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any other man may be raised by the power of God. But the "bringing again Christ from the dead, through the blood of the everlasting covenant," gives assurance of the complete redemption and salvation of the church. Many expositors have filled this place with conjectures to no purpose, without so much as looking towards the mind of the Holy Ghost in the words.

$5. "Make you perfect," or rather, (natagtioni upas) make you meet, fit, and able. This is what in yourselves you are no way fit and prepared for, whatever light, power, or liberty, you may be supposed to have; it is not absolute perfection, but a bringing of the mental faculties into due order, to dispose, prepare, and enable them, that they may work accordingly. "In every good work;" for every duty of obedience. In general, he designs the application of divine grace, through the mediation of Christ, for our sanctification, and the daily increases of it.

(How ev up) "working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ." This is the way the only way-whereby we may be enabled effectually to do the will of God. The efficiency of actual grace for every acceptable act of obedience cannot be more directly expressed. Through Jesus Christ; which may be referred either to working or to acceptance. If to the latter, the meaning is, that the best of our duties are not accepted but upon the account of the merit and mediation of Christ, which is most true; but it is rather to be referred to the former, shewing that there is no communication of grace to us, from the peace of God, but by Jesus Christ, and by virtue of his mediation.

§6. "To whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.” The like ascription of glory, in the same kind of expres sion, is made to God, even the Father Phil. iv, 20,

"Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever, amen." So 1 Tim. i, 17; 2 Tim. iv, 18. "So it is jointly to the Father and the Son as mediator, Rev. v, 13; See Gal. i, 5. And whereas this assignation of glory to Christ contains divine adoration and worship, with the ascription of glorious divine properties to him; the object of it is his divine person; and the motive unto it, the work of mediation. All grace is from him, and therefore all glory is to ascribed to him without intermission and without end. Hereunto is added the usual solemn note of assent and attestation, "Amen;" so it is, so let it be, so it ought to be; it is true, it is right and meet that so it should be.

Thus shall the whole dispensation of grace issue in the eternal glory of Christ. This the Father designed; this is the blessedness of the church to give him: and let every one who says not "Amen" to it, see that he be not "anathema maranatha,"

$7. That which we learn from hence is,

1. That the bringing back of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Shepherd of the sheep, from the state of the dead, through the blood of the covenant, is the great pledge of assurance of peace with God, or the effecting of that peace, which "the God of peace" hath designed

for the church.

2. The reduction of Christ from the dead by "the God of peace," is the spring and foundation of all dis pensations and communications of grace to the church; of all the effects of the atonement and purchase made by his blood; for he was rought again, as the Shepherd of the sheep, to the exercise of his entire office

towards the church.

3. All legal sacrifices issued in blood and death; but there was no recovery of any of them from that state, VOL. IV.

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no solemn pledge of their success. The only supply of their weakness was their frequent repetition.

4. There is then a blessed foundation laid for the communication of grace and mercy to the church, to the eternal glory of God.

§8. And to HIM doth the poor, unworthy author of this exposition desire in all humility to ascribe eternal praise and glory for all the mercy, grace, guidance, and assistance which he hath received from him in his endeavors therein. And if any thing, word, or expression, through weakness, ignorance, and darkness, which he yet laboreth under, have passed from him that do not tend to his glory, he doth here utterly condemn it. And he humbly prays, that if through his assistance, and the guidance of his Holy Spirit of light and truth, any thing hath been spoken aright concerning himhis office, sacrifice, grace, and his whole mediationany light or direction communicated towards understanding the mind of the Holy Ghost in this glorious scripture that he would make it abundantly useful and acceptable to his church.

And he doth also humbly acknowledge his power, goodness, and patience, in that, beyond all his expectations, he hath continued his life, under many weaknesses, temptations, sorrows, and tribulations, to bring this work to its end. "To HIM be glory for ever and ever, Amen."

What follows are certain additional postscripts, which wereusual with our apostle in his other epistles, of which we shall briefly give an account.

VERSES 22----25.

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation; for I have written a letter unto you in a few words. Know ye, that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you: and all the saints, they of Italy salute y 0 Grace be with you all, Amen.

$1. The word of exhortation, what. 2. To suffer it, what. §3. In what sense a few words. $4 Timothy's imprisonment, and liberty, 35. Paul charges the brethren to salute the eldersand saints in his name, $6. The salutation of the saints in Italy, to the Hebrews. $7. The general solemn close. §8, The subscription.

$1. "AND I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation." He subjoins this tender address, to caution them against losing the benefit of it; through negligence or prejudice. (Τον λογον της παρακλyoɛws) the word of exhortation or of consolation; for it is used to signify both. Wherefore the phrase denotes, the truth and doctrine of the gospel applied to the edification of believers, whether by way of exhortation or consolation; the one constantly including the other.

Most think, that the apostle intends peculiarly, the hortatory part of the epistle, in chap. vi, 10, 12, 13. But I see no just reason. why the whole epistle may not be intended; for the nature of it in general is paræenetical; that is, "a word of exhortation," as hath been often observed. The whole epistle is intended in the next words: "for I have written a letter unto you, in a few words;" and there is in the doctrinal part of it, that which was as hard to be borne by the Hebrews as any thing in those which are preceptive or hortatory. And I would not exclude the notion of consolation; because that is the proper effect of the doctrine of the gospel.

Note. When ministers take care, that the word which they deliver is a word tending to the edification and consolation of the church, they may, with confidence, press the entertainment of it by the people; though it should contain things, which, by reason of their weakness or prejudices, may be some way grievous to them.

$2, (Avɛxeodɛ) suffer, or bear this word; that is, in

the first place, he cautions them to take heed that no prejudices, or inveterate opinions, no apprehensions of severity in its admonitions and threatenings, should provoke them against it, render them impatient under it, and so cause them to lose the benefit of it. But there is more intended, namely, that they should "bear and receive it, as a word of exhortation;" so as to improve it to their edification. A necessary caution; for neither Satan, nor the corruption of men's own hearts, will be wanting, to suggest to them such exceptions and prejudices against it, as may render it useless.

§3. "For I have written a letter unto you in few "words;" for, considering the importance of the cause wherein he was engaged; the necessity there was to unfold the whole design and mystery of the covenant, and institutions of the law, with the office of Christ; considering the great contests that were amongst the Hebrews, about these things; and the danger either of their eternal ruin, through a misapprehension of them, all that he hath written may well be esteemed but a "few words;" and of which none could have been spared. He hath, in this matter sent them (dia Bgaxɛwv) α brief compendium of the doctrine of the law and the gospel.

§4. "Know ye, that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom if he come shortly, I will see you." Timothy was his perpetual companion in all his travels, labors, and sufferings; serving him as a son his father, unless when he sent him to any special work for the church: and being with him in Judea, he was well known there; as also his worth and usefulness. He seems not to have gone to Rome with Paul, when the latter was sent thither a prisoner, but probably followed him not long after; and there, as is most

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