ing the bounds of it, and ordering the whole course with all the duties belonging to it. It is by him proposed to us, it is set before us in the gospel; therein he declares its whole nature, and all the circumstances that belong to it. He gives us a full prospect of all the duties required in it, and all the difficulties we shall meet with. He hides nothing from us, especially that of bearing the cross, that our own entrance into it may be an act of our own choice and judgment. Whatever, therefore, we meet with in it, we have no cause of tergivisation or complaint. This is what believers both reprove and refresh themselves with, when at any time they fall into tribulation for the gospel. Why do I faint? Why do I recoil? Hath he deceived me, who calls me to follow him in obedience? Did he hide any thing from me? Did he not set these tribulations before me, as part of the race that I was to run? So they argue themselves into an holy acquiescency in his wisdom and will. Hence the apostle affirms, that he did not fight uncertainly, as men beating the air, because he had an assured path and course set before him. This is that which Christ hath appointed for me; this is that which at my first call he proposed to me, and set before me," are soul quieting considerations..

§12. Our whole evangelical obedience being compared to a race, our performance of it is expressed by “running," for which there are two things required— strength and speed. And the things required to our Christian race are-strength in grace, and diligence with exercise. The due performance of gospel odedience, especially in the times of trial and temptation, is not a thing of course, is not to be attended in an ordinary manner; spiritual strength put forth in our utmost diligence is required.

Seeing, therefore, that we are called to this exercise we should greatly consider the things which may enable us for it, that we may so run as to obtain. But our weakness through our want of improving the principles of spiritual life, and our sloth in the exercise of grace, for the most part, cannot be sufficiently bewailed; and I am sure they are inconsistent with this apostolic exhortation.

§13. "With patience." Patience is either a quiet submissive suffering of evil things, or a quiet waiting for good things future with perseverance and continuance, to the conquest of the one, or the enjoyment of the other. He who suffereth quietly, submissively, with content and satisfaction, what he is called to suffer for the profession of the gospel, doth also quietly wait for the accomplishment of the promises made to them who so suffer, which are great and many. The race is long, and of more than ordinary continuance. We shall be sure to meet with difficulties, oppositions, and temptations in this race; these things will solicit us to desist, and give over our race. all patience is prescribed to us; perfect work, will secure us in them all. See on chap, vi, 12-15.

With respect to them, which when it hath its

§14. And as to our own instruction we may hence observe,

1. We are diligently to consider our own concernment in all scripture examples, and what we are instructed by them. This inference the apostle makes from the collection he had before made to them, "Even we also."

2. God hath not only made provision, but a plentiful provision in the scripture for the strengthening of our faith, and our encouragement to duty. "A cloud of witnesses."

3. It is an honor that God puts on his saints departed, especially such as suffered and died for the truth, that even after their death they shall be witnesses to faith and obedience in all generations. They still continue, in a sense, to be martyrs, bearing a noble testimony.

4. To faint in our profession, whilst we are encompassed with such a cloud of witnesses, is a great aggra

vation of our sin.

§15. And we may observe farther;

1. That the universal mortification of sin is the best preparative, preservative, and security, for a steady profession in a time of trial. Whatever may be our purposes, resolutions, and contrivances, if unmortified sin in any prevalent degree, (as love of the world, fear of men, sensual inclinations to make provision for the flesh) abide in us, we shall never be able to hold out in our race to the end.

2. Whereas the nature of this sin at such seasons is to work by unbelief towards a departure from the living God, or the relinquishment of the gospel, we ought to be continually on our watch against it; and no small part of our spiritual wisdom consists in the discovery of its deceitful working, which the apostle gives us severe caution about, chap. iii.

3. The reward proposed to be obtained at the end of this race, is every way worthy of all our pains, diligence, and patience.

VERSE 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.

1. The design and connexion. 2. Looking to Jesus, 'what, $3. The author and finisher of faith. $4. The joy, what; and how set before him $5. His enduring the cross and despising the shame. 6. The consequent thereof. §7. Observations,

§1. THE apostle here riseth to the highest encouragement with respect to the same duty, whereof we are capable Hitherto he hath proposed to us their example who had professed the same faith with ourselves; now, he proposeth him who is the "author and finisher" of that faith in us all. His person is proposed to us as a ground of hope and expectation; whilst he is at the same time an universal example of faith and obedience in every kind.

§2. The peculiar prescribed manner of our respect to him, is "Looking to him;" and being put in the present tense, a continual act is intended. In all that we do in our profession and obedience, we are constantly to be looking to Christ. "Looking," in the scripture, when it respects God or Christ, denotes an act of faith or trust, with hope and expectation. It is not a mere act of the understanding, in consideration of what we look on; but it is an act of the whole soul in faith and trust; see Psalm xxxiv, 4—6; Isa. xlv, 22. Wherefore, the Lord Jesus is not proposed to us as a mere exumple to be considered, but as him also in whom we place our faith, trust, and confidence, with all our expectation of success in our Christian course; without this we shall have no benefit by his example. And the word here used (@Popwvles) so expresseth a looking to him, as to include a looking off from all other things which might be discouragements to us. Such are the oppositions, persecutions, mockings, evil examples of apostates, &c. Nothing will divert our minds from discouraging views of these things, but faith and trust in Christ. Look not to these things in times of suffering, but look to Christ

The name "Jesus" minds us of him as a Savior and a sufferer, the former by the signification of it,

Matt. i, 21; the latter, in that it was that name alone whereby he was known and called in all his sufferings. Look to him as he was Jesus, that is, both the only Savior and the greatest sufferer.

$3. "The author and finisher of our faith." He by his death and obedience procured this grace for us. It is given to us on his account, Phil. i, 29. And he prays that we may receive it, John xvii, 19, 20; and he works it in us, or bestows it on us by his Spirit, in the beginning and all the increases of it, from first to last. Hence his disciples prayed to him, "Lord increase our faith," Luke xvii, 5. So he is the author or beginner of our faith, in the efficacious working of it in our hearts by his Spirit; and the finisher of it in all its effects, in liberty, peace, and joy; and all the fruits of it in obedience; for "without him we can do nothing." Nor is it faith objectively that the apostle treats of, the faith that is revealed, but that which is in the hearts of believers. And he is said to be the author and finisher of the faith treated of in the foregoing chapter; in them that believed under the Old Testament as well as in themselves.

§4. The next thing in the words is, the ground and reason whereon Jesus did and suffered the things, wherein he is proposed as our example for our encouragement; and this was "for the joy that was set before him."

The ambiguous signification of the preposition (av) before, hath given occasion to a peculiar interpretation of the words. For most commonly it signifies, in the stead of; one thing for another. It denotes here the final moving cause in the mind of Jesus Christ, for the doing what he did. He did it on account of the joy that was set before him.

Joy, is taken for the things in which he rejoiced, and on the account of which he endured the cross