured. But should any be negligent, covetous, factious, unholy, not sound in the faith, assuredly the blood of souls will be required at their hands. And let hearers take heed how they hear and use means of grace. If they are obstinate, self-opinionated, impenitent, unreformed; O what grief will this occa sion their faithful guides! How necessary is it, that both should offer their prayers for success! Then there will be hope that the one will not labour in vain, nor the other hear in vain. May the God of peace, who raised up Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by whose blood the everlasting covenant is confirmed, hear our prayers, and make us perfect in every good work; to whom be glory for ever. Amer. for them, including all believers. Acts xx. 28.-Through the blood, &c. Shed in consequence of the everlasting covenant, formed by infinite wisdom and love, and designed to establish and confirm it for ever. Ch. ix. 15-24. -To whom be glory, &c. Here eternal glory is ascribed to Christ, as it is, 2 Pet. iii. Rev. v. 12, 13. 23. Our brother Timothy, &c. It is certain Timothy was with Paul at Rome, during his first imprisonment, Philip i. 1. Coloss. i. 1, &c. He might be imprisoned and soon set at liberty as some of Paul's fellow-labourers were. - With whom, if he, &c. This epistle could not be sent by Timothy as is evident by this language, which implies that Timothy was now absent from him, but if he should return soon, the writer would come with him and see them. 24, 25. All your guides, &c. Here are many pastors mentioned, as labouring among the same flock, if we suppose the epistle sent to the church at Jerusalem. THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. 1 INTRODUCTION. James the less or younger, son of Alpheus or Cleophas, and cousin to our Lord by his mother, called his brother, is allowed to have been the author of this Epistle. The other James, who was also an apostle, was the son of Zebedee, and brother of the beloved disciple John. This James was put to death by Herod, Acts xii. 2, about ten years after the death of our Lord. But this Epistle was written a considerable time after, when in most parts of the Roman Empire christian churches had been formed, not earlier than the year 60 or 61. James was, like Peter, an apostle of the circumcision, and chiefly abode at Jerusalem, of which church he has been improperly called the bishop. The design of his epistle is to correct the errors that had sprung up respecting faith and justification; and to enforce on all a strict regard to holy obedience. CHAPTER I. A. D. 61. We should rejoice under the cross; seek patience from God, and not impute our sins to him; he exhorts to live according to the gospel, and not to seem only, but to be religious. For he that doubteth is like a wave of the sea moved with the wind and tossed about. And 7 let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord: He is a man of a di- 8 vided mind, unsteady in all his ways. Now let the brother of low degree glory in 9 that he is exalted; But the rich, in that he 10 is made low: for as the flower of the herb he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner 11 risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the herb, and its flower falleth, and the beauty of its appearance perisheth: so shall the rich man also fade in his ways. Happy is the man that endureth temptation: 12 for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath pro-mised to those who love him. Let no man say 13 fears and anxieties; and as he can have no firm support while he doubteth respecting the mercy and grace of God, he will be tossed like a wave of the sea by the wind. Let him not expect to receive any thing in this situation, CHAP. I. 1. To the twelve tribes, &c. To the Hebrew converts of the several tribes dispersed among the Gentiles. Whitby contends, that the ten tribes were rejected so as to be no more a nation, and applies Hosea i. 6; xviii. &; ix. 3, 15, 17, to support this opinion; but he main-while he dare not trust to God for what he needs. Such a man indeed is of a tains that the gospel was sent and preached to them, and that many embraced it. The inscription supports this, "To those who are in the dispersion." They abounded in Mesopotamia, Media, and Babylon; and according to Josephus, had three famous Universities. 2. Various trials. From your unbelieving brethren, who accuse and persecute you; but learn to rejoice therein, knowing that the proving of your faith in this manner tends to exercise and strengthen patience and other virtues. And see to it that patience be truly manifest, that ye, &c. 5-8. And upbraideth not. The humble suppliant on account of his past sins and ignorance.—Ask in faith. In the steady and undoubting eonfidence that God is both able and willing to grant the favour he asks of him; for he that doubteth of this is, from the state of his mind, agitated with 3h2 divided mind; now seeking a thing, and then neglecting it, being unsteady in all his ways. Some think that the apostle had a particular regard to those Jews who were of a divided mind as to their adhering to the gospel, or to the law. 9-11. Glory in that, &c. Made a son of God, and an heir of heaven as well as the rich; but let the rich glory that by the gospel he is made sensible of his sins, and humbled before God, and of his mortality and the perish. ing nature of his earthly enjoyments; for as the flower of the herb, &c. 12-18. Endureth trial. This has a reference to verses 2,3.- Crown of life. 1 Cor. iv. 25. 2 Tim. iv. 8.-Tempted. I retain this term, because it is used to signify, "to induce or allure to sin or to do evil." To this God tempteth no man; nor by evil things can he be tempted to do any wrong. A man is tempted, &c. His own depravity tempts him to sin. His evil desire 427 |