Again; by this means the souls of the saints have a trial and ex- periment of their own grace, of what sort it is; as Abraham had of his own faith and obedience in the great experiment which God gave him of it by his command for the sacrificing of Isaac. Tried
572 AN EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [CHAP. IIT.
graces are exceeding precious, 1 Pet. i. 6, 7, and are evidences that those in whom they are do belong to the house of God.
There are other observations, which the words tender unto us, that shall only be named.
VIII. Interest in the gospel gives sufficient cause of confidence and rejoicing in every condition. “ Hold fast the rejoicing of your hope.” The riches of it are invaluable, eternal, peculiar, such as outbalance all earthly things, satisfactory to the soul, ending in endless glory; and he that is duly interested in them cannot but have abundant cause of “joy unspeakable” at all times.
IX. So many and great are the interveniences and temptations that lie in the way of profession, so great is the number of them that decay in it, or apostatize from it, that as unto the glory of God, and the principal [discovery] of its truth and sincerity, it is to be taken from its permanency unto the end: “ Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end,”
END OF VOI, ITI,
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