Observe here, 1. The thing described, or the subject spoken of, and that is faith; that faith whereby the just man lives, the apostle here speaks of, though not as justifying, but as it is effectually useful in our whole life, especially unto constancy and perseverance in the Christian profession, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Having in the former verse described faith, in this and the following verses he enters upon the just praise and deserved commendation of this divine and excellent grace, which has such an universal influence into all the parts of the Christian life. In this verse, to commend that faith which he had... [ Continue Reading ]
The design of the apostle in these words is to prove, that faith satisfies itself in the world be now visible, and the things contained in it are said to be seen, yet the original framing and making of the world has. principal place among things not seen. Learn hence, That by faith assenting to div... [ Continue Reading ]
From. general declaration of the nature of faith in the foregoing verses, our apostle proceeds to give instances of the efficacy and power of faith in particular persons, in this and the following verses. And he begins here with Abel. But why not with Adam? Because Adam was the first sinner, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
The second instance is Enoch, concerning whom our apostle affirms, that he was translated, and that he was translated by faith; translated from one condition to another; from grace to glory, from earth to heaven. He was gathered by God, both in body and soul, to himself; and in. way of eminent grace... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT FAITH, that is, without justifying faith, without faith in the Messiah, for that is the faith here spoken of, there is no possibility of pleasing God, and if so, then no possibility of being saved without faith. This appears partly from the divine constitution, God has so appointed it, partl... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The person spoken of, Noah, an eminent person in the line of the church, and one that walked with God, and found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Observe, 2. What was spoken of him; HE WAS WARNED OF GOD, touching his design and purposes to destroy and drown the old world. Observe, 3... [ Continue Reading ]
The next illustrious instance of the efficacy of faith we have here in the person of Abraham, who obeyed the call and command of God in leaving his own native country, to go he knew not whither, and to receive an inheritance he knew not when. Where note, 1. The foundation of Abraham's faith and obe... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle spake of the place which Abraham was called from, in the foregoing verse, namely, out of UR of the CHALDEES: here he speaks of the place he was called to, CANAAN, styled THE LAND OF PROMISE, that is, the land which God had newly promised to give unto him. Where note, 1. Abraham's act of... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having spoken of Abraham's faith before, makes an honourable mention of his wife Sarah's faith here. It is. blessed thing when husband and wife are one in the faith, as well as one flesh; when the constant companion of our life draws with us in the same yoke of religion. Note, 1. The per... [ Continue Reading ]
These words acquaint us with that gratuitous remuneration and gracious reward which God gave Abraham and Sarah, as the fruit of the faith, namely, the blessing of. numerous posterity; there sprang of them, and both of them, AS GOOD AS DEAD, with reference to the procreation of children,. numerous is... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, all the before-mentioned saints, Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, they all died in the faith of the promised Messiah, believing he should come, and expecting salvation by his coming. It is not enough for. Christian to live in the faith, but he must also die in the faith; and to die in the fa... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "They that say such things, namely, that they, even in the land of promise, are pilgrims and strangers, do declare plainly that they seek. country where they may rest and dwell, when this their pilgrimage on earth is ended." Now this country was not Chaldea, but heaven;.... [ Continue Reading ]
The next person instanced in, for the fame of his faith, is Abraham who was deservedly styled the FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL; him God tries in. very extraordinary manner, by putting him upon offering up his son Isaac. Where note, That where God gives much grace, he tries grace much; the greater the fai... [ Continue Reading ]
Note, That there is. blessing by way of prayer, and. blessing by way of prophecy, foretelling what shall befall persons in time to come; of this kind is Isaac's blessing. The patriarchs were in. peculiar manner directed and guided by God, and their blessing was. conferring of. right to the parties b... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, in dying Jacob, the frame and carriage of holy men in their dying and seasons, to bless their children, and worship their God. Jacob blessed Joseph and his two sons, laying hold on the covenant made with Abraham. It is no small privilege to be born of parents taken into visible covenan... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. two-fold instance of Joseph's faith when dying. 1. HE MADE MENTION OF THE DEPARTING OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; he said unto his brethren, BEHOLD. DIE, BUT GOD SHALL BRING YOU UNTO THE LAND WHICH HE HATH SWORN UNTO YOUR FATHERS. See how the good man dies in the faith of the promise. T... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words the faith of Moses's parents is celebrated: the birth of Moses fell out in the very height and fury of Pharaoh's persecution, when the king had given commandment to destroy all the male children; Moses was then born and hid by his parents, and preserved as. deliverer of the church of... [ Continue Reading ]
The next person whom our apostle instances in, is Moses himself, whose faith and self-denial were most evidently conspicuous in all the instances of them. Observe, 1. His great self-denial, with all the enhancing circumstances of it: WHEN HE CAME TO YEARS, HE REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The common lot and usual condition of God's people in this world; it is an afflicted state and condition. 2. That wicked men oft-times enjoy pleasures in the ways of sin, whilst good men meet with much affliction in the work of holiness. 3. That notwithstanding this, all wise and... [ Continue Reading ]
The former verse acquainted us with the general choice which Moses made of affliction with the people of God: this acquaints us with one sort and particular kind of affliction which he chose, namely, reproach for Christ; this he counted his glory, his riches, his treasures, beyond all the riches and... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having described the faith of Moses, with respect to his sufferings with the people of God, in the former verses, comes now to instance in the power and activity of it, with respect to their deliverance, in these verses. Where note, 1. The spiritual fortitude which attended his faith, H... [ Continue Reading ]
After the faith of Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea, we have here the faith of Joshua and the Israelites before Jericho, recorded and related. Jericho was. walled and well-fenced city, and. frontier town, that kept them from entering into Canaan. God commanded them not to fight, but to walk,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The person spoken of, Rahab,. Gentile, an Amorite, an harlot, who kept. victualling house in Jericho, and so was both harlot and hostess, defiled both in body and mind, with idolatry and adultery. 2. What is spoken of her; she believed: BY FAITH RAHAB, &,C. She was converted to God... [ Continue Reading ]
In these and the following verses, our apostle sums up the remaining testimonies which he might have produced to show the great things which faith had assisted persons to do, and also enabled them to suffer the hardest and most terrible things that could be encountered with; in the verses now before... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having in the foregoing verses acquainted the Hebrews with the great things which faith enabled the Old Testament saints to do, he now lays before them an account of the hard and difficult things which faith enabled them to suffer, and here reckons up the sharpest and bitterest suffering... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "All the fore-mentioned scripture saints, with others that lived from the beginning of the world, and the first giving out of the promise of the Messiah, Genesis 3:15 all and every one of these OBTAINED. GOOD REPORT THROUGH FAITH, that is,. good testimony that they pleased God; nevertheless... [ Continue Reading ]
The better thing here spoken of is the coming of Christ in the flesh. Lord! what were we, and how are we better than they, that this better thing should be reserved for us? They saw the promise afar off, we enjoy it at hand, "Jucundius est spectare, quam expectare bonum." THAT THEY WITHOUT US SHOULD... [ Continue Reading ]