foil to enhance their future felicity. Rest is rendered sweet by previous labour. The everlasting rest in glory of the people of God will be the happier, doubtless, for the labours of their earthly probation.

To that blessed rest, my brethren, let us all endeavour continually with all diligence to attain. And lest we should fail of it, let us meet the danger in its first risings, by guarding against the evil heart of unbelief which has ever been the great cause of apostasy from God. Seek not vain excuses and apologies for worldly-mindedness, which men who see not the heart may be obliged, in mutual courtesy or in charity, to admit: but remember in this matter with whom we have to do, and to whom we have to render our account ;-One,

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest; lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither

is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things

are naked and opened whose searching word', by which

unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. iv. 11-13.

we are to be judged, "is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing" far beyond our words and actions, even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, yea," as it were, "of the joints and marrow" of the inner man; being "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." This is the Judge with whom we have to do in all questions of religion: One, from whom concealment

1 "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph. vi. 17.

2 John xii. 48.

is impossible; to whom every creature is manifest ; and to whose eyes all things, even the self-deceiving heart of man, is naked and open. Away then with every idle subterfuge; and, with humble and believing hearts, let us implicitly receive the Gospel preached to us by the Son of God, the Great Apostle of our profession; and thankfully embrace the salvation, which, as the Son of Man and our High-Priest with God, he hath procured for us. If in doing this we meet with labours and trials, yet is it only for a time, a comparatively short time; and then cometh a rest, a heavenly, glorious, and everlasting rest for the people of God.

our

Seeing then that we have a great HighPriest, that is passed

into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all

Let us remember too, that, if our difficulties are great, so also are the sympathy and help on which we are encouraged to depend. Our great Apostle being also "great High-Priest," is fully able to advocate our cause, and to "send us help from his holy place," even from that heaven into which he is passed, and where he is now exalted, as the Saviour of men and as the Son of God, to the right hand of the Majesty on High. Surely such a High-Priest is fully able to succour us; and not more able to succour, than He is ready to feel for our infirmities, as having himself been in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. When, therefore, our trials increase upon us, and our hearts begin to fail, let us think of the Great Captain of our Salvation, our

points tempted like as

we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come grace, that we may obboldly unto the throne of

tain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. iv. 14-16.

Apostle, Prince, and Leader, who trod the wilderness before us; and fully relying both on his merits and his sympathy, let us freely pour out our hearts in prayer before "the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace for seasonable help" in time even of our greatest need, until our day of labour is brought to a close, and our rest in eternity secured.

LECTURE III.

Heb. iii. iv.

NOTES.

(P. 53.) First Cause of all things.]—Ver. 4, (ch. iii.) affords a strong argument in proof of our Lord's divinity.

(P. 54.) If we be open and resolute.]—lávπeо Tỳν πappηoíav K. T. X. iii. 6.

(P. 56.) Fall away from the living God.]—áπоστñvai áñò Oεoũ Lõvтoç, iii. 12. The reference may be more especially to Christ, the Son of God, who ever liveth himself to give life to his followers ;-living and life-giving. "For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself:" (John v. 26.) "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John v. 11.)

(P. 59.) Partakers of Christ, iii. 14.]-i. e. prospectively as heirs with him (Rom. viii. 17.) on condition of persevering in the faith, "if we hold fast," &c.:-" partakers of Christ" (μέτοχοι), as he partook (μετέσχε "took part") of our flesh and blood (ii. 14.); partakers, finally, of his heavenly kingdom, as we are, already, "of the heavenly calling," (iii. 1.)

(P. 60.) By means of the miracles which he wrought.]—dià Μωϋσέως, ver. 16.

(P. 60.) To have come short of it.]—voreρnkévaι, iv. 1.

(P. 60.) For unto us was the Gospel preached, iv. 2.]—Rather "has the Gospel been preached," or "we also have been favoured with good tidings ;” ἐσμὲν εὐηγγελισμένοι, iv. 2.

(P. 61.) The "good tidings" preached.]—'O λóyos τñs ȧKoйs: the report which they heard from the twelve spies, (Numb. xiii. 26, 27.) who were types of the twelve Apostles; as their tidings were of the Gospel, and Canaan of the "heavenly

(P. 62.) The rest principally intended from the very first.]— See particularly ver. 6. ch. iv.

(P. 63.) For he that is entered, ver. 10.]-More properly, perhaps, "He that enters," &c. "ceases;" it being a general remark; a use often made of the aorist: see note on Rom. viii. 29, 30. in the " Exposition" of that Epistle.

(P. 64.) Perfect activity combined with perfect rest.]—

66

They come and go at thy behest,

No will, but thine, O God, have they;
Such happy work is sweetest rest ;

No slumber needs such blissful day;

Those gracious errands cannot tire,

Though through vast fields of air they lie;

Their love by proof doth not expire,

But brightens everlastingly."

Rickard's "Hymns for Private Devotion."

(P. 66.) Let us endeavour with all diligence.]—orovdáowμev. (P. 66.) To whom we have to render our account.]—Пçòç öv ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος, iv. 3. ἀντὶ τοῦ, Αὐτῷ μέλλομεν δοῦναι εὐθύνας τῶν πεπραγμένων. Chrysost.

(P. 66.) Soul and spirit, iv. 12.]-Observe the distinction, which may be found also 1 Thess. v. 23. Thus distinguished, the soul seems to be the seat of the lower affections connected with our life in the flesh, and which will cease, (to those at least who shall be saved eternally,) when that life is over: the spirit is the seat of the higher affections and powers, in which we most resemble the Deity, such as love, wisdom, &c. See 1 Cor. xv. 45. "The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam a quickening Spirit ;" from which passage it should seem that our spirits are the gift of redemption, not of our first creation: "first, the natural (or animal, rò vxikóv); afterward the spiritual (rò πvevμatıkóv). This is no new opinion. Bishop Taylor, for instance, held it; and, I believe, Bishop Horsley.

(P. 68.) Freely pour out our hearts in prayer before "the throne of grace.”]—προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παῤῥησίας, iv. 16. (P. 68.) Seasonable help.]—rkaιpov Boýbetav, ibid.

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