Julian Period, 4775. Vulgar Era, 62. Sons of Joseph, (Gen. xlviii. 16.)-Worshippers of God Italy. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph: and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's command ment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprink VOL. II. PP Julian Pe- ling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first-born should Italy. riod, 4775. touch them. Vulgar Era, 82. * Judges vi. 25-29. + Judges iv. + Judges xiv. 6-19. xv. 14. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them § 33. HEB. xi. 32, to the end, and chap. xii. 2. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of Judges xi. lions, 21-33. 1 Sam. xvii. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed va1 Sam.vii. liant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: 9-12. Julian Pe- and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that Italy. they might obtain a better resurrection: riod, 4775. Vulgar Era, 62. 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment : 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 1 Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 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. $ 34. HEB. xii. 3-13. Further to encourage them under Persecutions and Trials, to Faith and Patience, the Apostle calls upon them to give particular Attention to the greater Sufferings of Christ, and reminds them of the Exhortation of the Word of God (Prov. iii. 11, 12.), that Chastisements are Tokens of the Divine Favour, proving that God considers them beloved Sons, and not as Bastards, who are disregarded and neglected-Their earthly Parents corrected them of Faults, and were reverenced under Penalty of Death (Deut. xxi. 18-21.); how much more important to be subject to the Father of Spirits, that they may live for ever-These chastened them during the few Days of this Life, after their own Will and Convenience; but God chastens all for their Advantage, that they may be made holy, and disciplined to Righteousness; the peaceful Fruit of God's Chastisement-From these Considerations he exhorts those who have been thus benefited by Affliction, not to be discomforted, and driven away from Christ (Isai. xxxv. 3.), but to make every possible Exertion under their Temptations and Afflictions, removing every Obstacle that impedes their own and others treading in the Christian Path, lest those who have been already alarmed by forsaking it, may not be totally prevented from proceeding on the Road to Sion; but be rather healed and recovered from their Falls and Weaknesses. Julian Pe- 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of Italy. riod, 4775. sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in Vulgar Æra, your minds. 62. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us; and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees: 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. $ 35. HEB. xii. 14-17. The Apostle exhorts them to cultivate Peace, as far as pos- 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without Italy. which no man shall see the Lord : 15 Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. § 36. HEB. xii. 18-24. The Apostle shews the Superiority of the Birth-rights of the 18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard, intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart. 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city 10 Doddridge supposes that St. Paul here refers to the mani- |