Julian Period, 4775. Vulgar Era, 62.

OF THE PATRIARCHS, MOSES, AND RAHAB.

Sons of Joseph, (Gen. xlviii. 16.)—Worshippers of God Italy.
in prospect of Admission to the heavenly Canaan, (chap.
xlvii. 31. and xlix. 30.)—In the full Persuasion that
God would give Canaan to Abraham and to his Seed, Jo-
seph, when ending his Life, commanded that his Bones
might be carried with them from Egypt, that the Promises
might be fulfilled to him after his Death, (Gen. 1. 25.
and Exod. xiii. 19.)-Moses was saved by the Faith of
his Parents in the Promises of God-who, judging from
his Appearance, or, as some suppose, from a Revela-
tion, (Josephus, lib. ii. c. 9. §. 5—7.) concealed him
without Fear of the King's Commandment-By Faith in
the Promises of God, Moses himself, as the Type of the
great Deliverer, renounced all worldly Distinctions, pre-
ferring to suffer with the anointed People of God, as he
looked for a higher reward in Heaven-By Faith he car-
ried the Israelites out of Egypt, fearing God who was
invisible, rather than the Wrath of Pharaoh, which was
present to him-By Faith he sprinkled the Blood of the
Paschal Lamb, (Exod. xii.) and by the same Principle
the Israelites passed through the Red Sea-By Faith and
Obedience to the Command of God, the Walls of Jericho
miraculously fell down-Rahab, by Faith in God, on ac-
count of the Miracles he had wrought, (Joshua ii. 10.)
risked her Life for the Protection of the Spies, and pe-
rished not with the Unbelievers at Jericho.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph: and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's command

ment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

refused

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprink

VOL. II.

:

P P

577

Julian Pe- ling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first-born should Italy. riod, 4775. touch them.

Vulgar Era,

62.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land which the Egyptians assaying to do, were

drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

§ 33. HEB. xi. 32, to the end, and chap. xii. 2. The Apostle having shewn the Nature and Efficacy of Faith by many illustrious Examples from the Adamic and Patriarchal Dispensations, now proves that the same active Principle of Faith directed, in all their great Exploits, the Judges, Heroes, Prophets, and Kings, of the Mosaic Dispensation-These all suffered and triumphed over the Contempt and Persecution of the World; supported by a firm and lively Faith in Things not seen, and in the Expectation of the promised Glories of a future State-But they had not yet received the heavenly Rest, and that glorious Reward promised to Abraham and to his Seed-God having provided a better Revelation, and a better Means of Faith, which made perfect all that had preceded at the End of which all the spiritual Children of Abraham, from the Beginning to the Completion of the Divine Economy, may be collected into one Church, and be admitted together, after the Resurrection, to the full Perfection of the Gospel Blessings (Rev. vi. 11.)— The Apostle, in Application of these Arguments, exhorts them to imitate the Faith and Obedience of their eminent Ancestors, who will bear Testimony for or against them, looking from worldly to spiritual Things, to Jesus, who is the Author, and, by his own Sufferings, the most perfect Example of Truth-enduring the Cross for the Glory and Happiness of Man's Redemption.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon*, and of Barak †, and of Samson ‡, and of Jephthae §, of David || also, and Samuel, and of + Judges iv. the prophets;

*Judges vi. 25-29.

+ Judges xiv. 6-19. xv. 14.

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of Judges xi. lions,

21-33.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of 1 Sam. xvii. the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed va¶1Sam.vii. liant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again :

9-12.

Jalian Period, 4775. Vulgar Æra, 62.

WHO WERE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH-CHAP. XV.

and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that Italy.
they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourg-
ings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

1 Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

$ 34. HEB. xii. 3-13.

Further to encourage them under Persecutions and Trials,
to Faith and Patience, the Apostle calls upon them to
give particular Attention to the greater Sufferings of
Christ, and reminds them of the Exhortation of the Word
of God (Prov. iii. 11, 12.), that Chastisements are
Tokens of the Divine Favour, proving that God considers
them beloved Sons, and not as Bastards, who are disre-
garded and neglected-Their earthly Parents corrected
them of Faults, and were reverenced under Penalty of
Death (Deut. xxi. 18-21.); how much more important
to be subject to the Father of Spirits, that they may
live for ever-These chastened them during the few Days
of this Life, after their own Will and Convenience; but
God chastens all for their Advantage, that they may be
made holy, and disciplined to Righteousness; the peaceful
Fruit of God's Chastisement-From these Considerations
he exhorts those who have been thus benefited by Affliction,
not to be discomforted, and driven away from Christ
(Isai. xxxv. 3.), but to make every possible Exertion
under their Temptations and Afflictions, removing every
Obstacle that impedes their own and others treading in
the Christian Path, lest those who have been already
alarmed by forsaking it, may not be totally prevented from
proceeding on the Road to Sion; but be rather healed and
recovered from their Falls and Weaknesses.

579

Julian Pe- 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of Italy. riod, 4775. sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in Vulgar Era,

62.

your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us; and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees:

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

$35. HEB. xii. 14-17.

The Apostle exhorts them to cultivate Peace, as far as pos-
sible, with all Men, and Christian Holiness of Heart and
Life, carefully observing lest any among them shew a
Disposition to apostatize from the Gospel, lest any poi-
sonous Plant spring up and corrupt many; or any For-
nicator or profane Person, who should abuse the Liberty
of the Gospel, such as Esau, who bartered his high
Blessings and Privileges of the First-born (Gen. xxv.
32. 34. Exod. xix. 22. Deut. xxi. 17.) for present and
sensual Gratifications-The Apostle further insinuates,
that as Esau found no Change or Repentance in his Fa-
ther's Mind (Gen. xxvii. 33.) when he afterwards sought
the Blessing and Dominion over his Brethren (Gen. xxvii.
37.) with Tears; so, if they despise their heavenly Birth-
rights by renouncing the Gospel, there would be no Way
left of regaining them.

Julian Period, 4775. Vulgar Era,

62.

RENDER THEMSELVES UNABLE TO REPENT.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without Italy. which no man shall see the Lord :

15 Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with

tears.

§ 36. HEB. xii. 18-24.

The Apostle shews the Superiority of the Birth-rights of the
spiritual Children of Abraham, to those of his natural
Progeny, and therefore the greater Sin of rejecting them,
by contrasting the Dispensation of the Law with that of
the Gospel-Abraham's spiritual Children, by Faith in
the Gospel, are not called to receive the Law, which was to
prepare them for the earthly Canaan, to a Mount capa-
ble of being touched, which burned with Fire, and with
those appalling Signals of God's Presence (Exod. xix.)
typical of his consuming Anger against Sinners, and the
Obscurity of the Law; but they are called to receive the
mild and gracious Dispensation of Grace, from Mount
Sion (Acts i. 4.), which shall prepare them for worship-
ping in the Sion of the Christian Church (Isaiah lx.),
which is the City of the living God, of a heavenly, not of
a worldly Nature, including the whole Family of Heaven
and Earth, from the Beginning to the End of Time.

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be
touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness,
and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard, intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart.

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city
of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an in-
numerable company of angels 10,

10 Doddridge supposes that St. Paul here refers to the mani-
festation which God made of himself upon Mount Sion, as
being milder than that upon Mount Sinai.
"Sion," he pro-
ceeds,"
was the city of God. In the temple, which stood there
cherubim were the ornaments of the walls, both in the holy,

581