A, D. 63. 33 Who through faith fubdued kingdoms, wrought righ teousness, obtained promifes, ftopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, esca ped the edge of the fword, out of weaknefs were made ftrong, rage exprefs'd by the reft, under the moft terrible Afflictions, and moft exquifite Sufferings for the Sake of God and Religion; being all the Refult of this very fame Principle of a reasonable Faith in the Divine Revelation and Promises; the very Thing now required to make you Chriftians *. waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance: that they might obtain a better refurrection +. 36 And others had trials of cruel mockings, and fcourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were ftoned, they were fawn afunder, were tempted, were flain with the fword: they wandred about in sheep-skins, and goat-fkins, being deftitute, afflicted, tormented : 38 Of whom the world was not worthy they wandred in deferts, in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And thefe all having obtaineda good report through faith, received not the proVer. 11. mife: 39. Thus all your Pious Ancestors ftand upon Record, as truly fuch, by the firm and rational Belief of Future and Invifible Bleffings. Things they actually faw not, while they lived; and though they have all been, long fince, in a State of Reft and Happiness, it is but a State of bleffed Expectation. They have not, as yet, the full and compleat Enjoyment of that Celestial Glory. 40 God having 40. It being the good Pleafure, provided fome better and wife Appointment of God, to thing defer * Ver. 32, &c. Of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, &c. For the particular Inftances of the Faith, and Exploits of the feveral Perfons named or not named in these Verses, to the 39th Verfe, let the Reader confult Mr. Hallet's Supplement to Mr. Pierce, in Loc. + Ver. 35. A better Refurrection, i. e. a future Resurrection to Eternal Life, far better than the Refurrection of the Women's Children, before-mention'd, or than that of the Perfons Tortured, would have been. The one being a Reftoration to the present bort Life, the other to an Eternal one. thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect. Kp. defer That, till the perfect and com- A. D. 63. pleat || Revelation of the Gospel were made to us Chriftians, and the laft and great Difpenfation of the Meffiah be paft: That so, both they, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and all fincere Chriftians, whether Jewish or Gentile ones, may, for the courageous Exercife of the fame Excellent and Virtuous Principle, be all Rewarded and Crowned together, with the Happiness both of Body and Soul, at the final Day of Judgment. CHA P. XII. The CONTENTS. The Inference from the foregoing Argument; viz. That as the Behaviour of the Patriarchs, and Holy Men of Old, do vindicate the Reasonableness of the Chriftian Faith; fo ought it to be the most Exemplary Encouragement, to Spirit up all Chriftians under their Sufferings for it. The fame Encouragement further inforced, from the Example of Chrift himself. The great Reafonableness and Advantage of fuffering for true Religion. The Danger of relapfing from Chriftianity: Especially to the Jewish Converts, from the apparent Excellency and Greatness of the Chriftian Religion, when compared with the Jewish Law. Wing we alfo are 7Herefore, fee I. * Aving therefore fuch *abun- Chap. xi. dant Testimonies, that your compaffed about with Chriftian Faith is the Exercife of the fo great a cloud of witneffes, let us lay afide every weight, and the fin which doth so easily befet us, and let us run with patience the race that is fet before us, fame virtuous Principle for which all μαρτύρων. stacy, to which your present Sufferings are fo apt to tipi tempt and draw you. T 3 μαρτίαν. 2. And 2 looking unto Jefus the author and finisher of cur faith; who for the joy that vas fet before him, endu ed the cro's, defpifing the fhame, and is fet down at the right hand of the throne of God. 2. And, for your ftill higher Encouragement, confider the most perfect Example of Jefus Chrift, himfelf, the Author of your Religion, and the great Rewarder of its true Profeffors; who for the joyful Profpect of being exalted as the Redeemer and Saviour of Mankind, with abfolute Patience endured the Pains, and with inexpreffible Height of Mind defpifed the Scandal of Dying like a Malefactor upon the Crofs: And is now accordingly rewarded for it with the utmott Degree of Heavenly Glory and Majesty. 