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VERSE S.

For consider him that endureth such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

f1. The same argument continued, with a special improvement of it. §2. What we are cautioned about; against being weary or faint. $3, 4. The suffering example of Christ proposed. (5, 6. Observations.

$1. THE apostle carries on the same argument, with respect to an especial improvement of it in this verse. (Tap) for, renders not a reason of what was spoken before, but denotes a progress to an especial motive to the duty exhorted to. Some copies read (v) therefore, in a progressive exhortation.

The peculiar manner of the respect of faith to Christ is expressed by (avaλoyicaabe) consider, compare things by their due proportion one to another. Whereas mention is made of him who endured, and of what he endured, we must inquire where the emphasis lies. If he suffered, if he endured such things, why should not we do so also? For he was the Son of God, the author and finisher our faith. Compute thus with yourselves, that if he, though being so great, so excellent, so infinitely exalted above us, yet endured such contradiction of sinners, ought we not to do so if called to it? Or else he calls us to the consideration of what he suffered in particular, as to the contradiction of sinners; such, so great contradiction, by comparing our own with them. And this sense the following words incline to; "for you have not yet resisted unto blood," as he did.

But although these things are thus distinguished, yet are they not to be divided. Both the person of Christ, and what he suffered, are proposed to our diligent consideration, and our impartial estimate of them, with respect to ourselves and our sufferings.

§2. "Lest ye be wearied;" the word (navw) signifies to labor, so as to bring on weariness; and to be sick, which also is accompanied with weariness. The apostle treating before of a race, he may easily be supposed to have respect to such as fainted therein through weariness. But the sense of the words is fully explained in Rev. ii, 3, "Thou hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." To abide and persevere in suffering and labor for the name of Christ, is, "not to faint," or be wearied; wherefore to be wearied in this case, is to be so pressed and discouraged with the greatness or length of difficulties and trials, as to draw back, partially or totally, from the profession of the gospel. This I judge to be the frame of mind here cautioned against, viz. the want of life, vigor, and cheerfulness in profession, tending to a relinquishment of it; (TM ↓ʊxy Exλuεobal, animo defici et concidere) to have the strength and vigor of the mind dissolved, so as to faint and fall; and it consists principally in a remission of the due acting of faith by all graces, and in all duties. It is faith that stirs up and engageth spiritual courage, resolution, patience, perseverance, prayer, and all preserving graces and duties; and on this failing our spiritual strength is dissolved, and we wax weary.

§3. And as to his sufferings, he proposeth the consideration of them in one special instance, and therein every word is emphatical;-it was contradiction he underwent;—and it was such, or so great, that it is not easy to be apprehended;-it was the contradiction of sinners; and it was against himself immediately. 1. He endured contradiction. The word is used for any kind of opposition in things as well as words, and so may include the whole sufferings of Christ from men; but no doubt the apostle hath a peculiar respect

to the revilings and reproaches which he underwent; such as, "Let the king of Israel come down from the cross, and we will believe; he saved others, himself he cannot save." And,

2. The apostle intimates the severity and cruelty of these contradictions; and herein he refers us to the whole story of what was past at his death. Such contradiction, so bitter, so severe, so cruel; whatever the malicious wits of men, or suggestions of Satan, could invent or broach; whatever was venomous and evil, was cast upon him.

3. It was the contradiction of sinners; that is, such as gave no bounds to their wrath and malice. But withal the apostle seems to reflect on them, as to their state and condition: for it was the priests, the scribes and pharisees, who from first to last managed this contradiction; and these all boasted themselves to be just and righteous: but they deceived themselves; they were sinners, the worst of sinners.

4. It was contradiction against himself immediately, and, as it were, to his face. There is an emphasis in that expression (EIS ERUTOV) against himself in person; so they told him openly to his face, that he had a devil, that he was a seducer, &c. All this he patiently endured.

§4. The consideration of the Lord Christ's patient enduring these contradictions against himself, is proposed as the means to preserve us from being "weary and fainting in our minds"-by way of motive; for if he who in his own person was infinitely above all opposition of sinners, as the apostle states the case, Phil. ii, 5-8; yet for our sakes would undergo all; there is all the reason in the world why for his sake we should submit to our portion in them. By way of precedent and example; as it is urged by Peter, 1 Epist. ii, 21, 22.

By way of deriving power from him; for the due consideration of him herein will work a conformity in our minds and souls to him in his sufferings, which will assuredly preserve us from fainting.

$5. Observe hence:

1. Such things may befall us in the way of our profession, as are in themselves apt to weary and burden us, so as to solicit our minds to a relinquishment of them.

2. When we begin to be heartless, desponding, and weary of our sufferings, it is a dangerous disposition of mind, leaning towards a defection from the gospel. And,

3. We ought to watch against nothing more diligently, than the insensible, gradual prevailing of such a frame, if we mean to be faithful to the end.

4. If we design perseverance in a time of trouble and persecution, it is both our wisdom and our duty to keep up faith to a vigorous exercise; the want of this bespeaks a fainting in our minds. This is like the hands of Moses in the battle against Amalek. §6. And we may farther observe;

1. That the malicious contradiction of wicked priests, scribes, and pharisees, against the truth, and its professors, is peculiarly suited to make them faint, if not opposed by vigorous actings of faith in Christ, and a due consideration of his sufferings in the same kind.

2. Whoever they are, that, by their contradictions to the truth, and them that profess it, stir up persecu tion, let them pretend what they will of righteousness, they are sinners, and that to a very dangerous degree.

3. If our minds grow weak, through a remission of the vigorous actings of faith, in a time of great contradiction to our profession, they will quickly grow weary, so as to give over, if not timely recovered.

4. The constant consideration of Christ in his sufferings is the best means to keep up faith to its due exercise in all times of trial.

VERSE 4.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin.

§1. Connexion of the words. $2. The party to be opposed, sin, §3. The way by resisting and striving. 4, 5. Observations.

$1. HAVING proposed the great example of Jesus Christ, and given directions to the improvement of it, the apostle proceeds to more general arguments for the confirmation of his exhortation to patience and perseverance in times of suffering. "You have not yet resisted unto blood." He grants that they had met with many sufferings already; but they had been so restrained, as not to proceed to life and blood. And he hath respect to what he had affirmed of their past and present sufferings, chap. x, 32-34. (See the Exposition of the place.)

He intimates that they might yet expect "blood." Two things are included; first, that those who are engaged in the profession of the gospel, have no security, but that they may be called to the utmost and last sufferings by blood on account of it; and, secondly, that whatever befalls us on this side, blood is to be looked on as a fruit of divine tenderness and mercy.

$2. The party with whom their contest was in what they suffered, was-"sin." The apostle still abides in his allusion to strife for victory in public games; therein every one had an adversary whom he was to contend with; so have believers; and it was not their persecutors directly, but sin in them, that the apostle alludes to. But whereas sin is but an accident or quality, it cannot act itself, but only in the subjects

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