and bitterness. Miserable is the situation of a Christian, who does not look forward, and press forward, to the promised Rest. He has left Egypt; and there is no better entertainment in this wilderness, than the hope of getting well out of it. But if instead of this, he is only looking back and wishing for the world which he has renounced; he is that double minded man, who is unstable in all his ways; neither a man of the world, nor a Christian; neither easy with God, nor without him. There cannot be a more unprofitable and unhappy character. It is said of the Israelites in the wilderness, that their heart was not whole with God, neither continued they stedfast in his covenant. How many fall under the same censure! they give a portion of their heart to God, and another much greater to the world.

When the Apostle is entering upon the more mysterious parts of this Epistle, he upbraids the Hebrews with their unskilfulness in the word of God. They contented themselves with the first elements of Christian instruction, and neglected the mysteries of the scriptures; living, as children do, upon milk, with little appetite and strength to admit more solid nourishment. Some think they are learned enough, if they never get beyond their catechism: some never get so far. And it is common to plead in excuse, that little as their knowledge is, they know more good than they do, and have already more learning than they practise: not considering that the scripture abounds with many great and excellent mysteries, which have nothing practical in them, but so far only as they elevate the mind, and by bringing our affections nearer to God, dispose us to do his will

See chap. v. 12, 13.

with more love and cheerfulness; and consequently to do more of it, and to better effect: which is a matter of infinite importance, and now too little attended to. The Christian must be progressive; he must go on from the beginning of knowledge to the perfection* of it. He ought to know more of God every day; otherwise he may think of him less, till he totally forgets him: and then he is in danger of falling into that state, out of which men cannot be renewed unto repentance. When the gospel, which a man had received, has not power to lead him forward, there is no new gospel to awaken him: when the most powerful medicine God ever made hath lost its effect, what other can we apply?

So long as the soul is in a growing state, the blessing of heaven continues with it, and the grace of God brings it on to farther improvement: but if it is out of culture, thorns and briars get possession of it, and its end is to be burned. When thorns and briars shall be planted in Paradise, then such careless Christians may expect to be admitted into heaven.

From the consideration of Christ's Priesthood we are exhorted to draw near with faith, and partake of his blessing, by attending upon his church and his ordinances; not forsaking the assembling ourselves together as the manner of some is t. The Jews, I fear, in the worst of times, were more zealous in attending their public services and sacrifices, than some of those who call themselves Christians. In the best days of the Church, it was always the manner of some few to absent themselves from the religious assemblies of the Christians: but what would St. Paul have said, if he had lived to these times, when perhaps not one half of the people are at the public prayers; not one quar* Chap. vi. I. + Chap. x. 22, &c.

ter of them at the sacrament? and they have no persecution to fear, as the primitive Christians had; who attended their worship at the hazard of their lives. It must be owing to mere idleness and indifference; for however business may be pleaded on the ordinary days of the week, it cannot be pleaded on the Sunday. This truth I must suppose them to know; that if their Saviour is a Priest, they must partake of the sacrifice he offers for their salvation. But there is another dreadful truth, which they do not think of; that, to those, who do not partake of this sacrifice for sin, there remaineth no other; but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. If he who despised Moses' law died without mercy, of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who do this despite to the spirit of grace*, by neglecting the great atonement that was made by Christ himself for the sins of the world? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God†, and be made an example of divine vengeance: and what else can they expect, who refuse to accept of the sacrifice of Christ, by which alone the fiery indignation of God can be turned away from their own persons? No words are sufficient to express their danger: O that they could see it themselves, and would consider of it, and not trust to such frivolous excuses as will stand them in no stead in the day of visitation!

To encourage us in our Christian warfare, the Apostle sets before us at large the examples of the Saints of old, who were all saved by leading a life of faith enduring every trial and conquering every enemy, on this great principle. There never was Chap. x. 26, &c. † Chap. x. 31. See chap. xi. of this Epistle.

any other way of salvation from the beginning of the world, but this way of faith. All the Saints of God who found acceptance with him, depended upon his word and promise for such things as they could not see; and either forsook the pleasures of the world, or contradicted its errors, and endured its reproaches, for his sake. We may plead the business of life, and the cares of life; but they had their business and their cares as well as we; yet they loved God, and made it their first care to be saved. The race we are to run may have its difficulties: indeed, if it is a race, it cannot be without them: but we are encompassed with a cloud of witnesses*, all testifying that this RACE may be run, and the prize obtained; because they did actually perform it, and are entitled to the crown of victory. What hinders us from doing the same; but that we are retarded by some weight, which we are not careful to divest ourselves of and lay aside? We do not strive against that sin, whatever it may be, which most easily besets us, and is never to be subdued but by faith and prayer, and self-denial; faith in better things than this world can bestow; and prayer for that grace which may assist us in doing what our strength will never accomplish.

Great is the influence which the example of God's faithful servants will have upon our minds, if we meditate upon it. They were men of like passions with ourselves, and were not without their weaknesses: Sin put on the same deceitful appearance to them as to us: and they had the scorn of an overbearing world to resist, as we have now. Their example, while it instructs, will animate and encourage us. But greater than all is the example of our blessed Saviour himself: therefore we are directed to look

* Chap. xii. 1.

-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 God. What are the troubles we are accustomed to, compared with the agonies of the cross? What is the contempt of silly empty people, who call themselves the world, compared with the disgrace of hanging naked as a malefactor before a multitude, who mocked at the punishment as a proof that he who suffered it was an impostor? Nothing was ever so full of apparent disgrace, as the character of Jesus Christ at his passion. How distressing and almost distracting is it, to be innocent, and yet seem to be guilty? This is a piercing trial to an honest mind. To affect to be great when we are mean, and powerful when we are weak, exposes us to the scorn of every enemy; and this the enemies of Christ laid to his charge, and gratified themselves with every malicious expression that could add to the apparent infamy of his sufferings. Yet all this shame he patiently endured, for the joy that was set before him. This we are to consider under all our trials. God does not lay upon us any grief or chastening, for its own sake; but to correct our minds, and give us a title to that joy, which shall be the reward of patient suffering. Thus we shall not be weary and faint in our minds. I grant it is a severe trial to mortal man, to deserve good and receive evil: but to this we are all called, as the followers of a crucified Saviour. The Son of God was made perfect through sufferings; and if God is our father, we must expect that he will chasten us; if he does not, then are we bastards and not sons †. Bastards are often forsaken by their parents, and left to grow up without correction: consequently to be Chap. xii. 2. + Chap. xii. 8.