3 For confider him tradiction of finners be wearied and faint 3. Weigh || and compare His Sufferings with your own; and fee, if the Blafphemies against His Doctrine, the Reproaches upon his Perfon, and the malicious Attempts upon his Life, be not sufficient to buoy you up un der all the Conflicts you endure for His Sake. 4 *Ye have not ye: refifted unto blood, úriving against fin. 4. Remember, you have not yet fuffered the worst, from those ma * licious Adverfaries; and, to give out before you have done as much as thofe great Worthies, and Christ himself has done before you, would be to come fhort, and lofe the Power of their Examples. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation, which freaketh dren, My fon, defpife not thou the chaftening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. unto you, as unto chil 6 For 5 & 6. Thofe Converts among you, that fhrink and faint, already, under their Perfecutions, feem to have forgotten the wife Purposes, and great Advantages the Scriptures mention of God's permitting Afflictions to befal his true Servants : Particularly that of Prov. iii. 11 & 12. My *Not yet refifted unto Blood. Perhaps it may be an Agonistical Term It being the moft fcandalous Thing for any Combatant to give cut before any Blood was drawn: As Jacobus Lydius obferves, Agonift. Sat. je It may + Ver. 5. And have forgotten the Exhortationperhaps be beft to take thefe Words interrogatively; Kai ixλédnάs Tapaxànσas, Have ye forgotten the Exhortation? 6 For whom the Lord loveth, he chafteneth, and fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chaftening, God dealeth with you as with fons for what fon is he whom the father chafteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chaftifement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not fons. ftances of a careful 9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence : fhall we not much ra My Son, defpife not thou the Chaften- A. D. 63. 7 & 8. In laying prefent Afflicti- You all own, That the prudent Severities and strict Discipline of a natural Parent are fo far from difcouraging, that they gain greater Refpect and Reverence from the Child. How infinitely more advantageous then must it be for us Men, but especially Chriftians, to be under the present Discipline of a Wife and Good Creator, that will reward our Sufferings with Eternal Life and Happiness ? ther be in fubjection unto the Father of fpirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chaftened us after their own pleasure ; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of 10. For, while the Corrections of our Earthly Parents may, through Human Weakness, be fometimes paffionate and humourfome, and, at beft, do chiefly tend to our Conduct in a fhort and tranfitory Life; the Chaftifements of God are full of Reason, and levelled at our highest Advantage; being defigned to work thofe Difpofitions in us, that will render us like to God, and for ever happy in the Enjoyment of Him. his holiness. 11 Now no chaften 11. Be not therefore difcouraged ing for the prefent at the Sharpness of your prefent Suffeemeth to be joyous, ferings. Afflictions indeed are always Ꭲ 4 but trouble A. D. 63. but grievous: never- troublesome, and fometimes press theless, afterward it very hard; but the great Advantage yieldeth the peaceable a good Chriftian may reap from a fruit of righteousness Wife and Courageous Behaviour under them, is infinitely able to ballance that Account. πόντες. unto them which are 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. * 13 And make ftraight paths for your feet, left that 12 & 13. Wherefore, like true Combatants, hold out and stand firm to the last. Encourage the Faint-hearted, and fupport fuch as you find weak and feeble under their Afflictions. Remove all Objections* which is lame be turnand Obftacles out of the Way of ed + cut of the fuch as you find apt to be prejudiced, but let it rather be and drawn afide; and, by a prudent healed. Behaviour toward them, endeavour to rectify their Judgments, uphold way, their Spirits, and keep them firm to their Profeffion. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holinefs, without which no man fhall fee the Lord : 14. Be careful to practise that Chastity, and Purity of Life, without which none can enjoy the Favour of God, nor be happy in his Prefence. And remember that a peaceable Carriage, and a gentle Difpofition toward all Mankind, is one of the main Branches of our Christian Duty. 15 Looking dili* gently, left any man fail of the grace of God; left any root of bitterness fpringing up, trouble you, and thereby may be See Deut, defiled: xxix. 18. 15. Have a careful Eye to yourfelves, and to one another, to prevent, lapfing from Chriftianity, and forif poffible, any from refuch Apoftate fhould prove like a feiting all its Bleffings; for fear any poisonous Herb; and fo taint || and infect others with his cowardly and 6 Left bafe Principles. 16. For * Ver. 13. Make firaight paths: Or rather rpoxías peas, smooth, even Paths. Be turned out of the Way: ixrpany, Should be put quite out of Joint. |