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among ourselves, who, after a long profession of the truth, are ready to tremble at the first approach of danger, and think it their wisdom to keep at a distance from such as are exposed to danger and sufferings.

$5. The fruit of this faith of Rahab was, that she perished not, she was not destroyed; Josh. vi, 25, “And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had, and she dwelt in Israel to this day." Note, it is good, and sometimes useful, to be related to them that believe; but what is added of her "dwelling in Israel" plainly intimates her solemn conjunction to the people of God in faith and worship; yea, I am persuaded that from henceforward she was as eminent in faith and holiness, as she had been before in sin and folly; for it was not for her wealth that she was afterwards married to Salmon the son of Naasson, the prince of the tribe of Juda, Matt. i, 5, becoming thereby to have the honor of a place in the genealogy of our blessed Savior, and of a type of the interest of the Gentiles in his incarnation. The Holy Ghost also taking occasion twice to mention her in a way of commendation, and proposing her as an example of faith and obedience, gives such an approbation of her, as testifies her to have been eminent and exemplary in these things.

§6. The following observations offer;

1. Although unbelief be not the only destroying sin, (for the wages of every sin is death, and many are accompanied with peculiar provocations) yet it is the only sin which makes eternal destruction inevitable and remediless. And,

2. Where there are means granted of the revelation of God and his will, unbelief is the greatest and most provoking thing, and from whence God is glorified in his severest judgment. And,

3. Where this revelation of the mind and will of God is most open, full, and evident, and the means of it are most express, and suited to the communication of the knowledge of it, there is the highest aggravation of unbelief. If the inhabitants of Jericho perished in their unbelief, because they believed not the report that was brought to them of the mighty works of God; what will be the end of them who live and die in their unbelief under the daily, constant preaching of the gospel, the most glorious revelation of the mind and will of God for the salvation of men! Heb. ii, 3.

4. Every thing which God designs as an ordinance to bring men to repentance, ought to be diligently attended to and complied with, seeing the neglect of the call of God therein shall be severely revenged. Such were his mighty works in those days; and such are his judgments in all ages.

5. It is in the nature of true, real, saving faith, immediately, or at its first opportunity, to declare and protest itself in confession before men; or confession is absolutely inseparable from faith, and the fearful, that is, those who fly from public profession in times of danger and persecution, shall be no less assuredly excluded from the heavenly Jerusalem, than unbelievers themselves, Rev. xxi, 8.

6. A separation from the carnal cause and interest of the world is required in all believers, and will accompany true faith wherever it is.

VERSE 32.

And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Sampson, and of Jephtha, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.

$1. Connexion and general remarks. $2 Exposition. §3. How does it appear that it was by faith these persons acted? 4. Especially in their heroic actions, how they could be examples to us. §5. Observations.

§1. TN this verse, and to end of ver. 38, he sums up the remaining testimonies, which out of many he insisted on, with intimation that there were yet more of the like kind upon record, which he would not so much as name.

We may here notice two things;

1. That in the naming of them, (Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthæ, David, and Samuel,) he doth not observe the order of time wherein they lived; for Barak was before Gideon, and Jephthæ before Sampson, and Samuel before David.

2. He doth not reckon up the things they did in the same order wherein he had named the persons; so as that the first thing mentioned should be ascribed to him that was first named, and so in order; but he useth his liberty in setting down both the names of the persons and of the things ascribed to them; and the things he mentioneth cannot all be absolutely applied to the persons named; but some of them were wrought by others whose names are not expressed. Having given this account of the scope and argument of the apostle, I shall be very brief in the exposition of the particulars.

§2. (Kai Ti el λeyw;) And what shall I say more? Or, why do I farther speak? He had in readiness many more examples of the same kind. To multiply arguments and testimonies beyond what is necessary, serves only to divert the mind from attending to the truth itself to be confirmed; for the time would fail me; it would be a work of that length as would not be contained within the bounds which I have assigned to this epistle, should I so declare their faith and the fruits of it in particular, as I have done in the foregoing characters; yet he so names them as to bring them in witness in the cause.

§3. How doth it appear that it was by faith they performed the things ascribed to them?

1. They all, or at least most of them, had special calls from God to the works which they wrought. So had Gideon by an angel, Judg. vii, Barak by the prophecy of Deborah, Judg. iv; Sampson by the direction of an angel to his parents, Judg. xiii; so was it also, it is well known, with Samuel and David; they had their calls immediately from God; and as for Jephthæ, he was first chosen by the people to his office and work, Judg. xi, 11; which God approved of in giving him his Spirit in an extraordinary manner, ver. 29. They were satisfied in their call from God, and so trusted in him for his aid and assistance.

2. The work which they had to do was the work of God; namely, to deliver the church from trouble and oppression; and there was a promise annexed to their works, when undertaken according to the mind of God; yea, many promises to this purpose were left on record for their encouragement, Deut. xxxii, 36, &c. this promise they rested on by faith in all their undertakings.

3. Some of them, as Gideon, Barak, and David, had particular promises of success in what they were called to; and although at first they might be slow in believing them, yet in the issue their faith was victorious, and they "obtained the promises," as in the next

verse.

On these grounds they wrought all their great works of faith, whereby they engaged the divine presence and assistance, and are therefore a meet example to be proposed for our encouragement.

$4. And though these examples were chiefly heroic actions, yet consider;

1. The faith whereby they wrought these great

things was of the same nature and kind with that which is in every true believer; wherefore, as it was effectual in them for those duties whereunto they were. called, it will be so in us also, as to all we may be called to.

2. To destroy the kingdom of Satan in us, to demolish all his strong holds, to overcome the world in all its attempts on our eternal safety, will appear oneday not to be inferior to the conquest of kingdoms, and overthrow of armies. See Eph. vi, 10-12, &c. And we may learn hence,―That it is not the dignity of the person that gives efficacy to faith, but faith makes the person accepted--That neither the guilt of sin, nor the sense of it, should hinder us from acting faith on God in Christ, when we are called to it-That true faith will save great sinners; for that they were all saved who are on this catalogue of believers, ther apostle expressly affirms, verse 39.

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$5. Obs. There is nothing so difficult or seeming ly insuperable, no discouragement so great, from a sense of our own unworthiness by sin, nor opposition arising against us from both of them in conjunction,. that should hinder us from believing when we are cal-. led to it.

VERSE $3---35.

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the vio»* lence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight; turned to fight the armies of the aliens; women received their dead raised to life" again.

$. From the persons, the apostle proceeds to the things performed by faith. $2. They subdued kingdoms. What kingdoms, and bow, by faith. §5. Wrought righteousness. 4. Obtained particular promises. $5. Stopped the mouths of lions. 6. Quenched the violence of fire. $7. Escaped the edge of the sword. $8. Some out of weakness were made strong. 69. Waxed valiant in fight. $10. Routed armies. $11. Women received their dead, $12. Observations.

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